OVA
Description
Hayato Furinji, often referred to as the Elder or The Invincible Superman, is the headmaster of the Ryozanpaku Dojo. He is the grandfather of Miu Furinji and the father of Saiga Furinji. His past is marked by legendary feats, including a single-handed victory against five hundred martial artists in his youth, which has led to his reputation as an undefeated warrior. During World War II, he worked alongside Mikumo Kushinada to dismantle strongholds of the antagonistic Yami organization. Hayato personally raised his granddaughter Miu after her mother perished in a snowstorm and her father abandoned her, an event that profoundly shaped his fierce protective instincts.
In his present age, Hayato is a kind and wizened old man who has been tempered by his experiences, yet he retains a significant reckless and arrogant streak. He is prone to boastfulness regarding his past battles and often over-simplifies complex strategies into blunt, humorous declarations. He demonstrates a powerful sense of justice, believing that those with great power have a great responsibility to protect the innocent. This philosophy guides his actions as the leader of Ryozanpaku, which champions the Katsujin-ken, or Life-Giving Fist, philosophy that prioritizes the protection of life over lethal force. Despite his wisdom, he can be irresponsible, such as when he recklessly spends the dojo's funds on personal items. He also adopts a thinly-veiled alter ego named Garyu X, donning a robotic mask to pose as a twenty-year-old disciple, a disguise that only the simplest-minded member of the dojo fails to see through, leading others to question his sanity.
Hayato serves as the ultimate guardian and authority figure within the story. As the strongest master at a dojo filled with martial arts masters, his presence acts as a deus ex machina, capable of single-handedly ending conflicts that would be impossible for the younger disciples. He does not typically interfere in disciple-level fights, choosing instead to allow them to grow on their own, but he intervenes globally to shield the innocent from master-class threats. His role is also that of a mentor to the protagonist, Kenichi Shirahama, whom he affectionately calls Ken-chan.
His key relationships are deeply defining. He is immensely fond of Kenichi, seeing a reflection of his own younger, reckless self in the boy. Although he subjects Kenichi to the most brutal and terrifying training regimens of all the masters, he is also the only one who sincerely apologizes for the hell they put him through. He respects Kenichi's strong moral compass and resolve, ultimately giving him approval to date Miu, though he imposes a strict condition for marriage: Kenichi must defeat him in combat. This condition directly reflects his fierce protectiveness over Miu. His protectiveness manifests in extreme jealousy, such as when he witnessed Miu kiss Kenichi on the cheek and had to be physically restrained by the other masters to prevent him from harming the boy. His love for his granddaughter is his most prominent trait; he worries constantly about her safety, blames himself when she is in danger, and travels the globe desperately when she is kidnapped. His history also includes a friendship-turned-rivalry with the Yami master Silcardo Jenazad, with whom he once exchanged medical knowledge. He considers his failure to prevent his son Saiga from falling to the Satsujin-ken, or Killing Fist, path as his greatest failure. He remains faithful to his late wife, visiting her grave annually and rejecting advances from figures like Mikumo Kushinada.
Throughout the story, Hayato shows significant development in his role as a mentor. Early on, he presents extreme trials to test Kenichi's character, such as leaving him alone in the wilderness to choose his own path between good and evil. During the D of D Tournament, disguised as Garyu X, he mentors both Kenichi and Miu while blindfolded and using only a minuscule fraction of his power, congratulating them when they manage to crack his mask. When Miu is brainwashed by Jenazad, Hayato is overcome with guilt but is ultimately moved to tears when Kenichi saves her, tearfully thanking the boy and recognizing him as capable of protecting his granddaughter. These events shift his perspective, solidifying his approval of Kenichi and his role as a guardian for the next generation.
Hayato Furinji's martial prowess is virtually unrivaled, earning him recognition as one of the planet's two strongest fighters. His power is so immense that he unconsciously suppresses it to a minute fraction, sometimes as little as 0.0001% or 0.0002% of its full capacity, to prevent lethal outcomes in sparring matches. Even at this level, he can easily overwhelm disciple-level fighters. His physical feats include running on water, bending battleship cannons with his bare hands, flipping over tanks, and moving faster than high-speed cameras can capture, with only a blur visible at 1/1000 of a second. He commands 108 legendary techniques. Among the most notable is the Seikuken, a defensive ability that creates an impenetrable barrier. He also developed its advanced form, the Ryusei Seikuken, which allows him to predict and counter attacks by reading an opponent's flow of movement and intent. Other abilities include using ki to heal, splitting his vocal cords to speak two different sentences simultaneously, and manipulating his own anatomy to achieve inhuman flexibility. He can also use a shockwave that erases memories. Despite his overwhelming power and the almost god-like status he holds, he is approachable and his strength serves as the ultimate benchmark and shield for Ryozanpaku and the people he has sworn to protect.
