The Spark Arc is the fourteenth arc in the History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi series and the third arc in the Yami/YOMI Saga.
Plot[]
New Problems for Shinpaku[]
The arc begins on a ship with Isshinsai Ogata giving Tenmon Li a passport from Yami in order to enter Japan, the latter who is eager to greet Ryōzanpaku with a tryout. Later, Haruo Niijima coerced Kisara Nanjō into turning her old hideout, which she got from her businessman father, into the new headquarters for the Shinpaku Alliance after he threatened to tell people that she spent ¥8000 yen trying to get a plush cat toy. As the rooms are being repaired and traps are being set, Niijima checks on the fighting captains (Ikki Takeda, Kōzō Ukita, Kisara, and Hibiki Kugenin) training with equipment from an abandoned gym. However, he's annoyed when he discovers Kenichi Shirahama has set up his own garden at the base and is using it as a place to relax from his Ryōzanpaku training. While getting some water from outside, Kenichi notices a girl trying to find a destination on her map. The girl likes the flowers Kenichi planted and explains that they remind her of her home in China's countryside. When Kenichi confirms to the girl that the destination on the map was the Shinpaku Alliance Headquarters, she suddenly leaves. Back inside, Niijima holds a meeting to discuss the Alliance's current situation. With Ragnarök’s destruction, more gang teams have begun appearing, though most are destroyed by the mysterious Yomi. Siegfried reveals he's heard rumors that the gangs were defeated by just one person and Kisara adds that Loki feared Yomi and suspects the reason that the Shinpaku Alliance hasn't been targeted yet is because it is being saved for last. Takeda worries that since Kenichi defeated Ragnarök's leader Odin, that will make him a prime target, to Kenichi's distress. Later that night, Niijima and Matsui investigate these rumors and secretly watch a fight between the Yomi and a street gang. Yomi sends a single person, a female in a jumpsuit wearing a helmet and mask, who fights the entire gang in a spectacular display, blinding the watching Niijima and Matsui with the sparks generated from her moves colliding with the asphalt. In the mere seconds it takes for the sparks to fade, the Yomi member vanishes, and the entire gang has been annihilated.
Visit back to Chinese District[]
In the Chinese District, Renka Ma defeats a thug to return an innocent person’s wallet and notices Kenichi is there. Kenichi runs (trying to avoid Renka for all the trouble she causes) and she attacks him because of her habit of chasing moving things. Soon afterwards, at Hakubi's restaurant, she learns Kenichi came with Kensei to get some herbal medicine. Hakubi warns that something is stirring in the world of martial arts and discusses with Kensei about Yami's declaration of war on Ryōzanpaku. Hakubi has Renka take Kenichi on a tour of the Chinese district to discuss business with Kensei (to Renka's excitement and Kenichi's dismay). Once they're gone, Kensei asks if Yami has made any special movements, which Hakubi confirms with the arrival of Li Tenmon. He continues that Yami had been hiding in the shadows for years, but they've now come out and suddenly have slaughtered the daily unit. It is clear that Yami is after the title of strongest, and since Yami considers disciples to be indispensable, they will likely target Kenichi and seek to defeat him with their own disciples. On Kenichi’s tour, some thugs that Renka defeated try to take revenge on her, only to be easily overpowered by Kenichi and Renka. During the short fight, Kenichi's Seikūken alerts him to a sword attack from behind and he realizes he's felt strange ever since his fight with Odin. When some thugs try running away, Renka’s habit had her chase them, leaving Kenichi alone. Back at the restaurant, Kensei and Hakubi thwart an assassination attempt, suspected to be sent by Yami, and Kensei decides to speak to Kenichi about whether or not he will stay in Ryōzanpaku. While looking for Renka, Kenichi encounters the girl he met at the Shinpaku headquarters sifting through the dirt. The girl explains she is waiting for someone and was admiring the fertile earth because the land in her home is unusable, which is why she wants to work hard to support her family. After pointing Kenichi back to the Chinese District, the girl meets the person she was waiting for, who is revealed to be Li Tenmon. The girl is revealed to be his daughter, Li Raichi. Li Tenmon's strikes Raichi when he refers to him as father instead of master and reminds her that Yami is waiting for them.
