01x21 - The.Scar and The Sword

[bunniefuu]

[Japanese theme music playing]

BAKI-DOU: THE INVINCIBLE SAMURAI

[lyrics in Japanese]

[music fades]

[narrator] One February night

during the second year
of the Genna period,

events transpired in Musashino
that would become legend.

A lone gambler weary from his travels

requested lodging at the Hanayama estate,

who were at the time known
as a wealthy farming family.

To help soothe him from his long journey,

they showered him
with generous hospitality.

But later that night,

a bandit g*ng
with well over a dozen members

raided the Hanayama residence.

Amongst agonizing cries,

the family of five was brutally massacred.

A tragedy that should have ended
their line.

But there was a survivor.

Their precious only child,

their eldest son and heir, Yakichi,
survived the night without a scratch.

But how?

There was a bolt from the blue
that saved him.

The gambler, having determined

he would be unable
to fight off the bandits alone,

fled with Yakichi on his back.

[muffled screaming]

[narrator] He placed the boy
inside the protection of a temple bell,

wedged himself beneath it,

and stood his ground
against the zealous bandits.

With both of his hands occupied,
he was struck

over and over.

He suffered easily over ten slash
and stab wounds, but he did not relent.

Even after his life had ended,

still his body remained firm,
shielding the boy.

They say even the bandits themselves
muttered a few words of reluctant praise

before they departed.

Years later, when Yakichi was an adult,

he learned
the gruesome details of his past

and immediately began
to live his life as a gambler.

He immortalized his savior
by having his image etched into his back.

Since then, this tattoo has served
as the Hanayama heirloom,

passed down to the eldest son
of each generation.

Somewhere along the way,
it was given the name "Otokodachi,"

which stands to this day.

However, there was one heir
to this legendary mark

who wasn't entirely satisfied.

The 16th in his line of succession, Kaoru.

In his eyes, an Otokodachi without slashes
is no Otokodachi at all.

Fueled by this conviction,

he stormed the territory
of the Tomizawa clan, his rivals,

and devastated the g*ng
in less than ten minutes.

But not without suffering
his own heavy injuries.

However, sustaining those wounds
was his goal all along.

Kaoru Hanayama, age 14 years and 2 months,

slashed up, yet standing strong.

In this moment, the completion
of the true Otokodachi was achieved.

[Kizaki] I probably
should've asked sooner, but, boss..

and I'm not trying to be rude,

but, boss,

Musashi Miyamoto…

You've heard of him, haven't you?
What he can do?

Uh, so sorry sir!

I mean, of course you know all about him.

You're talking about Musashi Miyamoto…

You mean, from the movies?

You know, the samurai.

[Kizaki] What?

Wasn't there also a Sasaki guy?

Yes, that's right!
You're absolutely right, boss.

Movies, samurai, exactly.

Boss, come on now,
that can't be all you know.

You have to be more prepared.

And why is that?

What do you mean, why?

Soon you're gonna be fighting him,
and he's a samurai!

The concept of the strongest
came directly from him.

He's a master swordsman!

I mean, when it comes
to cutting people down,

he's the unquestionable all-time champion!

- Kizaki, calm down.
- [gasps]

Training so you can win…

Learning so you can win…

That's not pure enough.

He cut down Sea King Retsu.

He has the police department on edge.

I've no doubt he's strong.

And that's all I need to know.

I may happen to learn things.

I don't mind that much.

If I try to learn more than that,
it's unrefined.

- And it stops being pure.
- Mm.

[Kizaki] Of course…
That's the kind of person he is.

That's why I've followed him, up till now.

And why I'll follow him even now.

A man who takes honor in his oaths.

He doesn't need intel on his opponents.

Doesn't matter
if they're a samurai or a monk.

Doesn't really matter
if they're weak or strong.

[in unison] Sir!
We've been waiting for you.

- Yeah.
- [Kizaki] Huh?

Where is he now?

Our current reports indicate
he's headed this way.

About 70 meters behind me.

[padding footsteps continue]

[Musashi] Well, look at this…

Things just got a lot more interesting.

- [man 1] What's going on?
- [man 2] A fight?

[man 1] He's packing swords?

[dramatic music sting]

- Whoa.
- Badass!

