Sakigake!! Otoko Juku 204

Even when facing against the threat of invisible glass needles, Raiden (with the help of his simian assistants) has been able to finally solve the riddles of Ryoukou's techniques! But how much longer can he stand against this leader!?

Chp. 204: Man-to-Man Faith

167.
Ryoukou: NUGUOO---!!
Ryoukou: Y…you, that’s…smart pretensions………!!
Toramaru: He…he did it---!! A…amazing; as…expected, Raiden---!
Togashi: It’s…a great turnaround with this backhanding of Ryoukou’s special technique----!!
Momotarou: N…no, Raiden is bearing extremely deep wounds as well. With this, the match is 50/50…………!!

168.
(Title page…it may be an even fight but I still say it’s 4-to-1…yeah, people may not count the monkeys)

169.
Ryoukou: Bu…but, you can’t defeat me with this standard.
Ryoukou: Nun!!
Ryoukou: Wh…what’s wrong!? Wo…won’t you take out the Funketsu Needles that were buried in your body? Ev…even with that, you already have lost even your willpower!!
Raiden: …………!! That is what’s called “needless assistance”.

170.
Raiden: Now, you should come!!
Ryoukou: Y…you’re the first that has heated me to this point, Raiden…………!! In addition, I can’t quiet this anger……!! I’ll present the worst death to you together with those annoying monkeys!!
Monkeys: KII---!!
Ryoukou: NUUU~~~!!

171.
Ryoukou: You death-escaper--!!
Ryoukou: Chii!!
Raiden: Let me show you: the secret techniques of Daioujou-ryuu Sattaijutsu……………!!
(TN: “Sattaijutsu” = “Killer Taijutsu” or “Killer Martial Art”)
Ryoukou: What are you letting out---!!

172.
Ryoukou: Nu!!
Ryoukou: Fu, this is Daioujou-ryuu’s secret technique………!! That’s funny: if I were thinking of something, I’d say what this is is merely Shinken Shirahadori.
(TN: As I mentioned in a previous fight [ironically Raiden’s fight against the monkeys], “Shinken Shirahadori” is a Japanese term regarding the catching of a sword when an opponent thrusts it down overhead)
Raiden: The strangeness of Daioujou-ryuu Sattaijutsu will have such meaning to your muscles from a strong breathing technique!!

173.
Raiden: HA----!!
Raiden: DAIOUJOU-RYUU HIOUGI: CHOURYOU KINDAN!!
(TN: “Chouryou Kindan” = “Bulging-Hills Muscle-Bullets”)
Ryoukou: NA!!

174.
Ryoukou: Guwa!!
Toramaru: Wh…what---!!
Togashi: In a flash of a yell, the…the Funketsu Needles buried in Raiden’s body have flown out and gone through Ryoukou’s body----!!
Monkey 1: KYA!!
Monkey 2: KYA!!

175.
Ryoukou: Nuu!!
Raiden: Be prepared!! Now there’s nothing but a peaceful death for you!!
Ryoukou: Daha!!
Ryoukou: It seems I made light of your power. B…but, I see your weakness!!
Raiden: !!

176.
Monkeys: KII!?
Ryoukou: It’s them!!
Monkeys: GIKII---!!
Raiden: NA!!

177.
Monkeys: KIKI----!!
Raiden: Y…you, what are you---!!|
Ryoukou: Don’t move---!!
Raiden: Nu!!
Ryoukou: If I let my hand go, those three will instantly be swallowed by the rapids and go non-stop to that world. If you love them, then don’t make even a step.
Raiden: !! Nuu! Y…you………!!

178.
Togashi: Wh…what: that Ryoukou, what is he thinking---!!
Toramaru: He…he’s squarely perceived that he can’t win if he fought and has desperately taken those monkeys as human…no, monkey hostages----!!!
(TN: This joke really works better in Japanese due to how simple it is: the Japanese word for “hostage” is “hitojichi”, with the “hito” being the kanji for “human”. Since Toramaru had no choice but to say “hitojichi” for hostage, he has to correct it and turn it into “sarujichi” due to the hostages being monkeys. The only way to make it work was to literally translate it as “human hostage” instead of merely “hostage” in order to make Toramaru’s correction work)
Togashi: Uwahhaha, but he is an idiot---!! He doesn’t know what will happen with those monkeys!!
Toramaru: Right: If they get killed, they get killed!! With that, Raiden will come to not have the baggage and it will be a relief for him---!
Momotarou: Y…you’re wrong………He…he isn’t that sort of man……!! Th…that man called Raiden……!
Togashi: Huh…!?
Monkeys: KIII---!!

