Spirit of a Weed Arc

Spirit of a Weed Arc
Information
Volumes	61-62 (2 Volumes)
Manga Rounds	558-572 (15 Chapters)
Anime Rounds	21 (Season 3) (1 Episode)
Chronology
Previous	A Passing Point Arc
Next	Under Siege Arc

The Spirit of a Weed Arc is the twenty-sixth story arc in the series and the first in the Law of the Ring Saga.

Manabu Itagaki has a rematch against the one he fought in his debut match and lost to a foul, Fumito Makino, who now has learned the Hitman Style. With Makino still doing fouls ever since it helped him win against Itagaki, Itagaki feels as if it is his responsibility to stop Makino. This time with both fighters having improved since they last fought, they will face each other in the East Japan Rookie King Tournament semi-final.

Summary

Broccoman's Arrival and Fumito Makino's Return

Aoki receiving Papaya's hairstyle.

At the Kamogawa gym, Ippo, Aoki, and Itagaki discuss how they saw Takamura on a commercial endorsing a product. Aoki wishes to do a commercial one day, and Itagaki feels as if he should learn from Takamura, wanting some pointers from a two weight class world champion to help him reach his goal. Kimura enters the gym and reminds everyone how Takamura made a promise to him and Aoki that if they didn't win, they would have to get the same haircut as their opponents. Aoki argues that since they tied, they didn't lose, but Kimura doubts that it will work like that. Aoki tries running out of the gym, but Takamura stops him as he arrives, making Aoki pass out. Takamura has scissors in his hand and prepares ti give Aoki and Kimura a haircut. Kimura reminds Takamura that they tied, so the promise is halfway kept. Kimura reveals a lightning bolt symbol cut out on the side of his head to look like Eleki. Takamura decides to not do anything to Kimura since he found his haircut funny. Kimura decides to help Takamura cut Aoki's hair to look like Papaya, holding Aoki while Takamura cuts his hair. After Takamura finished, Aoki is mostly bald with a small amount of hair on top that looks like a broccoli. Kamogawa and Yagi arrive to the gym and gives praise to Takamura, Aoki, and Kimura for their previous matches, and informs Takamura of the events he needs to attend. Once Kamogawa notices Aoki's haircut, he starts hitting him with his cane for being foolish. Aoki is confused until he looks in a mirror and gets angry. Later, at the Makunouchi Fishing Boat, Ippo, Itagaki, and Hiroko are eating dinner when they notice a second commercial starring Takamura. Ippo realises that even though Takamura may act crazy at times, they train alongside an incredible person. Ippo and Itagaki are looking forward to see how far Takamura will go in his dream. Hiroko tells the two that they should worry about their own dreams, as chasing dreams and seeing how far they can go with them is what makes a man. They then are shocked to see a commercial about broccoli starring Aoki as "Broccoman".

Makino fighting in the East Japan Rookie King Tournament Quarter Finals.

Later, Ippo and Itagaki run laps while Kumi times them. After a session, Ippo asks Kumi when the next time she is free, which is Saturday. Ippo tries to get Itagaki to go with them, but Itagaki claims he isn't in the mood to have fun. Ippo feels like Itagaki is nervous about his upcoming match in the East Japan Rookie King Tournament. Later, at the Kamogawa gym, Itagaki finishes sparring after defeating three four-rounders and begins mitt practice with Shinoda. Ippo asks Kimura if thinks Itagaki has been tense lately. Kimura thinks that Itagaki is low on confidence since the one who shattered his confidence, Imai, is the one he will face soon. Later, Ippo asks Itagaki again if he will go with him and Kumi Saturday. Itagaki explains that that is when he has to go watch his next opponent's fight. Ippo calls Kumi and informs her that he can't hang out with her Saturday due to having to go with Itagaki to see who he will fight. That day, Ippo, Itagaki, and Nanako go to the Kōrakuen Hall to see who Itagaki will fight. Ippo is surprised to see Fumito Makino fighting and using the Hitman Style and Flicker Jabs. Itagaki tells Ippo how when he saw Makino in the brackets, he wanted him to climb up so he can face him in a rematch after losing to the fouls in his debut match. Itagaki points out how he is still using fouls, and since he has been using them ever since he defeated Itagaki, Itagaki feels that it is his responsibility to take him down. Makino wins the match by knockout. Ippo realises that the reason Itagaki is so nervous is because to win the tournament, Itagaki has to beat Makino and Imai who were able to beat him before.

Itagaki, Imai, and Makino meet.