Where are the police?

- [man 3] They're just standing there.
- [man 4] Over there too…

[disorienting music sting]

I like the look on your face.

[narrator] The younger of them
saw it first…

Why did he see darkness
behind the approaching warrior?

A seemingly endless darkness
that spread out behind Musashi.

A darkness of endless height…

of endless depth…

and of endless distance…

A sprawling expanse with no end.

And yet, were he to try and step forward…

the darkness would prove neither tall,
deep nor expansive,

but instead would be closed in around him.

What will appear out of the darkness?
A sword?

A poison needle? An expl*sive?

- [dramatic music playing]
- [neck cracking]

[narrator] With legs planted firmly apart,

he lifted both fists over his head
at a distance,

a stance that suggested he was not
at all afraid of a counterattack.

It didn't look like
a martial arts or combat stance…

[Musashi] Hmm.

Rather, it was more like something
you'd see in shot put, javelin or discus.

It was a wind-up for a throwing form.

Then in an instant, without hesitation,
he stepped into the inky darkness.

[music fades]

A massive man with a tattoo on his back
was facing a man armed with swords.

And the police stood by
and watched in silence.

They were, effectively, putting on a show

that they had a handle
on this extraordinary situation.

- You gotta be kidding?
- Come on!

- The police should stop them.
- Is this really happening?

[narrator] And then
the master swordsman saw it.

What's this?

[narrator] Behind the young man…

[ethereal music playing]

…a curious white light.

[Musashi] Wait. Is this…
is this the vision before our battle?

Isn't this unusual?

Up against the boy, I saw
a feast expanding out to the horizon.

And with Pickle, I saw dazzling gold
and boisterous admiration.

The man with incredible strength showed me
gold that reached the heavens.

Whereas behind the old man
and his sorcery,

I saw a field of flowers
that brightened my spirits.

But then we have him,
and the vision he gives…

Just white.

Or perhaps nothingness?

But no, that cannot be.

That's impossible for one so young.

Hmm…

And is this his stance?

He won't be able to block
a single attack with a stance like that.

I can tell he's no stranger to combat,
and yet…

Does he plan to attack me like that?

And what will he do if I come
rushing at him with a slashing attack?

Or sh**t a poison arrow?
Or toss an expl*sive?

Huh?

Oh! I think I understand.

This has to be… Or wait. This is probably…

I'll say with some certainty

that what I'm seeing
is this young man's determination.

And it's so pristine.

So beautifully pure.

And so spectacularly heroic!

[narrator] It was white.
So incredibly white…

So incredibly bright…

So incredibly dazzling

that against
the master swordsman's instincts…

[impact thud]

…he wound up closing his eyes.

Or so they said.

[tense music playing]

[narrator] It is thought
that when light shines through,

one is surrounded by a kind warmth.

And if that is so,
then make it all the stronger,

make it all the brighter.

Let the light be blinding.

But that's not the case.

Light is kind
because it brings forth the shadows.

When light burns so brightly
that it washes away even the shadows,

it carries madness with it.

[Musashi] This man… He's so bright…

He would face
a renowned swordsman such as me,

and he comes bearing
not even a small weapon.

His utter defenselessness…

his pristine condition…

it's stunning.

Aaah.

[all gasping]

[grunts softly]

[bouncing thuds]

[spectators murmuring]

[shocked gasping]

[booming thud]

[narrator]The giant fist connected.

- [blows fist]
- [man 1] Is it over?

- [man 2] In just one punch?!
[man 3] He flew, like, 30 feet!

[Musashi] They are no different.

A fist of pure determination

could never be called inferior to a sword.

And this young man's fist
has exceeded my expectations.

I'm glad that I took that hit.

- [man 1] No way!
- [woman 1] With one hand?

[man 2] Didn't I see that samurai
on the news?

[ragged breathing]

Hey, Samurai.

- Can you still fight?
- [ragged breathing]

[Musashi chuckles]

How very interesting.

You want to see
if I'm in condition to continue?

[chuckles]

You're too soft.

[dramatic music playing]

[wind rushing]

[narrator] The giant fist… once again…

[music fades]

[dramatic music sting]

- His sword!
- He pulled his sword!

