Yuzuki stood there, still processing what had just happened.
The Phantom Troupe—Chrollo Lucilfer, Machi, Phinks, Franklin—had walked right into their home. And just like that, they were gone.
He turned toward Shizuku, who was quietly cleaning her glasses like nothing unusual had just taken place.
"So," Yuzuki started, crossing his arms, "what exactly did they want?"
Without looking up, Shizuku replied in her usual calm tone, "They invited me to join the Phantom Troupe."
Yuzuki blinked, acting completely thrown off. "Wait… they what?"
Shizuku nodded once. "Invited me."
He stood there speechless for a moment before finally sighing. "You're serious…"
Shizuku hummed in response, still polishing the lenses of her glasses with her cloth.
Yuzuki rubbed the back of his neck, trying to make sense of it. "I mean, I guess it was only a matter of time before they found you… but still, that was fast." He frowned slightly. "Did you… actually agree to join them?"
"Yes."
That one word hit him harder than he expected.
"What do you mean yes? they had been here barely been four minutes before I arrived!"
Shizuku finally looked up at him, her face as expressionless as ever. "They asked if I wanted to join, and I said yes."
Yuzuki's jaw fell open. "That's all it took?"
"Pretty much."
He dragged a hand down his face, muttering under his breath. "You just agreed to join one of the most wanted criminal organizations in the entire world like it was nothing."
Shizuku shrugged. "A lot of people in Meteor City look up to the Phantom Troupe. They're strong, and they protect our people in their own way. If I join them, I'll be able to give back to Meteor City too."
Yuzuki was quiet for a while. There wasn't really anything to argue with in that logic — at least not from her point of view.
He finally exhaled. "...I see." He looked away. "So I guess this is the last time we'll be together."
Shizuku adjusted her glasses. "But Chrollo said you could come too."
Yuzuki shook his head immediately. "My conscience wouldn't allow it. Joining a gang that kills indiscriminately, steals without reason, and causes pain to others just because they can—it goes against everything I believe in."
Shizuku looked at him for a long moment, then simply nodded. "I understand."
And just like that, the conversation ended.
She went back to cleaning her glasses, and Yuzuki sat down quietly.
The night fell into stillness. Neither spoke again.
---
The next morning, Yuzuki was practicing his Ten. His aura spread evenly around his body, calm and consistent, a thin veil of energy wrapping around his skin. He focused on maintaining the flow without leak or disruption, breathing slowly, every movement deliberate.
Then — knock knock.
He paused, letting his aura fade before turning to the door.
He already knew who it was.
When he opened it, four familiar auras filled the space once again.
Chrollo stood at the front, hands tucked neatly into his coat pockets. Behind him were Machi, Phinks, and Franklin — the same group as yesterday.
"Good morning," Chrollo greeted softly.
Yuzuki nodded politely. "Morning."
Chrollo's gaze moved between Yuzuki and Shizuku, who had just stepped into the room. "Yuzuki-kun" he asked "have you made your decision."
Yuzuki took a deep breath. "I have."
Chrollo waited patiently, his expression unreadable.
"The Phantom Troupe… goes against everything I believe in," Yuzuki said firmly. "I can't be a part of something that kills and steals without care for who gets hurt in the process."
For a brief moment, Chrollo seemed genuinely taken aback. Then he smiled faintly. "I see. It's rare to find someone from Meteor City who still holds such a… rosy and idealistic view of the world."
Yuzuki met his gaze, unflinching. "Not agreeing with senseless killing and robbery isn't being idealistic. It's just… being human."
There was silence.
Then, Machi let out a quiet chuckle. "You're cute," she said, arms crossed. "I hope you never change that outlook."
Phinks snorted. "He's still young. Give him a few years, he'll figure out life's not that simple."
Yuzuki ignored the comment, keeping his expression calm.
Chrollo, however, smiled gently. "You remind me of someone I once knew. I understand your stance, Yuzuki-kun." He turned to Shizuku. "Are you ready to depart?"
Shizuku adjusted her glasses one last time and nodded. "Yes."
She turned to Yuzuki, stepping closer and patted his head. "Stay safe, okay? Keep training. Get stronger."
Yuzuki nodded quickly, forcing a smile. "I will."
As they headed for the door, Chrollo stopped and looked back.
