Name a Sasuke from 1-32 that the Kosugi bros didn’t enter…

[hatkun]

This trend may be coming close to burning itself out, but with the Kōji Yamada series still going strong, I’m hoping it’s not dead yet, and plus I really wanted to do this, so here goes. 

Seeing how fun it was to create an entire lore for Okuyama in my previous post (and thank you so much to everyone who stuck around for the journey), I had gotten to thinking at some point that I would like to possibly do this again for another fan favorite. Naturally, Kane Kosugi came to mind. 

Now, Kane was known to skip some tournaments from time to time, considering he was an actor, but the purposes of this, let’s just assume he could theoretically find the time to attend any tournament he wanted to. I’m limiting this to the first 28 because I’m not as familiar with the course beyond that era, especially once you get into the mid-30s, plus it’s possible Kane might decide to retire from Sasuke along with some of the other All-Stars at that time, until his return in 40. 

So with all that said, give me any tournament up to Sasuke 28 that Kane didn’t participate in and I’ll tell you how he did. Preferably in chronological order, but I’ll accept any requests. 

[salt]

SASUKE 9

[sasukeninjawarrior]

I have created a whole new genre lol, anyways Kane already competed in 1,4,6,7,8 for the 1-28, so let's see how he does in 2.

[dakohosu]

Sasuke 11-13

[hatkun]

May 3, 2023 0:41:17 GMT -5 salt said:

SASUKE 9

(Replay)

Kane Kosugi is climbing the Tsuna Nobori, his face contorted in pain and anguish as he stares up at the heavens of Midoriyama, absorbing its torrential downpour, defying the gods to the very last. The gunshot sounds, the rope gives way, Kane plummets to earth in bitter defeat. As he gazes up again, now standing right back where he’d started, rain and tears mix, leaving the once-proud hero in an utterly tragic and beaten state. The spiteful gods have won again.

Sasuke 9

But every fan of the movies knows this is not where the hero’s story ends. Now 27, Kane Kosugi has returned in Sasuke 9, and the actor has some unfinished business with the demonic forces lurking within Midoriyama. After his devastating failure in Sasuke 8 which nevertheless represented his best performance to date, Kane’s already very high status on the show soars to new heights. While he is already a founding member of the All-Stars, he has now firmly put himself forward as a contender for unofficial leader of the group. With all this in mind, it was a no-brainer for the producers to give him #98, placing him behind only Yamada and Akiyama.

With this and his brother Shane getting #91, it was clear that expectations were, as usual, very high for the Kosugi bros. on this day.

First Stage

The course proved to be quite difficult on the day, with only six men hitting the button by the time it was Kane’s turn. Sadly, one of those men was not his younger brother Shane, who shockingly failed one of the easier obstacles on the course, the Odama. As a dejected Shane pulled himself out of the muddy waters, Kane waited on the sidelines to console him, silently vowing revenge on the gods for this cruel twist of fate.

Furutachi introduces Kane now, reminding us that he was a Finalist in the previous tournament and telling us his age and occupation as an actor. As he walks up to the start line, he tells the reporter simply:

“I am running today for my brother. I will do my best to achieve Kanzenseiha for both of us.”

The camera then pans to Shane, standing just a few feet away and watching with a mixture of hope and anxiety. With an already emotionally charged run given even more fuel, Kane’s theme begins to play while we see a series of clips, starting with his Final Stage attempt in the last tournament, and continuing to show his latest training for the show. At the end of the video, Kane says that his previous defeat has only strengthened his determination to reach the top of the tower.

We now return to the forest, where the light has begun to dim as the day turns to evening, and where Kane stands ready to begin his quest for victory anew.

First up, the Godantobi. Although no one knows it yet, this area will cause a stunning failure just two runs from now when Grand Champion Akiyama stumbles on it, but for Kane, who dealt with this obstacle easily enough in the rain of the previous tournament, it is not a problem, as he nimbly runs through it and climbs to the Rolling Maruta. He wraps his limbs around the wooden log then pushes off, surviving four violent spins, then dangling for a moment after the fifth to make sure the log has stopped before dropping to the mat below. Next, the Odama. He barely had to pause to think about this obstacle at all in the last tournament, but it just took out his brother several minutes ago, there is no way he can afford to overlook it now.

Kane takes a deep breath, then runs and jumps on the massive boulder, and jumping once more to safety before the ground beneath his feet becomes too unstable. A small victory, he has avenged his brother’s fall, but revenge won’t be complete until Kane clears the First Stage, so he must go on. Now comes the always-deadly Jump Hang. But considering he jumped to the top of the net in Sasuke 7, no one was seriously worried that he would fail here, and he didn’t. After running up to the trampoline, he leaps through the air, grabbing the net very high once again and hoisting himself over. After a mostly smooth roll, he only struggles for a couple of seconds to get himself free before moving on to the Soritatsu Kabe.

The wall had ended many competitors dreams, including Shane’s in the previous tournament, so Kane knows he must get it right on the first try. He sits on top of the track for a couple of moments to gather himself, then runs up and leaps, grabbing the ledge with both hands and pulling himself up and over. Kane still has plenty of time as he climbs down to the Tarzan Rope, unhooking it and swinging across the chasm to the vertical green mat where his final climb awaits.

He climbs hand over hand, getting to the top and hitting the button with an excellent 17.62 seconds remaining, the second-best time of the day. Emotion is written clearly on his face as he gives a shout of victory and turns back to wave at his brother and everyone else. After returning to ground level, he meets with the reporter for his post-run interview, Shane standing by his side once again.

Reporter: “Kane-San, that was amazing! Congratulations on advancing!”

Kane: “I couldn’t let Shane down, especially after the way he’d fallen. I’m glad to have cleared the First Stage, but the real battle begins in the second.”

R: “Shane-San, did you think your brother would clear the First Stage today?”

Shane: “Yes, in fact, I knew he would. And I know he’ll clear all the other stages as well!”

K: (to Shane with a smile) “I’ll do my best.”

R: “Thank you both very much, we hope to see you in the Final once again!”

After Kane’s run, Yamada added to the emotion of the day by clearing in his comeback bid, yet the tragic failure of Akiyama reminded the competitors that Midoriyama can strike back at any time, at anyone. The eight survivors were in for the battle of their lives as they entered the latter stages of the tournament.

Second Stage

The Second Stage saw no changes from the one Kane had cleared in the previous tournament, and that gave him a clear edge as he continued his revenge tour against the dreaded gods of Midoriyama. In his pre-run interview, Kane stated as much, saying:

“I have attempted all of these areas before, and although I’ve made mistakes in the past, so long as I take my time and don’t overthink it, I hope that my past experience will help me to return to the Third Stage.”

Kane’s cautious optimism might have been bolstered by the first six attempts of the evening, four of which ended in success, another in a time out, and only one in an early failure, with Second Stage newcomer Nakayama Kinnikun being unable to handle the Spider Walk. As the camera pans back to the start of the stage after firefighter Takeda’s clear, announcer Furutachi begins to introduce Kane again. Once more, referring to him reverently as a “Finalist” and reminding us that he is battling not just for himself, but for his fallen brother.

“For his brother’s sake, Kane must not fail here!” Furutachi proclaims as the actor grabs the first chain and waits for series of familiar tones before he pushes off. He will have just 80 seconds to complete this maze of chains, walls, and swinging hammers. He rides the first chain down the track and withstands the sudden change in momentum, transferring quickly to the second chain, and getting a decent push off. At last he drops to the platform below, where he removes his gloves and begins the Brick Climb. It is not much of a hindrance, as might be expected, and he soon moves on to the more difficult Spider Walk, the obstacle that shockingly ended his run in Sasuke 7.

Kane makes sure to apply spray to his hands and feet before starting his ascent. The climb is bit awkward with his height, but Kane propels himself onwards, as much with sheer willpower as anything else, traversing to the descending portion, where he is careful not to rush before grabbing the bar and ducking to safety. Next, the Goren Hammer. It hasn’t taken out anybody in the renewal era, and Kane isn’t about to be its first victim. Seeing his opening, he slides along the thin beam, avoiding the bothersome mallets and diving straight into the maw of the Gyakuso Conveyor. The reverse belt had slowed down Iketani enough to virtually end his run, but Kane crawls powerfully through it in just a few seconds, reaching the Wall Lift.

Despite being somewhat winded by this point, Kane manages to pick up and duck under all three walls, one after the other, and the klaxon barely has time to blare once before he presses the button with 9.56 seconds left. An emotional Kane smiles and pumps his fist in celebration, he will be returning to the Third Stage along with the four previous survivors. In his post run interview, with Shane again by his side, Kane speaks once again to the reporter:

R: “Kane-San, you looked very comfortable on the Second Stage today, was there anything that troubled you?”

K: “Only in my own mind. I knew I could do everything that was required of me, I simply had to be in the right state of mind to do it, and thankfully, I was.”

R: “Are you ready for the Third Stage?”

K: “Without a doubt. It’s what I’ve trained for, so now I have to make it a reality.”

S: “We’ll all be cheering him on.”

R: “Indeed we will. Please keep giving it your all, Kane-San. Thank you very much!”

The Second Stage has been a success overall, with over half of the eight men who started it advancing. Unfortunately, the course delivers another reminder that it is not be taken lightly with Yamada’s tragic time out on the very next run. But the five survivors can’t afford to dwell on that, because they’re about to confront a Third Stage very unlike the one they faced just a few months ago.

Third Stage

After the success of Yamamoto Shingo in Sasuke 7, and Kane and Jordan Jovtchev in Sasuke 8, it was clear to the producers that the competitors were figuring out the renewed Third Stage in spite of the tougher obstacles. Therefore, Sasuke 9’s Third Stage has been buffed even further. Gone are the relatively easy Propeller Untei, replaced with the much more taxing Rumbling Dice. The Arm Bike that proved little more than a roadblock to the athletes has been replaced with the Lamp Grasper, and perhaps most notably, the second version of the Cliffhanger has only lasted four tournaments before being replaced by the fearsome Cliffhanger Kai, with a dangerous third ledge lower than the others.

