Kyuu

Kyuu is first introduced as examinee number 105 during the Hunter Exam.

He is notable for his bold attitude, his reliance on swordsmanship, and his memorable red nose.

Although he does not pass the exams he appears in, Kyuu stands out as a persistent participant who keeps returning to challenge the Hunter Exam.

His story mainly unfolds across two different exam years, showing his determination despite harsh defeats.

Kyuu is most easily recognized by his bright red nose, which becomes his signature physical trait among other examinees.

He also carries a sword, emphasizing his identity and fighting style as a swordsman.

While detailed personality traits are not deeply explored, his decision to retake the Hunter Exam after a painful defeat suggests a stubborn and resilient nature.

He appears confident enough in his abilities to keep participating, even when facing clearly superior opponents.

First Appearance: Early Hunter Exam

Kyuu participates in the Hunter Exam as examinee number 105.

During the exam, he competes against many other aspiring Hunters and survives up to the later stages.

In the Fourth Phase of the exam, which is a survival-style test involving target plates, Kyuu encounters Pokkle.

Pokkle is an archer-type candidate who uses poison-tipped arrows as his main weapon.

Kyuu is struck by one of Pokkle’s poison arrows, which incapacitates him.

While Kyuu is weakened by the poison, Pokkle takes advantage of the situation and steals Kyuu’s target plate, eliminating Kyuu from the exam.

As a result, Kyuu fails the Hunter Exam that year, being disqualified in the Fourth Phase.

Second Appearance: 288th Hunter Exam

Kyuu shows his tenacity by returning in the 288th Hunter Exam, a later exam session held the following year.

Once again, he aims to pass and become a licensed Hunter.

During this exam, Kyuu is matched against Killua Zoldyck, a highly skilled assassin and one of the main characters of the series.

Killua’s overwhelming speed, combat skill, and experience completely outclass Kyuu’s swordsmanship.

Kyuu is defeated by Killua and fails to advance, resulting in another unsuccessful attempt at obtaining his Hunter License.

This second failure emphasizes the gap between ordinary examinees and exceptional talents like Killua.

Kyuu’s primary fighting style centers on his skills as a swordsman.

He carries and uses a sword as his main weapon in the Hunter Exam, suggesting training in close-combat techniques.

Although the original manga does not explore his abilities in great depth, his willingness to engage dangerous opponents indicates at least a moderate level of combat competency.

However, his defeat by Pokkle’s tactics and Killua’s overwhelming strength shows that Kyuu falls short when facing elite-level opponents.

Additional Ability in the First Anime Adaptation

In the first anime adaptation of Hunter × Hunter, Kyuu is given an extra skill set not emphasized in the original manga.

There, he is portrayed as being particularly skilled in handling explosives.

This anime-original detail adds a more unpredictable edge to his character.

It paints Kyuu as not just a simple swordsman but also someone capable of using traps or explosive devices to gain an advantage in battle.

Examinee Number: 105 during his first known Hunter Exam.

Distinctive Feature: A striking red nose that makes him instantly recognizable.

Weapon: Sword, used as his main combat tool.

Anime-Only Skill: High proficiency in using and managing explosives in the first anime adaptation.

These traits make Kyuu memorable among the many background examinees in the Hunter Exam arcs.

Even though he never passes, his design, his red nose, and his repeated attempts give him a small but vivid presence in the Hunter × Hunter universe.