The YOMI Introduction Arc is the fifteenth arc in the series and the fourth arc in the Yami/YOMI saga.
Plot[]
Meeting of the Nine Fists[]
The arc begins near the ocean as a teenager named Shō Kanō watches an ant giving it all to carry food until his master, Akira Hongō of Yami's One Shadow Nine Fists, comes on a boat to pick him up. Shō kills the ant, scorning it as a worthless weakling, and jumps on his master’s shoulders. They ride to one of Yami's hideouts disguised as a passenger ship where they meet Isshinsai Ogata, who is also one of the One Shadow Nine Fists, for a video conference with the entire group. Meanwhile at Ryōzanpaku, Kenichi is told by his masters to quit the dojo since he has no talent for the martial arts. Kenichi easily sees through the poorly executed ruse and realizes they are trying to protect him from Yami. He makes it clear he won't abandon his path or let Yami continue leading people like Raichi Li down the path of evil. The masters are proud of Kenichi's resolve, though Kenichi is less excited when they interpret it as him prepared to risk his life to fight Yami and more so when he learns Yami's biggest target is his life. Akisame Kōetsuji believes that Kenichi should triple his training if he has any chance of standing up against Yomi, to Kenichi's dismay. In the One Shadow Nine Fists meeting, in which the "One Shadow" is absent, the fists discuss Spark's failure to kill Kenichi and when they should send another disciple to challenge him. Shō discovers one of the women in the ship is spy when she puts data on the Nine Fists on a CD and she makes a break to escape. Though Shō lets her escape, he discretely steals the CD from her, surprising a Yami guard with his speed. Shō then gets sees Kenichi's face on a computer monitor dropped during the attempted theft and stomps on it in a surge of disgust.
Shinpaku stepping into the Unknown[]
Somewhere in the city, Shinnosuke Tsuji returns from a training journey in the mountains and is looking forward to seeing Ragnarök and Kenichi again. Meanwhile on the school's roof, Ikki Takeda and Kōzō Ukita discuss how wide the gap in skill between them and Kenichi has become since their first fight. At the Shinpaku Alliance club room, Matsui reports everyone that Kenichi hadn’t come to school in three days while Niijima deals with many members of the alliance quitting after Spark's attack. Natsu Tanimoto came in looking for Kenichi out of boredom and the alliance is visited by Hayato Fūrinji to give a message on Kenichi's behalf: Kenichi is cutting ties with them to keep them from getting involved with the fight against Yami. The alliance refuses to stand aside, declaring it is their fight as well and they will fight alonside Kenichi until the end. Understanding the alliance won't be detered, The Elder warns them that those in Yomi are at least two levels above theirs. At the Shinpaku Hideout, Takeda trains relentless with a punching bag, frustrated that he doesn't know how to reach the next level of strength. Tsuji suddenly arrives and destroys the sandbag from the inside with one strange punch while telling Takeda that he should try training in the mountains. The Elder watches the alliance train and becomes excited that Tsuji's return could be just what the alliance needs.
Tsuji is shocked to hear that Ragnarök had been disbanded and many of its members have been absorbed into the Shinpaku Alliance. Frustrated that he and his friends risked their lives training the mountains for nothing, Tsuji smashes a wall in a display of newly acquired strength. Takeda asks Tsuji how he learned such techniques and that reveals that after his friends left their training early when it became too difficult, Tsuji continued his training alone. His training disturbed an old master living in the mountains who taught him techniques in exchange for leaving. Since Ragnarök is gone, Tsuji decides to fight Kenichi instead and goes to the Ryōzanpaku dojo with Takeda, Ukita and Kisara. They are welcomed in by Miu (who Tsuji immediately gets a crush on) who explains Kenichi is currently going through hellish training. The Elder leads them to an underground room where Kenichi had been training for the past three day straight in complete darkness, being attacked by machines, and tricked by the Elder with surprise attacks to the point he won't listen to anyone anymore. Takeda wants to help him, but The Elder warns him that its dangerous for regular people to go down there. Tsuji enters without a second thought, eager for a rematch, and The Elder explains that the first step to getting to the next level is having the courage to step into the unknown. Down in the basement, Kenichi hears someone coming thinking it was a Yami Assassin after being beaten up for three days. Tsuji tries to fight Kenichi but keeps getting attacked by iron balls. An exchange of blows collides, and when the Elder turns on the lights, it is revealed to be between Kenichi and Takeda, who had gain to the courage to take his first step, while Tsuji had ended up only hitting a wooden dummy in the darkness. Takeda tells Kenichi that he is still his rival and will catch up to him soon before fainting. The Elder ponders while that Kenichi may not have talent, he has good masters, friends, and rivals that Kenichi can help him still grow and may have a chance to defeat Yami.
