Kenichi was, as always, immersed in adventures that would profoundly contribute to his growth. As the top disciple of Ryozanpaku, he received the best training one could imagine, with personalized attention that even Kannoh Shou couldn't boast about.
A young man with blonde hair exuded a completely charming aura, surrounded by a retinue of women. His devilish smile and ironclad demeanor hinted at impending trouble. He was a master of savate, though he wasn't on par with the masters Kenichi would face.
There was a certain air of danger and malice about him that instilled a sense of unease, a character filled with surprises, distinctly reminiscent of a killer. "My beautiful ladies," the man whispered, "what do you think?"
Before that.
Kenichi was searching for answers about who would be more powerful, his masters or someone who could provide the answer. He noticed Apachai and Shigure huddled to the side, crouched behind a door's grille.
-What are you two doing? - Kenichi asked.
-Shhhh, - Apachai whispered. Just then, a hand reached out and opened the door.
-Well, we'll inform the client later. Thanks, Sakaki, - remarked an elderly man in an elegant suit, surprising Kenichi, who observed everything with a complex calmness.
-What the hell are you two doing? - Sakaki questioned, casually dressed in a brown leather jacket, wide open, with a thin scar running across his face.
-Nothing much, - Shigure replied, with his feet resting on the ceiling.
-They brought gifts. Right? - Apachai asked, feigning innocence.
Kenichi approached with an innocent expression. - Who were those people? -
Surprised, Sakaki responded dismissively, saying they were detectives. But Kenichi imagined something far worse, transitioning from detectives to police, and his mind began to wander. A rabbit passed by, leaving trails and carrots in its wake.
-What have you done? We still have time! Surrender! Right now! - Kenichi shouted, tears welling in his eyes.
-You're being an idiot. I haven't done anything, - Sakaki retorted.
Ma Kensei was taking photos, his elderly appearance deceiving.
-Ha! Sakaki wouldn't be caught by just two people; they'd have to bring in the army and tanks to take him down, - Ma Kensei remarked.
Tochumaru stood off to the side, whispering sweetly while Runna watched Ma Kensei and stretched her hands out. Ma Kensei lifted her and showed her the photos; Runna beamed as she took pictures of the cats, something Ma Kensei couldn't refuse.
-Is Master Sakaki a thug, like a brother? - Runna asked.
-He's on the wrong path, - Ma Kensei commented. Contrary to what one would expect from a master of Chinese arts, Runna extended her little hands, and Sakaki picked her up. But what she said surprised everyone: "Let's rob a store!" Kenichi fell to the floor, mumbling about the bad influence Kei was having on the girl.
"Ahahahahaha!" Sakaki laughed. - Eager little brat, go ask Akisame to buy you some candy. -
Sakaki moved to a large wooden board and began explaining to Kenichi that detectives sought him for work requests that tended to be dangerous. In this way, Sakaki handled jobs that were perilous and could not be made public due to diplomatic issues and clandestine dealings, necessary for combating expert fighters.
-Unlike Akisame or Ma, who have an acupuncture clinic and a chiropractic practice, I don't have a stable salary. I just need to complete a job and get a hefty payout in one go, - Sakaki explained.
He struck the large wooden plank, which seemed to sway back and forth, absorbing all the resistance from Sakaki as he delivered rapid blows with his bare feet and arms.
In the distance, Runna was in Akisame's arms, enjoying a lollipop while he taught her about kanji and art.
…
Later that night, Miu, feeling drowsy with disheveled hair and thoughts of Kei, listened to the masters' remarks.
-Well, this time, a somewhat dangerous uncle might be involved, - Sakaki commented.
—Hmm, this topic should be resolved as soon as possible —commented the venerable elder.
—It seems a field trip to explore the underworld society could be interesting —noted Akisame.
—It's going to be tough; this time we're up against something complicated. The most fearsome master I know, Christopher Eclair, is an exceptionally cruel assassin —commented Sakaki. This was both true and false, as Akira Hongo was much more dangerous, a fact that few should be aware of. Things were getting precarious, and Miu listened to all the comments with a sense of surprise.
