Todo

Todo is a long-time Hunter Exam candidate who specializes in close combat and physical intimidation.

Despite his rough appearance, he is surprisingly sharp-minded and experienced in the exam’s tricks and dangers.

He aims to become a bounty hunter and uses the Hunter Exam as his path toward that profession.

Throughout his appearances, he is portrayed as a seasoned examinee who still has room to grow in both strength and humility.

Todo has the physique of a professional wrestler, towering over most examinees with a giant, powerful frame.

He wears his hair tied back, emphasizing both his rugged look and his practical, fighter-like style.

On first impression, he seems like a simple brute who relies entirely on strength.

However, other candidates note that he actually thinks quickly and strategically.

Tonpa describes Todo as unexpectedly sharp, acknowledging that he is far from a thoughtless muscle-head.

This veteran presence makes him someone newer examinees tend to notice and remember.

Despite his experience, Todo can be hot-headed and prideful, especially when he feels insulted or underestimated.

This impulsiveness sometimes pushes him to challenge authority figures during the exam, to his own detriment.

Todo’s main goal is to become a bounty hunter.

His wrestler-like fighting style and enormous build make him naturally suited for capturing dangerous targets.

He relies on raw physical power and close combat, using his size as both offense and intimidation.

At the same time, his tactical thinking allows him to read situations better than many other ordinary examinees.

Even so, Todo has not yet reached the level required of top-tier Hunters.

His encounters during the exam repeatedly expose the gap between his current strength and that of professional Hunters and prodigies.

Early Exam Participation

Todo is already a veteran by the time he is shown with examinee number 255.

His repeated attempts suggest he is persistent and refuses to give up on becoming a Hunter.

He has enough reputation among other candidates that Tonpa comments on him, labeling him a veteran with a keen mind.

This highlights that he is not a nameless background examinee, but someone with a recognizable presence.

Clash with Menchi and Buhara

During the second phase of the Hunter Exam, in the segment overseen by Menchi and Buhara, Todo openly rebels against Menchi’s judgment.

He is dissatisfied with her strict standards and speaks out against her decision.

This confrontation leads directly to him being subdued.

In the main continuity, it is Buhara who physically restrains and defeats Todo when he challenges the examiner’s authority.

In an earlier version of the story, Menchi herself kicks Todo down and suppresses him personally.

Both versions underline how vast the power difference is between a veteran examinee like Todo and a professional Gourmet Hunter.

Realization During the Re-Examination

Later, during the re-examination where candidates must satisfy Menchi’s culinary standards, Todo is forced to truly engage with gourmet hunting.

He tastes the dish made from a spider eagle’s egg, which is considered a rare and refined ingredient.

Experiencing this food firsthand makes Todo realize the depth and complexity of the Gourmet Hunter profession.

He comes to understand that there is far more to it than simply hunting monsters or gathering ingredients.

Faced with this new perspective and his own limitations, Todo voluntarily declares that he is dropping out.

This moment shows that he can acknowledge when he is outclassed and demonstrates a certain humility and self-awareness.

The 288th Hunter Exam

Todo does not give up on his dream even after dropping out of the re-examination.

The following year, he participates again in the 288th Hunter Exam.

However, during this exam he faces Killua Zoldyck, a prodigious young assassin with overwhelming skill.

Todo is defeated by Killua and once again fails to obtain his Hunter License.

This loss further emphasizes the huge gap between experienced but ordinary examinees and true elites like Killua.

It also reinforces Todo’s recurring role as a benchmark of “veteran normal” against which exceptional talents are measured.

Tonpa views Todo as a noteworthy veteran, commenting that he is surprisingly clever despite his brute-force image.

This reaction shows that Todo has earned a certain level of respect from even manipulative and cynical examinees.

Menchi initially clashes with Todo because of his refusal to accept her strict gourmet standards.

Their interaction, along with Buhara’s intervention, becomes a turning point in Todo’s understanding of what it means to be a Gourmet Hunter.

Buhara physically subdues Todo during the second phase when Todo rebels against Menchi.

This demonstration of force puts Todo back in his place and highlights the authority of Hunter Exam proctors.

Killua Zoldyck defeats Todo in the 288th Hunter Exam.

This brief confrontation shows how far Todo still is from the top tier of the Hunter world.

Todo serves as a grounded example of a “strong but not exceptional” fighter in Hunter × Hunter.

His repeated failures and growth moments highlight how high the standards of the Hunter Exam truly are.

Through his reactions to Menchi’s test and his eventual voluntary withdrawal, readers see that understanding and respect for a profession can come from failure.

His renewed attempts and inevitable defeats also give weight to the achievements of characters like Gon Freecss and Killua Zoldyck, making their success feel even more extraordinary.