Sakigake!! Otoko Juku 52

With Togashi beaten to the edge of his life, Momotarou has now challenged the unstoppable Jaki in his place! Who will win in this showdown of warriors...and what game-changer could end up altering this inevitable battle scenario?

Chp. 52: Enter the Four Brave Warriors

100.
“Voice”: Fuffufu, we’re being met by the principal himself…………….
Edajima: I am the principal of Otokojuku, Edajima Heihachi.

101.
Edajima: We’ve already taken the procedures for your enrollment…………I admit you in as special cases: the four of you will be registered as Otokojuku First-Years as of today.
Edajima: Can you make me understand why all of you are convening on Otokojuku…………it’s not too late yet today: carefully think over once more whether or not you’ll pass through this school gate.
“Voice”: Fu, those don’t seem like the words of the principal. Even you are getting up there in years.
“Voice”: DAIISHIN PAAREN SEIHA………!! Those who have mastered themselves as true men can’t go back again hearing that name!!
Edajima: Fufufu, spring thunder………a huge storm is blowing at Otokojuku…………….

102.
Toramaru: Hold on, Togashi! Truly lift your eyes and look at me. Momo will precisely settle your score!

103.
Jaki: As I expected, you’re what’s called the head of the Otokojuku First-Years. You’re recklessly meddling in like that fool. You should understand a bit of my strength and terror.
Momotarou: Well, that’s one more thing I’ll know. Alongside the unthinkable brutality of a person to a person………….!!
Jaki: Do you wish for a sword battle…….!? So then, I’ll draw mine out too: Kongoumaru, the Shuuzou Sword…
(TN: “Shuuzou Sword” or “Shuuzoutou” = “Sword Respectable for Elephants”. Meanwhile, “Kongoumaru” is in reference in name to “kongou”, which has several different meanings including a “vajra” or an “indestructible substance”, a weapon of the same name owned by Hindu God Indra, or the Buddhist concept of “indestructible truth”)
Commentary:
Shuuzou Sword: a powerful sword 5 meters in length and around 50 kilos in weight that was used by the great hero Gunji from the Maurya Empire in ancient India. It takes its name from when Gunji sliced an elephant in two with one swipe. Even today, the hero is praised in the Punjab area of India, holding a Shuuzou Festival in the fall.
-From “India: Living on Mother Earth”, Eigaku House
(TN: This new publishing company for this entry, who isn’t “Minmei Publishing” like many of the priors, has the full name of “Eigaku Kankan”: though the last “kan” is a publishing company, the first “Kan” is that for a “House”, thus I made it Eigaku House akin to it being something like, say, Random House Publishing. As an added note: the “Maurya Empire” is an ancient Indian empire ruled after the withdraw of the forces of Alexander the Great for a period between 321 to 185 BC; it was said to be the largest empire of the Indian subcontinent during its heyday)

104.
Momotarou: !!
Toramaru: Mo…Momo……!!

105.
Momotarou: Uh!!
Momotarou: What is this guy? He’s easily swiping that powerful sword.
Jaki: You can’t escape from my Kongoumaru.

106.
Jaki: Nu!!
Toramaru: G…great, Momo! Stab him in the chest.
Momotarou: OOH--!!

107.
Momotarou: !!
Jaki: Good swordsmanship. However, you can’t use that on me.
Momotarou: ………………!!

108.
Momotarou: Kuu!!
Toramaru: This is bad. This guy’s body is ridiculously huge, but he amazingly isn’t leaving himself unseen.
J: He isn’t just big.
Togashi: Mo…Momo……!!
J: What horrible bleeding. If he isn’t treated quickly…
Toramaru: Togashi, hold on a bit longer.

109.
Togashi: Do…don’t care about me, Momo………He…he must be be………………!!
Toramaru: Hold on, Togashi---!!
Momotarou: ………………………Watch me, Togashi……
Togashi: Nuu!!

110.
Toramaru: Oh no, Momo’s sword is broken---!!
Momotarou: GUFU!!

111.
Jaki: Fuffufu, stupidly, there’s no comparison in…comparing our swords. Thus, you can’t fight anymore.
Jaki: Die---!!
Toramaru: Mo…Momo---!!

