Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma ½ or One Punch Man
Ranma, Strongest One There Is
The Strongest Boy Alive
Somewhere in China, there is a boy who was running past all the civilians with his clothes in rags and his mood in the dumps. "Stupid Pops! Throwing me to those tigers he robbed, saying it was for training! I hate this! I hate him! I HATE HIM!" And the boy ran and ranted until he happened to trip, falling on his face.
But the boy didn't care about the mud in his eyes or bruises on his cheeks. Still, he was crying. "Why can't I just have a normal dad? One that doesn't lie, cheat, and steal. One that doesn't throw me aside to save himself, selfish jerk with a big belly!" The boy grumbled as he got up but instead of running off, he noticed that he was in front of a store. A book store judging by the bookshelves he could see through the window.
Then he saw it on display. One of those 'manga' come books that the boy has heard once or twice. They supposedly tell exciting tales of heroes and villains with pages filled with action packed pictures. But this one is a special manga, to the boy's eyes. It had a hero on the cover, one that blew up a monster with just a single punch.
'He must be strong! Very, very strong to do that! Is he a martial artist too!?' The boy thought to himself. "Oh, I wish that I can get that strong."
"Are you just widow shopping or do you want to come in and buy something?" The boy was startled and saw a man staring down on him. This could only be the shop owner. "Well?"
"uh…" The boy stuttered and saw that the comic book had a reasonable price. "I would like to buy that comic book in the window. I have enough money with me." The man raised an eyebrow.
"Then come in and have the money ready, I have no time for kids playing pranks today." The man opened the door and practically pushed the boy inside, directing the latter to the counter with the cash register. By the time the man returned with the comic book, he saw the boy still standing there and money was on the counter. After counting it down to the penny, "Everything is there. Enjoy the comic, kid."
The boy's eyes let up as he gently took the comic book out of the shop owner's hand. "Thank you, sir!" And the boy rushed out of the store to read the comic book, finding a bench that was unoccupied at the moment. And for a while, the boy just sat there reading his new comic book with restless legs.
Everyone, men and women, children and their parents, could have sworn that the boy's eyes were getting brighter with awe and excitement the more he read the book. Then he jumped off the bench as if a grasshopper and landed with the grace of a trapeze artist.
"My name is Ranma Saotome, and I am going to be the Strongest One There Is!" With the book in hand, the boy raised his arms and shouted up to the sky. He didn't care about the kids pointing at him, the adults chuckling at the sight. Ranma had something in mind and he didn't care what others say, he is going to do it and become an unstoppable fighter; one that not even his father will abuse and abandon on a whim.
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Yet it seems that Ranma had spoken too soon,
"BOY! I let you go and train for only a moment and you were slacking off and reading this garbage!" The crowd were frightened when a large man with an even bigger belly and glasses came, and practically assaulted Ranma right in front of their eyes. Not to mention tearing up Ranma's comic book, that the boy just bought with his own money.
"Pops! I used up all my money to buy that!" Ranma shouted with tears in his eyes but this colossal jerk just won't have it.
"You should have used that money for food and a place to stay! I had to spend my hard-earned cash to do that!" The man shouted but instead of flinching in tears, Ranma sneered at the man.
"Don't lie to me, Pops! Any money you had you always stole it! Ever since you brought me across China you had been conning, lying and stealing!" The crowd were shocked and outraged. "Worst, you run and leave me to pay those big people you stole from! The last bunch even broke my bones!"
"QUITE YOUR CRYING AND BELLYACHING! YOU SOUND LIKE A GIRL! BE A MAN AND TAKE YOUR PUNISHMENT FOR YOUR WEAKNESS! I AM YOUR FATHER AND I AM MAKING YOU THE STRONGEST EVEN IF IT KILLS YOU!" That infernal, sad lump of meat that was yelling at his boy was making the bystanders rather disgusted.
"I believe that I heard enough." Finally, a policeman came from the crowds and approached the duo. But when he just placed his hand on the man's shoulder, the latter lashed out and the sound of bones cracking echoed throughout the city. "ARRGH! What the hell is wrong with you!?"
"I am Genma Saotome and you are interfering with this boy's punishment for running away from my training!" The man spoke up, as if he was above the policemen. But he was soon taken from behind by more cops. "Let me go! I have to make this boy the strongest! Let me go!"
Genma then acted like a wild bear and shook off the cops, and rather harshly as they all received painful falls. "And if any of you get up then I will have to cave in your heads!" Genma then growled to the crowds who could only scowl at him. But the air was broken when,
"STOP POPS!" Ranma screamed out loud enough to shake the windows nearby and the bystanders had to shield their ears from it. "I will get stronger and without you and your stealing! I will be the strongest and you get to do what you want here in China! You are too strong to be locked away but I will find you when I am strong enough to show you the right way! I promise it on my honor!"
No one made a sound and nobody budged from their spots. There was silence in the air again. All eyes were on the boy and his scumbag of a father, they wanted to see what will the latter think of this. And Genma answered,
"Do what you want boy, but I want to see you become the Strongest Ever!" Genma vanished and the officers scramble to get back on their feet in order to pursue him. This left Ranma standing there, with his comic book still in pieces but he then saw that page where the hero shouted off how he trained to become the strongest hero that he was.
