Gozu is a male spear-wielding martial artist and Hunter Exam applicant in the Hunter × Hunter series, known primarily for his brief but tragic role during the Fourth Phase of the Hunter Exam.
Gozu is recognized by his examinee number, 371, in the Hunter Exam.
He is introduced as a martial artist who specializes in using a spear as his main weapon.
In the anime adaptation, he is depicted as coming from a wandering war tribe that roams various battlefields.
This tribal background helps explain his combat-oriented lifestyle and his familiarity with warfare.
Gozu participates in the Hunter Exam alongside many other applicants seeking to become licensed Hunters.
His presence is most notable during the Fourth Phase of the exam, which takes place in a survival-style environment where examinees hunt one another for ID badges.
In this phase, Gozu becomes entangled in a deadly confrontation involving the assassin Gitarakuru, an alias used by Killua Zoldyck’s older brother Illumi (disguised at the time).
Gitarakuru fatally wounds Gozu, leaving him with injuries that he cannot recover from.
After being mortally wounded by Gitarakuru, Gozu uses his last moments to make a desperate request.
He begs Gitarakuru to allow him to fight Hisoka Morow as his final wish, seeking an honorable last battle against a powerful opponent.
However, Hisoka Morow shows no interest in Gozu and completely ignores this plea, refusing to engage him at all.
With Hisoka indifferent and Gozu already near death, Gitarakuru then delivers the finishing blow, ending Gozu’s life.
This sequence emphasizes the ruthless nature of the Hunter Exam and the cold, self-centered personalities of both Gitarakuru and Hisoka Morow.
In the first anime adaptation, Gozu is given a bit more on-screen presence and characterization.
He is shown moving and acting together with Bodoro on several occasions, suggesting a loose partnership or at least a sense of camaraderie between the two examinees.
The circumstances of Gozu’s fatal injury are also altered in this version.
Rather than being directly struck down only by Gitarakuru, Gozu is accidentally hit by a long-distance attack from Supa while facing Gitarakuru, who is waiting for him near a water area.
This misfire from Supa becomes the cause of Gozu’s fatal wound in the first anime, adding an element of tragic accident to his death.
Gitarakuru still finishes him off, but the adaptation highlights that Gozu’s downfall begins with an unintended strike from another examinee.
Although Gozu’s screen time is short, a few traits can be inferred.
His choice of a spear and his background as a war tribe warrior suggest a disciplined, frontline combat style built around reach and precision.
His final wish to fight Hisoka Morow shows that he values honor, challenge, and a warrior’s death.
Even when mortally wounded, he desires a meaningful final battle rather than simply dying without purpose.
His interactions with Bodoro in the first anime adaptation hint that Gozu is capable of cooperation and is not purely a lone wolf.
This makes his lonely, unacknowledged end all the more tragic.
Gitarakuru (Illumi Zoldyck)
Gitarakuru is the one who inflicts Gozu’s mortal wound and ultimately kills him.
Their encounter underscores Gitarakuru’s efficiency and lack of sentimentality in eliminating other examinees.
Gozu admires or at least greatly respects Hisoka Morow’s strength enough to wish for a final duel with him.
Hisoka’s complete refusal to acknowledge this request highlights the imbalance of power and importance between them.
Bodoro
In the first anime, Gozu is often seen alongside Bodoro, acting in tandem and moving through the exam area together.
While their relationship is not deeply explored, their repeated pairing suggests mutual trust or at least convenient cooperation.
Supa
In the first anime adaptation, Supa unintentionally becomes the indirect cause of Gozu’s death by mistakenly hitting him with a ranged attack.
This connects Gozu’s fate not only to Gitarakuru but also to the chaotic crossfire of the exam.
Gozu dies during the Fourth Phase of the Hunter Exam after suffering a mortal wound and being finished off by Gitarakuru.
His death is quick and largely unremarked upon by the main cast, reflecting how expendable most examinees are in this brutal test.
Despite his brief appearance, Gozu stands out as one of the many minor characters who help flesh out the dangerous world of Hunter × Hunter.
His story illustrates how even skilled warriors and martial artists can be overwhelmed by elite assassins and powerful opponents in the Hunter Exam.
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