Baki Hanma (範馬刃牙)

What am I up to now?

Oh, you know, just another squabble with my old man.

Mr. Saman,

we understand that you're the sole survivor of this grisly incident.

But still, are you aware

that your recent actions have been drawing criticism from all over the world?

Yes, I am.

Just to clarify, you called in the army to hunt down a single African elephant.

It's that decision that's left the whole world in shock.

Let me be absolutely clear,

our duty as park rangers is to protect the plants and wildlife of the Savanna.

To the point of mobilizing the army?

Do you think that we're talking about an ordinary African elephant here?

- -What the heck does he mean by that?

Look, all of us have seen the aerial photographs of the incident.

Are you saying it wasn't an African elephant?

Go to the site and take a look at the carcass yourself!

It's ridiculously large!

- -It's extraordinary.

Frankly, it's like something out of the prehistoric times.

Please, Mr. Saman, let's keep things calm and rational.

The real issue here is the use of weapons, regardless of how--

- 977 animals and 41 people. -Hmm?

Those are the numbers of animals and people

that have fallen victim to that huge monster.

21.2 tons.

That's the average amount of food that beast devours in just a single day.

If it were left alone, in two years' time,

90% of the park would have turned into desert.

The inevitable result of the herbivores dying out from that change

would be the death of the carnivores as well.

The methods we used weren't wrong.

If we made any kind of mistake at all in the way we handled this,

it's in the number of troops that we deployed

and the kinds of weapons we chose to use against that monster!

And frankly, I think we should have called in an airstrike!

Are you aware that what you're saying is being heard by the entire world?

-It's unfortunate we didn't. -

In the end, we weren't even able to get one single shot fired off.

Uh, but if that's the case,

then how did the elephant end up…

Out of nowhere, a man showed up.

- -

Who is…

- -

Just as that monster was leaving, after completely devastating our forces,

a man showed up and placed himself in front of the beast.

- Mm. -

Mm. Mm.

With no weapons, barefisted,

he defeated that huge monster.

- -

Do you expect us,

no, wait, the whole world to believe that?

Listen, I've stated the facts.

What more do you people want?

Wait! Mr. Saman!

Are you running away?

Then again, why would you believe it?

Even I don't,

and I saw it with my own two eyes.

Daddy.

-Daddy! -Mm-- Hmm?

You know I believe you, Daddy.

Mm?

Really? Even if the whole world is out there calling me a liar?

I mean, I know that sometimes,

because of work, you have to break your promises to me,

but that doesn't make you a liar.

Daddy,

was that man you saw really as strong as you say?

Yes.

He was astonishing.

Even stronger than a lion?

That's right. Without a doubt, he was.

Stronger than a rhino?

-Listen, Julio. -Oh.

My son.

- -

You're the only person I'll tell this to.

This story is so fantastic

that any rational adult wouldn't even listen to me.

- -

The whole tale sounds like a fairy tale or something.

Who do you think could beat him in a fight, Daddy?

- I don't think anybody could, son. -Even if there was someone just like him?

Hmm…

Like maybe his son once he's all grown up?

Maybe.

All right!

- - Think he'll go in?

No way.

What are we gonna do if he doesn't?

Tease him until he commits suicide.

But we asked him to fight a high schooler!

Who cares? He's the one who has to do it.

- He's going in! - He's really doing it!

What an idiot.

He really did it. He went in.

-Yeah. -Oh.

Do you guys know about this school?

Huh?

They say there's a monster here.

A monster?

A delinquent?

My uncle once told me

that the strongest high schooler in the world goes here.

Hey, kid?

You have something for us?

Like a delivery?

Huh?

-What? - Uh…

- Kid's threatening us! - He's come to wipe us out!

Let me get this straight, you came here to pick a fight with us?

Uh, send… out--

What?

Send… out…

your strongest guy, so… I mean, please send out…

Hmm.

Hmm.

So, you just said that and then ran away?

Is that what happened?

They said I should wait.

Huh?

For what?

They just said, "After school at the Tama River."

Look, kid, I'm sorry, but…

you're barking up the wrong tree here.

None of us is the strongest.

But tell you what, we'll get you the strongest in the world, okay?

Now listen, kid,

wait down at Tama River, and we'll send him to you.

This is for real. You got it?

So if you don't keep your promise, we'll have a serious problem.

Okay.

Huh?

- -This just got real interesting.

-Take this! -Hey, ow!

- -Gotcha!

Look, you guys.

Huh?

- -

He came. He really came.

The strongest high schooler in the world came to fight me!

He's here!

My name's Baki Hanma.

To be honest,

for being the world's strongest,

he's a lot smaller than I imagined he'd be.

I'm Rumina Ayukawa. Hi.

So, you gonna use that?

Huh?

Oh, I thought that I--

It was the first time in my life seeing real muscles.

In that case…

And then right before my eyes,

as clear as day,

Baki transformed into the world's strongest.

Don't expect me to hold back.