In his pre-run interview, Kane expresses some understandable uncertainty, stating:

“It will be much more challenging than the Third Stage I cleared before. The Cliffhanger looks like it’s going to be the hardest to overcome. But I simply must put my faith in myself and my training. I’ve worked hard to get here and I won’t give up so easily.”

One by one, the new obstacles have conspired to end the runs of one hopeful after another. Newcomer Nagano Makoto was worn down by the time he reached the Pipe Slider and had no energy left for a good jump. Trampolinist Nakata Daisuke barely survived the Body Prop and was utterly vanquished by the Lamp Grasper. Firefighter Takeda Toshihiro looked like he was going to go all the way, but the Lamp Grasper took him down as well. Even two time Finalist and Third Stage veteran Yamamoto Shingo met a tragic end when he rushed the dismount on the Rumbling Dice. Now the only one left standing is Kane. The Last Man Standing in Sasuke 8 finds himself in the exact same spot as yet again, he is the last remaining hope for the 99 who went before. 
his theme starts to play, the cameras show Kane standing stoically, gazing up at the bright lights of the Third Stage, his steely eyes betraying nothing but sheer concentration. A video plays showing his successful Pipe Slider dismount in Sasuke 8, and his doomed Final Stage attempt in the same tournament, followed by clips of his training and his spoken desire to return and continue to pursue his goal. As we return to the climax of Sasuke 9, Furutachi introduces him once more, the gravity of his words undeniable. The crowd cheers enthusiastically as Kane walks up the steps and begins sizing up the new Rumbling Dice. 

He has seen four people attempt it, and has some idea now of which tactics are successful and which ones (Looking at you, Shingo...) are not. Still, there is nothing quite like attempting to tame the beast yourself, and as Kane jumps up to take hold of the heavy metallic box, he must decide how to proceed. Eventually, he settles on a side to side motion, slowly dragging the Dice down the track, its clang ringing out in the night with each successful roll. Each foot he advances saps his strength further, he cannot hang here forever. But finally, he reaches the end and, taking care to avoid Yamamoto's tragic error, turns his body to face forward before dismounting.

Next, the obstacle that took him out in Sasuke 6, the Body Prop. Already looking quite tired, Kane takes all the rest he can while also applying spray to his hands and feet. Once his rest time is over, he wedges himself between the walls and begins the gravity-defying act of crossing the murky water with only his limbs to hold him up. Foot by agonizing foot, he advances, grimacing with exertion, but he keeps his cool, making sure every hand and foot is in the right place, clearing the difficult gaps. At last, he sticks out a foot to the mat, giving himself a crucial bit of support as he bridges the final stretch, then drops to his knees, exhausted from the effort, but safe. 

Kane's battle is far from over however, the next obstacle has proven to be something of a dark horse, ruthlessly cutting down two promising athletes before him. The fluorescent blue bulbs of the Lamp Grasper must look more like something from a horror movie to the actor now, but he has no choice but to cross them in order to continue his quest for redemption. After stretching out his arms and taking as much rest as possible, he stands and takes hold of a bulb in each hand. He thinks about it a moment or two longer, then pushes outwards. He progresses gradually, grimacing as he curls his fingers around bulb after bulb. His arms are almost completely extended as he nears the halfway point, but he fights on. He can't give up, he can't let anything stop him from standing atop the Final Stage.

But he is slowing, the camera shows his face, a mask of gritted pain and anguish. He's only a few feet from completing the area. The crowd shouts their encouragement from the sidelines, the camera zooms in on Shane, cheering his brother on to the very end, but the mood has suddenly become desperate. 

"Ganbare, Kane, ganbare!!" Furutachi implores. But Kane is firmly in the jaws of the beast, his momentum has come to a halt, and he is left hanging helplessly, so close to the end, but not close enough to reach with his legs. With the last of his strength, he tries to reach for the next bulb; that is all the invitation Midoriyama needs as his tired fingers can't get a clean grip, and the Last Man Standing drops like a stone and is swallowed whole by the muddy waters. 

There is stunned silence as Kane swims to the edge and pulls himself out of the water with much effort. He kneels on the ground, hands planted in the dirt, his face only a shadow in the night, the tears not shown to us, yet certainly there. Sasuke 9 has ended in tragedy once again. 

Now it's Shane's turn to console his brother as he kneels next to him, saying something we can't quite hear. As the brothers finally stand, the reporter approaches a still tearful Kane. 

R: "Kane-San, you gave it your all, we were all so devastated to see it end like this. What do you think went wrong?"

K: (composing himself) "...The Rumbling Dice took a lot out of me, I was tired by the time I reached the Body Prop, and even more so by the time I reached the Lamp Grasper. I thought I had the strength to clear it...I tried my best, I did everything I could...but it wasn't enough."

At this point, announcer Furutachi continues the interview himself.

F: "Kane-San, you put on a brave performance today to avenge your brother's defeat."

K: "Yes. It didn't end the way I had hoped, but with Shane's encouragement, I was able to make it this far. The course got the best of us today, but we'll be back."

F: "Please come back and continue doing your best!"

The reporter then thanks Kane, and the brothers walk away together. The final shot is of the two of them standing in the shadow of the Final Stage tower, knowing that the task of conquering it just got much harder, but also that their determination to achieve Kanzenseiha will only be increased by this knowledge. For now, it is time for Kane to rest up and prepare for the upcoming tenth anniversary tournament. 

---

Tournaments 2, 11, 12 and 13 coming up, in that order. Feel free to continue making requests whilst i write those. 

[thegreatluigi]

Very pleased to see this thread; I was hoping you'd do one of these for Kane Kosugi. I kind of want to nominate like half a dozen tournaments all at once, but that's probably not in the spirit of things, so let's just go with Sasuke 10 for now, please.

[azn]

Considering how this will be written in a timeline in direct correlation with Okuyama's timeline that you wrote, does this mean that Okuyama's results stay the same irl (which means he debuts in SK19, clears in SK20 and so on and so forth) or are they akin to the results you wrote? I'm assuming since you didn't mention Okuyama, that it's the first option?

Oh and kinda sorta off topic but I just want to mention this. Their was once a super popular Basketball YouTuber named Mike Korzemba who was well known for making What If Videos on YouTube of various career scenarios for various different players (or for proclaiming that Lonzo Ball was Stephen Curry with a 40inch vertical but that's really off topic). This is basically a whole "What If (SASUKE Competitor) competed in SK# to SK#" series just waiting to happen. I just don't know how that could be done, especially given the amount of SASUKE footage one must need, and considering the purge's of various SASUKE-Tubers as a result of said featuring of footage (UniversalTuber for instance) maybe it's best this just stays here.

Also, for my pick, SK17 I guess.

[hatkun]

May 3, 2023 16:51:42 GMT -5 azn said:

Considering how this will be written in a timeline in direct correlation with Okuyama's timeline that you wrote, does this mean that Okuyama's results stay the same irl (which means he debuts in SK19, clears in SK20 and so on and so forth) or are they akin to the results you wrote? I'm assuming since you didn't mention Okuyama, that it's the first option?

Oh and kinda sorta off topic but I just want to mention this. Their was once a super popular Basketball YouTuber named Mike Korzemba who was well known for making What If Videos on YouTube of various career scenarios for various different players (or for proclaiming that Lonzo Ball was Stephen Curry with a 40inch vertical but that's really off topic). This is basically a whole "What If (SASUKE Competitor) competed in SK# to SK#" series just waiting to happen. I just don't know how that could be done, especially given the amount of SASUKE footage one must need, and considering the purge's of various SASUKE-Tubers as a result of said featuring of footage (UniversalTuber for instance) maybe it's best this just stays here.

Also, for my pick, SK17 I guess.

You know I hadn’t even thought about that, having this timeline be part of the “Okuyama-verse”. That’s actually a really cool idea and one to keep in mind going forward. The only thing is that since I don’t mention Kane at all in the Okuyama timeline, that would create another inconsistency if I have Okuyama have those results here. So it’s probably best to keep each timeline as its own self-contained thing. 

I would love to see (or make, if I had the know-how) a YouTube series like that, I deeply enjoy exploring these alternate histories, it’s a lot of fun. As you said though, it would be an incredibly ambitious project and probably get purged anyways. 

As for Sasuke 17, I’ll add it to the list! 



 

[hatkun]

May 3, 2023 1:47:37 GMT -5 sasukeninjawarrior said:

I have created a whole new genre lol, anyways Kane already competed in 1,4,6,7,8 for the 1-28, so let's see how he does in 2.

Sorry this took so long, it's been a very busy past several days. But I'm back now and will continue working on the requests everyone has made. Also, thanks so much for coming up with this genre, I couldn't have gotten anywhere without you haha.

So, without further ado...

Sasuke 2

After the tremendous success of the inaugural tournament in the fall of 1997, the second Sasuke, held in the fall of 1998, sees the competition move outside for the first time, to the soon-to-become infamous forest of Midoriyama. Once again, 100 competitors of various backgrounds and fame have gathered to pit their strength, speed, stamina, and agility against this odd spin-off of Kinniku Banzuke. For many of them, including future Grand Champion Akiyama Kazuhiko, it's a new experience, not so for celebrity athlete and movie star Kane Kosugi. In the previous tournament, the beloved actor had cleared the first two stages without much difficulty, only to be brought down to earth by the Pole Bridge. Nevertheless, his top 6 finish vindicated his early reputation as one of the top celebrity contenders. Now, just a couple of weeks shy of his 24th birthday, Kane has returned, this time bringing along his younger brother Shane. With expectations high for his run and his household name status, he is given #92.

First Stage

The only change to Sasuke's First Stage aside from moving outside and some aesthetic changes to the obstacles is that the time limit has been reduced by 10 seconds from 70 to 60. That doesn't prove to be much of a hinderance at all to the field, however, as there are actually more clears this time than in the first tournament. In fact, by the time Kane's turn arrives, 28 men, and yes, one woman, have advanced, shattering the record of 23 from the first tournament. One of those clears was Kane's younger brother Shane, which has surely boosted the elder's confidence. As the camera zooms in on the start line, We see a figure standing coolly, betraying no emotion as he contemplates the course before him. Announcer Furutachi introduces him as Kane Kosugi, 23 year old actor, not that he needs much of an introduction. Once this is done, Kane waits for the four tones signifying the start of the one minute he has to get from this platform to the top of the Kabe Nobori.