—Sooner or later, Ken-chan will find himself fully immersed in this. Isn't it wise to take it slow? Moreover, he already has a rival who's a part of this and may be the most dangerous opponent he will face. It's almost as if destiny has intertwined their paths to make them rivals and competitors —remarked the elder.
***
Eutaro Gonodore was teaching Kei how to perform submissions, tangled on the floor. Kei was beginning to grasp all the techniques, like a worm that started to absorb the venom from others. It took him four days to adapt his style, albeit in a novice form. Different floor techniques, traps, and grips were taught in succession, but not very well understood. In his mind, Kei simulated thousands of encounters against Eutaro every day, but the man was far stronger than he was.
—You need to squeeze harder —Eutaro advised.
—I don't have any strength —Kei replied, delivering three strikes in tandem. Feeling the giant man completely release him, he felt somewhat lost; only Lu had disappeared, and he had no way to integrate himself. He began to ask the giant man, who was more gentle.
—You've improved a lot —Eutaro remarked, recognizing a true talent before him. Perhaps this young man was the future of Worn; his fighting style and personality indicated a potential for greatness.
—It seems so, but that's a mistake. I'm only learning techniques and not refining my martial style. If I gather too many styles, it will be detrimental to me in the future. But knowing a lot is good; I just need to continue focusing on the shapeless style + boxing, integrating some experiences into one —Kei stated, analyzing each movement in detail, which suited him well in minimal fusion.
—What's important is that you understand the purpose of each movement. What you're learning is that the cradle of martial arts is evolution, but first, you must understand the path that requires evolution. You can create your style; old Eutaro will always teach people, regardless of what it takes —Eutaro commented, a fearsome man. Unlike Jun, he evaded strikes and responded with equal intensity, reflecting the disdain inherent in their internal world.
Kei felt an incredible weight as they started to grapple again in a wrestling stance, their arms trying to take each other down. Kei didn't have Eutaro's reach, but he tried with all his might. In wrestling, there are at least 30 types of grips and takedowns. Kei struggled to learn all kinds of takedowns and their uses; the burden was entirely against him as this man overpowered him repeatedly.
We can refer to these as standing techniques, which consist of six elements: backward passes, pushing techniques, flips, fireman carries, suplexes, and lifts.
Following these are ground techniques: lifts, turns, pulls, pushes, and immobilizations.
In many respects, Eutaro must be superior; he is perhaps a beast in grappling. He can fight on the ground for hours, something that Kei's young body cannot endure. Time began to feel short, and the desire to leave was a distant memory; now he desired to stay indefinitely. They fought from morning until night, pushing Kei's body to its limits.
At night, in a lotus position, he performed a thousand new practices, each elevated, a thousand and one times against a mortally precise projection. It was almost like fighting against Shiba, but the sense of inspiration drove him to keep pushing.
By the fifth day of Eutaro's teachings, his body burned with pain. He was taken back to the pit, fighting 35 bouts against older fighters who pushed his body to its limits in every conceivable way. With his bare arms and the singular, magnificent piece of his will, he fought to reach an understanding, practicing underground wrestling, copying styles in his Dou form, while his Sei form absorbed those styles, merging them like a pot of spices, then integrating them into his shapeless reactions. The purer and more practical something is, the simpler it becomes, but simplicity must be controlled by immensity.
What does immensity refer to? Reflexes, experience, technique, skill, spatial awareness, time... fighting is a battle of wills. The pit did not treat the weak kindly, with bites to the neck, grips on sensitive areas, jabs to the eyes and ears, attacks to nerve zones, cartilage, tendons, ankles, knees, pelvis, coccyx, and more, targeting the weak points of the fragile human body, disarming the great fighters with all sorts of traps. Eutaro taught him to see these types of traps while preparing him to understand that, in fighting, trust is the sin of the strong.
...