Let’s be real for a second. If Biscuit Krueger—our favorite 57-year-old Nen master trapped in a porcelain doll’s body—had squared off against Genthru, the "Bomber," the fight probably would have lasted about thirty seconds. Maybe forty if Genthru decided to run away. Yet, in the Greed Island arc of Hunter x Hunter, she stays on the sidelines while Gon takes a brutal beating. It’s one of those things that keeps fans up at night. Why didn't Bisky fight Genthru herself? Was it pride? Was it some weird Nen restriction? Or was it just Yoshihiro Togashi needing a way to make his protagonist grow?
Honestly, the answer isn’t just one thing. It’s a mix of teaching philosophy, tactical necessity, and the sheer terrifying gap in power that Bisky hides behind her frilly pink dress.
The Master's Dilemma: Education Over Ego
You have to look at Bisky not as a combatant, but as a Shingen-ryū master first. She’s the same woman who trained Wing, who then trained Gon and Killua. Her entire mindset is geared toward the "long game" of martial arts. If she had stepped in and crushed Genthru—which, let's face it, she absolutely could have—Gon would have learned nothing. Greed Island wasn't just a game Ging built for fun; it was a bespoke training gym for his son.
Bisky saw that.
She realized early on that Genthru was the perfect "final exam." He was dangerous, yes, but he wasn't an unstoppable force of nature like a Royal Guard or Meruem. He was a high-level Nen user with a specific, gimmicky ability that could be countered with enough discipline and strategy. If Bisky takes that win away from Gon, she stunts his growth. She essentially tells him, "You aren't ready for the real world, so let the adults handle it." That’s not how you forge a Hunter who can survive the Dark Continent.
The Massive Power Gap Nobody Talks About
We often underestimate just how strong Bisky actually is because she spends 90% of the arc acting like a mascot. But look at her fight with Bara. She didn't just win; she obliterated him the moment she reverted to her true form. Bara was Genthru’s peer. He was part of the trio that dominated the game for years. And Bisky handled him like she was swatting a fly.
💡 You might also like: Brother May I Have Some Oats Script: Why This Bizarre Pig Meme Refuses to Die
If we look at the numbers—though Togashi usually keeps power levels more fluid than Dragon Ball Z—Bisky is a world-class Nen veteran. Genthru’s Little Flower requires him to protect his own hands with Ko while he creates an explosion. It’s a clever trick. But Bisky’s raw physical durability and her mastery of Ryu (the real-time distribution of Nen) are so advanced that Genthru’s explosions might not have even breached her basic defenses. She stayed away because there was no "fight" to be had. It would have been an execution.
Why Didn't Bisky Fight Genthru From a Tactical Standpoint?
There’s a very practical, boring reason that often gets overlooked in the heat of Shonen debates. The plan.
Killua, Gon, and Bisky spent weeks drilling specifically to counter the Bomber trio. The plan relied on splitting them up. Genthru is a narcissist; he’s obsessed with his own cleverness. He viewed Gon as a brat, Killua as a talented kid, and Bisky as... well, a girl who likes jewelry. He completely misread the power dynamics of the group.
By letting Gon take the lead, they used Genthru’s arrogance against him. If Bisky had stepped forward as the primary threat, Genthru and his team (Bara and Sub) would have tightened their formation. They might have used Countdown more aggressively or simply retreated to wait for a better opening. The goal wasn't just to beat Genthru; it was to clear the game. To do that, they needed the cards Genthru held.
A cornered Genthru is a suicidal Genthru. By letting Gon "struggle" through the fight, they kept Genthru engaged in a battle he thought he was winning until the very last second when the trap door literally opened beneath him.
📖 Related: Brokeback Mountain Gay Scene: What Most People Get Wrong
The Psychology of the Hunter
Think about the "Gentle Fighter" archetype. Bisky hates her true form. She finds it ungraceful, overly muscular, and "macho." She avoids transforming unless it’s absolutely necessary. Fighting Genthru would have forced her to show her hand. In the world of Hunter x Hunter, information is more valuable than gold. Keeping her true strength a secret—even from her allies sometimes—is part of her survival strategy.
Addressing the Misconceptions: Could She Have Lost?
Some fans argue that Genthru’s Countdown ability makes him a threat to anyone. For those who need a refresher: Countdown is the ability where Genthru touches someone, says the word "Bomber," and attaches a Nen bomb that is synchronized to their heartbeat. It's lethal.
However, to activate it, Genthru has to explain his powers. That’s a "Condition" that makes the bomb stronger. Bisky, being a master of the same caliber as Netero's inner circle, likely knows how to deal with curse-type Nen. More importantly, she’s fast. Like, "disappear from your field of vision" fast. Genthru wouldn't have been able to touch her to set the bomb in the first place.
Why didn't Bisky fight Genthru then? Because she isn't a glory hound. She’s a teacher who understands that the struggle is the point. Gon needed to lose a hand (literally) to understand the stakes of his chosen life.
The Real-World Writing Logic
From a meta perspective, Togashi is a master of subverting expectations. In any other manga, the mentor fights the big bad while the hero watches, or the hero wins through a sudden power-up. Here, the mentor steps aside, and the hero wins through a meticulously planned, almost architectural trap involving shovels and gasoline.
👉 See also: British TV Show in Department Store: What Most People Get Wrong
It makes the victory feel earned. If Bisky fights, the Greed Island arc ends with a whimper. By staying back, she allowed the arc to end with a roar—and a very charred Gon.
What This Means for Future Arcs
This decision sets a precedent for how Bisky operates. She’s a background power player. She trains the next generation, ensures they don't die, but lets them take the risks. We see this again in the Chimera Ant arc (briefly) and the Succession Contest. She is the foundation, not the spire.
If you’re looking for a takeaway from the whole "why didn't Bisky fight Genthru" debate, it’s this: In the world of Hunter x Hunter, strength isn't just about who can punch the hardest. It’s about who has the discipline to stay their hand when a greater lesson is at stake.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you are re-watching Greed Island or analyzing the power scaling of the series, keep these points in mind to better understand the narrative structure:
- Observe the "Training Aura": Watch the scenes where Bisky watches Gon and Killua practice. Her internal monologue focuses entirely on their potential, never her own desire to fight.
- Analyze the Bara Fight: Use that brief skirmish as a yardstick. Whatever she did to Bara, she would have done tenfold to Genthru.
- Study the Conditions: Genthru’s power relies on his opponent being slower or less knowledgeable about Nen distribution. Bisky fails both of those criteria for him.
- Contextualize the "Game": Remember that Greed Island is a restricted environment. The players are there to play, and Bisky’s "play" was to act as a coach, not a carry.
To truly appreciate the writing, look at the fight not as a missed opportunity for a "cool" battle, but as the moment Gon officially transitioned from a student to a player on the world stage. Bisky’s absence from the front line was her greatest gift to him.
Next Steps for Deepening Your HxH Knowledge:
- Compare Bisky's training methods in Greed Island to Wing's methods in Heavens Arena to see how her "hands-off" approach is actually more aggressive.
- Examine the specific Nen sub-types (Conjuration vs. Transmutation) involved in Genthru's Little Flower to see why a Transmuter like Bisky would have a natural defensive edge.