"I'll tell the elders to look out for you," he said. "If you need work or any kind of help, you can speak to them. And when you're ready to leave Meteor City, I'll make sure they set everything up for you."
Yuzuki bowed his head slightly. "Thank you."
"Goodbye, Yuzuki-kun."
With that, Chrollo turned and walked out, the rest of the Troupe following behind him. The door closed softly, their footsteps fading into the distance.
And just like that — the house was silent again.
Yuzuki stood there for a while, staring at the door they'd just left through.
Alone.
Yuzuki sat there for a long time, staring at the spot where Shizuku had been just moments ago.
His mind drifted — not to what she said, but to what it meant.
If Shizuku had been officially taken into the Phantom Troupe, that meant the timeline was starting to move.
He clenched his fists.
That means Silva Zoldyck has already killed Number 8… and Hisoka has already taken out Number 4, he thought grimly.
He wasn't part of the Troupe, so it wasn't like Hisoka would come after him — unless, of course, Hisoka took an interest in him. That man only hunted people he found "entertaining."
Yuzuki shivered.
The idea of being targeted by that perverted lunatic made his skin crawl.
And then there was Kurapika.
That name alone carried the scent of vengeance — the one person who would become a true nightmare for the Phantom Troupe.
Yuzuki leaned back, closing his eyes.
He'd only known Shizuku for a little over two months, but she'd taken care of him without question — given him food, shelter, and a reason to keep going.
And now she was walking straight into the lion's den.
He didn't know if he could ever face Hisoka or Kurapika and survive, but if protecting Shizuku meant fighting monsters like them, then so be it.
He needed strength.
Not just enough to stay alive — enough to surpass even the likes of Isaac Netero.
That night, he made a silent promise to himself.
He would grow stronger.
Strong enough that no one could ever take from him again.
---
Over the next two weeks, Yuzuki's world became small — just training, breathing, and the quiet hum of aura.
By the fourth day since opening his aura nodes, he had already mastered Ten.
He sat cross-legged on the cold floor, his eyes closed beneath the blindfold. Aura flowed around his body like a thin, invisible film — a protective barrier maintaining the life energy within him.
> Ten — the foundation of all Nen.
It keeps one's aura from leaking away and forms a constant defense.
It's what separates ordinary people from those who step into the world of aura.
Yuzuki focused on maintaining it without interruption. With the Six Eyes, he could see every particle of aura moving through his body. He adjusted it constantly, fine-tuning its balance until it became second nature.
By the sixth day, he turned his attention to Zetsu.
Suppressing aura.
Closing every pore, silencing the flow entirely.
> Zetsu — the art of shutting off aura.
It renders the user invisible to other Nen users and allows the body to recover faster, but leaves one defenseless.
At first, it was painful — like holding one's breath too long. But with his perfect control and the precision of his eyes, Yuzuki quickly adapted.
Within two days, he was using it naturally — walking through the slums of Meteor City with his presence completely erased.
He remembered the first time he'd succeeded — even the dogs in the alley had stopped barking as he passed.
Then came Ren.
Ren was different.
Where Ten was balance and Zetsu was silence, Ren was power.
> Ren — the expansion and intensification of aura.
It enhances strength, speed, durability, and presence.
True mastery of Ren allows the user to project overwhelming vitality.
Yuzuki's first attempt left him dizzy. His aura burst outward like a shockwave, uncontrolled, shaking dust from the ceiling. But the Six Eyes guided him — showing him every leak, every imbalance, every point where his aura flickered unevenly.
He adjusted, again and again, until the flow became smooth.
By the end of two weeks, he could summon his Ren effortlessly. His aura pulsed like a living flame — calm, steady, powerful.
All that was left now… was the Water Divination Test.
It was the final step — the key to discovering his Hatsu.
The water would tell him what kind of Nen user he truly was — whether he was an Enhancer, Emitter, Manipulator, Transmuter, Conjurer, or Specialist.
And once he knew that…
He could begin his true goal — recreating Satoru Gojo's arsenal.
Infinity.
Limitless.
The kind of power that could make even gods take notice.
Yuzuki looked down at his hands, feeling the pulse of aura between his fingers.
He smiled faintly.
Tomorrow, he would take the test.
Tomorrow, he would learn if destiny had given him the same gift as Gojo — or something entirely his own.