Outside the venue, Itagaki, Ippo, and Nanako are approached by Makino, who begins calling Itagaki one of the amateur elite and states how jealous he is about Itagaki getting magazine coverage. He warns Itagaki that he may trip up against him again and claims that he is envy about him having a girlfriend to cheer him up. Imai appears and claims that Nanako isn't his girlfriend, but his younger sister. He backs Itagaki, and when the tensions rise, Ippo steps in to stop the three. Makino leaves, but not before commenting on Ippo being well mannered, stepping on Ippo's shoe and warning him that soon he won't be able to ignore him either, making Itagaki angry. Imai thinks Makino is like a mad dog and asks Itagaki if he will make it to he finals. Itagaki asks Imai how he knows Nanako is his sister, which Imai remembers seeing her cheer for Itagaki for he fought with him during the inter-high school matches.

Broccoman arrives to the gym.

Later, at the Kamogawa gym, Ippo, Kimura, and Takamura talk about Itagaki and Makino's upcoming match. Takamura believes that Itagaki can get past Makino's Flicker Jabs with his speed and if Makino does what ever it takes to land a punch, Itagaki just has to do the same. Ippo and Kimura comments that advice from Takamura is like asking for trouble. Aoki approaches the gym with a Broccoman suit on yelling that if someone is in trouble to call out for him. Aoki brings a group of children who are Broccoman fans to the gym to get his autograph. Fujii arrives to the Kamogawa gym to talk about the Rookie King Tournament, as he deems this year's tournament as the best since the year Ippo, Miyata, and Mashiba were in it. He notes how the boxing styles are similar too: the fighters being Imai and Ippo, boxers Itagaki and Miyata, and unorthodox boxers Makino and Mashiba. As Fujii wonders who will win, Takamura decides to make a bet between the three with Ippo, Aoki, and Kimura. With 5000 yen per boxer, Ippo bets on Itagaki, Kimura and Takamura bets on Imai, and Aoki is forced to bet on Makino as he was the last to say anything.

Help From the Grim Reaper

Itagaki sparring against Mashiba.

Itagaki and Shinoda go to the Tōhō gym, where Itagaki asks Mashiba to spar with him. Mashiba was uninterested until Itagaki tells him to tell Kumi that Itagaki said hello to her since Kumi took care of him the other day. Mashiba wants to know how she took care of him, but Itagaki is getting ready to leave since he didn't want to spar. Mashiba tells him to get in the ring and to explain himself after he beats him. Itagaki and Mashiba spar for two rounds. That night, Ippo goes to Itagaki's house to check on him. Outside, Ippo meets Itagaki's father and mother, and the father tries to make a pun of his son's name with a fart for "manabu" but let out a wet one making it "manasu". Ippo enters Itagaki's room and is shocked by his swollen face. Itagaki informs Ippo that it was hard not going down for two rounds, but he was able to get results on how to deal with Flicker Jabs. At the Chūka Soba, Ippo tells Aoki, Kimura, and Takamura about Itagaki's spar with Mashiba, and gets frustrated when his gym mates were more worried about their bets on Imai and Makino. Fujii goes to the Sayama gym to see Itagaki's opponent, Makino. When Makino laments on the fact that his section was small on the magazine article, Fujii explains that Itagaki and Imai coverage was bigger due to them being popular amateurs with impressive fights. The Sayama coach has Makino leave to go train and reveals to Fujii how Makino felt bad after hearing others talk poor about his first win against Itagaki, however, Makino continues to train even harder, and the coach plans to show the "elites" the strength of an underdog.

At home, Mashiba mentions to Kumi how he heard she helps "the enemy" with his training. Kumi claims Ippo is in a different weight class so he is no longer his enemy, but Mashiba still views him as the enemy. Kumi notices that Mashiba's face is swollen. Later, Itagaki goes back to the Tōhō gym and convinces Mashiba to spar with him again after mentioning that he knows what happen when Kumi went to the beach with someone. As Itagaki and Mashiba begin their spar, at the Sayama gym, Makino begins his spar as well, while Mari talks with the Sayama coach. Mari learns from the Sayama coach how he has Makino train against bantamweights and lower to train against Itagaki's speed and that Makino adopted the Hitman Style himself. Later, Mashiba leaves home after telling Kumi that he is going clothes shopping with someone. Shocked, Kumi calls Ippo and the two follow Mashiba around as they believe that he is going on a date with a woman. However, they become shocked that Mashiba's "date" turns out to be Itagaki. After the two finish clothe shopping, they go to the Hirosue to eat, while Ippo and Kumi eavesdrops on their conversation. When Mashiba expresses how he likes that Kumi and Ippo have made no progress in their relationship, Itagaki advises for Mashiba to let Kumi make her own decisions about who she should date or she may end up rebelling against him. Itagaki informs Mashiba that the reason he is obsessed with the Rookie Kings is to regain his self-confidence that Ippo made him lose after he told him after he loss his debut match that someone like him isn't a pro. Itagaki wishes to have a good match so that Ippo can tell him that he looks like a pro now. As the days go by, Itagaki spars with Mashiba for three rounds three times a week.

