It's finally begun!
The champion, Hanma Baki, is fighting against
Shinogi-Style Cord-Cut Karate user, Shinogi Kosho!
Just who will be left standing when the match ends?!
Hanma... Baki...
"The Cord-Cut"
Mom! Mom!
--Sorry! Bad time? --It's all right- What is it?
Have you seen Baki-kun? I lent him my notebook and I need it back-
No, I haven't seen him-
Is he out running again?
Geez! He could at least say where he's going!
He sure disappears a lot.
What does he do? Do you know?
Staying out at night is how delinquents start out---
But that bonehead would never turn bad!
Baki! Baki! Baki! Baki!
Just listen to this ovation!
The King, the strongest boy in history,
may very well be the most popular king in history as well!
There are four rules!
The use of weapons is absolutely forbidden!
There is no guarantee of safety or wellbeing!
The awardment of goods, money, or prizes is absolutely forbidden!
He who ascends to the throne will have his name forever known!
This is a battle of honor and pride, with no guarantees or prize money!
This is pretty damn popular---!
This arena beneath the Tokyo Dome is a true holy land
where all manner of top-class martial artists gather-
And that boy is a king who reigns over all of those veterans-
So that's Hanma Yujiro's son...
Hanma-kun- Do you know just how excited I am right now?
I feel like an innocent boy about to spend a night with a beautiful girl-
I'll be frank- I feel like using my full array of techniques today-
Shinogi-san-
I know that you're strong-
But don't assume you can win here with a special move or two!
This is the holy land where the world's strongest is decided!
It appears you need your cords cut as well-
His cords?
To think Cord-Cutter Shinogi would show up here---
Cord-Cutter?
I recruited him personally-
It was during the San Fermin festival held every year
in Pamplona, in northern Spain.
The San Fermin festival?
Yes- A delightful festival in which bulls chase people around-
--That's where you found Shinogi? --Yes- That was where I first met him-
Why bulls?
I asked why he did so, as well-
I want someone to fight-
Cord-Cut Karate---
Despite its great tradition,
its extreme dangerousness and lack of sparring partners
has earned it a reputation as a tragic style-
How will ol' Baki suppress that ferocious demon?
Neither fighter is moving!
The crowd is holding its breath as it fixates on their movements!
They can't move- Both their fists are extremely lethal weapons-
It's as if they have knives in both hands-
But they both nurture demons in their hearts-
Eventually, their fear and wariness will lose to the desire to fight!
Which do you believe will move first?
That's a wonderful question!
If I had to pick one---
I knew it!
Talk about sharp---!
Terrific---!
In Cord-Cut Karate, palms and feet aren't meant for striking!
They're meant for slicing!
What---?!
He's strong---!
But of course! He's the champion!
Shinogi Kosho is unable to move!
Is it all over before he can show the true potential of Cord-Cut Karate?!
Crap!
The nerves in his right arm have been severed!
The champion has lost use of his right arm!
That's the so-called "Cord-Cut"-
It may seem underhanded, but no other karate technique compares
in terms of bodily destruction-
Is he gonna be alright---?!
--Probably hurts- --Hurts---?
The pain of having a main nerve severed is beyond imagination-
Think back to your dentist visits-
Moreover, he has no pain-killers!
Just getting started!
Lower kick...!
Middle...!
Upper!
I can't move my arm!
He connects with his toes!
It's Hell from here on out---
The champion is a punching bag!
Has the moment of abdication come?!
T-this is--
This is--- the underground arena?!
Once I hit you with this ippon-ken---
---I will be king!
What the---?!
The champion retorts with a devastating counter!
Shinogi-san-
Do you think you can take my place just by debilitating my right arm?!
Don't you ever forget!
This is where the world's strongest is decided!
--Enough with the tough-guy act- --I wouldn't be so sure!
That's our champion!
He's holding his ground with only the use of his left arm!
They're both laughin'---!
I've waited for a man like you to appear---
For the day I could have a fight like this---
Please, Master! Train me even more!
I want to get even stronger!
Kosho- Why do you wish to be strong so badly?
My brother--- He's smart, a good fighter, nice, and cool---
I respect him more than anyone!
So I want to get even stronger!
Kosho- What is the body's strongest weapon?
A seiken punch!
The sharper the body part you use, the stronger a karate attack becomes-
More than a seiken, a hiraken! More than a hiraken, an ippon-ken-
More than an ippon-ken, a nukite!
From that day on, I began studying Cord-Cut Karate-
Brutal man-to-man training---
But I had no need for tough love-
Because I had tenacity, passion, and an object of admiration-
Is this--
I've taught you all there is- The burden on my shoulders is lifted-
From today forth, you are a master of Shinogi-Style Cord-Cut Karate-
Master!
I've gained a fine successor---
But because it's so dangerous, I could find no domestic opponents,
so I traveled all the way to Europe, but found none who satisfied me---
Hanma Baki!
I'm delighted from my heart that I was able to meet you!
Shinogi's serious now-
Shinogi Kosho's look has changed!
