Sakigake!! Otoko Juku 132

Tossing aside the rest of the "test subjects" of Gandhara, Date finally is facing Sanpousei Ryuuhou in actual combat! But will any research be enough to take on one of the most powerful warriors of Otokojuku?

Chp. 132: The Kyokubuhatsu Man!!

166.-167.
Toramaru: He…did it---!! You’re amazing, Date: you’ve knocked down ten of those Gandhara guys without a problem!
Togashi: See you priests on that mountain!! He’s as incredibly strong as usual!
Date: What’s wrong, you Ryuuhou…………I had no fear for your spear: if you don’t get out of here, I shall be pulling out.
Voice: Fuffuffu, what great self-confidence.

168.
Date: ………………………
Toramaru: WH…WHAT---!!
Togashi: AAH!! He got behind Date without being noticed~~~~!

169.
Ryuuhou: My name is Ryuuhou, general of Gandhara’s Sanpousei. I shall be taking your life.
Date: Fu…you were behind my back without me feeling any indication or your bloodthirst…you seem to be a tad serviceable.

170.
Ryuuhou: Thanks to those foolish men, who fainted over there and who exposed their disgraceful behavior, your skills were shown to me.
Ryuuhou: However, this is what is called ‘one-sided’; now I shall show you.

171.
Ryuuhou: The secrets of Gandhara’s Souryuu Hakubujin!!
(TN: “Souryuu Hakubujin” = “Double-Dragon White-Dancing Blades”)

172.
Toramaru: Wh…what is th…that there~~~!!
Togashi: How…stupid!! He…he squared those round stones as if he was slicing tofu and piled it up on top of his blade--!

173.
Gekkou: He’s done that……………!! And further, his topknot braid is a Kyokubuhatsu!
(TN: “Kyokubuhatsu” = “Ultimate Warrior Hair”)
Momotarou: Kyokubuhatsu………!?
Commentary:
Kyokubuhatsu…there was a system that indicates the grade of ability in the world of kenpou in Ancient China by the way hair on the head is braided. These grades, from the top, were called “Koubuhatsu”, “Otsubuhatsu” and “Heibuhatsu”, with the existence of the highest authorities being “Kyokubuhatsu”. Apparently, to be approved of this honorable hairstyle which merely controls this so simply is experienced through the ultimate training, just being on those who reach the top and is said to it may or may not appear in one of a thousand.
-From “World Hair Encyclopedia”, Taikoubou Books
(TN: Just like “Kyokubuhatsu”, each of these other styles have the “-buhatsu” at the end with another kanji at the beginning discerning the ranks. Therefore, “Koubuhatsu” (the style on the far right) is “First-Class Warrior Hair”, “Otsubuhatsu” (the center) is “Second-Class Warrior Hair” and “Heibuhatsu” (the far left) is “Third-Class Warrior Hair”)
Ryuuhou: Do you understand: by betting my Kyokubuhatsu, you cannot win. I’m going to slice you into namasugiri just like those stones.
(TN: “Namasugiri” is a dish of raw fish and vegetables seasoned in vinegar)
Date: Fu…this entertainment is quite amusing.
Ryuuhou: Entertainment……!!
Date: So then, throw those stones towards me. Let me show you a much more amusing thing.
Ryuuhou: ………!!

174.
(Yeah…Date is showing him something interesting…)

175.
Date: HAKYOKU-RYUU HIOUGI: TENBYOUKAN!!
(TN: “Tenbyoukan” = “Tacking-Point Salt”)
Toramaru: Ooh, as expected of Date---!! He skewered all the stones, showing spear judgment without being seen by the eye~~~~!!
Ryuuhou: Fu…..isn’t that great. You can do that with some knowledge of spearmanship.
Date: I’m returning them; you should look closer.
Ryuuhou: ………!?

176.
Ryuuhou: Huh…!?
Ryuuhou: Th…this is…………!! The remains of the spear entirely make them look like dice………………!!
Toramaru: A…mazing!! The stones have completely become like dice~~~~!
Togashi: He didn’t merely just skewer them; he worked quickly to do that much---!!
Ryuuhou: Fu……what skillful behavior. However, those tricks have no use in actual combat.

177.
Ryuuhou: I shall make you realize that now.
Date: ………………………!!
Ryuuhou: GANDHARA HIOUGI: SOURYUU KASSOUJIN!!
(TN: “Souryuu Kassoujin” = “Double-Dragon Smooth and Slippery Blades”)

178.
(I guess Ryuuhou’s swords…are ice skates now?)

179.
Toramaru: Wh…what is that attack!! He slid on the ground with the blades of his sword like an ice skater and attacked with terrific speed—
Togashi: That’s right: it’s because that oil-like substance he put on his blade earlier made it easier to slide a bit with the friction on the ground~~~!!

180.
Ryuuhou: Ha---!!
Ryuuhou: Do you realize my terror that is approved by my Kyokubuhatsu!! You can’t use your arms or legs with this nimble attack!!
Ryuuhou: What’s wrong: you can’t do any more!!

181.
Ryuuhou: Take this---!!
Date: Do you think I can merely run? If that’s how you are, then you’re not qualified to hold your Kyokubuhatsu.
Ryuuhou: Huh!?
Ryuuhou: Uh!!
Ryuuhou: Y…you, you…put a gap in the ground when I was unaware!!

182.
Ryuuhou: Uo!!
Ryuuhou: Kuu!!

183.
Ryuuhou: Fu, that was dangerous. However, you can’t use that same attack on me again.
Ryuuhou: !!
Ryuuhou: What are you doing…………!? You’re brushing the dust on your shoes in the middle of a fight……
Ryuuhou: ……………………………!! That…can’t be, it’s………!!

184.
Ryuuhou: …………………………!!
Date: This is a perfect shoe brush. When in the middle of any match, you should pay attention to your appearance. That is what’s called the dandyism of a man.
(End of Vol. 14)

TN: First of all, an apology: I wanted to get this up since it was done on Christmas Eve, but I sort of screwed things before the holiday and couldn't do so until today for this and the next chapter. The good news is there wasn't too much to talk about anyway so it's no big deal.

As for the chapter...well, they do say that a lot of brushes are made of hair, so Date getting one off Ryuuhou's hairstyle is somewhat of a compliment. (of course to rank people by the way they braid their hair is something only Otokojuku can pull off with believability) Aside from that, the whole confrontation of the "cubing" of the stones and Date turning them into dice was probably the most memorable part of the chapter, showing both opponents fighting at their best and taunting the other with one weird fighting style after another. All in all, it's just what the series has been bringing us for a while now so it isn't going to be any problems or troubles!