Gon Freecss and Killua Zoldyck share one of the most meaningful friendships in Hunter x Hunter. However, some fans have questioned if Killua’s intense devotion to Gon stems purely from friendship or if he feels compelled to repay a perceived debt. This raises an interesting debate around the underpinnings of their powerful bond.
There’s no denying Killua displays a remarkable loyalty and dedication to Gon that seems to transcend normal friendship. We continually witness Killua put his life on the line for Gon without a moment’s hesitation. This selfless commitment reminds some viewers of the Ackerman bloodline in Attack on Titan, who feel an instinctive need to eternally protect and save whoever they become deeply attached to.
So, did Gon’s act of kindness during the Hunter Exam – freeing Killua from Illumi’s control – forge an Ackerman-esque lifelong bond for Killua? Was an obsession triggered that now drives Killua by instinct rather than conscious choice?
What triggered Killua’s Ackerman-like obsession with Gon
During the Hunter Exam, Gon selflessly risks failing himself to free Killua from manipulation by his brother Illumi. This act of selfless compassion deeply impacts Killua, proving that someone finally cares about him as a person rather than the assassin he was groomed to be.
Naturally, this sparks intense gratitude and affection in Killua for the first real friend he’s ever known.
But is Killua just Friends with Gon out of obligation?
The answer is complicated. There are echoes of the Ackerman bond in Killua’s behavior but reducing it solely to supernatural programming or a perceived debt undermines the authentic affection between the two.
Yes, we can trace Killua’s fierce loyalty back to when Gon selflessly risked the exam to free Killua from Illumi’s control. This act deeply impacted Killua and proved someone valued him for who he was rather than the assassin he was groomed to be. It makes sense this would spark an intense gratitude and friendship in Killua.
- However, as Hunter X Hunter continued, Killua’s commitment grew beyond obligation. He came to genuinely care for Gon as a treasured friend. Their mutual understanding and shared dreams bound them together. We see Killua develop his own goals and dreams tied to Gon’s quest to find his father. He’s by Gon’s side because he wants to be there.
Killua’s Extreme Loyalty: Compulsion or Brotherhood?
True, when Gon’s safety is threatened, Killua’s judgment becomes severely compromised, like when he endures agonizing electricity torture to save Gon. Or the time he was willing to sacrifice an entire town to increase Gon’s chances of survival. His desperate actions mirror the Ackerman clan’s single-minded compulsions when their bonded one is endangered.
- Yet this loyalty seems fueled by love, not by supernatural programming. Killua himself admits he feels like the one being saved by Gon’s friendship, not the other way around. Their mutual affection lifts the shadows that haunted Killua’s lonely childhood, bringing joy and purpose to his life. Those aren’t the words of someone trapped by compulsion.
The Ackerman bond may have opened the door between the two, but shared adventures and affection cemented it. Killua stays because he wants to pursue their common dream of exploring the wider world together as friends. His hopes have become intertwined with Gon’s quest to find his father.
Conclusion:
Ultimately, while traces of the Ackerman bond may appear in Killua’s unflinching loyalty, reducing his devotion to Gon to mere genetic programming or “debt” undermines the authenticity of their connection.
Their splendid bond lifts Killua from the darkness of his past while giving Gon the courage to step toward the future. Yes, extraordinary loyalty is part of the fabric binding them. But it’s a loyalty woven by the profound affection between them, not by mystical compulsion.
Few friends would go to the breathtaking lengths these boys do for each other, but that’s precisely what makes their relationship so poignant. In the end, the magic of Hunter x Hunter shines brightest when exploring the dimension-shattering power of friendship through Killua and Gon. What we witness between them transcends normal bonds.