Does he have something else besides the terrifying Cord-Cut?!
The fifteen years I've practiced karate---
Is he planning to use it?
---and the astounding secret move of the Shinogi Style---
---I will let you experience them!
--What an exaggerated stance--- --Kato-
When it comes to fighting, only humans use their fists-
--Do you know why? --Huh?
Because unlike animals, people do not have powerful weapons
such as claws, fangs, or horns-
But if we did have claws as powerful as those of animals---
That's even sharper than his nukite was!
The Shinogi Style's true terror is not its nukite techniques!
It is the strength of fingers trained to their limit!
Shinogi Kosho unleashes a relentless attack!
The champion can't fight back!
Damn---! He's dodgin' everything!
Because he'll lose entire bones if he gets hit-
He managed to escape, but he'll get caught eventually-
It really is like he's fighting a tiger or a lion---!
The lust for a fight can change a man into a beast-
The same holds true for Baki-
That's a pretty roundabout way of putting things-
That boy known as Hanma Baki may look gentle at first glance,
but his obsession with fighting goes far beyond my own comprehension-
For the three years since he appeared before me---
---he's fought and fought in this arena, and won---!
And he's transformed this arena into a real wonderland!
A 60-kg boy beat 100+ kg martial artists one after another,
and lost not even once to become the undefeated champion!
That runt did---?!
He's actually closing in on me...!
That's definitely a good attack. But nothing Iike his!
I was right!
He's quick, but his trajectories simple!
He saw through it- He may as well not have a handicap now!
Damn you---!
Hanma Baki. Even if this costs me...
---I will have no regrets!
He caught him with his shoulder!
Got you.
He cut it! He sacrificed his own arm to unleash a last-ditch Cord-Cut!
The champion has lost use of his right eye!
My right eye...!
Hanma Baki- Your victory is now gone---!
He disappeared!
Missed me-
I have no depth perception...!
He can't use striking attacks- But---
Burn this face into your memory---
It's the last face you'll ever see!
Remember it in the darkness...!
This is the only time your fists stop-
He realized it!
This is the end! There's no escape from this position!
All he can do is give up!
How humiliating---!
Shinogi-san! Give up!
Break it! Go ahead and snap it!
You'd never do karate again---!
If it can't even beat you, what does it matter?!
You'd never be able to recover from it!
Snap it! Or I'll bite my tongue off!
You---
...idiot!
The match is over!
Yes!
Baki! Baki! Baki!
Whoa---!
My blood is boiling---!
Baki! Baki! Baki!
"Medical Room"
Will my nerves reconnect?
Doctor?!
That was a wonderful match!
Eh? Uh, yeah---
It's been so long since I was this moved! Thanks so much!
So, what about my nerves?
Don't worry! It's as easy as slapping on some glue!
Also, um---
I know, I know- Him-
Here he is!
Shinogi-san!
What a disgrace---
Hardly---!
Why didn't you break it?
A few hundred more grams of your weight from behind
and it would've completely snapped-
Breaking your arm wouldn't have finished you off-
You probably would've countered with a kick anyway,
and I didn't have the strength left to block one---
In that situation, knocking you out was my best option-
Hanma Baki.
Yes---?
Keep on winning-
Right! Thanks!
Well, I should be going, Doc-
He's pretty much the only one capable of fighting with severed nerves!
He beat you good, Kosho-
Baki!
Hey, now---!
That was a fabulous match!
You're my champion, all right! I'm proud of you, Baki!
I watched your fight, Hanma Baki-kun-
Orochi--- Doppo-san?
It seems you already know my name-
That's because there are no martial artists who don't know your name-
I haven't been this excited in a long time-
Yes- So much that I'd like to fight you-
Not so fast!
You fight me first!
Who are you?
I'm the one who's gonna beat you!
Act all smug on the champion's throne while you still can!
Motobe Izo?!
You came?
Motobe Izo?
You've probably heard his name before, too-
He uses no one style, and continues to perfect ultra-practical jujutsu-
A living legend-
How things change-
What a miserable state old "Cannibal Orochi" is now in!
I AM a luminary with a million pupils now-
I could kill you in one minute as you are now-
This guy's out for blood---!
--Hanma Baki, was it? --Y-yes---
You don't look like him-
He probably came to see your face.
Wonderful! All the players are falling into place!
Baki! I suggest you visit Motobe's dojo sometime-
I'm sure he'll greet you warmly!
Motobe--- Izo---
Strydom-san!
It's been five years! I didn't know you were in Japan!
I watched your match-
If you struggled with an opponent of that caliber,
you'll never be able to beat the Ogre!
He's growing stronger even as we speak-
I'm sure he'll appear before you someday-
He's... coming...!
they will be reborn as even more Iove.
"Next Episode"
The name of the still-undefeated boy puts intense pressure
on those who claim to be strongest.
Who will challenge him next?
The men howl in pursuit of the right to be that next challenger.
On the boy's undefeated path is a shadow with a fang-hidden smile.
He bravely confronts it.
"Next Episode: Challenger"