The episode opens with Gon waking up in the infirmary after his grueling match with Hanzo. Satotz visits him to explain that despite being unconscious for the remainder of the tournament, he has officially passed the Hunter Exam. Satotz shares his respect for how Gon’s unyielding spirit forced Hanzo—a much stronger opponent—to surrender out of sheer bewilderment.

For a deeper look at how this pivotal episode fits into the larger themes of friendship and the 'Hunter' identity, check out this retrospective analysis: The Message of Hunter x Hunter: Appreciating the Ending YouTube• Sep 25, 2022

When Gon hears about what happened to Killua, his shock quickly turns to fury. Despite his injuries, he marches into the room where the remaining applicants and examiners are gathered. He confronts Illumi, declaring that he will go to the Zoldyck estate to "bring Killua back".

Following his encounter with Illumi, Killua is visibly broken. In his next match against Bodoro, Killua suddenly lashes out and kills him. Since killing an opponent is an automatic disqualification, Killua fails the exam and leaves the site immediately.

: Illumi exerts a terrifying, murderous aura that completely paralyzes Killua. He tells Killua that he is a "puppet" designed only for killing and has no right to make friends.

This episode effectively transitions the series from the structured environment of the Hunter Exam into the darker, more personal .

The core conflict shifts to the match between Killua and the pin-faced Gittarackur. In a shocking turn, Gittarackur removes his needles to reveal his true form: , Killua’s older brother.

This episode, titled " ," serves as a heavy, character-driven finale to the Hunter Exam tournament. While the previous episodes focused on physical matches, Episode 20 is defined by psychological warfare and the chilling introduction of the Zoldyck family's control over Killua. 1. Gon’s Recovery and Victory