- Whoa, the blade went right into his fist!
- [woman gasps]

- [Kizaki gasps]
- [tense music playing]

[Musashi] Impressive.

I split your fist,

and yet my guts
are still twisting in pain.

Huh? Oh. Whoa!

[narrator] The giant fists…

[wind rushing]

[narrator] Third strike!

[man 1] He punched
with the sword stuck there?!

[Musashi] Hey…

Hey, man with the fists,

you've proven to be
even stronger than Benkei.

- Mr. Utsumi!
- Mr. Tokugawa!

[in unison] That's Hanayama for ya!

[narrator] There are men
in the world like this.

Men who have no problem throwing a punch

with a blade lodged in their fist.

- Yes, men like this exist too.
- [woman screaming]

- [man 2] What's gonna happen now?
- [man 3] Did he get cut?

- [man 4] Is that a real sword?
- [woman 1] They're fighting?

- [man 1] It's real!
- [man 3] So f*cking cool!

[Musashi] I'm thrilled
to encounter this strength.

- [slashing]
- [spectators murmuring]

[shocked gasping]

Man with the fists, wait just a moment.

I can assume that since you're standing,
facing me, you know who I am.

I would know your name.

[Hanayama] Hmm.

Ah, yes…

It was rude to punch you out of nowhere.

[Kizaki gasps]

My last name's Hanayama, first name Kaoru.

Musashi Miyamoto,
I bear no grudge against you.

But I've been tasked
with the job of taking you down.

[Musashi] And if I resist?

You actually stopped
and gave me your name.

That was foolishly naive of you.

Aaah. [bones cracking]
You gave me a chance to recover.

- [shocked gasping]
- [man 5] That's not fair!

What are you dawdling for, Hanayama?

You won't take me down
if you keep wasting time.

[wind rushing]

[flesh tearing]

[Musashi] Oh!

[dramatic music stabs]

[Musashi gasps]

SOLID

[Musashi] I never knew

that flesh could turn into iron.

Iron flesh…

What does it feel like
when it's cut, then?

[narrator] The time, the Edo Period.
The place, the Hasebe residence in Kokura.

[laughter]

[mooing]

Well done, indeed.

[chuckles] Why, thank you, sir.

Well, go on, how much does it weigh?

My people tell me it's almost 750 kan,

making it four times the size
of a usual ox.

We've all heard the rumors about it,

but seeing it with my own eyes
is something else.

[mooing, stomping]

[man] Whoa there! Whoa!

[Hasebe] I never could have imagined
it would be this large.

- [man] Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!
- [Hasebe] It's practically a monster.

What do you think, Musashi?

[ox growling]

Think? About what?

Think you can defeat it?

Why would I even want to try?

Uh…

I suppose I understand.

Against humans,
you've proven yourself to be unmatched.

Musashi, who even makes demons cower.

[ox mooing]

But this isn't a human opponent.

What's more,
it's a monster as big as a mountain.

Do I smell fear, Musashi?

- [slicing]
- [ox yowling]

[dramatic music sting]

[both gasping]

Hasebe, you seem prone
to saying strange things lately.

[Hasebe gasping]

When a chef has
a fish laid out on his cutting board,

do people ask the chef
if he can defeat the fish?

[Hasebe gasps, grunts]

I… I guess not.

[dramatic music sting]

[uneasy music playing]

- [man 1] Whoa!
- [woman 1] Did he cut him?

- [man 2] He sure did.
- [Musashi] Hmm?

[dramatic music sting]

[Musashi] His torso is intact.

It should've been split in two!

And with just a single swing…

- [Tokugawa murmurs in shock]
- He… he cut him, didn't he?

[Musashi] Not only
was he not sliced apart,

but I didn't feel
a single bone sever either.

[daunting music playing]

[Musashi] A fortress of muscle
that surpasses even a bull.

So once it can be cut,
what will it show us?

[dramatic music stabs]

Sorry. I meant to do this sooner.

Apologies.

Holding onto this doesn't do me any good,
so take it back.

[shocked gasping]

[Musashi] You…

You are one confounding opponent!

Huh…

[in unison] That's Hanayama for ya!

[music fades]

[Japanese theme music playing]

[music fades out]