Shinpaku Alliance defeated in a Spark[]
At the Shinpaku Alliance Headquarters, the building Niijima celebrates his base finally being completed. However, the joy is short-lived when Matsui arrives to report that Thor’s sumo stable was attacked by the YOMI girl called Spark when Thor wasn’t there. Niijima deduces Spark will strike their new base next and most of the alliance's captains are confident they can take Spark, but Siegfried has doubts and reveals (in song) that he heard that YOMI is a group of selected humans who are striving to master martial arts. When Niijima learns that Kenichi didn't come to the base that day, he leaves to find him and orders everyone else to prepare for the coming battle. At Ryōzanpaku, Kenichi is sparring with Apachai while Kensei harasses Miu and Shigure. When Kensei thought a beautiful stranger was coming for a visit, it proved to be a trap be Renka, who followed him and Kenichi back from the Chinese district. Miu and Shigure attempt to beat Kensei while he's restrained, but he somehow switches places with Kenichi and asks Renka why she came. Renka reveals to Kenichi and Kensei that Natsu has been stopping by Hakubi's restaurant to find out about Sogetsu Ma's whereabouts so he may continue his training, though Hakubi avoids giving him an answer. Additionally, Natsu tells them that Li Tenmon has entered Japan, but Renka puts that aside and tries to flirt with Kenichi, to Miu's vexation. To escape being caught in the crossfire between Renka and Miu's rivalry, Kenichi agrees to go with Niijima back to the hideout. Suddenly, Niijima gets a call on his cell phone that the Shinpaku hideout is under attack by Spark. As Spark plows through the Alliance's members, she demands Kenichi's head.
Kisara decides to fight and is warned by Siegfried to go at full strength at the start, but Spark dodges her kicks and rips through the former’s shirt with a sharp rising punch from below. Spark then adds insult to injury by mocking Kisara's small breasts, infuriating her. Kisara furiously attacks Spark, landing a direct blow with Double Tornado Kick when the latter jumps into the air. Spark appears to be on the verge of defeat, but she surprises Kisara by using Drunken Fist Style. Meanwhile, Kenichi, Miu, Renka, and Niijima rush over as fast as they can to rescue their friends while the Ryōzanpaku Masters stay behind since they aren't supposed to interfere with disciples' battles. However, Kensei becomes suspicious, thinking that Yomi may have something to do with Yami. At the hideout, Spark was taking down the Shinpaku Alliance one by one as she wanted to kill Kenichi. Back at the fight, Spark defeats Kisara and Ukita tries to grab Spark, only to be instant defeated by an attack to the groin. Siegfried then steps in to take up the fight.
Siegfried deduces that Spark's helmet and suit are used to help her perform the Drunken Fist, in which rolling moves are vital, in a city environment, and that she never uses their hard parts as weapons out of pride as a martial artist. Spark thought that Siegfried was Kenichi, but Siegfried unwittingly tells her he wasn’t him. When they clash, even Siegfried's counter attacks aren't able to fully stop Spark's attacks. One of the Shinpaku Alliance uses one of the base's defenses to trap Spark in a cage, but she quickly broke free and begins choking Siegfried. Takeda, Mizunuma, Matsui, and the others try to fool her into thinking one of them is Kenichi to free Siegfried until the real Kenichi finally arrives. Spark recognizes Kenichi as her real target from his uniform and the former challenges her to fight. The others are worried since Kenichi doesn't hit girls, especially Miu, knowing it will be difficult for Kenichi to restrain an opponent risking their life. Meanwhile, Li Tenmon watches from the top of the building to see Kenichi be destroyed by his disciple.
Kenichi vs. Spark[]
Spark tricks Kenichi into thinking she was staggering with her Drunken Fist, and strikes him on the back of his head, but Kenichi instantly blocks it by reflex. Thanks to his training, Kenichi dodges all of Spark's blows while Renka realizes Spark's Drunken Fist comes from the Chishōken style. Spark believes she will have an easy win when she learns Kenichi doesn't hit girls, but Kenichi surprises and befuddles her by imitating Kensei’s perverseness to get close. Next, Kenichi imitates Akisame to grab her and puts her into arm lock, which she escapes after mentioning Kenichi's flowers. Back at Ryōzanpaku, the masters discuss whether Kenichi should stay at Ryōzanpaku or not if he is targeted by Yami's "One Shadow, Nine Fists". Back at the fight, Spark takes off her protector and revealed herself as Li Raichi, declaring that Kenichi cannot beat her because of the difference in their resolve.