Miu's Family Secret[]
Takeda considers joining Ryōzanpaku, but changes his mind when Kenichi warned him it's too soon for him to face its hellish training and Miu and Kisara remind he couldn't pursue his boxing style. After school, Kenichi worries about Miu when she keeps spacing out until Tsuji interrupts and challenged Kenichi to a rematch, only to be turned down. Tsuji doesn't take no for answer until Miu tells him that Kenichi had some special training to do, and he drops the matter out of his crush on her. While training on Aksiame’s Electric Mouse Generator Muscle Training Machine, Kenichi asks the masters about Miu's strange behavior and they reveal it because tomorrow is the anniversary of the day Miu’s parents died. Kenichi notes that Miu seemed more troubled than depressed and asks about the circumstances of her parents' deaths, but Kensei Ma just extends his training for being nosy. That night, Miu comes into Kenichi’s room and invites him to come visit her parents’ grave since his presences makes her feel calmer (though she doesn't know why). The next day, Kenichi, Miu, and the Elder travel on foot to the incredible remote Fūrinji family grave. After they pray, Kenichi notices that the names of Miu's' mother, Shizuha Fūrinji, and her grandmother, Shizuko Fūrinji, were written on the grave, but the name of Miu’s father wasn't. While the Elder goes to speak with the priest, Miu asks Kenichi to go somewhere with her, to Kenichi's joy when he realizes he's technically being asked on a date. However, are all being spied on by Shō Kanō, who is on a personal scouting trip his master is unaware off. Shō keeps his distance to avoid tipping off the Elder, but he still plans on investigating Kenichi.
Shō trails Kenichi as he takes Miu to the Botanical Gardens. Miu has a great time at the gardens marveling all the unique plans and is amazed by Kenichi’s knowledge of plants from his time in the Gardening Club (which he obtained in case he was ever stranded in the mountains again so he could know what plants were edible). Kenichi finds himself still curious about why Miu’s father wasn’t in the grave, but when he decides to ask Miu about it, he discovers she's disappeared. Miu realizes she's lost and encounters Shō looking at a bird caught by a fishing line in a tree. When Shō realizes he let himself be spotted (courtesy of a bad habit where he forgets to hide his presence while concentrating on something), he jumps from tree to tree to free the bird so he can disappear afterward. However, Miu gets to the bird first, and Shō immediately falls in love upon seeing her ability. After freeing the bird Shō asks Miu to join Yami only to get attacked. Shō tells Miu that her moves are similar to Saiga Fūrinji, Miu's father, and offers to tell her more about him if she comes with him. Kenichi returns to the garden entrance after failing to find Miu where he sees her riding off with Shō on his motorcycle. Believing Miu is being kidnapped, Kenichi chases after them on foot. Miu hears Kenichi shouting and mentally apologies to him, but she's desperate to know about her father.
Shō believe's he lost Kenichi by speeding up, only for Kenichi to catch up by using a shortcut jumping off a roof. Kenichi breaks Shō’s motorcycle with a kick, landing safely with a roll, and sees Miu and Shō land using the exact same movements. Shō, radiating a frighting aura of killing intent, threatens Kenichi to leave, but before a fight can break out, Kenichi is suddenly tackled and pinned. The culprit turns out to be Natsu, who is an old acquaintance of Shō from the former's time in Ragnarök, and the latter is revealed to be the leader of Yomi under the codename "Suparna." Shō still wants to kill Kenichi but changes his mind and tries to leave with Miu after Natsu warned him he would face his master's wrath if word got out about his unauthorized trip. When Natsu keeps Kenichi from going after them, Kenichi shouts to Miu that he will protect her, and his please convince her not to go to Yami. Convinced Miu will inevitably join Yami, Shō drops the matter for the time being and leaves after kissed her on the cheek (to Kenichi's despair to the point he cries blood). Natsu warns the furious Kenichi that he currently doesn't stand a chance against Shō, and not even the former wants to face him. Back at the Botanical Gardens, Miu lies she was going with Shō to infiltrate Yami, though Kenichi and Natsu easily see through her excuse. Honoka suddenly arrives and reveals Hermit took her to the gardens after winning a bet against him in Othello. Kenichi then noticed Shō switched Miu’s Hidden Knife Hairband with one of his earrings.
