Hunter x Hunter: Yorknew City Arc, Explained

Key Takeaways

Gon and Killua return home, discover Nen gift from Ging, and learn about Greed Island.
Kurapika seeks revenge, becomes bodyguard, faces Troupe members, and captures Uvogin.
Phantom Troupe causes chaos, Kurapika unveils true power, and Troupe members meet their match.

As a seasoned anime enthusiast with a penchant for intricate storylines and complex characters, I must say that the Yorknew City arc of Hunter x Hunter is nothing short of breathtaking. The way the narrative unfolds, weaving together themes of vengeance, loyalty, and power, is truly remarkable.

In the Heavens Arena storyline from Hunter x Hunter, Gon and Killua undergo intense challenges that test their abilities and reveal the tiers of power within their universe. This arc delves into the intricacies of Nen, a powerful skill mastered by Hunters, with results that can be lethal. Following their battles and trials on the 251-level arena, Gon and Killua eventually make their way back to Whale Island, marking Gon’s first visit in more than half a year. From now on, the obstacles confronting Gon and Killua will not be as straightforward. The Yorknew City Arc underscores the high risks that Gon and his companions face in this Hunter world, hinting at the significant growth they must undergo to overcome these challenges.

Through an enlargement of the storyline, incorporating fresh families, hunter endeavors, adversarial factions, and additional details about Gon’s father, this segment greatly enhances the expansiveness of the Hunter x Hunter universe. Although Gon and Killua remain crucial figures in this segment, a substantial portion of the narrative focuses on Kurapika and his quest for vengeance against his clan. This is also where we initially encounter the notorious Phantom Troupe.

The content of this piece focuses on the 2011 animated adaptation of Hunter x Hunter. It should be noted that there could be variations compared to the 1999 animated version.

Gon Returns Home

Gon and Killua Learn More About Ging

Hunter x Hunter: Yorknew City Arc, Explained

Anime Episodes	37–58
Manga Chapters	64–119

Seven months later, Gon makes his way back to Whale Island, bringing with him a fresh Hunter License as he had pledged. He takes Killua on a tour around the island, sharing their dreams for what lies ahead in their future. Upon returning home, they find Mito there, who presents Gon with a keepsake from Ging.

The enigmatic present box appears to be uncrossable until it’s discovered that Nen is required to unlock it. Another hidden compartment within requires a Hunter’s License for access. This multi-step process to open the gift suggests that Ging expected Gon to follow in his footsteps and become a Hunter too. Upon uncovering each layer, several items await inside, with the first item they examine being a cassette tape swiftly inserted into a player. A video of Ging starts playing, but before he can discuss Gon’s mother, Gon halts the tape. The two then proceed to investigate the remaining items.

What follows is a memory card from a gaming console. It’s discovered that this particular card holds files for a game called Greed Island, an extremely scarce and expensive game, with its completion currently fetching an enormous amount of money. This discovery leads them to Yorknew City, a place where it’s whispered that an auction is taking place, and among the items up for bidding is Greed Island itself.

Preparing for the Auction

Kurapika Looks for Revenge

Later on, we follow Kurapika as he seeks ways to utilize his Hunter’s License. His goal leads him towards the possibility of serving as a bodyguard for the affluent. Initially, he faces rejection and is advised to continue honing his skills. After several months, he returns with enhanced training and eventually lands the job as a bodyguard. The audience witnesses the significant improvement in his capabilities when he skillfully repels an aggressive assault from over a dozen assailants, ultimately securing employment by the Nostrade family.

Gon and Killua Look for the Game

In Yorknew City, the duo discovers additional details about Greed Island. This unique game is specifically designed for Nen users and is not confined to a console. Instead, it immerses players into its world. The catch is that if a player dies within the game, it’s equivalent to real-life death.

The Auction is Interrupted

The Troupe Make Their First Move

Before the bidding starts, I’m given a sneak peek at the Phantom Troupe gathering. In a surprising move, Chrollo announces a daring plan: we’re to make off with every item up for grabs at the auction, and take out anyone who dares to oppose us.

In a turn of events, Gon, Killua, and Leorio cross paths again, this time with Leorio aiding them in gathering funds for an upcoming auction. Meanwhile, Kurapika assumes a protective role at the auction’s entrance. Unfortunately, these precautions fail when members of the Phantom Troupe pose as the auction host and brutally slaughter everyone inside the building. Their objective was to steal the valuable items, but they discover that the vault has already been emptied, enraging Chrollo and the Troupe who vow their retaliation.

The Troupe Meet Their Match

Or did they?

In a turn of events, Chrollo discovers that the auction heist was betrayed, leading the Mafia to clear out their vaults before any loot could be taken. To lure out the Mafia’s powerful henchmen (the Shadow Beasts), Chrollo proposes a plan. Successfully implementing it, they manage to bring down the Mafia’s hot air balloon from the sky when the Mafia retaliated.