Raichi reveals she earns money by using her fighting skills and she will be heavily rewarded Yami if she defeats Kenichi. The Shinpaku Alliance is disturbed to learn Raichi is willing to kill for money, but she dismisses them as fools who only practice martial arts as a hobby while she depends on them to put food on her family's table. Raichu resumes her attacks, and Kenichi is unable grab her again when she uses extremely low attacks. Kenichi take a beating from Raichi's onslaught and Miu realizes the problem is that Kenichi, who has usually been smaller than his previous opponents, is unused to facing attacks from below. When Kenichi takes a heavy hit from Raichi's Choukarou, Renka tries to intervene but is stopped by Miu, whose faith is proven right when Kenichi dodges Raichi's finishing blow. Kenichi tells Raichi that even though he doesn't make money from his martial arts, he still fights to protect the people he cares for. He declares he won't lose to someone who uses martial arts to kill no matter their circumstances, and he will stop Raichi for her own sake as well. Kenichi then sits down in the seiza position, surprising the alliance and Renka, but Raichi discovers that Kenichi has no openings to attack and Miu realizes Kenichi is actually in a fighting stance.
When Raichi throws another attack, Kenichi is able to change his position while sitting and deflects her kick. Miu recognizes Kenichi's stance as Idori, which was created to defend against attacks and weapons while in the seiza position. Kenichi flips Raichi and pins her to the ground with another arm lock. Unable to break free, Raichi resorts to trying to break her arm to escape and Kenichi releases her before she can do so. Raichi mocks Kenichi's kindness and tries to attack, only to caught again and thrown onto a bed of flowers. Trapped in an even stronger hold, Raichi futilely tries to break her arm to escape again and Kenichi releases her a second time. When Kenichi lets go, Raichu grabs him by the neck and threatens to choke him, but she is stunned when she can't bring herself to go through with it. Kenichi explains to that Raichi that someone like her who loves flowers and the earth could not be a killer. Raichi concedes that Kenichi release her twice and admits defeat out of her pride as a martial artist. Kenichi offers to help her find a better way to help her family, but Tenmon steps in and knocks Raichi aside for failing before deciding to bring Kenichi to Yami personally.
Tenmon's Rage[]
Niijima tries to scan Li Tenmon, but is terrified when he realizes the latter is master-level martial artist and orders everyone to retreat. Miu and Renka team up with Kenichi to fight him only to be knocked away by him in one attack as if he were human missile. The Shinpaku Alliance tries to help, but everyone is completely overpowered by Tenmon's Chishouken and the best they can do is get Kenichi inside the base. Tenmon easily breaks through the base's wall and threatens to kill anyone who continues to stand in his way. Kenichi considers surrendering himself, but everyone (except Niijima) is willing to die to protect him. Suddenly, Kensei Ma surprises Tenmon and knocks him down, having come after realizing that Yami and Yomi must be connected in some way, and scolds Tenmon for interfering in a disciple's battle.
Kenichi fears a fight between Tenmon and Kensei Ma will end like what happened with Sōgetsu, but Kensei assures him no one will die today. After a brief clash, Kensei gets the first hit in and Tenmon attacks with his full power Chishou Renkan Shouken Kyappou. Though the fight tears the building apart, Kensei redirects Tenmon's attacks away with Kakei. When Kensei lands a punch, it is ineffective against Tenmon's internal strength, and he gets a hold of Kensei’s arm. Before Tenmon can counterattack, Kensei surprises him with a point-blank strike that heavily injures the former. Raichi regains consciousness and begs Kensei not to kill her father. Tenmon assures her that Kensei wouldn't do such a thing, realizing he pulled his punches. Kensei reveals Tenmon did the same with the Shinpaku Alliance, as the entire building would have been turned into a sea of blood if was fighting seriously. Despite his claims that he severed family ties when Raichi became his disciple, Tenmon still cares for Raichi as her father and couldn't bring himself to kill another person's daughter. Tenmon decides to settle the battle some other time and leaves while carrying his wounded daughter. Before he goes, Tenmon warns Kenichi that there are others who want to claim the title of Strongest Disciple and asks him if he'll still fight in the Saving Fist (Katsujinken) way until the end.
Major Fights[]
- Kenichi vs Raichi Li
- Kensei Ma vs Tenmon Li
Story Notes[]
- Siegfried's real name is revealed to be Hibiki Kugen.
References[]
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| Shigure's Childhood Arc | Spark Arc | YOMI Introduction Arc |
| ← | Chapters | → |
| 157 | 158 | 159 | 160 | 161 | 162 | 163 | 164 | 165 | 166 | ||