James Shiba, Master of Boxing[]
Desperate to reach the next level as a martial artist, Takeda asks Niijima for help. Niijima reveals that the other members of the alliance have already started their new training: Hibiki Kugenin went on a trip to Tibet to find a master, Kisara is training with the former third fist Freya, and Ukita is visiting his old master. He tells Takeda that he needs to find his own sacred place to improve himself. Takeda visits all the boxing gyms in the city, but none of them are able met his expectations. Suddenly, he sees a bunch of thugs attacking a man named Shiba with a broken leg and wearing an eye patch while carrying groceries. Shiba throw his groceries in the air, defeats them all in a superhuman display of boxing and put the groceries back in the bag before they landed. Finally finding the person who can be his master, Takeda tries to talk to Shiba only to be knocked down by a heavy punch from him in an unexpected stance. Failing to track down Shiba, Takeda tells everyone at Ryōzanpaku about what he saw. Akisame identifies the man as James Shiba, God of Destruction of the Underground Boxing World where there are little-to-no rules, but he thinks Shiba is unfit to be a teacher since he doesn't know how to hold back (though his objection partly comes a rivalry with Shiba over their mustaches). Sakaki recalls a rumor Shiba left the martial arts world afterwards after getting crippled and Akisame confirms he's now a hermit. Despite the warnings, Takeda still wants to be his disciple, as he has the courage to take next step forward in strength. Takeda tracks down Shiba's home in a decrepit shack under a railroad bridge and spends the next three days trying to convince the latter to take him on as a disciple. Kenichi and Natsu visit to give Takeda some food and water and Kenichi shouts at Shiba, asking him why he stopped boxing and revealing Akisame said that the latter was a true master before retiring. The mention of Akisame pulls Shiba out of his home, only to attack the three fighters at an incredible speed and steal their wallets. Shiba leaves to play Pachinko, refusing to take on a disciple, but his second display of boxing skill only further excites Takeda.
Eventually, Shiba agrees to test Takeda to see if he was worthy of being a boxing disciple, but makes Takeda swear that if he fails, he must never show himself around Shiba again. The first test is luck; Takeda has to find a two-headed pachinko ball in the gutters in front of a store which would bless someone with infinite good luck. In actuality, the test was a lie to make Takeda fail with an impossible task, but to Shiba's shock Takeda comes back immediately after with the two-headed ball he found in a nearby embankment. Shiba is forced to give second test based on willpower where Takeda has run while pulling a tire all the way to sea and back and bring a Yamato Hoshi Hitode and a Kannatsu Nozaya Sea Slug back with him as proof. To make things harder, he must sing Tan-Tan-Tanuki while doing 100 Hindu Squats in front of a police box. Takeda takes off, but Shiba is confident he'll up under his unreasonable challenge. That night in an alley, Niijima tries to get Freya to join the Shinpaku Alliance, but she nor the The Valkyries want to fight delinquents anymore since they don't provide a challenge. Niijima reveals the Shinpaku Alliance will soon be facing much more advanced opponents and it is confirmed by a Takeda, who is on the return trip for his second test with the tire tied to him worn down from the journey and carrying the two rare sea creatures Shiba tasked him with finding. Having seen the alliance's resolve Freya begins rethinking her decision. Back at Shiba’s shack, Shiba is stunned when he discovers that Takeda not only had he passed the test, but a police officer cheered him on doing the Hindu squats and an old lady gave him a bento. Speaking seriously, Shiba explains that although he mastered boxing, he still lost his eye and had his leg crippled in one moment when he let his guard down. Shiba tells Takeda to give up on him, as he's no longer the fighter he used to be, but Takeda responds by punching and asks Shiba to at least train him up to his level. Shiba asks Takeda what his best punch was and Takeda answers without thinking: Left Straight. Demonstrating the Left Straight is also his best move, an amused Shiba is finally convinced to take Takeda in as his disciple. However, when Takeda reveals that he wanted to train under Shiba to fight Yomi, who’s working under Yami, Shiba is further motivated to train him, revealing the one who destroyed his eye and leg was Yami's "One Shadow." Believing it is destiny Takeda came to him, Shiba starts his training and Takeda vows to catch up with Kenichi.