'Just you wait, stupid pops!' Ranma thought out loud. 'I will be the strongest and the best, like no one ever was. I will be a fighter that shall never be matched. Watch me, you big jerk!' With that set straight, Ranma took that shredded page and ran off to who knows where.
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And so, ten years had passed since that day Ranma had took a comic book idea and tried to bring it to life; he had succeeded and benefited from it, almost. After wandering around, Ranma had found a farm where the owners were more than happy to let him stay as he wished to help out with the chores as part of his 'training'.
Too bad that he was found by Genma who came to steal Ranma and take him to Japan. Thankfully, Ranma was able to see this coming and prepared a thank-you letter to the farm owners for taking him in; when they went looking, they found the letter and wished Ranma luck against his dishonest and demanding father.
Now, it was a raining day in the small town of Nerima, within Tokyo, and the strangest sight was seen. "Quit your bellyaching, Pops. We are getting this over with, so pipe down." A woman wearing a martial artist uniform, a large backpack and a painfully bald head was dragging along a large black panda that was also carrying a pack; and it was clawing at the hold she had on its neck. Yet all the efforts didn't even cause the woman to let up on her grip, as if the claws don't even tickle her wrist.
Yet this sundae got a cheery on top when the panda pulled out a sign with writing on it and tried to hit the woman on the head with it. But that still didn't make any progress and only got the sign to snap off for the bystanders to read. "This is a family matter of honor, foolish son?" One of the adults read the sigh which only made everyone even more confused.
Elsewhere in the town was a dojo that looked like it had better days. A man inside had just got his mail and started to cheer, as if he just won the lottery. "Girls! Please come, I have great news for our family!" His name is Soun Tendo, head of the Tendo family dojo for grapping martial arts.
"What is it, Daddy? It is something that will make me…er…us some cash?" A woman in her teens came out and nearly let loose her tendencies for getting her own pockets full. That would explain why the dojo looks neglected and barely maintained. She is Nabiki Tendo, the middle daughter, and a money broker already in the works; starting back in middle school!
"Never mind her, Father, what is the news?" Another woman, who looked like a midwife while still in her twenties. She is Kasumi Tendo, the eldest daughter, and possibly be the only one sane in that madhouse called a dojo. Because there is still one daughter left, breaking bricks in the backyard.
"Can it wait, Daddy? I am nearly done with my training!" She was Akane Tendo and the only one doing anything remotely relatable to martial arts. The problem is that no one has the guts, especially her own family, to tell her that her idea of training can only get her so far. Akane was feared not only for her seemingly impressive strength but mostly her terrible temper control.
"I just got a letter from my old friend and fellow martial artist back when we were young, Genma Saotome!" Soun proclaimed, already a clear drama queen. "He is coming with Ranma, his only son, to complete a vow the two of us made years ago! This is finally going to get our dojo back on the map!"
"Is he my age!?"
"Is he cute!?"
"What does he look like!?"
The three sisters had plenty left to ask, too bad that Soun had nothing to answer for. "I…I have no idea. I never met Genma-kun's son." This set off a firework show on how disappointed the girls are. But Soun was saved from anything physical when the doorbell of the dojo was heard, Kasumi went to check the door.
On the doorstep was the same bizarre duo from earlier in the Nerima, still drenched as the rain hadn't let up just yet. "Hello, is this the Tendo Dojo? We have some unfinished business there."
Kasumi put on her best smile after being taken aback by a strange bald woman that was carrying a motionless panda by the scruff on the neck. "Then yes, you have found the Tendo Dojo. Come in."
The woman walked in with a grumble while still wet from the downpour. And she dumped the panda unceremonious on the floor. "Do me a favor and get some hot water for this sad meatbag?" The woman then said rather abrasively which disturbed the family only a little. "Oh, I haven't said my name yet. It's Ranma, Ranma Saotome."
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The Tendos were in silent shock. None of this was making any sense. Nabiki walked over and did a 'good look to be sure' which involved touching 'Ranma's' chest. "Yep, no boy here. All girl." Soun then started to tear up while the other girls were not amused and especially not 'Ranma'.
"Are you done yet?" She said with a temper that was at least contained with subtleness. "Because I certainly didn't drag my worthless father over to get this from a 'straight' girl." Nabiki sure got the message and removed her hand to save her from being considered otherwise.
Then the middle daughter turned to the weeping old man, "Dad. I thought you just said your friend was bring his son Ranma. This one is a girl." Soun was in disbelief not better,
"I know that my friend Genma-kun wrote me when Akane was just born that he was a father to a boy!" Soun cried out, "He also said that he was going to train Ranma-kun to be a martial artist that will complete our vow and connect our schools!"
"Quite the whining!" 'Ranma' suddenly shouted. "I am sick of hearing grown-up men like you brawling like babies! Now I would like to know where the baths are. There are some dry clothes in my pack." Kasumi nodded and pointed where the baths are while 'Ranma' took out a spare outfit from her backpack.
