Hunter x Hunter Episode 16: Defeat x and x Disgrace

Hiding in the bushes, Gon stalks Hisoka, waiting for an opportunity to attack. He sees Hisoka approach Kurapika and Leorio. Gon is torn between helping his friends or sticking to his plan to steal Hisoka's tag, but he decides to help them if needed. Leorio complains to Kurapika about not finding his target when Hisoka greets them, leaning on a tree. Hisoka asks for their tags, stating he needs two points. Leorio refuses, but Kurapika, realizing they aren't Hisoka's targets, tries to negotiate. He tells Hisoka which tags he possesses, but neither is useful to Hisoka, increasing the tension.

Gon eavesdrops nearby. Kurapika offers a tag that has no meaning for him, and if that isn't enough, he challenges Hisoka to take the others by force. Leorio also pulls out a knife, ready to fight. Hisoka laughs at their threat and accepts the initial deal. Kurapika leaves the tag in a tree, then he and Leorio depart. Gon remains frozen behind a tree, gripping his fishing rod and sweating. Hisoka comments to himself that he is happy with their progress but they still have much to learn. Gon sighs in relief, but knows he doesn't have much time left to steal the tag.

Gon becomes anxious, fearing the next person Hisoka meets won't fight either. Suddenly, Hisoka's killing intent drastically increases, scattering nearby animals and terrifying Gon. Hisoka's bloodlust has risen to a point that must be satisfied. The next day, after Hisoka wakes from sleeping standing up, he hunts his next victim. Gon follows again, believing whoever Hisoka encounters next will be attacked no matter what, so he runs ahead to find them. He spots Agon heading in the opposite direction of Hisoka and picks a vantage point. His nerves sway, and his heart pounds. He knows he must completely hide his presence while taking deep breaths. Just then, Hisoka stops, sensing someone. It is Agon. Hisoka dashes forward with an insane look on his face. Agon sees Hisoka almost too late and draws his sword. Gon readies his fishing rod, anticipating the attack.

Hisoka runs closer to Agon. Gon waits for the perfect moment, as Agon also prepares. Hisoka takes out one of his cards and shouts. Gon winds back his fishing rod and lets it loose. Agon thrusts forward with his sword, missing Hisoka's head by centimeters. Hisoka is so focused on killing Agon that Gon's fishing hook catches onto Hisoka's tag. Hisoka notices too late that the tag has been reeled in. Hisoka and Agon stand after the instantaneous exchange. Agon falls dead to the ground, while Hisoka focuses on his tag. Gon stands up and catches the tag, which lands perfectly in his hand. Hisoka sees this and looks stunned, as does Gon. Instead of being upset, Hisoka smiles, with a glint in his eyes, seeing another ripe fruit to play with.

Gon rushes into the brush, trying to get as far away from Hisoka as possible. Before he can celebrate, he loses control of his body, paralyzed, and collapses to the ground. Geretta appears, telling Gon how many times he could have killed him. A small dart with an immobilizing drug is in Gon's neck. Geretta commends Gon for his concentration while training with his fishing rod but adds how open he was for the attack. He mentions Gon was so focused on Hisoka that he didn't check his own surroundings. He takes both Hisoka's and Gon's tags and leaves. Gon is left alone with his shame of losing, as a single Hemotropic Butterfly lands on his hand. It flies away and gets caught in a spider's web.

Not a moment later, Geretta falls dead next to Gon. Hisoka stands over him, smiling, expressing how impressed he is with Gon's ability to hide his presence, his timing, and his attack. He drops Gon's and his own tags, giving them back to Gon for a job well done. Geretta was Hisoka's target, so he no longer needs his tag. However, Gon doesn't want Hisoka's tag in this way. Remarkably, Gon is able to stand despite a paralyzing drug that lasts 10 days for normal people. He tells Hisoka to take his tag back, but Hisoka refuses, keeping Gon alive so one day he can kill Gon when he's more experienced. Hisoka hits Gon with a ferocious punch to the face and says he'll take his tag back once Gon can do the same to him. He walks off, leaving Gon. Later that night, Gon sits alone in a tree, having won but also lost.