He starts on the newly christened Maruta Nobori, with logs replacing the barrels from the first tournament, bounding up it in a single leap, then approaching the Burasagari Maruta that has already taken out fan favorite Iketani Naoki. To everyone's shock, he decides to take the riskier standing approach, placing one foot carefully on the log and then dashing across it. He stumbles near the end, but is able to make it to the other side in one piece. Now he faces the Maruta Kudari, similarly redesigned to its ascending counterpart, but this proves to be no obstacle for Kane, as he opts to simply leap across the gap from the top of the obstacle, landing on his feet and running straight up the Sosoritatsu Kabe. He gets about three-fourths of the way up, grabbing the side of the wooden slope to haul himself over. Next up, the Yureru Hashi, which hasn't claimed many victims today, and Kane certainly won't be one of them, he hops across the bridge easily and jumps down to the Free Climbing / Kabe Nobori combination that gave him some problems in the previous tournament. Determined to improve on his performance, Kane powers through the Free Climbing, then pulls himself up the more stable Kabe Nobori. He smiles as he presses the finish button with an impressive 16.82 seconds left, joining his brother, and eventually, 34 other athletes in the Second Stage.

In a rare post-run interview for this early point in the show's history, Kane and Shane express their excitement to take on the Second Stage together for the first time.

Second Stage

In the flurry of pre-run interviews before the Second Stage, Kane appears briefly, expressing cautious optimism that he will be able to clear the stage again.

The Second Stage is unchanged from its original state in Sasuke 1, but judging by the performances of the 29 athletes who have gone before, that may not be much of a source for comfort. One after another, this impressive field of First Stage survivors has found the challenges of the Second Stage to be too much to handle. Whether it's their limbs tiring on the lengthy Spider Walk, their poor timing and balance on the Goren Hammer, or their slow pace catching up to them at the Wall Lifting, the course has whittled down the competitors' ranks by four-fifths, leaving just six men to advance to the Third Stage. Tragically, that list will not include Kane's brother, Shane. The younger Kosugi seemed to be on his way to the Third Stage in his debut appearance, and had the finish line in sight, only to see the time expire before he could cross the gate. After this devastating setback, Kane knows it is up to him to carry on the fight for both of them.

He walks up to the start line as Furutachi introduces him again. First up, the Spider Walk, an intimidating maze of static and moving walls. Many competitors found that they ran out of strength before reaching the end, or had lost too much time to recover later. Determined not to repeat these mistakes, Kane begins his battle, moving his limbs steadily through the treacherous walls, making sure to avoid mistakes and slip-ups. His deliberate approach costs him some time, but at last he reaches the fireman's pole and slides down to the tricky Goren Hammer. Sizing up the murderous mallets for a moment, he spots an opening and deftly shuffles across the thin platform, avoiding each of the hammers and then diving straight into the Gyakuso Conveyor. He crawls frantically through the reverse belt, but as he emerges and runs up to the first wall, he hears the dreaded klaxon start to blare.

"He must not fall in the same place as his brother!" Furutachi shouts as Kane heaves the first wall and ducks under, then struggles with the second before ducking under it as well. He grimaces as he lifts the third and final wall enough to slip past it and roll across the gate with 1.35 seconds left!

Kane remains lying on his back for several seconds, exhaustion and relief written all over his face. He has advanced to the Third Stage for the second tournament in a row.

Finally, after catching his breath, Kane is able to conduct his post-run interview.

Reporter: 'Kane-San, that was so close!"

Kane: (smiles) "Yes, it was. I couldn't afford to fail there after seeing what happened to Shane. I gave it my all and I'm glad to be returning to the Third Stage."

R: "Do you think you can reach the Final Stage this time?"

K: "I hope so. I was disappointed by my performance before. I'll do my best to ensure a better outcome tonight."

R: "We look forward to seeing that. Thank you very much, Kane-San!"

Kane then joins his brother on the sidelines and they watch the remaining competitors attempt the Second Stage. Two fail, including shockingly #100 Akiyama kazuhiko, but three more athletes add their names to the list of survivors, bringing the total number up to 10. However, these remarkable survivors have no idea what awaits them in the Third Stage...

Third Stage

"There are some new areas, but I can't afford to worry about it. I'm just going to take it one step at a time, and hopefully overcome them," Kane says in his interview before the Third Stage.

At first glance, it seems very similar to the stage they faced in the previous edition. The course begins with the familiar Pole Bridge and Propeller Untei. The back half of the stage, however, has been altered with two new obstacles. First, the Hang Move, then, a strange contraption with two separate orange bars that each must be moved down a long track, leading to the red goal mat and the Final Stage. Little do any of them know at the time that this obstacle would go on to become arguably one of the most iconic in the history of Sasuke. It doesn't take long for these men to learn that the hard way. One by one, they step to the orange pipe, the finish line in sight, and one by one, the demonic new obstacle rips their dreams to shreds, exhausting their grip and dropping them into the murky forest waters. It doesn't matter who you are or where you come from, gas station attendants, construction workers, truck drivers, all are helpless to prevent their doom. Six attempts, six crushing defeats. Now, it's Kane's turn.

Furutachi introduces him as he walks up to the start line to excited cheers from the crowd. A sense of unease has set in over the darkened forest. Hopes of repeating the amazing success of Sasuke 1's Third Stage have been as yet unfulfilled. But now, one of Japan's most celebrated talents has stepped up to accept the challenge. Will the young actor be the hero of this story after all? Before he can dream of facing the Pipe Slider, he'll have to avenge his defeat from the previous tournament on the Pole Bridge. His face is an emotionless mask of concentration as he places one tentative foot on the first pillar. His progress is slow as he takes every step with care, having learned his lesson from last year not to rush through it. After what must feel like an eternity, he finally steps onto solid ground again, and gives a small fist pump and a smile. He's surpassed his previous performance, everything beyond is unknown territory now.

Next up, the Propeller Untei. He observes the spinning bars for several seconds, trying to get a sense of the timing, then finally commits to taking hold on the first bar and swinging out over the water. He pushes the bar forward, using his larger frame to power through to the transfer to the second bar. He repeats the process, and though he has to reach back to grab the third, successfully makes the transfer and drops to the next platform safely. The new Hang Move, having proved to be little more than a time wasting obstacle (in an untimed stage) is no problem for Kane either, and soon he finds himself confronting the only obstacle that has really mattered tonight, the Pipe Slider. Everything else was just a warm-up for this moment. It's time for Kane to begin his final battle. The actor applies chalk to his hands and grips the orange pipe that has seen the end of everyone before him. The forest falls silent until he pushes out over the water, when they begin to shout encouragement from the sidelines.

Kane has only his two hands to support his body, which is heavier than most of his fellow athletes, and the struggle shows immediately, as he has to force the bar forwards with all his might and quickly begins to fatigue. Even so, he somehow manages to get to the break zone, hook a leg over the bar, and drag his tired body up for his final moments of rest. After taking the full 30 seconds, Kane lowers himself slowly and grimaces as he jumps the bar down the track. He is near the end, almost near enough to reach out with his foot and touch the mat. With his arms at their limit, he tries doing just that...

He misses the mat and rocks backwards on the pipe. This is all it takes for his worn-down fingers to slip off and plunge him into the drink. "The Pipe Slider has taken him too!" Furutachi calls out in despair. The crowd falls silent as the dismayed actor pulls himself out of the water and stares at his hands for several seconds. We see Shane approaching his brother to give him a towel, then, after Kane composes himself again, the reporter begins the post-run interview.

R: "You were nearly there, Kane-San! What did you think of the new areas tonight?"

K: "The Pipe Slider was very tiring, my arms were at their limit in the end. I have to work on my grip strength in order to defeat it."

R: "Would you like to return again?"

K: "I would. I've enjoyed my time on Sasuke, and after coming so close, i certainly can't give up now."

R: 'Thank you very much, we look forward to seeing you next time!"

Kane watches along with his brother as the final athletes attempt the Third Stage. Despite Nakamura Shigeyuki's failure on the Pipe Slider, the eighth in a row, the final two competitors, Tanaka Hikaru and Omori Akira, finally solve the brutal obstacle and advance to the Final Stage. Neither of them manages to achieve Kanzen, though Tanaka comes close, and the tournament ends the same way as the first, without a Grand Champion, but with several athletes, Kane included, having a newfound determination to train harder and return for redemption in the next tournament.

[hatkun]

May 3, 2023 15:05:14 GMT -5 thegreatluigi said:

Very pleased to see this thread; I was hoping you'd do one of these for Kane Kosugi. I kind of want to nominate like half a dozen tournaments all at once, but that's probably not in the spirit of things, so let's just go with Sasuke 10 for now, please.

Sasuke 10

The tenth anniversary tournament of Sasuke is held in the autumn of 2002, almost exactly 5 years to the day of the first tournament in 1997. To celebrate this incredible accomplishment and the ext that a thousand attempts will have been made on the First Stage, the producers have decided to give everyone numbers 901-1000 for this occasion. After his devastating fall on the Lamp Grasper in the last tournament, Sasuke 8 finalist, All-Star and fan favorite Kane Kosugi, age 27, has returned in hopes of finding redemption on the course. Not surprisingly, he is given a high number again, #995. With him returning, his brother Shane also decided to compete and was given #987.

Before the First Stage, Kane and Shane are interviewed, saying briefly:

K: We’ve been here before and we know what we have to do, in spite of the new areas. Our goal is to reach at least the Third Stage together.

S: It won’t be easy, but we’ll do our best!

First Stage

If the field of competitors had been hoping for greater success than the previous tournament, where only 8 completed the course, what they found instead was a course so brutal that by the time it was Kane’s turn, only half that number had done so this time. Even though the only new obstacle is the time wasting Dāsu Bridge, A large part of the reason for this is the hardened Jump Hang, which eliminated two-thirds of the skilled challengers who made it that far and would go on to take down both Nagano and Takeda, and the redesigned Tarzan Rope. Even Shane Kosugi tragically suffered his third-consecutive First Stage defeat, as he made it all the way to the Tarzan Rope before running out of stamina and time. All hope is not lost, however, because now it’s the elder Kosugi’s turn.

