A Hunter Chronicle – 23

Kukuroo Mountain. A dormant volcano located in Dentora Region of Republic of Padokea.

It stood 3722 meters about sea level while being surrounded by a dense jungle and thick clouds, making it one of the more popular tourist attractions.

Unfortunately, no one was allowed to enter the place, considering that was where the infamous Zoldyck Family lives. The family of assassins.

"Three freaking days! Why are we taking an airship then a train!?"

A miniature fox pouted before letting out a heavy sigh.

It rolled around on its seat right next to a black-spiky haired kid.

"We could fly there but we're taking public transport instead?"

"Hah? You sure complain a lot, Kurama. Just enjoy the ride."

Said a tall, manly-looking, fairly muscular young man with large brown eyes, black hair, and a spiked crew cut.

He wore a business suit, black shoes, and a pair of tea shade sunglasses.

Seated next to him was a boy with medium blond hair with brown eyes, wearing a blue tabard decorated with an orange-colored hem and a white full-body training suit underneath.

Leorio and Kurapika were accompanying the trio to Killua's home after the conclusion of the exam.

They weren't planning to as they had their own thing to do but meeting the infamous assassin family face to face perked their interest somewhat.

"I have a good reason to! This is boring and long and boring! Naruto could fly directly there, marked it and teleport us! It would save the travel time!"

"Hey! I'm not your personal portal, and we're sightseeing. We're not in a hurry anyway. If Illumi touched Alluka-chan in a bad way, I swear I will beat him up!"

Naruto called out from the side as Kurama growled a little.

Naruto ignored the fox and leaned back on his seat while a spiky silver-haired boy – about the same age – followed suit, but with a smirk on his face.

There was no need to hurry since his sister would be safe anyway.

'Touch her in a bad way?'

Kurapika thought with a sweat dropped.

No one seemed to notice Naruto's misused of words.

Killua might have but didn't understand what the blond actually meant.

Gon probably was the same while Leorio seemed to be oblivious. Kurapika decided to let that go.

"Naruto said it so piped down you stupid fox!"

"What you say four eyes!?"

"Ha? It's not that kind of glasses."

Leorio defended his stylish glasses.

"Fine, eight eyes!"

"You just increased the numbers!"

"Leorio, don't humor him, he has been complaining nonstop since we left the Hunter Association. I think he just wanted attention. You're giving him exactly want he wanted."

Kurapika whispered to his friend.

Leorio sighed and calmed down.

"Oh! Look!"

The last of the trio called out as he watched the beautiful landscape through the window.

"I think only one of us is actually sight-seeing."

Kurapika said, noticing Gon's behavior.

The boy was in awe while Naruto and Killua were playing cards.

Leorio took the suggestion and began ignoring the fox since it was going nowhere, but Kurama continued his verbal insults at the future doctor.

After a while, he decided a different method to annoy Leorio.

"Don't ignore me brat!"

Kurama roared and chomped down on man's head from behind.

Kurama wasn't serious of course, but Leorio was annoyed nonetheless since the fox's was drooling on top of him, mixing his hair with its saliva.

"Stop that!"

Leorio bellowed and grabbed the fox off of him agitatedly.

He threw it out the opened window by his side and became a bit stunned.

Kurama didn't bother to try and stopped him at all.

"Ah, there's Kurama."

Gon stated as Kurama flew passed him as he continued to check out the scenery.

"Shouldn't we go get him?"

Lerio pointed at the direction Kurama went with a crooked smile.

Kurapika exhaled but remained quiet.

"Kurama will catch up to us. It's his fault for getting thrown out. He might get good exercise running after the train."

Naruto answered as Killua nodded.

They weren't at all bothered at all.

With that, Leorio shrugged and sat back down.

It became rather peaceful and quiet without the fox's jabbing, but Leorio was agitated the remainder of the train ride.

He felt he shouldn't have done that.

The train finally stopped at a station to let out the passengers before heading to the next platform somewhere down the line.

Unfortunately, Kurama still hadn't caught up to them at all.

That was strange.

"Now what?"

Naruto asked, looking back the train track from the platform as the train continued along the track in the opposite direction.

His longtime companion wasn't nearby at all as he tried to sense it with his ability.

He noticed Kurama was quite far away, but why?

The Bijuu wouldn't do that unless something caught his eyes.

Naruto wasn't worried at all, just a bit curious.

Gon was standing by the blond's side, watching and waiting as well for the fox companion to return.

"Head up the mountains path over there to the front gate."

Killua answered while skateboarding around.

Naruto wasn't really asking about that, but whatever.

"You mean we have to walk all the way there?"

Leorio pointed at the Kukuroo Mountain far off in the distant.

Killua was about to correct the misconception by Leorio, but Kurapika interrupted before he could.

"They said there's a regular bus that tours around the mountain. One departure a day with a guide, and it almost time so we could take one."

Kurapika relayed what the nearby residents had said.

Without Kurama to argue that they should just run there instead, they all boarded the bus without much fuss.

The only problem was that Gon wanted to go for a jog, but Leorio grabbed the idiot and shoved him into the vehicle.

Naruto and Killua wanted to do the same thing as Gon since running there would be much faster but decided the tour could be interesting.

The tour's guide was a voluptuous figure woman with curly, messy and orange hair.

She wore a blue tour guide uniform and a small hat.

"Greeting Ladies and Gentlemen. My name is Coco Loo. The company Terror Buses thanks you for joining us. Today, we'll present to you the assassin family…"

She introduced and began the announcement.

She then explained about today's schedule as the bus began rolling down the road.

"I've never been in one of these tours before. It felt weird that she's talking about my family."

Killua said after he found an open seat at the back.

Naruto sat next to him while Gon, in turn, sat next to Naruto.

However, they quickly switched around so Gon would be by the window side, Killua in the middle and Naruto outmost next to the aisle.

"I hoped Kurama is okay."

Gon said with a frown as Naruto and Killua rolled their eyes a little.

The blond was more concerned with whatever able to catch Kurama's attention while Killua pondered if Kurama would ever be in danger that required their attention.

"I'm sure he will show up soon."

Killua assured.

"He will be fine."

Naruto asserted.

From that, Gon quickly cheered up and listened attentively to the tour guide explaining about the Zoldyck family.

Killua had told them all about his family on the airship trip, but Gon seemed like he was hearing it for the first time, or maybe he just like listening to it again.

"She has a nice face."

Leorio said with a nod of approval in the opposite side of Naruto.

'Was that why you've been very attentive?'

Kurapika thought. He was seated by the window side next to Leorio.

The brown eyes then scanned the interior of the bus as well as some of the passengers.

There were a few out of place with the rest.

They did not appear to be normal tourists at all, but more like bounty hunters.

"I like her hair."

Naruto claimed as Leorio paid him an eye.

"What? It's orange."

Naruto stated flatly.

Killua just cracked up at that.

Gon was too busy following the tour's guide direction to notice.