179.
Ryoukou: Anyhow it’s impossible for you to discover a chance for a counterattack from this dilemma. From here I’ll quickly set loose this lifeline!!
Raiden: …………!!
Ryoukou: Take this---!!
Raiden: GAFU!!
Ryoukou: Fufu: right, you’re that sort of man.
Togashi: Wh---what---!! Ra…Raiden directly took those attacks now without taking a step---!
Toramaru: You…you fool---!! He’s only come to just how that guy said due to monkeys--!

180.
Raiden: GEHA!!
Ryoukou: Fu, be relieved. If just you are defeated, then I’ll secure these three lives.
Raiden: Th…those words are double-dealing now…………!!
Ryoukou: Aah!!
Monkeys: GUKKII---!!

181.
Ryoukou: With this, even my mood will come to be a bit cleared----!!
Raiden: Douoo---!!
Toramaru: Wh…why does he need to take it this far----!!
Togashi: Co…counter and fight him----!! Raiden---!
Raiden: I…have man-to-man faith…!! I…I don’t have reason to break that………!!
Momotarou: Wha……!! Man-to-man faith……!
Date: It…can’t be; he…has it with Enpou, the original master of those monkeys……………!!

182.
Enpou: P…p…please hold on, Raiden-dono…
Enpou: I…I have a…request…………
Enpou: Do…don’t I have a right to ask for this……Th…those monkeys are si…similar to my sons…!! Can’t you please take charge of them……………!
Raiden: ………!!
Enpou: Th…this is my final request.
Raiden: ………Be relieved………!! I will even in exchange for my life…………!!

183.
Raiden: I’m…indebted………
Momotarou: It’s…it’s heavy………!!
Togashi: !?
Momotarou: …………!! Th…this man-to-man faith even for his life is heavy for Raiden!!
Ryoukou: Fuu—with this, I’ll finally be cleared away!! So then, shall we gradually finish this!!
Raiden: All of you, I…leave the rest to you……………Th…this brutal demon, I…I’m certain will……………!!

184.
Ryoukou: DIE----!!
Togashi & Toramaru: RA…RAIDEN---!!
Monkeys: KIII---!!

185.
Ryoukou: You’re a soft man, while possessing that extent of skill……………!!
Ryoukou: Fu, a man-to-man promise!!
Toramaru: !!
Togashi: Wh…what a guy! Th…those monkeys that were protected conversely for the life of Raiden were!!
Voice: A person’s blood can’t be plied between by him……!!
Date: I will present the most appropriate death to him!!
Togashi & Toramaru: DA…DATE---!!
(End of Vol. 22)

TN: You better believe Date has to be pissed after what happened in this chapter...heck, anyone would considering what a jerk Ryoukou is turning out to be. (but Date's side will be further explained in the next chapter) As for this chapter, Raiden definitely had this match won and under his control until that idiot brought the monkeys into it as his hostage. Ryoukou is so cowardly that he would choose to hold a sick means to defeat his opponent than to allow for an honorable death by his own skill and acknowledging Raiden's superiority. Raiden himself rocked at the start of the chapter, particularly using that weird "expansion" technique to fire those needles back...but of course it is the second half that shows why he probably is one of the more interesting characters of the series. We knew that Raiden and Enpou did come to an understanding of each other at the end of their fight, but to see Raiden abandon everything just to protect the monkeys that he was given to act as his disciples (only to have Ryoukou kill them anyway) was enough to show what really mattered: yes he could win, but it wouldn't have looked good on him nor on everything Enpou gave him. I really wish Raiden would be the one giving the just desserts for what Ryoukou has pulled...but that's Date's job next time!