YOMI taking Dojos[]
At night on an unfinished bridge, Shō Kanō rendezvous with a bunch of Russian soldiers arriving via helicopter. He complains to their leader, Yomi member Boris Ivanov, about his less-than subtle methods and delivers an order from Yami to go wild. Boris refuses any order that's not directly from his master, but acquiesces to Shō's command when he gets a command from his master to Shō vexation. At Ryōzanpaku, Kenichi makes a break to escape from the dojo to get some free time from the intensifying training, but even with his training improving his escape effort threefold, he's soon cornered on the roof. Kenichi feigns falling off the roof to get some disance and finally escapes through a hole in the wall with Touchmaru’s help, unaware the mouse left a transmitter on him. Thinking his masters would find him at his house, Kenichi crashes at Natsu’s place, to the latter's annoyance. They are joined by Niijima up, who has been helping Natsu with finding Sōgetsu Ma’s whereabouts, with the latest bit of info is that Sōgetsu had been hired by the Red Hill Prison Group of the Chinese Mafi. Niijima also reveals he's been looking into Yami, which Natsu vehemently objects to. The investigation has revealed the identities two members of YOMI: Suparna, also known as Shō Kanō (who Kenichi still hates for kissing Miu) and Boris Ivanov, who Natsu knows is in the city. Meanwhile, Boris defeats the 36th consecutive dojo and put them all under Yami’s command. When one of the defeated men asks who he is, Boris tells him his name and announces himself as the disciple of Alexander: Russia’s Strongest Combat Sambo user.
At Yomi’s headquarters, Shō discusses Yami's plan with a few other members of Yomi, who are currently disguised in hooded cloaks. Shō explains that they’re taking Dojo signs to declare war on Ryōzanpaku and to signal that a war has started in the martial arts world. One member questions why they have been summoned to Japan and Shō answers that since Japan has become a hub for martial arts, it is the best place to spread their message through the world of martial arts. Yomi begins discussing the number of dojo's they've already taken down, but when Shō notices Boris hadn’t come back one of the Yomi members explains that without an order to stop, Boris will keep taking down dojo's forever. At another dojo, Boris wins his 58th dojo sign and when he his soldiers realize that was the final the dojos on their list, Boris decides to defeat them all again. However, he discovers that there is one last dojo on the list and sets out with his soldiers to challenge it. The next day at Natsu’s house, Kenichi makes Natsu breakfast to repay him for sheltering him and until he sees Apachai Hopachai found him. After Apachai admits to Kenichi that he found him because of the transmitter from Kensei Ma, Kenichi tosses it on a passing car and buys Apachai's silence in exchange for hamburgers. Natsu decides drag Kenichi to school to pass him off on Miu, but when Kenichi resists, Apachai knocks him out with an elbow strike (hitting harder than usual since Kenichi's gotten tougher), leading Natsu to pity him enough to let him stay another day. At school, Kenichi fears Miu while be mad him for escaping Ryōzanpaku. Fortunately, she's understanding that the training had gotten a little too intense and even gives him a bento, agreeing to keep where he's staying secret to repaying in repaying for not telling anyone what happened with Shō at the botanical gardens (though Kenichi is dismayed to learn Miu kept Shō's earring to exchange back for her hair clip). Miu tells Kenichi to come back in a few days since Apachai won't be able to keep his secret for long. Natsu later drags Kenichi to the Shinpaku Alliance Club Room, where Niijima is training the underlings in infiltration and information gathering since they aren't fighters. Niijima believes the second stage of his plan with the Shinpaku Alliance is to defeat Yomi and compromise with Yami to become a fighting organizational body that he use to become rich, but Natsu beats him up and leaves with Kenichi following. Meanwhile, Boris reaches the final dojo, Ryōzanpaku, but he misreads the name before storming in with his soldiers, blindly unaware of what's in store for them.
Back at Natsu’s house, Kenichi cleans while Natsu has to rub Honoka’s shoulders after losing to her in Othello, who he's been playing against and accepting any request she has if she wins (which is implied to be every time). Kenichi suggests Natsu to give up on trying to win against Honoka, but the latter refuses to lose no matter what due to his promise to his deceased sister. When Hermit reminds Kenichi of his own promise to Miu, the latter pretends to brush off the former's comment, but he's secretly frustrated at the idea that Shō is likely getting stronger while he's hiding. Boris and his men try to charge into Ryōzanpaku, but many of them are immediately scattered and incapacitated by Shigure's traps, getting caught in Kensei's training wheel by Kensei Ma, and getting in the middle of Akisame's statue swinging training. The normally stoic Boris grows excited at the challenge and enters to directly challenge the master to a fair battle, only for Shio Sakaki (who's in a bad mood due to Kenichi's absence) to knock out the remaining soldiers with his Ki. Only Boris is able to withstand the ki, but Shigure appears and cut off Boris’ shoes, since the proper etiquette for a dojo is to be barefoot. Boris introduces himself as an agent from YOMI and the masters drop off his defeated soldiers before revealing he is in Ryōzanpaku. Despite realizing his blunder, Boris still chooses to follow his orders and challenges the masters. Meanwhile, Kenichi finally returns to the dojo.