As his theme begins to play, announcer Furutachi intones dramatically:

“For months, the bitter taste of Midoriyama’s waters has driven him to train as never before. Now he is back, ready to face the demonic mountain spirit yet again. His brother has already fallen, now it is all up to him. He cannot stop until he has reached the top of the summit….the actor is about to step into his starring role, Kane Kosugi, 27 years old!”

Kane waits for the beeps and on the final one, he rushes into action. First, the Godantobi, which he’s never struggled with, and though it eliminated nearly a fifth of the field, he clears it again with customary ease. Now the Rolling Maruta. Kane wraps himself around the log and holds on tight as it hurtles down the slope in five dizzying spins. He holds on until it stops its spin and then drops to the mat below. Next, the new area, the Dāsu Bridge. Despite not being much of a threat, it still has the potential to slow you down and make you lose valuable time and energy, so he takes a moment to size it up before running across the unstable tiles, deftly crossing them with barely a stumble.

Next up however, is the area that has been separating the men from the boys all day: the Jump Hang. The rope net has never looked so far away, and it’s clear that even for Kane, one of the only people to ever jump all the way to the top of the obstacle, this will be a challenge. The actor takes a deep breath and runs at the tramp, jumping and launching himself in mid-air. He reaches out for the net and…

he grabs it! It’s the lowest he’s ever been on the net, but somehow he keeps his feet from touching the water and starts the taxing process of climbing up the obstacle. After hoisting himself over the top, he rolls down and extricates himself, only to be faced with yet another intimidating beast: the Soritatsu Kabe. The wall looms large, refusing to grant Kane easy passage to the Tarzan Rope. He sits on the edge of the track, gathering his stamina, then runs at the massive roadblock, leaping for the top, he gets a hand on the top ledge, but he can’t get the second in time, and he falls back to earth!

“Oto?! Doushita Kane?” Furutachi says, the panic rising in his voice. The actor only has one more shot if he wants to have a realistic chance to clear. He regathers himself and takes another breath before running at the track and jumping for the ledge…

He gets both hands on this time and hoists himself up! By now, there are only about 15 seconds remaining, and Kane still has to traverse the redesigned Tarzan Rope. Fortunately, he had discussed a strategy with fellow All-Stars Yamada and Yamamoto about a way to efficiently navigate this obstacle. Moving quickly, he grabs the first rope, takes a few steps backward, then runs forward and pushes off from the platform, bypassing most of the ropes and grabbing the second to last, which he uses to take hold of the final Rope Climb and begin hauling himself up. As the klaxon blares, Kane frantically climbs, and with only 1.68 seconds left, he dives to hit the button and collapses in exhaustion. Once again, Kane has cleared the First Stage, despite a tremendous struggle.

After sliding down the pole to the mat below, he’s immediately approached by the enthusiastic reporter.

R: “Kane-San, congratulations!!! How are you feeling?”

K: *gives an exhausted smile* “I’m very tired now, this was one of the most difficult First Stages I’ve ever attempted. I’m just glad I was able to get through it.”

R: “You tried a different strategy on the Tarzan Rope today, was that planned?”

K: “Yes, Yamamoto-San and Yamada-San had discussed it with Shane and I. Unfortunately, Shane couldn’t join me in the Second Stage this time. I’m hopeful that those two will, though.”

R: “We hope so too. Thank you very much and we look forward to seeing you in the Second Stage!”

K: “Thank you, I’ll do my best.”

Tragically, Yamamoto, like Shane, couldn’t clear the Tarzan Rope in time and saw his run end with the button in sight. Fortunately, #1000 Yamada was able to clear, bringing the total number of survivors up to six. These athletes now prepare to advance to the latter stages, where the challenges will get no easier.

Second Stage

In the build-up to the Second Stage, Kane is interviewed along with the other five survivors, saying to the reporter:

K: My standard of success is at least the Third Stage, but I can’t afford to overlook anything. Hopefully everyone gets through.”

For the first half of the stage, it seems as though Kane’s hopes will come true, as trampolinist Nakata Daisuke, elementary school teacher Asaoka Hiroyuki, and celebrity athlete Iketani Naoki all navigate the dangers of the stage and hit the button to advance to the Third Stage. However, the fourth athlete, swimming instructor Arai Kenichi, gets a little too familiar with his element, as he hits his head on the bar at the end of the Spider Walk and falls backwards and out of the tournament.

With this shocking failure still fresh in the minds of the crowd, Furutachi again introduces Kane as dramatic music plays. The actor waits for the metallic gates to part, then steps forward and takes the first chain of the Chain Reaction in his gloved hands. The four tones go off, and in the next moment, he pushes away from the platform, caroming down the track at high speed until the track suddenly stops and his body swings wildly forwards and backwards. After calming his momentum, he grabs the second chain and pushes off, gliding the rest of the way to the platform and dropping to safety.

He scampers up the Brick Climb without a hitch and removes his gloves as he preparers himself for the pivotal obstacle of the stage, the one that took him out in Sasuke 7, the Spider Walk. After applying spray to his hands and feet, Kane enters the plexiglass maze, ascending with power and descending with much care to avoid his past mistake, and that of Arai. As he nears the end, he grabs the bar with both hands and swings down to the platform. With plenty of time still on the clock, it’s now time for Kane to face a new obstacle.

The once-deadly Goren Hammer, after failing to eliminate anyone in the post-Kanzen era, has finally been replaced by the Balance Tank, a cylindrical wooden barrel which the competitors must ride down a declined track using only their feet. It hasn’t eliminated anyone yet, but Kane still knows he mustn’t get complacent here. He places a foot on the barrel and after a moment of thought, pushes off and begins moving his feet frantically to keep pace, leaning forward…too far forward, he’s suddenly finding himself out running the tank and before he can correct himself, he loses his balance! At the last moment, he tries to dive for the end, but Furutachi’s shocked cry of despair says it all as Kane’s upper body hits the mat painfully, while his lower body falls well short and ends up drenched.

The actor continues to hold the mat for a few seconds, too ashamed and despondent to look up, before finally letting go and dropping into the water completely. Everyone is in a state of stunned silence as Kane swims to the shore and drags himself out of the watery pit. A Second Stage that began with such promise he suddenly turned into a nightmare for the elder Kosugi. After several long moments while Shane consoles his brother and helps him dry off, the reporter walks over to conduct the post-run interview.

R: “Kane-San, what were your thoughts on the Second Stage this time? Did the Balance Tank surprise you?”

K: “I didn’t have any problems through most of the stage, I felt very good throughout. On the Balance Tank, I guess I just let it get in my head. I thought I had to go faster than I did, I rushed through it.”

R: (nods in understanding) “I see. Were you at all concerned after seeing Arai-San’s fall immediately before your run?”

K: “Well, not exactly, because I’ve trained on the Spider Walk, so I feel confident that I won’t make a similar mistake, but…perhaps it did get to me without my realizing it, because I was so focused on getting to the end of the course that I overcompensated.”

R: “Ah, I get it. We’re so sorry to see that you won’t be advancing, we do hope you’ll return!”

K: “Yes…this is a disappointing result, I was hoping for so much more, but I won’t let it keep me down. I’ll keep coming back.”

R: “I’m very glad to hear that, thank you so much, Kane-San!”

A still dismayed Kane nods and then joins Shane on the sidelines as his fellow competitors applaud his effort. The brothers watch as the final run of the Second Stage by Yamada happily ends in success. The Third Stage, unfortunately, brings with it nothing but more despair and misery, as competitor after competitor is dropped out of the tournament by the brutal obstacles. In the end, not even the legendary Yamada is able to clear the stage, as he comes up agonizingly short on the Pipe Slider. Thus ends the tenth anniversary tournament without a champion, without even a finalist, and for Kane Kosugi, in bitter disappointment.

Even so, Kane would train as often as his acting career would allow as he awaited his return in the 11th tournament, determined to avenge this defeat and resume his quest for the top of Midoriyama’s Final Stage.

[Thislebard]

Wow, this is a really great thread. Good job on all of this. It seems very interesting. Will have to read it sometime.

[hatkun]

May 3, 2023 6:36:49 GMT -5 dakohosu said:

Sasuke 11-13

Sasuke 11

It’s the spring of 2003, and 100 determined athletes have once again returned to Midoriyama to do battle with the forest spirits that reside in the world’s most infamous obstacle course. Amongst them is 28 year old actor and Sasuke 8 finalist Kane Kosugi, hoping to recover from a disappointing Second Stage exit in the last tournament. Kane is nevertheless still expected to be one of the favorites, and is given #97 by the producers. His brother Shane enters as well, but due to his recent First Stage struggles, gets only #81.

Before the tournament begins, the Kosugi brothers are briefly interviewed, saying:

Kane: “We’d like to go all the way if we can, but our goal is to reach at least the Third Stage together.”

Shane: “We’ve both stepped up our training, I think we have as good a shot as anyone.”

First Stage

The first stage of Sasuke has seen a minor change with the removal of the ineffective Dāsu, Bridge, replaced by an updated version of the Yureru Hashi known as the Balance Bridge. With the course mostly unchanged, the competitors still find success difficult to come by, but five clears out of the first 80 challengers have nearly matched the entire success rate of the previous tournament, which is a definite improvement. Now, as second announcer Hatsuta Keisuke gives way to lead announcer Furutachi Ichiiro, it is time for the elite final twenty athletes to try their hand at the course, starting with the younger Kosugi, seeking his long-awaited redemption.

Shane

An aerial camera pans over the course as dramatic music plays and Furutachi begins his narration.

F: “Eighty challengers have stepped forward to brave the lurking dangers of Midoriyama, now, the youngest son of the Kosugi clan has returned to confront his demons. Thrice before defeated by Midoriyama’s First Stage, he must now re-awaken the warrior spirit that resides within him. His battle begins now, Shane Kosugi, 26 years old!”

The tones sound off and Shane begins, moving smoothly through the first few obstacles, having no problems on the Godantobi, Rolling Log, or Balance Bridge. He pauses at the Jump Hang before getting a decent bounce and climbing over the net to safety. Now comes the obstacle that stopped him in the eighth tournament and slowed him in the last, the formidable Soritstsu Kabe. The younger actor takes his time, jogging up and down the track to build up momentum and leaping up…his fingers curl over the edge of wall, but he can’t hold on!