In his present age, Hayato is a kind and wizened old man who has been tempered by his experiences, yet he retains a significant reckless and arrogant streak. He is prone to boastfulness regarding his past battles and often over-simplifies complex strategies into blunt, humorous declarations. He demonstrates a powerful sense of justice, believing that those with great power have a great responsibility to protect the innocent. This philosophy guides his actions as the leader of Ryozanpaku, which champions the Katsujin-ken, or Life-Giving Fist, philosophy that prioritizes the protection of life over lethal force. Despite his wisdom, he can be irresponsible, such as when he recklessly spends the dojo's funds on personal items. He also adopts a thinly-veiled alter ego named Garyu X, donning a robotic mask to pose as a twenty-year-old disciple, a disguise that only the simplest-minded member of the dojo fails to see through, leading others to question his sanity.
Hayato serves as the ultimate guardian and authority figure within the story. As the strongest master at a dojo filled with martial arts masters, his presence acts as a deus ex machina, capable of single-handedly ending conflicts that would be impossible for the younger disciples. He does not typically interfere in disciple-level fights, choosing instead to allow them to grow on their own, but he intervenes globally to shield the innocent from master-class threats. His role is also that of a mentor to the protagonist, Kenichi Shirahama, whom he affectionately calls Ken-chan.
His key relationships are deeply defining. He is immensely fond of Kenichi, seeing a reflection of his own younger, reckless self in the boy. Although he subjects Kenichi to the most brutal and terrifying training regimens of all the masters, he is also the only one who sincerely apologizes for the hell they put him through. He respects Kenichi's strong moral compass and resolve, ultimately giving him approval to date Miu, though he imposes a strict condition for marriage: Kenichi must defeat him in combat. This condition directly reflects his fierce protectiveness over Miu. His protectiveness manifests in extreme jealousy, such as when he witnessed Miu kiss Kenichi on the cheek and had to be physically restrained by the other masters to prevent him from harming the boy. His love for his granddaughter is his most prominent trait; he worries constantly about her safety, blames himself when she is in danger, and travels the globe desperately when she is kidnapped. His history also includes a friendship-turned-rivalry with the Yami master Silcardo Jenazad, with whom he once exchanged medical knowledge. He considers his failure to prevent his son Saiga from falling to the Satsujin-ken, or Killing Fist, path as his greatest failure. He remains faithful to his late wife, visiting her grave annually and rejecting advances from figures like Mikumo Kushinada.
Throughout the story, Hayato shows significant development in his role as a mentor. Early on, he presents extreme trials to test Kenichi's character, such as leaving him alone in the wilderness to choose his own path between good and evil. During the D of D Tournament, disguised as Garyu X, he mentors both Kenichi and Miu while blindfolded and using only a minuscule fraction of his power, congratulating them when they manage to crack his mask. When Miu is brainwashed by Jenazad, Hayato is overcome with guilt but is ultimately moved to tears when Kenichi saves her, tearfully thanking the boy and recognizing him as capable of protecting his granddaughter. These events shift his perspective, solidifying his approval of Kenichi and his role as a guardian for the next generation.
Hayato Furinji's martial prowess is virtually unrivaled, earning him recognition as one of the planet's two strongest fighters. His power is so immense that he unconsciously suppresses it to a minute fraction, sometimes as little as 0.0001% or 0.0002% of its full capacity, to prevent lethal outcomes in sparring matches. Even at this level, he can easily overwhelm disciple-level fighters. His physical feats include running on water, bending battleship cannons with his bare hands, flipping over tanks, and moving faster than high-speed cameras can capture, with only a blur visible at 1/1000 of a second. He commands 108 legendary techniques. Among the most notable is the Seikuken, a defensive ability that creates an impenetrable barrier. He also developed its advanced form, the Ryusei Seikuken, which allows him to predict and counter attacks by reading an opponent's flow of movement and intent. Other abilities include using ki to heal, splitting his vocal cords to speak two different sentences simultaneously, and manipulating his own anatomy to achieve inhuman flexibility. He can also use a shockwave that erases memories. Despite his overwhelming power and the almost god-like status he holds, he is approachable and his strength serves as the ultimate benchmark and shield for Ryozanpaku and the people he has sworn to protect.