The masters call a time out and discuss what to do about Boris, fearing that fighting him would prematurely set off an all-out war with Yami and they would prefer to delay the conflict as long as possible to train Kenichi. Boris tries to attack when he set an opening, but Akisame occupies him with a tea ceremony while speaking in Russian. Kensei Ma thinks that is a good thing that Kenichi is absent since he currently wouldn't stand a chance against Boris, only for Kenichi to suddenly return in his fighting uniform an announce he's ready to resume training to become the strongest disciple. When Boris hears Kenichi is the strongest disciple, he rushes him. Miu tries to protect Kenichi only for Boris to slam her down on the wooden floor while landing several blows. Seeing this, Kenichi knocks Boris out of the dojo with a surprisingly powerful kick, but Boris is able to sneak a hit of own through it. Miu assures Kenichi she prevented a fatal hit and the latter asks Boris who he is. Boris introduces himself as the disciple of Alexander Gaider, one of the One Shadow Nine Fists. Though Kenichi is furious Boris hurt Miu, he is able to control his anger and puts up his Sei Ki. Boris attacks Kenichi with his Circle of the Shinigami and Akisame recognizes the former's style as Combat Sambo, a grappling style used by the Russian Military created solely for the purpose of destroying the enemy. Suddenly, Kenichi begins resisting Boris's hold and lifts them both up with one arm while Akisame notes that the results of Kenichi's grueling training have finally begun to show.
Boris is stunned Kenichi has so much strength in his thin build and his masters explained they have trained and conditioned Kenichi's body to refine his muscles and taught him how to protect his innards. Kenichi throws Boris off and blocks his rebound attacks with Seikūken. When he failed to breach Kenichi's defenses, Boris regains his calm and tries to analyze Kenichi to gauge his true power. However, all Boris is able to observe is that Kenichi is a normal person, likening him to a harmless creature. Baffled, Boris attacks again only to be repeatedly countered. While fighting Boris thinks that every higher-level fighter he's encountered has a darkness in their eyes but in Kenichi he sees light. The fight continues at a stalemate until Apachai got a call from Shō from one of the soldier’s phones ordering Boris and his men to return. Frustrated he was unable to win, Boris gives Kenichi a gold emblem as a promise for a rematch before leaving with his men. Kenichi is against just letting them leave, but Akisame explains it is pointless; the war with Yami has already begun. As the Elder watches Boris leave, he wonders who really sent Boris to Ryōzanpaku.
War between Fist of Life and Fist of Death[]
At sea, Ogata enters a submarine where he finds Boris' Master, Alexander Gaider, sculpting statues. Alexander lashes out at Ogata, knowing he was the one who put Ryōzanpaku on his disciple's list of targets to start the war. Ogata claims he was just following the One Shadow’s orders and that Alexander should consider it an honor his disciple was allowed to fire the first shot, eagerly anticipating what is to come now that the balance has been broken. On the way back school Kenichi is accompanied by Miu and helps him fend off an ambush from three assailants. After easily defeating them, the assailants admits they were told they could join Yomi if they could defeat the strongest disciple. Miu warns Kenichi this is just the beginning now that war has been declared and Yami is actively spreading the news through the martial arts world. When the two return to Ryōzanpaku, Kenichi discovers several masters from the dojos defeated by Yomi have came to support Kenichi in his war against Yami. The Elder ponders the hard part has finally started with Kenichi now the official successor of the Saving Fist.
Major Fights[]
- Kenichi vs Boris Round 1
Story Notes[]
- Isshinsai Ogata is revealed to be the newest member of the One Shadow Nine Fists.
- Shō Kanō and Boris Ivanov are revealed as members of YOMI.
- Akira Hongō and Alexander Gaider are revealed as members of Yami.
- Miu Fūrinji lost her mother when she was just a baby.
- Yami has information of Miu's father, Saiga Fūrinji.
- The captains of the Shinpaku Alliance begin different training to get stronger.
- Ikki Takeda is now a disciple of James Shiba.
- Natsu Tanimoto was given the whereabouts of his master, Ma Sougetsu.
References[]
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| Spark Arc | YOMI Introduction Arc | Snow Summit Arc |
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