Later, Akane had finished her exercise and felt like taking a bath too. When she got to the door, steam was still leaking out bit by bit which meant that someone was already taking a bath. Akane figured that it was Ranma so she went for the door when,
"Occupied!" Akane flinched at both the sound of the voice and that the door had slammed shut on her. It sounded somewhat like 'Ranma' yet it was more masculine than feminine.
"Ranma-san? It's just me, Akane."
"I know and the bath is still occupied!" Now Akane was sure that whoever was in there sounded like a man rather a woman and yet with the monotone from before. "I am almost done getting my clothes on so hold on a moment."
"But the both of us are girls, what's the big deal!?" Akane shouted but she swallowed those words when the doors opened and out came, in Ranma's clothes, a rather impressive looking man with also a bald head. Akane felt lightheaded to see all those redefined muscles, a perfect combo of a professional wrestler and athlete, budge through the uniform. "Who the hell are you!? What did you do with Ranma-san!?"
The man just let out a sigh, "My name's Ranma Saotome. And both me and my idiot pops have a lot to answer about. Feel free to join us, you don't need to go through the shit they got us into." With that, the man that called himself Ranma left Akane in front of the door to the baths and the girl had no idea what was going on.
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Later that evening, both families had their dinner and were still at the table for a serious discussion. Namely, Ranma appearing as female one moment and now as a male. And the panda apparently was a man too and looked like he was in the company of an overbearing wife, constantly watching him to not embarrass her in any way.
"Well Soun-kun, the both of us have arrived to address the vow you and I made years ago." Genma also spoke the part, so light that it was difficult to truly hear him. "It is just that there were…complications regarding both us, and even more to my son."
"Why? He seems to be a strong, healthy young man." Kasumi asked. "I see no problem with him leading our schools." Akane had nothing to say since she was still a little peeved at losing to a man who somehow posed as a girl when they first met.
"That is my problem." Ranma spoke up, with little to no emotions. "I am not training because I went too far. I am too strong for anyone to match so I want a wife not for your stupid vow on a drunken night. I want someone that will bring me the entertainment that no battle can give me. That is all."
It took only a few long and painful seconds for it all to sink in, and everyone had figured out what the boy meant. Too bad that it was something that Akane can't stand to hear, "YOU PERVERT!"
Pulling a hammer as if from nowhere, Akane tried to strike at Ranma only for the boy to vanish from his spot and the blunt end of the hammer to practically turn to dust instantly. Akane and the Tendos didn't even have time to register this when they sensed someone behind them with a fist ready for the kill.
When they turned to look, they felt like a giant was staring down on them and had the kanji, written blood red, for 'Death'. Yet Ranma didn't touch any of the Tendos with his punch, yet the atmosphere reacted anyways. A large gust had been shot out of the dining and room and out of the dojo into the city.
Windows shook and cracked. The streets rumbled as if an earthquake. And a mountain in the distance suddenly got evaporated, with a large chunk gone instantly. It all happened at once and this got Nerima on high alert as this was the single greatest and most mysterious 'natural disaster' that ever graced the town and possibly all of Japan.
Back in the Tendo dojo, "I am strong. The strongest there ever was and that is my problem." Ranma said as he walked back over to where his seat was, his father already got rid of the sawdust from the hammer. "Now that no one can stand to even a lazy punch and I can take any hit without harm, fights are no longer exciting or entertaining. But a certain man has told me to embrace the fact that I am a growing boy and find a girl, a woman at that. And he promised that the woman I choose will bring me the flame in my eyes again."
Kasumi was the one to finally speak up. "And will you choose one of us or all three of us? The three of us are all single." Ranma didn't even twitch at the sight of a woman selling herself and her sisters.
"It is because of this giant idiot," Ranma jabbed his thumb towards his submissive father, "That neither of us can go anywhere outside this little town. We are staying whether you mind us or not. And the only way for us to leave is to find me a mate and do all the annoying paperwork. That is your answer." Ranma left that hanging, for the Tendos to digest it all. "We are staying as long as it takes for me to marry and get this 'vow' business over with. So, any questions?"
End of Chapter 1
*What do you guys think!? I made this story after how I deleted several older ones that I can never find myself to work on ever again. I also included my theory on how Saitama became the One Punch Man.
It goes like so, when he said that he did a hundred push-ups, sit-ups and squats and a ten-kilometer run every day. But after spending a year and a half, the training got too easy and done too early so Saitama doubled his efforts. And then tripled, then quadrupled until he lost count. That is how he became so strong by the end of his three-year training trip. Tell me what you think!
One last thing, I got the idea of Ranma seeking a mate from the fanfic 'One Punch Naru'. I won't spoil it all but in that story, Naruto got to Saitama's level and blown all the competition until he found excitement in his biggest fan that was living with him. So, I thought that I will take this and incorporate it into the best Gender-Mix and Harem manga ever made (that is Ranma ½ of course). Enjoy!*