The story begins with a young boy named Gon, who aspires to be a hunter just like his father Ging. Ging leaves his son in the care of Mito, Gon's aunt, and has not been seen since. Gon catches the local monster fish, "Lord of the Lake", in order to prove his ability to take the exam. Although Mito is reluctant to let Gon leave his home, she relents after he is determined to understand the reason his father left him and his interest of being a hunter.

Gon climbs to the top of the World Tree where Ging is expecting him, and the two finally have a heart to heart. In this occasion, Ging reveals his intentions to explore the world beyond the current boundaries known to mankind and Gon tells him of all his adventures, while his friends keep following their separate ways, each one of them with their own dreams and goals to pursue.