“Oto?! Daijoubu ka?” Furutachi cries out as Shane tumbles back to earth. The younger Kosugi picks himself up and tries again, running, jumping, reaching for the top…he gets his hands on the ledge and pulls himself up! The crowd cheers as Shane races down to the Tarzan Rope, using the technique Yamada and his brother used in the last tournament to bypass all the dangling ropes but the last. Now he reaches out for the final rope and begins his ascent with the klaxon blaring. The crowd chants his name while Kane is shown on the sidelines watching and shouting out encouragement.

“Ganbare Shane, ganbare!!” Furutachi screams as the timer nears zero. The younger Kosugi grimaces as he finally reaches the top and dives for the button...

“Giri giri clear! Giri giri clear! Shane ITAAAA!!!”

The clock has only 0.58 left, and the 26 year old actor lies on the ground, exhausted, but he’s done it!!! After three failed attempts, he’s cleared the First Stage again!

Back on the ground, Kane is seen enthusiastically applauding for his brother along with everyone else. He then runs over to meet him at the fireman’s pole.

As Shane slides down to the mat, Kane is there to meet and hug him in a rare moment of candor. The reporter then goes up to interview them.

R: “Shane-San, congratulations! You’ve cleared the First Stage again!”

S: (smiling widely) “I did it! I’m so glad all my training finally paid off.”

R: “Kane-San, you must be proud of your brother!”

K: (smiling) “Of course I am. He’s worked very hard for this, and I’m glad to see him advance. Now I’ve got to hold up my end.”

R: “Best of luck, Kane-San, we hope to see you here too!”

The brothers thank the reporter and head back to the start of the course to await Kane’s turn.

Shane’s emotional victory turns out to be the last success for a while, as the course eliminates everyone from 82-93, but three consecutive clears from 94-96 set the stage for the elder Kosugi to make his entrance.

Kane

Kane’s theme plays while a video of his past results, Final Stage appearance, and training is shown, then we return to the nearly fully darkened forest.

“Nine have cleared thus far today,” Furutachi intones, “but success or failure still hangs in the balance for the next brave athlete. He has watched his younger brother finally conquer the First Stage again, he has received advice and much encouragement, now it is his turn to face the beast known as Midoriyama. This man knows what it is like to face the Final Stage of Sasuke, and he knows what it will take to return there. The eldest son of Sho Kosugi, action star Kane Kosugi, age 28!”

Kane stands stoically at the start line, waiting for his cue, then bursting into action. He hops across the Godantobi in a few easy steps, the steps up to the Rolling Maruta. He holds the log tightly and pushes off, surviving each violent spin and dropping safely to the mat below. Next he approaches the Balance Bridge, most notable for taking out Akiyama Kazukhiko’s brother, Kimihiro, but Kane bounds across the unstable obstacle as if it were a walk in the park. Now he approaches the Jump Hang, which has proven not quite as deadly as in the previous tournament, though still not to be overlooked. The elder Kosugi jogs up to the tramp and…

He gets a great bounce, leaping to near the top of the net. He quickly hoists himself over and rolls down, escaping a few seconds later to confront the Soritatsu Kabe. Kane sits on top of the track for a couple of seconds, then does the same technique as his brother and most competitors of getting a running start by going up, back, and up again, leaping to the top of the wall in one go. Kane has plenty of time to spare as he contemplates the jungle of ropes before him. He takes the nearest, steps back as far as he can, then runs forward and jumps, swinging like Tarzan, or an action star, all the way to the furthest rope. From there, he takes hold of the final rope and begins climbing towards the end of the stage while the crowd chants his name, as they did for his brother.

He finally reaches the top and presses the button with a smile and a very solid 13.26 seconds left, sealing his ticket to the Second Stage.

Kane slides down the fireman’s pole, where Shane is waiting. The brothers shake hands enthusiastically as the reporter runs up to them.

R: “Kane-San, well done! Did anything give you trouble today?”

K: “Not at all. Once Shane cleared, I knew I couldn’t let anything stand in the way of me doing the same. Fortunately, everything came together this time, but we’re not done yet.”

R: “How do you two feel about the Second Stage?”

S: “It’s going to be tough, but we’ll be cheering each other on.”

K: “As long as we stay focused, I’m sure we can both make it through.”

The reporter thanks the brothers, and they walk together back to the sidelines to cheer on the final competitor/ of the First Stage. With the last three clearing, that brings the total of survivors up to 13, by far the best result in the renewal era to date. For the survivors, though, Midoriyama has only just begun testing their strength and resolve.

Second Stage

The Kosugi brothers are interviewed along with everyone else before the start of the Second Stage, saying:

K: “I’m better prepared for the Balance Tank this time, so I‘ll do my best to avoid making the same mistake as before. Everything here is manageable as long as I don’t overthink it.“

S: “It has changed a little since the last time I was here, but I’ve cleared the Second Stage twice before, so I hope my past experience will help me.”

With the Second Stage unchanged from the previous tournament, good results could be expected, yet the results from the first five athletes were mixed. Two timed out with the end in sight, most tragically Nakayama Kinnikun, while schoolteacher Asaoka shocking failed the Chain Reaction. Yet, two men, Iketani and newcomer Kobayashi Shinji, have been able to hit the button and advance, the latter with an amazing 20 seconds left. With the crowd still abuzz over the truck driver’s impressive performance, Shane Kosugi receives some last minute encouragement from Kane, then takes his place at the start line.

Shane

“He has not tread this ground in nearly two years,” Furutachi begins. “His brother has been all the way to Midoriyama’s Final Stage, and their dream is to stand atop the tower together, but time after time, the First Stage stood in his path. At long last, he has returned to face the Second Stage. This is the opportunity he has been waiting for. He is the younger son of Sho Kosugi, actor Shane Kosugi, 26 years old!”

Shane waits for the series of beeps, then slides down the Chain Reaction, holding the metallic chain like an old friend, then transferring to the second and pushing off towards the landing platform. After scaling the Brick Climb and discarding his gloves, he applies spray to his hands and feet, then enters the Spider Walk. He struggles to gain traction with his shoes in spite of the spray, unfortunately, which costs him valuable time. As he exits the area, time is clearly against him. He steps onto the Balance Tank that eliminated his brother in the previous tournament and nudges it off the stopper. His feet move quickly, as if performing a frantic jig to appease the gods of a Midoriyama, and…

He does it! He jumps off at the end of the track and dives into the Gyakuso Conveyor. But the klaxon begins to sound almost immediately afterwards. The younger Kosugi is waging a losing battle against the clock, one that ends before he can lift the second wall of the Wall Lifting. The crowd groans and sighs in disappointment as an exhausted Shane leans against the wall, defeated with the Third Stage virtually in sight.

Once he finally exits the course, the reporter is waiting to interview him.

R: “Shane-San, we’re so sorry to not see you advancing to the Third Stage. Where do you think things started to go wrong?”

S: “The Spider Walk took too much of my time and stamina. I didn’t have enough left for the rest of the course by the time I had gotten through it.”

R: “I see. How much did you train for these obstacles beforehand?”

S: “Not nearly enough. I mostly trained for the First Stage, knowing that was what I needed to clear, but I now realize that I should’ve devoted more time to strength and endurance as well.”

R: “Now that you know what you need to do, we hope to see you go even further next time.”

S: (smiles melancholically) “Yes, I hope so too.”

The reporter and Shane thank each other, and he return to the sidelines to await Kane’s run.

After Shane’s tragic failure, the next three athletes: Nakata, Nagano, and Takeda, all clear the Second Stage with ease, setting up one of the most anticipated runs of the night.

Kane

“He is of royal lineage in the world of acting, the son of the famed Sho Kosugi, now he seeks to extend his kingdom to Midoriyama’s peak by securing the title of Sasuke Grand Champion,” Furutachi says as the camera focuses on Kane stepping out from behind the metallic gate to grip the chain in his gloved hands. “In the last tournament, he could not overcome this stage, and he has still not forgotten the bitter taste of the forest’s waters. Now that his brother has been defeated here as well, he must stand alone against the gods…action star Kane Kosugi, 28 years old, his battle begins now!”

The crowd cheers with a mixture of excitement and anxiety as the beeps sound off, and on the final one, Kane pushes off, holding on for dear life as the chain whips upwards and back again. The actor is calm as he transfers chains and kicks away from the wall, gliding down the second track and landing smoothly at the end. He ascends the Brick Climb next without any issues and discards his gloves before applying spray and preparing himself for the Second Stage obstacle that was responsible for his defeat in Sasuke 7, and indirectly ended Shane’s run earlier tonight, the Spider Walk.

He struggles a bit with his larger body frame, but he eventually settles into a good rhythm and uses his strength to muscle his way upwards, across and down the plexiglass walls, careful not to slip at any point or rush through his movements. Once he reaches the bottom, he holds himself up with his legs while he reaches out for the bar and uses it to pull himself to safety. Next, however, he must face the same obstacle that ended his dreams of Kanzen in the last tournament, the Balance Tank. Although no one knows it yet, this obstacle is soon to cause the shocking and tragic elimination of Yamada Katsumi, but for now, everyone’s concerns are on Kane, and whether he can avenge his past defeat.

“It is simple in theory,” Furutachi says as Kane tentatively steps on the wooden barrel, “but one single misstep, and his dreams will be extinguished yet again. Will he exact his revenge on Midoriyama today?…He starts! He has only his two feet to keep him upright as he caroms down the perilous track! He is nearing the end…Ita! Ita! Balance Tank clear!!”

A visibly relieved Kane throws himself into the Gyakuso Conveyor, rapidly crawling through the reverse belt and reaching the Wall Lift within only a few seconds. He picks up the first wall without any problem, then does the same to the second. He lifts the third enough to duck under it and walks up to the button, pressing it with a comfortable 12.91 seconds on the clock and pumping his fist in the air in celebration, knowing that he is going back to the Third Stage again.

As Kane crosses the gate and walks down the steps, he’s approached by Shane, who was following his entire run, then by the reporter.

