Hunter x Hunter Episode 26: Then x and x After

On Whale Island, a postman delivers a letter to Mito while her grandmother watches. Mito reads the letter, in which Gon asks how she is doing and says he is fine. Mito and her grandmother read the letter together while drinking hot cocoa. Mito is excited that Gon passed the Hunter Exam but surprised he is not happy about it due to what happened in the final exam.

A flashback shows Hanzo fighting Gon in the finals and then forfeiting, making Gon win his Hunter License. When Gon disagrees with winning this way, Hanzo knocks him unconscious. When Gon wakes up, Satotz tells him what happened. The flashback continues to the match between Gittarackur and Killua. Gittarackur reveals himself to be Illumi, Killua's brother, and tells Killua he is meant to be a killer, not a Hunter. Killua replies that he doesn't want to be a Hunter but wants to be friends with Gon. Illumi says this is impossible because Killua has the soul of a killer and threatens to kill Gon if Killua doesn't fight him. Killua then forfeits the match and loses. Next, Killua kills Bodoro during his match with Leorio, after which Killua leaves for home. The flashback then shows the introduction for the new Hunters, where Gon demands that Illumi apologize to Killua, breaking Illumi's wrist in the process, and declares he is going to save Killua.

The scene changes to Kukuroo Mountain, and Gon's letter explains that he went there with Leorio and Kurapika to get Killua back. The letter describes the three of them training with Zebro to open the Testing Gate, which they succeed in. They then face the junior attendant Canary, who knocks Gon around with her cane until he convinces her to let them pass. As they pass, Canary is shot in the head by a woman, who is accompanied by a boy. The woman and boy have a verbal confrontation with Gon, Leorio, and Kurapika about Killua. Canary then wakes up and takes them to the butlers' office, where Gotoh, the head butler, plays a coin game with them, threatening to kill Canary if they lose. Gon wins, and Killua arrives from the main mansion. They join up and leave. Mito and her grandmother are shown again, sitting at the table reading Gon's letter, which states there is one more piece of business he must take care of before returning home.

The letter then switches to the end of the Trick Tower exam and the beginning of the Fourth Phase of the Hunter Exam. It describes the remaining candidates drawing lots, and the lots being explained. Gon and Killua are on a boat, showing each other's lots, and Gon finds out he drew Hisoka. Gon trains to get Hisoka's tag, then stalks Hisoka and gets his badge. He is then paralyzed by Geretta. Hisoka kills Geretta and returns Gon's tag to him. Gon tells Hisoka he doesn't want to owe anyone, and Hisoka tells him to return it when he is able to punch him in the face like Hisoka just did to Geretta. Gon recounts how frustrated he was about this and that he needs a way to do this. He states that he cannot return to Whale Island until he has done so and that he is going to Heavens Arena with Killua to achieve this. He tells Mito to take care and that he doesn't expect to be home soon.

The letter is put away and set back on the table. Mito frames a picture of Gon, Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio, and her grandmother watches as she hangs it on the wall among many other pictures. Mito remarks that she never expected him to come back right away and that he is definitely like his father. She lets out a quiet laugh, then looks over at a picture of Gon's father on the wall and wonders if he is watching over his son.