The amount of Nen energy is a crucial aspect of Rocky's plan.
If his Nen energy does not meet the required amount, it will be difficult to realize his evacuation plan. This is why Rocky is focusing on strengthening his Nen energy over the coming days, as it's essential to quickly move the entire Kuruta tribe once the incident occurs.
Based on the previous prophecy, the Kuruta tribe has already undergone some changes, but it hasn't been fully resolved. After all, convincing the entire village to believe in an impending massacre is still too far-fetched, especially for an eight-year-old child like Rocky. Even if the clan leader supports him, no one would blindly follow a child's warning.
Thus, early evacuation is practically impossible.
Since preemptive evacuation is out of the question, the only remaining option is to find a way to move all the villagers to a safe place as quickly as possible once the incident begins. And for that, Rocky needs more Nen energy. Without it, even with his abilities, he wouldn't be able to relocate everyone in time.
Over the past month of preparing the escape route, Rocky did two crucial things.
The first task was to understand the entire Kuruta village—its layout, the homes of all the villagers, and then map it all out. The locations of the 43 households were clearly marked, and he identified two routes that would allow him to reach every household in the shortest time possible.
The second task was more technical: Rocky planned to leave divine symbols along these two routes. These divine characters would act as markers, guiding his way and enhancing his speed and strength. If he could carve these symbols on trees, stones, and even the ground, it would significantly improve his ability to carry out his plan. However, this would be a massive task, and doing it properly would take time.
In the past, completing such a large-scale project would have been impossible for Rocky. But now, with his physical condition at its peak and his Nen abilities fully functional, he could complete the task in two days without feeling tired.
Once he carved the divine characters along the two routes, Rocky would not only be able to move through them more swiftly, but his Nen would also be amplified. The symbols would help reduce the energy consumed during his bursts, and they would increase his power and speed—critical for evacuating the Kuruta tribe in time.
The timing of Kurapika's departure was another key factor in Rocky's plan. After Kurapika left, it was likely the Phantom Troupe would arrive soon after. But when exactly? Would it happen immediately, or would there be a few days' delay? This was a major uncertainty, and it was the one thing that Rocky couldn't predict.
As long as he had two days, he could carve the divine characters, fortify his Nen, and ensure the success of his plan. The more time he had, the better, but if it was less than two days, it would be difficult to evacuate the tribe effectively.
"I've done everything I can; now it all depends on fate," Rocky thought.
Kurapika's test was not particularly difficult, although there was a twist. The clan leader had intentionally arranged for some villagers to provoke Kurapika and Piro, hoping to enrage Kurapika. This would make him open his Scarlet Eyes and reveal his identity.
Despite his best efforts, Kurapika lost control of his anger and unleashed the full power of his Scarlet Eyes, beating the provocateur nearly to death. His Scarlet eyes were exposed, but fortunately, Pyro had already prepared eye drops to make sure the Scarlet Eyes would disappear before Kurapika returned to the village.
Thus, Kurapika passed the test. However, the event also had broader consequences. Kurapika's reveal of his Scarlet Eyes could have been a crucial clue for anyone investigating the Kuruta tribe. If the Phantom Troupe had been paying attention, this small detail could have been the key to identifying the tribe as the source of the Scarlet eyes. It felt almost like the timing of Kurapika's reveal was too perfect—he exposed his Scarlet Eyes, and not long after, the Kuruta tribe would be destroyed.
By the time the sun began to set, Kurapika and Piro returned to the village. Seeing that Kurapika's eyes were normal, the clan leader was pleased and congratulated him for passing the test. Kurapika was now free to come and go as he pleased and could even venture into the outside world.
Kurapika, happy with the result, turned to Rocky, who had been waiting eagerly.
"Kurapika, when are you leaving?" Rocky asked.
Kurapika looked at Piro before responding, "We should wait until Piro's foot heals, and I need to prepare myself too."
Rocky nodded, noting that with Piro's injuries, it would take about three to five days for him to recover. That meant Kurapika might leave in about a week, giving Rocky enough time to finalize his plans.
"Do you want to come with me?" Kurapika asked with a smile.
Rocky shook his head. "Not yet. It's not the time yet."
Kurapika was puzzled by this response. "Why not? You're still young, and it might be better to wait until you're older—maybe in two years, when we can go together."
Rocky nodded without saying more. Two years.
That was the timeline. But whether the Kuruta tribe would still exist two years from now was uncertain.
In the following days, Rocky continued with his preparations, and Kurapika spent his remaining time helping Pyro recover. Despite Piro's rapid healing, his eyes required more treatment, and Kurapika hoped to find better medicine once they left the tribe.
On the day before Kurapika was set to leave, Haizo, the scout sent by the clan leader, returned with troubling news. Haizo had been investigating the Phantom Troupe and discovered a group of outsiders in the town.
"They don't seem to live in the town, but in a broken house just outside it," Haizo reported. "And they are all Nen masters."
The chief frowned. "You haven't been discovered?"
"No, Chief," Haiza replied confidently. "I used my Nen ability to stay hidden. They haven't noticed me."
The chief stopped speaking for a moment, deep in thought. Haizo, sensing something was wrong, asked, "Chief, is something troubling you?"
The chief looked at him seriously. "I've been thinking about little Rocky's prophecy... This may not be a coincidence."
Haizo was taken aback. "What do you mean?"
The chief shook his head. "It's just a feeling, but I suspect something big is about to happen. We may be running out of time."
Haizo nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I'll keep watching them, Chief. Don't worry."
The chief's thoughts grew darker. The arrival of these Nen masters could signal trouble. The Phantom Troupe wasn't far behind, and things were falling into place just as Rocky had predicted. It was only a matter of time before everything would unfold.
Meanwhile, Rocky continued his preparations, unaware that the events were rapidly accelerating. The fate of the Kuruta tribe hung in the balance, and Rocky's plan to evacuate them was about to be put to the test.