R: “Kane-San, congratulations! You’ve returned to the Third Stage!”

K: “I’m thrilled to have cleared the Second Stage again. My only regret is that Shane couldn’t be here with me.”

R: “You had hoped to be attempting the Third Stage together, right?”

K: “Yes, that’s right. We weren’t quite able to do that today, but that’ll only push us to train harder.”

S: “The Second Stage is tough, especially if you aren’t fully prepared for it. I’m proud of Kane for getting through it, and I look forward to seeing him go all the way.”

R: “We all would love to see that as well, thank you both very much!”

Kane and Shane thank the reporter then return to watch the day’s final runs. Gas Station manager and fellow Kaikinsho Yamamoto Shingo joins the ranks of the clears with a smooth performance, however the aforementioned defeat of #100 Yamada leaves everyone shocked and dismayed, a reminder from the course that nobody is safe. In the end, eight remarkable athletes will attempt the Third Stage, another record in the first renewal era.

Third Stage

Before the Third Stage, the eight survivors are interviewed, including Kane.

R: “Are there any areas that you are especially concerned about?”

K: “I failed the Lamp Grasper before, but I have since trained on it with Yamada-San, so I feel much better about my chances there. My goal is the Final Stage,” He says, gesturing towards the brightly lit tower, “and to get there, you have to clear the Cliffhanger. I haven’t attempted this version yet, so I can only rely on my training.”

The Third Stage, unsurprisingly given that no one has cleared it since Kane himself in Sasuke 8, remains unchanged for the third consecutive tournament. Despite this, it soon becomes clear that the course still has the edge over the field. Celebrity athlete Iketani Naoki drops out early on the Cliffhanger. Sensational newcomer Kobayashi Shinji gets all the way to the Pipe Slider before his arms give out with the end in sight. Trampolinist Nakata Daisuke seems to be on his way to finally overcoming his nemesis, the Lamp Grasper, but halfway through, his hands succumb to fatigue yet again. Fireman Takeda Toshihiro’s fourth attempt at the Third Stage ends on the Cliffhanger. Yet, amidst these devastating failures, a new hero arises. Fisherman Nagano Makoto breezes through the stage and nails the Pipe Slider dismount as if he were playing around in the park, ensuring that there will be a Final Stage attempt after all.

With Nagano’s success and Takeda’s elimination still fresh on everyone’s mind, attention now turns to the stoic actor who stands quietly at the base of the steps, awaiting his cue to take center stage. As dramatic music begins to play, Furutachi introduces the next challenger as only he can…

F: “His spirit is strong, forged in the fires of battle against his eternal nemesis, the Third Stage. For years, he has striven towards only one goal…Kanzenseiha. Once before, he conquered this stage, bringing him to Fate’s doorstep, but his dreams were doused in the driving rain. In his previous attempt, the Lamp Grasper proved to be his undoing. He has pushed his body to the limit and beyond in preparation for this moment. There is no performance more important than the one he is about to deliver. Will his efforts carry him to the Final Stage today? He is the heir apparent to the Kosugi name, 28 year old actor, Kane Kosugi!”

There is a palpable, unspoken tension in the air as Kane approaches the first obstacle, the arm-draining Rumbling Dice, and jumps up to it smoothly. This time opting for a backwards strategy, unlike his previous attempt, he grips the metal bars and drags the hellish box along the track, its dull clangs creating a joyless melody in the cool spring night. After several agonizing seconds, he finally manages to turn his body and swing to safety.

Amidst sporadic claps and cheers of encouragement from the crowd, he now kneels to the mat to apply spray to his hands and feet before beginning the next obstacle, one which has ended his dreams before, the Body Prop. After taking his allowed rest, he wedges his limbs between the plexiglass walls and starts his arduous journey. Hand by hand and foot by foot, he keeps his movements short and synced up, carefully bridging each gap, maintaining his concentration, unlike Takeda, who inexplicably lost his focus at the end here only minutes ago. Finally, he’s able to extend a foot to the mat and exit the obstacle, but Kane’s battle has reached the first critical point, it’s time for some payback.

F: “One year ago, Kane was in this same position, but the Lamp Grasper refused to grant him passage. Now he stares down the hated glowing blue globes again. Will he attain redemption today? The actor is taking some time to rest his tired arms and mentally prepare. He has faced equally challenging situations in his films, but if he fails here, there will be no second chance. Kane takes hold of a globe in each hand…he lowers his body over the watery chasm! He is decisive, there are no wasted movements…he is nearing the halfway point. The actor’s face is a mask of pain, but his form looks excellent! He is near the end, he swings and reaches out with his legs! Sa itaaaa!!!”

There is no time to celebrate for Kane, who drops to his knees to apply chalk as he stares up at the next area, the dreaded Cliffhanger Kai. He’s only faced the Cliffhanger twice with mixed results, and never this version. As he contemplates his next battle, Furutachi fills the pregnant silence with his stark narration…

F: “He has overcome every obstacle Midoriyama has put in his way, and it has all led him to this point. The Cliffhanger bested Kane once before, but he has trained on it tirelessly, he does not want to suffer the same fate again. His hands are white with chalk, he curls his fingers around the thin ledge…he starts! Kane’s arms are fast, but do they have the strength to reach the end? He is approaching the first gap…Kane’s body stops as he tries to build up momentum, he reaches up for the ledge and grabs it! Kane is suspended in midair, only supported by the tips of his fingers, can he bring his second arm up?! Ganbare, Kane! His face is contorted in agony! Ganbare!! He reaches up for the ledge…he has it! Kane is on the second ledge, but his arms are dangling dangerously! Can he fight on further? He is- Aaaaah!!! Can it be?! Kane has fallen!”

The crowd falls silent as an exhausted and dismayed Kane runs his hands over his face and hair, gazing up at the instrument of his demise. After several seconds, the shock finally seems to wear off enough for him to wade back to shore. As he pulls himself out of the water and stares back at the Cliffhanger in despair, Shane walk up to him with a towel, and the brothers exchange a candid moment before the reporter approaches to give the post-run interview.

R: “Kane-San, we were all hoping that you would reach the Final Stage today, what went wrong?”

K: (shakes head mournfully) “I wish I could answer that…I trained for this stage, I put everything I had into it, but the Cliffhanger was just too much for me tonight. The first gap gave me more trouble than I expected. I should have moved through it quickly instead of hesitating. That’s a lesson I’ll have to remember for next time.”

R: “So there will be a next time, is that right?”

K: “Without a doubt. I know I can beat the Cliffhanger with further training. And I have my brother here to keep me accountable.”

S: (melancholy smile) “We’ve suffered many setbacks on this course, but we have always had fun training and competing, and we won’t let what happened here today discourage us for too long. We’ll be back.”

K: “Yes, we will.”

R: “I’m so glad to hear that, and I’m sure that everyone else is too. Thank you both very much!”

K and S: “Thank you.”

The brothers return to the sidelines to watch the final runs of the night. Fellow All-Star Yamamoto looks to be on his way to joining Nagano in the Final Stage, but tragically falls at the final gap in the Cliffhanger. Then, Akiyama’s amazing comeback is suddenly halted by the always-dangerous Body Prop. Nagano is the only Finalist, but without experience on the Stage, his raw talent brings his within a couple of meters before the time runs out, bringing Sasuke 11 to an end without a Grand Champion yet again.

Still, as the Kosugi brothers leave Midoriyama, gazing back one last time at the glittering Final Stage tower, they know that their quest for Kanzen is far from over. Next time, they promise each other, next time, we’ll be there.

[YourResidentKojiFan]

I gotta say, this is incredible. I thought I did a lot of writing in my posts, you blow them out of the water lol. While I'm here though, SK3?

[hatkun]

May 16, 2023 9:08:17 GMT -5 YourResidentKojiFan said:

I gotta say, this is incredible. I thought I did a lot of writing in my posts, you blow them out of the water lol. While I'm here though, SK3?

To be fair, this last one was extra long because I’ve decided to also start covering Shane’s runs, since I feel that’s important to this alternate history too. But thank you . I actually love the writing you do on yours. You’ve inspired me to add in a lot of elements to mine so the admiration definitely goes both ways. 

And yes, Sasuke 3. Will add that to the list. My current plan is to do 12, 13, 17 since those were previously requested, then loop back to 3. 

[hatkun]

By the way y’all, as I hinted at above, from now on, I will be covering Shane’s runs as well in each tournament, and I’ll include his results at the end too. So this will basically be “What if the Kosugi brothers were in (insert Sasuke)”

[hatkun]

I’m back to finish this post after over a year and a half away LOL. For those who don’t remember, this series explores an alternate universe where Kane Kosugi participated in every Sasuke up to Sasuke 28. Tournaments already done: 2, 9, 10, 11

Sasuke 12

It is the autumn of 2003, and 100 determined athletes have returned to Midoriyama yet again to confront the infamous four stages of Sasuke. After Nagano Makoto’s Final Stage attempt in the previous tournament, hopes are high that more athletes will progress deeper into the tournament, and that perhaps this will be the time for another Grand Champion to arise. Early in the day, a sea of familiar faces is seen arriving, including the two Kosugi brothers, Kane, 28, and Shane, 27. After Shane’s near miss on the Second Stage, and Kane’s painful fall on the Cliffhanger, the brothers are seeking redemption on the course.

For the second tournament in a row, Kane is given #97, while Shane gets #88 due to finally clearing the first stage again in the previous tournament. Before the day’s action begins, the Kosugis are interviewed briefly along with other big name competitors.

K: “We’ve done a good deal of all-around training to prepare for today. We’re feeling pretty confident about our chances, but we can’t underestimate the course.”

S: “We know our strengths and weaknesses, and we’re familiar with most everything here. The greatest challenge will be the mental one.”

There will also be another familiar face here, Jordan Jovtchev, the man who joined Kane in the final stage of Sasuke 8. Kane reveals that he invited Jovtchev to train with the All-Stars to prepare for the tournament, and hopes that the two of them along with Shane can get to the Final Stage.