Spirit of a Weed

Mari interviewing Makino.

While Makino is doing roadwork at a nearby hospital, he stops at the Konokami East Central General Hospital to see Atsushi Tsuchiya. Makino asks if Atsushi is still depressed about his surgery, while Atsushi wonders if Makino is depressed about his upcoming match since his opponent is strong. Makino agrees, which makes Atsushi feel he should be worried about himself instead. As Makino wishes to show Atsushi that anything is possible if he keeps trying and promises that he will win in order for Atsushi to do his best for his surgery, Atsushi agrees and goes inside the hospital. As Makino starts doing roadwork again, Mari approaches him. Expressing her interest in learning about his fighting style and words, Mari is warned to watch where she steps, however she sees no problem with stepping on weeds. She listens as Makino compares himself and Ippo to weeds, how much they endure being stepped on, planning to be like Ippo who worked until he blossomed to a flower.

Later, at the Kamogawa gym, Itagaki spars with Kimura. After the spar, Itagaki learns about Makino's situation with a hospitalised patient from Mari, however, he feels no different about the match after hearing it. Itagaki goes to the Tōhō gym to give Mashiba thanks for his help. Before leaving, Mashiba asks what Itagaki will do if he continued to win, as he can't challenge Ippo for the title since Ippo is in the same gym as him. Itagaki plans to wait for Ippo to relinquish his title. The night before his weigh-in, Itagaki is nervous, since Makino is the type he is weak against and does not want to lose to the same opponent twice.

East Japan Rookie King Tournament - Semi-Finals - Manabu Itagaki vs. Fumito Makino/Kyōsuke Imai vs. Makoto Terai

On the night of the East Japan Rookie King Tournament semi-finals, the audience at the Kōrakuen Hall can't wait for the match to begin as Imai has the potential to become a Japanese champion and Itagaki and Makino are predicted to be even. Mari tells Fujii that she predicts an 8:2 ratio in Itagaki's favour against Makino, as even though Itagaki lost to Makino before, Itagaki has been training with Ippo and Takamura for a while. As the match is about to start, Itagaki and Makino heads to the ring. On the way there, Makino is surprised that Atsushi has come to watch and cheer for him. Mari sees that Atsushi is unable to watch due to being in a wheelchair and has the people in front of him to move aside. As Makino's name is called out by the announcer, and Atsushi hears the audience jeer at him, Mari claims that even through the jeers, Makino works hard.

Itagaki dodging Makino's Flicker Jabs.

As the first round begins, Itagaki takes up an upright orthodox boxing stance rather than his usual low stance, while Makino takes his Hitman Style. Fujii goes to the audience seats where Mashiba is watching and the latter tells him whether Makino is a copycat or has mastered the Hitman Style will be decided soon. Kimura has bad memories of seeing the Hitman Style, wondering how Itagaki will handle them. As Makino begins throwing Flicker Jabs, Itagaki is able to dodge and block them, but unable to get close, believing that he just needs to focus. Itagaki gets pushed to the ropes by the Flicker Jabs, however, he doesn't get hit by them. After a failed attempt of getting out by attacking, Itagaki begins to parry all of Makino's Flicker Jabs by focusing. Seeing Itagaki use such a pro technique despite being only a 4-rounder makes Fujii deem Itagaki a genius. Getting used to the Flicker Jabs, Itagaki lands punches while dodging and parrying Makino's attacks. After a sending out a barrage of punches, Itagaki dodges a clinch. Makino tries to hit Itagaki while getting angry that the gap between a weed like him and an elite like Itagaki is. Itagaki continues to attack Makino, pushing him into a corner, until the first round ends. With Makino's face is already swollen Aoki and Kimura feel sorry for him, especially Aoki, who sees him as a fellow dark horse. In the corner, Makino's coach reminds Makino that he has won against Itagaki before and to be confident. Makino remembers that he won because of his fouls, but doesn't want to do them with Atsushi watching. At Itagaki's corner, Shinoda praises his rhythm and to keep it up in the next round.