112.
Jaki: !!
Toramaru: He did it……!!
Momotarou: Your Shuuzou Sword isn’t what it appears on the outside.

113.
Jaki: Excellent.
Jaki: You’ve done well. There’s a meaning for us saving your lives in the “Kyoura Daiyon Kyousatsu” and in you being called by me.
Jaki: Here’s why…Daiishin! Paaren Seiha! We’ll use that as an appropriate place for your death.
Momotarou: What does that mean? You haven’t told us yet. Are you thinking that I can’t defeat you unarmed?
Voice: HOLD ON--!!

114.
Edajima: Here’s where I’ll explain.
Momotarou: !!
Toramaru: Principal……!!
Edajima: You’re the same as ever, Jaki.
Jaki: You haven’t changed either, principal.
Edajima: Fufufu, Daiishin Paaren Seiha…………a sports contest held once every three years at Otokojuku where you bet your lives having no distinction of “senpai” and “kouhai”.
(TN: I already mentioned “senpai” as a junior’s respect for seniors, whereas “kouhai” is the opposite: the seniors respect and esteem for their junior)

115.
Banner: DAIISHIN PAAREN SEIHA
Toramaru: OOH!!
Edajima: Daiishin Paaren Seiha……Paaren is a thing connected to a legend of “Paaren Hen Teiryuu”. Long ago, an 8-headed dragon who tormented the people of China for many years was toppled in a heroic battle by 8 kenpou fighters from Sichuan, who brought together their power to exterminate it and returning it’s corpse to the heavens. Thus, from this tradition, a team battle fought as 8-vs.-8 handed down from within the battle format of a fight of warriors is called the “Daiishin Paaren Seiha”: on a stage devoted to its unique concept, it is a fight where you bet your life. It is a match where the ability of each person, of course, becomes larger as a united power.
(TN: For starters, “Sichuan”, also known as “Szechwan”, is a province in the interior of southern China known for its rivers, its history…and its cuisine. Secondly, the legend that I kept in Japanese instead of translating into English, “Paaren Hen Teiryuu”, translates into “The Party-of-8 Sends Back the Heavenly Dragon”)

116.
Edajima: The one who controls the Daiishin Paaren Seiha also controls Otokojuku. This is Otokojuku’s ultimate ceremony of carnage.
Jaki: And this year is the one every three years that it occurs.
Momotarou: Your eight has dominated these three-straight times for the last ten years, whereas you name Daigouin Jaki, the head of the third-years, to possess the designation of authority.
Toramaru: Hohohold on. I don’t understand something but it’s supposed to be eight. With Momo, Togashi, J and me…who are the last four………!?
Jaki: Have you forgotten…everything within the “Kyoura Daiyon Kyousatsu” was within our grasp. We’ve called for you four appropriate allies.

117.
“Voice”: It’s been a while.
Toramaru: HUH…!!

118.
Toramaru: Y…YOU--!!

TN: Welcome back you four...well OK, mostly just welcome back to Date and Raiden. It's weird that now they're suddenly on Momo and the First-Years side, the quartet of the Gougakuren suddenly look less evil than before, particularly Date who looks more mature than evil. (don't get me started on Hien, he should stay evil instead of turning into another bishonen...though Raiden and Gekkou is cooler either way) But I guess once revealed, the shadow evil stuff isn't befitting anymore. (which is why Jaki...well OK, he's not quite revealed so his face is still really shadowy) Aside from the return of Date and the Sanmenken, the chapter just had a ton going for it. Momo vs. Jaki (pt. 1, obviously) was an impressive display akin to Togashi's...only less of a rapestomp with Momo manipulating his size and doing well in taking out Kongoumaru even if his sword is lost in the process. The other part finally "begins" (there's plenty more, trust me) to reveal the truth of the "Daiishin Paaren Seiha", which is our next main tournament (which will easily drive people nuts just like "Kyoura Daiyon Kyousatsu" before it...but then again it only gets weirder with this tourney due to the "China" flair) and which, if done correctly, allow for someone to bring an end to Jaki's reign! But of course, with the four first years joined by Date's group...we still need to know who Jaki will use...but that will come next time!