First Stage

The Kosugi brothers aren’t wrong to be confident about their knowledge of the course; although two new obstacles have been added, neither the Yamagoe (which replaced the Godantobi) nor the Ipponbashi (replacing the Balance Bridge) have done much damage to the serious competitors. Instead it’s been the same tried and true areas, the Jump Hang, Soritatsu Kabe, and Rope Climb, that have stymied the competition throughout the night. By the time Shane’s turn arrives, only four men have been able to navigate each obstacle and punch their ticket to the Second Stage: Gifu firefighter and first-ever rookie to clear while wearing #1 Yamada Kōji, gymnast Sato Manabu, “Sasuke Sensei” Asaoka Hiroyuki, and government worker Shiratori Bunpei.

The mood in the air is electric as the next man steps up to the start line. On the broadcast, we first see a video of Shane Kosugi’s three consecutive First Stage failures, then his triumphant comeback in the last tournament. Throughout, we hear Shane’s All-Star theme play, then, as the clip ends, we follow along as the camera pans over the course. It is finally time for the younger Kosugi to make his entrance, with the incomparable Furutachi Ichiro providing his uniquely powerful commentary.

Shane

F: “Our next challenger has persevered through the darkest of times; thrice defeated by the First Stage, he has risen like a phoenix to reclaim his rightful title as a SASUKE All-Star. The blood of Sho Kosugi runs through his veins, filling him with the same fighting spirit that enabled him to advance to the Second Stage in the previous tournament. His work is far from complete, however. His elder brother has been to the Final Stage, and both brothers are more determined than ever to achieve Kanzenseiha today. Can he surpass his past performances and stand atop Midoriyama’s peak? Please welcome the younger son of Sho Kosugi, actor Shane Kosugi, 27 years old!!”

The young actor stands ready while the familiar beeps go off, and as the fourth sounds, he runs up to the new first obstacle, the Yamagoe. It is not that complicated, being a series of green hills that the competitors must find a way to climb over. It has only eliminated joke competitors thus far, and Shane figures it out easily enough. After surviving the Rolling Maruta, he now approaches the next new area, the Ipponbashi, Like most of his fellow athletes, Shane eschews the thin plank entirely, opting to run and leap over the gap without it, and he makes it with ease. Next is the Jump Hang, and while he’s not quite as dominant as his brother, he’s never failed this obstacle before, and he does the job here again, getting a decent grab on the net and choosing the safe higher route.

After escaping the net, it’s now time for his old First Stage nemesis from Sasuke 8, the Soritatsu Kabe. As in the last tournament, he narrowly misses on his first attempt, causing some unease in the crowd, especially after having just witnessed this obstacle basically end Iketani Naoki’s run a few minutes ago. Shane puts those concerns to rest in his second try, grabbing the top and pulling himself over. Now at the Tarzan Rope that drained his energy and eventually caused him to time out in Sasuke 10, he uses the technique of his fellow All-Stars to get a running start with one rope and bypass the others, shortening the transfer to the Rope Climb. Even as the klaxon begins to blare, he smiles as he hauls himself hand over hand to the top and presses the button with 6.21 seconds left, securing another trip to the Second Stage.

Shane slides down the fireman’s pole, where both his brother and the reporter are waiting for him. After a relieved handshake from Kane, he turns to to the reporter, who begins the post-run interview.

R: “Congratulations Shane-San! How did the course feel today?”

S: “I’m so relieved to have gotten through. I had a good time of it today. I don’t think I struggled too much on anything except the Soritatsu Kabe, but I fought through it, and…well, here I am!”

R: “Next up is the Second Stage. You ran out of time in your last attempt, do you think you’ll clear it today?”

S: “I certainly hope so. I’ve trained much more intensively for the Second and Third Stages this time compared to before.”

R: “Your brother is going to run in a little while, is there anything you’d like to say as far as encouragement?”

S: “I’d wish him good luck, but I know he won’t need it. We’ll be standing here together again soon enough”.

After Shane’s successful run, the elite competitors continue to struggle to overcome the obstacles and advance to the Second Stage. Most shocking of all are beloved narrator Ishimaru Kenjirou, who fails the relatively easy Ipponbashi, the previous tournament’s breakout star, Kobayashi Shinji, who can’t overcome the Jump Hang, and “Mr. Perfect” Nakata Daisuke, who has that nickname for about 30 seconds before his stunning fall from the Rolling Maruta, ending his streak of four consecutive First Stage clears.

In spite of this, four men do add their names to the list of finishers. First, gymnast Kobayashi Masāki marks his debut with an impressive clear. Next, SASUKE All-Stars Takeda, Yamamoto, and Akiyama all prove why this era belonged to them, overcoming each obstacle with ease and punching their ticket to the Second Stage. With the last three clears being consecutive, there is every expectation that the next challenger, All-Star Kane Kosugi, will make it four in a row. As his theme plays, announcer Furutachi introduces him.

Kane

F: “For six years, he has battled the demons of Midoriyama with a singular focus…Kanzenseiha! The course has tried to break his will, but the blood of Sho Kosugi, the blood of a warrior, will allow him to accept nothing less than complete victory. In his previous attempt, he made it to the Cliffhanger, only to see his dreams doused by the imposing obstacle. He must succeed where he failed before and return to Midoriyama’s Final Stage today! He is an actor who needs no introduction; Kane Kosugi, 28 years old, the spotlight is yours!!”

The four familiar tones sound off, and Kane runs up to the brand-new Yamagoe. With only joke competitors failing this new area, it comes to no one’s surprise when Kane is able to easily bound over the green hills and reach the first real challenge of the day, the obstacle that just took out Nakata a few minutes ago, the Rolling Maruta. Kane displays no outward signs of nervousness as he wraps his limbs around the deceptively simple log and pushes himself down the track, withstanding each dizzying spin until he finally reaches the bottom of the track. Next, the Ipponbashi that stunned everyone by taking out Ishimaru, and in a few minutes, will nearly take down fellow Sasuke 8 finalist Jordan Jovtchev. Kane gets a good run up and ignores the plank, leaping directly to the other side and landing without much trouble.

Now he faces the obstacle he famously leapt to the top of in Sasuke 7, the Jump Hang. It’s never been a problem for him, but neither was the Rolling Maruta for Nakata, he knows he can’t afford to get cocky. Sure enough, he gets another great bounce and grabs the net high, pulling himself over and rolling down towards his next challenge. After escaping the net, it’s time to face the Soritatsu Kabe, which earlier tonight already slowed down Iketani to the point where he ran out of time on the Rope Climb. Kane takes a moment to catch his breath and lock in as he sits on the track and contemplates the curved beast that stands between him and First Stage victory. Finally making up his mind, the actor runs up the track and leaps to the top…he grabs with one hand, then quickly places the second, hauling himself up with plenty of time remaining, and only the Tarzan Rope and Rope Climb left.

Kane grabs the first rope and gets a running start, swinging across to the rope nearest to the Rope Climb, and quickly transitioning. He pulls himself up hand over hand and smiles as he presses the button with a comfortable 10.74 seconds left. The crowd erupts in cheers as the actor pumps his fist in delight. For the second tournament in a row, both Kosugi brothers will advance to the Second Stage.

He slides down the fireman’s pole to the awaiting reporter and his brother.

R: “Kane-San, what a great run, congratulations!”

K: “Thank you…I feel a bit winded.” (chuckles)

R: “You looked comfortable on the course today, did anything out there faze you?”

K: “Not particularly, I knew I could do everything that was in front of me as long as I didn’t make any mental mistakes.”

R: “Now that you and your brother are in the Second Stage, how far do you think you’ll go?”

K: “Hopefully, all the way to the top of the Final Stage.”

S: “We believe in ourselves and each other, we just have to make it a reality.”

R: “We’ll all be cheering you on, thank you very much!”

K and S: “Thank you!”

With their runs complete, the brothers return to the sidelines to watch the final three First Stage runs of the day. Following in the footsteps of the previous four clears, Katsumi, Jovtchev and Nagano all successfully navigate each obstacle to make it seven in a row, and bring the total number of survivors up to 13. Now, these remarkable athletes will face a whole new set of challenges in the next phase of the tournament.

Second Stage

Before the Second Stage begins, each of the 13 athletes who have made it this far are interviewed as always, including the Kosugi brothers:

K: “I’m confident, I’ve done these obstacles before, and I expect to be in the Third Stage in the end. Still, Sasuke is never to be taken lightly, so I will have to give it everything I’ve got. Hopefully both Shane and I will get through it.”

S: “I neglected to train for this stage in the past, but I’ve learned from my mistakes, and this time I feel ready. I have every intention of joining my brother in the Third Stage.”

The Second Stage remains unchanged from the previous tournament, which would seem to be a major advantage for the competitors. Sure enough, despite the many challenges lurking within the metallic maze, it appears that the athletes have got it figured out. One after the other, the first four challengers overcome each obstacle and walk triumphantly through the gate to the Third Stage. Even inexperienced Second Stage newcomers like Sato and Yamada Kōji have found the once intimidating stage to be more than manageable. With a 100% clear rate on the line, it’s now time for Shane Kosugi to redeem himself…

Shane

F: “Six months ago, he could not clear the Wall Lifting in time and join his brother in the Third Stage. This defeat has only reignited a blazing fire that burns within him, a desire to conquer all four stages of Midoriyama. Several years ago, both Kane and Shane reached the Third Stage, but they could not attain their ultimate dream of standing atop the Final Stage together. Now, that dream is again within sight. The four men who went before have shown him the way, can he now do the same for his brother? He is of Sho Kosugi’s lineage, born of a warrior’s spirit, he is the actor Shane Kosugi, 27 years old!”

Shane waits for the four tones to sound off, then pushes off from the platform, holding the Chain Reaction for dear life as it whips him around wildly. Once he manages to calm his body and switch chains, he pushes off again and glides over the mat, dropping down without any issues. After scaling the Brick Climb, he applies spray to his hands and feet in preparation for the first true test of the stage, the Spider Walk.

