Sakigake!! Otoko Juku 66

On a field with a brittle ladder to fight on over an acid basin, Togashi finally has his chance to get back at the killers of his brother...but Hien has gone ahead of him! Can the bird-man succeed on his own against the giant Dokugantetsu?

Chp. 66: Look at the Kettouen!

180.
Wan Taaren: The 2nd Match of the Daiishin Paaren Seiha, the Ryuubon Teimou Fight, shall begin!!
Togashi: Hien……!!

181.
Toramaru: Be careful, Hien. You’ll fall below if your foot slips, turning you to just bone. And it’s not just that Dokugantetsu guy out there----!!
Date: Don’t worry: Hien, one of the Sanmenken, has Choujinken, which is as nimble as a swallow and sharp as a hawk. You’ll come to know of his terror.
(TN: As I explained in the previous arc, “Choujinken” = “Birdman Fist”)

182.
Dokugantetsu: Sei!!
Hien: Ha--!!

183.
Hien: It seems you don’t understand yet: do you think that toy can hit me?
Hien: CHOUJINKEN: KAKUSHI SENBON!!
(TN: “Kakushi Senbon” = “Crane-Beak Senbon”)

184.
Dokugantetsu: !!
Hien: I’ve gone through your nerve ganglia like passing through the eye of a needle. You can’t use your right hand anymore.

185.
Hien: KAKUSHI SENBON JUUJIUCHI!!
(TN: “Kakushi Senbon Juujiuchi” = “Crane-Break Senbon Cross Strike”)
Hien: I can attack anywhere next…even so, I feel like throwing this through your heart.
Toramaru: Th…that Hien did it! With that, this match is already ours.

186.
Dokugantetsu: As expected, that’s why you were just chosen for this Daiishin Paaren Seiha. Not being entertained would be boring.
Dokugantetsu: HOHA!!
Hien: Fuffufu, I did pass through your nerve ganglia…………
Dokugantetsu: Do you think that you can reach my nerve ganglia going through my forged up steel-like muscles so easily?

187.
Dokugantetsu: Well then, I have been going at you too softly.
Dokugantetsu: In that case, I’ll go and unleash all my power. NIOU-RYUU: GOUSAIKEN!!
(TN: First, “Niou-ryuu” is “Niou style”, with “Niou” representing Agyou and Ungyou, two guardian Deva kings who protect the entrances to Buddhist temples, akin to Dokugantetsu being the guardian in the entrance of the Chinju Corridor. Second, “Gousaiken” = “Temple Sign Fist”)
Date: Fuffufu, this is funny. With his frame, he’s going to face Hien with kenpou……
Hien: Hmm……

188.
Dokugantetsu: Haiya---!!

189.
Dokugantetsu: Chi!!
Hien: You can move your body easily, not how you seem on the outside. However, that level of speed can’t defeat me.
Dokugantetsu: Nuurya---!!
Hien: Wherever you’re looking, I’ll get you from behind.
Dokugantetsu: I’ve got you. You didn’t know I got near you so I can catch you from behind with my technique.
Hien: Huh…!?

190.
Hien: !!
Hien: Uh!!
Hien: Gufu
Hien: Uuh!!

191.
Dokugantetsu: Nuwahhaha, how’s that!!
Toramaru: Wh…what---!! What is that---!!
Togashi: Hien---!!

192.
Dokugantetsu: THIS IS NIOU-RYUU: JOUKASATSU DAISHARIN!!
(TN: “Joukasatsu Daisharin” = “Locked Shackle Murdering Giant Swing”)
Hien: Ugugu~~~!!
Dokugantetsu: What pain: the power of my tightening legs is increasing with the centrifugal speed, doubling its power. Can you bare with this pain forever?

193.
Togashi: HIEN---!!
Dokugantetsu: That guy is behaving strangely----!!
Dokugantetsu: Has the idiot forgotten: this ladder made of Raorou Cedar was made calculated to break apart at once if there’s more than three.
Togashi: Uuh……!!
Wan Taaren: It’s a terrible technique. It’s perfectly decided: he can’t escape that at all, he’ll just bare it until he dies.
Dokugantetsu: Nuwahhaha, you seem pained. Are you still breathing? Seeing your beautiful face get strained is really pleasant.

194.
Hien: N…no good. I’m losing consciousness. It’s as he said, at this rate, he’ll kill me…!!
Toramaru: Hold on, Hien!! Stand firm---! Can you hear my voice---!!
Togashi: ………………!!
Wan Taaren: What is he intending with that dosu he pulled out? To throw it to save his ally is unforgivable by me as inspector of the Paaren Seiha.
Togashi: Don’t mock me…!! Do you think I’d behave poorly in a match of men?

195.
Dokugantetsu: Nuwahhahaha, my arm strength is weakening.
Dokugantetsu: Right now, either strangling him to death or dropping him into the sulfur-nitric acid lake is fine---!!
Hien: I…regret………
Hien: I’m…sorry. Please handle the rest, everyone.
Voice: Hien---!! Open your eyes---!!
Voice: Open your eyes! Would you look at this---!!

196.
Kanji: TOU (FIGHT)
Hien: To…Togashi……!!

197.
Toramaru: Wh…what’s th…that………!? He engraved the character for “Fight” on his chest…………!!
Wan Taaren: A Kettouen………
(TN: “Kettouen” = “’Fight’ Blood Support”; considering there was no easy translation I kept it in Japanese)
Commentary:
Kettouen……an extreme form of assistance where prior to a match where life and honor is betted on in the Edo period, relatives and friends would engrave the single character of “Tou” (“Fight”) on their chest since they couldn’t assist them by using their voices, placing on their body the same pain as the fighter and praying for certain victory. Its origin was further back from “Bukan” (“Book of Heraldry”), the Chinese Strategy book brought forth in the Kamakura Era. However, since the scarred character on the chest is left there for the rest of their lives, it shouldn’t be done unless you’re very prepared and need to show the feeling that you’re thinking of your partner.
-From “Warrior Soul”, Minmei Publishing

Togashi: You’re my companion in life and death and my vowed partner! I don’t want to remember the partner I have as pitiful---!! If you’re no good even after seeing this, then you’re that sort of man! One who dies selfishly----!!

198.
Dokugantetsu: What is he joking about!! Even with that behavior, it’s futile. He’s not breathing anymore!!
Dokugantetsu: !?

199.
Hien: Fuffufufu, I really have an intense partner……………who doesn’t seem to die regardless of anything.
Dokugantetsu: Wh…what--!!
Dokugantetsu: GEHOO---!!
(End of Volume 7)

TN: I know he's not fighting and I know that he probably damaged himself in the long run...but whenever Togashi does something, it just spells out cool! Ensciribing the "fight" kanji to inspire Hien may or may not have been what was intended by many around them, but in him doing that as well as chiding the bishonen for being a horrible partner for falling for Dokugantetsu's attacks, you already know why he's probably one of the most interesting (and one of my favorite) characters in this series. Though I really don't have too much to say on Hien in this chapter...it did make me really hate Dokugantetsu a bit more than I did before. When the giant appeared in the Chinju Corridor, his appearance on the spiked floor acting as a silent menace gave him potential...but all he does now is just talk and bash and act all high and mighty! I sort of wished that Dokugantetsu acted more like his former self than the one on here..let alone how silly that whole "loop-de-loop" he performed on Hien was, effective as it was.