Itagaki defeating Makino.

In the second round, Itagaki continuously attacks Makino while Makino uses the rest of his strength and willpower to barrage Itagaki with a futile flurry of wide swings that Itagaki dodges until Makino falls down. Makino slumps in despair on the ground as the count begins, realising the difference in skill between Itagaki and himself. It is not until Atsushi got out of his wheelchair and begs Makino to get up does he decide to muster up the courage to continue fighting. In an attempt to fulfil his promise to Atsushi to win no matter what, Makino begins attempting to foul against Itagaki, but the latter is unfazed and continues fighting. Seeing Itagaki dodge the fouls reminds Fujii of Ippo's match against Sawamura where Ippo did the same thing. Itagaki thinks that Makino is not a dark horse like Ippo, as Ippo would never cheat no matter how rough a spot he is in and that Ippo rooted himself deeply in the soil and grew towards the sun straight and tall, unlike Makino. Itagaki lowers his stance forward and enters an exchange match with Makino. Even though he got hit with an uppercut, Itagaki still downs Makino after hitting him with multiple punches. The referee stops the match immediately, resulting in Itagaki's victory and him moving to the East Japan Rookie King tournament finals. Ippo thinks that Itagaki looks like a splendid pro boxer now.

Imai fighting Makoto.

Walking away from the ring, Makino hangs his head in shame. However, when Atsushi approaches him and remarks that the match inspired him to have courage during the surgery, Makino is flattered, and tells him that he will fulfil his promise to him and do his best for his next match. Mari believes that Makino will steadily grow upwards in the future. As Itagaki walks away from the ring, he meets Imai as he is walking to the ring for his semi-finals, and encourages him to not trip up. Ippo heads to Itagaki's waiting room to tell him how he looked like a pro, however, Kamogawa stops him, forbidding Ippo from ever saying those words if he wants to see Itagaki continue to grow. Ippo goes back to watch with Mari as Imai fights Makoto Terai. Imai has been missing his punches as Terai dodges them. As Terai was about to attack, Imai knocks his fist away, and then lands two body blows back-to-back, sending him down in pain. The referee ends the match without a count, resulting in Imai's victory and him moving to the East Japan Rookie King tournament finals. The finals is decided to be between Itagaki and Imai.

Isamu and Hiroshi supporting Aoki's Broccoman brand.

Aoki and Kimura comments how they see why Imai beat Itagaki twice as amateurs, and that it is a shame that Imai was around the same generation as Itagaki. Takamura believes that no matter how talented one is, they can't use that as an excuse for losing as there is only one true king, as well as many unfortunate one buried under the king's shadow. Takamura adds that the most unfortunate era to be in is now because he is in it, so other boxers can only dream to be number two. A group of kids approaches Aoki who are Broccoman fans to get an autograph from him. Kimura now agrees with Takamura that the most unfortunate era to be in is now. Leaving the Kōrakuen Hall, Itagaki and Ippo walks together and Itagaki tells him how Imai won his match by a one round knockout and feels that Imai is always on step ahead of him, thinking that that is how Miyata feels about Ippo. Itagaki hopes to become stronger so that Imai is not ahead of him. Ippo wonders how many times Kamogawa praised him, wanting to get Kamogawa to tell him that he looks like a pro one day. Later, while doing roadwork, Ippo thinks that he should build his endurance and lower body strength so he doesn't worry Yamaguchi when he uses his New Dempsey Roll. He wonders who his next opponent will be and when it will happen. Later, when Ippo goes to the Kamogawa gym, he is shocked to see Aoki and Takamura argue over who is most popular. Aoki's fans Isamu and Hiroshi who have cut their hair to match Broccoman backs him up. Takamura gets annoyed and leaves.

At the Kinoshita gym, Kinoshita asks Karasawa if he is sure he wants to fight the strong champion Ippo. Karasawa claims that he will defeat him, as he has a plan against the Dempsey Roll. At the Kamogawa gym, Kamogawa informs Ippo of a challenge request from Karasawa, the seventh ranker in the JBC featherweight, and the match will be one month away. Ippo wishes to accept it despite Kamogawa warning him that he would be building himself back from nothing, as he believes he needs to start over since there is something he wants to try.

Trivia

• In the third season of the anime, part of the beginning of this arc takes place between A Passing Point Arc and Post-War Arc, with the latter arc having Aoki in his "Broccoman" hair style.