Initially, Uvogin – a formidable member of their group – confronts numerous Shadow Beast adversaries alone. Despite his valiant effort, he gets caught when Kurapika recognizes his distinctive Spider tattoo and takes him in. However, this triumph is short-lived as fellow Troupe members break into the hideout where Uvogin was being kept, liberating him. With renewed determination, Uvogin swears to track down and eradicate Kurapika – the chain-wielder who had captured him.

In the end, I tracked Uvogin down and challenged him to a private confrontation. I tried using my truth-telling ability to make him reveal the whereabouts of the other Phantom Troupe members, but to my surprise, he remained steadfast in his resistance. Even my supposedly unyielding power failed to sway him. In the end, our battle concluded with me fatally wounding Uvogin by striking his heart directly, and I buried him at the site of our duel.

Currently, Gon and Killua continue their efforts to amass enough money to buy Greed Island at a recent auction. In fact, Gon had to pledge his Hunter License as collateral to get closer to reaching their financial target.

To Uvogin:

— Kurapika

The Phantom Troupe Make Their Mark

The Troupe Ensures that the Mafia are no longer a threat

As a new auction approaches, the Mafia leaders have devised fresh strategies for maintaining security. They’ve hired assassins to take out the Phantom Troupe, and surprisingly, they’re inviting Kurapika to join their group. During their pursuit of the troupe, Gon and Killua get momentarily caught. With a mind-altering agent in their midst, there’s a higher risk of their association with Kurapika being exposed. Luckily, they manage to break free before their connection is revealed.

In the meantime, one member of the Mafia family manages to escape, providing an opening for Chrollo to converse with her. This woman has psychic abilities and Chrollo inquires about his future. Unaware of his identity or goals, she reveals his fortune. As a result, he discovers that Uvogin has perished. He subsequently renders her unconscious. When the Mafia arrive to save her, Chrollo and the Phantom Troupe cause chaos, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Mafia members and police officers.

Amidst the heat of the fight, I found myself pinned down by Zoldyck family assassins, poised to take me out. But just as they were about to strike, a call came in: the Ten Dons of the Mafia had been wiped out. Since their employers were now gone, the assassins had no choice but to abandon their mission and leave me be.

Afterward, the group orchestrated their own secret auction in an underground setting, deceptively leading others into believing they had perished. They achieved this by crafting lifelike dummy versions of Troupe members. Under the guise of the original Mafia hosts, they proceeded to produce counterfeit replicas of all auction items, thereby committing further fraud on the participants.

“Initially, I assumed you were merely heartless murderers. However, observing your grief for your comrade made me wonder. If you can feel empathy towards each other, why couldn’t some of that compassion extend to the people you have taken lives from?

— Gon

Kurapika’s True Power is Revealed

The Troupe Are Finally Tested

Initially, Kurapika mourns over the deceased Troupe members. However, Hisoka reaches out to him, disclosing that the bodies he observed were merely decoys. Consequently, Kurapika is compelled to remain behind, protecting the Nostrade family, while Chrollo and the Spiders track their secret location. Gon and Killua endeavor to shadow the Phantom Troupe, but in the end, they are identified once more and captured by the group.

In an unexpected turn of events, as Pakunoda was trying to expose Gon and Killua’s past using her memory-altering abilities, Chrollo mysteriously disappears. A warning from Kurapika indicates that he will harm Pakunoda if she discloses the true identities of Gon and Killua to their group. It is then revealed that Chrollo had been taken captive by Kurapika, who initiates a hostage trade with the Troupe. Ultimately, Kurapika and Pakunoda strike a deal, with the latter being instructed to bring Gon and Killua back by nightfall. The exchange goes smoothly, and Kurapika departs with Gon and Killua in tow.

Despite being in a tough spot due to Kurapika’s manipulation, the Troupe finds itself in a predicament. By employing one of his abilities, he ensured that Chrollo and Pakunoda could not reveal the true nature of his powers to their fellow members, or face death as a consequence. However, Pakunoda, remaining steadfastly loyal, makes an incredible sacrifice to circumvent these constraints. She employs her memory powers to infuse bullets with her understanding of Kurapika, and then shoots them into the heads of all the troupe leaders. As the memories overwhelm the others, Kurapika’s power is triggered, leading to Pakunoda’s demise.

” Please. Let me… be the last… “

— Pakunoda’s silent prayer to the Spiders before dying

Yorknew City serves as a thrilling backdrop, highlighting the formidable strength of the Phantom Troupe while demonstrating the extreme measures Kurapika takes in seeking vengeance for his people.

Hunter x Hunter is now available to stream on Crunchyroll, Netflix and Hulu.

Hunter x Hunter: Yorknew City Arc, Explained