Although he struggles at first to gain traction on the plexiglass walls, he finally manages to get a solid grip and propels himself up, across and down to the end of the area. He grabs the dismount bar with both hands and swings himself to the platform leading to the Balance Tank. Having already seen his brother fail this obstacle two tournaments ago, Shane is cautious as he steps on the wooden cylinder and takes an extra second before pushing it off the stopper and beginning it’s roll. The tank moves down the track quickly, but Shane keeps up with it and hops off, straight into the Gyakuso conveyor. With time still on the clock, Shane lifts the walls on by one. With a shout of exultation, he presses the button with 7.3 seconds left, securing his first appearance in the third stage in over two years.

On the sidelines, Kane grins and pumps his fist, knowing that their training has paid off, and he now has extra motivation to clear the second stage.

As Shane steps down past the gate, he immediately finds himself being interviewed by the excited sideline reporter.

R: “You did it, Shane-San! You’ve made it to the third stage!”

S: “Yes, I did, and I’m so happy! I’ve put in so many hours of training with my brother. To see it all come together has been wonderful.”

R: “Your brother is going to run in a few minutes, do you feel confident that you’ll both be standing at the starting line of the Third Stage later tonight?”

S: “I have absolutely no doubt.”

R: “We wish you both the best of luck, thank you very much!”

S: “Thank you!”

After Shane clears, the incredible run of success on the second stage continues with Kobayashi, Takeda, Yamamoto and Akiyama all clearing, making it a perfect 9/9 so far. This all leads up to two time finalist Kane Kosugi, who must now step forward and follow in Shane’s footsteps to reach the third stage. Furutachi intones reverently as Kane’s theme plays and he walks up the steps to the Chain Reaction…

F: “His journey began in 1997 at the tender age of 22 years, yet the weight of expectation has always been heavy upon his shoulders. He is not only carrying his own hopes, but those of his family. He has watched with pride as his younger brother finally overcame his demons and reached the third stage, now, it is time for the elder sibling to fulfill his promise and stand alongside him. He is the one and only eldest son of the Kosugi clan, Kane Kosugi, age 28!”

As the tones sound off, Kane grips the Chain Reaction and glides down the track into the abyss. Keeping his cool, he swings violently, but makes a smooth transition, kicking off from the wall and landing safely on the mat at the end of the track. After removing his gloves and scaling the brick climb, it’s now time to face the ever dangerous spider walk. As ever, with his body being taller and heavier than the average competitor, he is forced to exert a bit more energy, but with the maturity that comes with age and training, he navigates it without panicking and is still making good time as he steps up to the balance tank. Testing out the cylinder with his foot, he finally pushes it off the notch and has no issues keeping pace, clearing the bothersome obstacle that took him out in Sasuke 10 and proving that his training has paid off. Kane quickly moves on to the Wall Lifting, but the klaxon begins to blare as he moves on to the second wall. Working quickly, he ducks under the final two walls and hits the button with 4.1 seconds left. As the smoke rises into the night sky, Kane is visibly in tears as the realization hits him that he and Shane will finally get to attempt the third stage together for the first time since Sasuke 6.

Shane rushes over to his brother and the two share an embrace as the reporter quickly finds them.

R: “That was incredible, you two! The Kosugi brothers will both be attempting the third stage this year!”

K: “Yes, and we’re not stopping here.”

R: “Do you think you’ll be the first ever double kanzenseiha?”

S: “Absolutely. We have trained so long and hard for this. I don’t know how Kane does it, he’s such an inspiration to me.”

R: “I think it’s safe to say you’re both an inspiration to all of us! Please, do your best on the third stage!”

K: “We promise. We’ll both be there at the end.”

S: “Definitely!”

After Kane cleared, his fellow Sasuke 8 finalist Jordan Jovtchev followed suit, as well as Sasuke 11 finalist and fellow All-Star Nagano, bringing the total of finishers to an amazing 11.

Third Stage

The third stage remained unchanged from the one that Kane attempted in Sasuke 11, but for Shane, it was his first time seeing it since Sasuke 7. Before the runs began, each of the remaining competitors were interviewed, including the Kosugi brothers

K: “I’ve trained specifically for the Cliff Hanger and Pipe Slider, I intend to reach the final stage again.”

S: “The third stage has been tough for me in the past, so I’ve trained relentlessly to build up my endurance, and I hope it pays off tonight.”

Shane

The third stage got off to a rough start thanks to Yamada Kōji and Sato Manabu both failing on the Cliffhanger Kai, but then, Sasuke Sensei Asaoka Hiroyuki and breakout star Shiratori Bunpei cleared back to back, generating great excitement for the next run, as Shane Kosugi steps forward while announcer Futurachi introduces him.

F: “He has waited over two years for this moment…at long last, Shane Kosugi will get his shot at the third stage once again! The younger Kosugi admitted that his arm strength and endurance was not where it needed to be, and has returned with a renewed confidence and a gritty determination. Shane must not fail today!”

The audience is silent as Shane sizes up the Rumbling Dice, a new obstacle to him. He finally decides to take a side to side approach, pulling the metallic box painstakingly down the track, each clang sapping a little more of his arm strength. Only the faint cries of competitors urging Shane on is heard until at last, he swings and leaps to safety, getting a smattering of applause. Now, Shane gets a chance to rest as he comes face to face with his old enemy…

F: “In back to back tournaments, he failed this obstacle. Shane has never been able to clear the Body Prop. Now, it blocks his path once more. It is like talking a walk through Hell, every movement must be precise, the hands and feet must be coordinated perfectly. Shane is wedging himself between the walls…and sets out in search of his destiny! Shane is proceeding cautiously, he does not want to fall here for a third time. He seems calmer now than he did before, but will his arms hold out? He reaches the halfway point…he crossed the gap! Shane is nearly there, but the fatigue is starting to show! Ganbare, Shane! He grimaces as he nears the end! Shane reaches out a foot, he touches the mat! Body Prop clear!!!”

The crowd erupts in applause for Shane as he victoriously pounds the floor with his fist, his face flush with emotion, it is his best performance ever in Sasuke, but he still has a long way to go. Next, Shane must face the Lamp Grasper. It eliminated his brother in Sasuke 9, and has been a menace for Nakata Daisuke, and with his visibly fatigued arms, he will need all of his inner willpower to survive it. Shane grasps the first translucent blue globe, swinging himself out over the water, but he is in visible pain from the very beginning, even as Furutachi urges him forward. Shane grips the globes desperately, but after getting about halfway through, his next grab sees the globe slip through his fingers…

With just one hand holding on, Shane has reached his limit, and he hopelessly plummets into the murky waters of Midoriyama. The younger Kosugi is helped out of the water and as is still breathing heavily, his face a mixture of water and tears, as the reporter walks up to him.

R: “Shane-San, we were all so excited to see you finally get back to the third stage, what are your impressions of it?”

S: “It’s changed so much since I was last here! I truly gave it my all out there, and I am very happy to have finally cleared the Body Prop! However, tonight has shown me that I must train even harder if I hope to ever reach the final stage.”

Kane

After Shane’s fall on the Lamp Grasper, a string of similarly heartbreaking fails ensued. First, Kobayashi fell on the Body Prop, followed by Takeda injuring his shoulder on the Pipe Slider dismount, Yamamoto being unable to pass the Cliffhanger for the second tournament in a row, and Akiyama suffering a heartbreaking failure on the Pipe Slider. All of this leads up to the next competitor stepping up to the start line…

F: “He had hoped to be standing at the summit of the Final Stage alongside his brother tonight, but Shane’s fall on the Lamp Grasper means that the hopes and dreams of the Kosugi family rest once again, solely on the shoulders of the eldest son. Can Kane finally overcome his demons and stand victorious over Midoriyama?”

Kane steps forward and takes hold of the Rumbling Dice. Taking the backwards approach, he slowly but steadily heaves the demonic box down the track, the ringing noise echoing throughout the forest. Finally, he reaches the end of the track and leaps to safety. Having cleared this first obstacle, he now faces a real test, the Body Prop that took him out in Sasuke 6. Kane takes a moment to shake out his arms and apply spray to his feet before finally wedging himself between the walls. Working carefully and making sure not to lose his focus, Kane begins his painful crossing. With his fellow competitors offering encouragement, the sound of Kane grunting in exertion and his shoes squeaking against the plexiglass can clearly be heard, but at last, he touches down safely in the other side, and now prepares for the obstacle that took down his brother, and previously eliminated him in Sasuke 9: the Lamp Grasper. The mood is noticeably more tense as Kane places his hands on the demonic blue globes. At last, he sets out over the water. His technique is solid as he sways from globe to globe, not wasting any movements, making it clear he has learned a lot since falling here a few tournaments ago. As he steps down to the next platform, however, he must now confront the obstacle that he failed in the previous tournament, the Cliffhanger Kai.

Furutachi has a notably anxious tone as Kane applies chalk to his hands and tries to mentally prepare himself for the task ahead. Kane stretches out his fingers over the thin ledge, then finally, after a moment of hesitation, begins his battle for redemption. Furutachi’s voice becomes increasingly animated as Kane crosses the first ledge, reaches up for the first, and traverses that as well, reaching the critical downward transition that proved his undoing before. Kane visibly grimaces as he reaches down…and manages to hold on! Thankfully, the mat is close enough that he doesn’t need to cross the entire ledge before getting his feet on safely, clearing the obstacle with a look a relief. With Kane now back on solid ground, it’s time for him to face an obstacle he last attempted in Sasuke 8, the Pipe Slider. However, the mat is further away than it was then, and he will need an even better jump this time. Kane is not intimidated, however, as he steps up to the orange pipe after taking a short rest and thrusts himself out, dragging the pipe along the first track, accompanied by the iconic jangling sound of the pipe. Reaching the rest area, he swings his legs over the bar and pulls himself up with some exertion. He has the finish line in sight, and needs just one final push to get there…

F: “Two years ago, Kane was in this same position, and found the reserve of energy and power in his body to stand victorious of the Third Stage. Now, he must summon that same strength to clear the Pipe Slider for a second time. Kane Kosugi is just meters away from a date with destiny. The elder Kosugi lowers his body into position…and he’s off! Kane is powering through the Pipe Slider! He moves the bar into position at the end of the track, and now must build momentum for his swing! Kane is trying to get a good swing going, but the pipe has slid backwards, can he correct it?! Kane is grimacing, he is fighting with everything he has! Kane swings, the pipe refuses to remain still! How much longer can Kane hold on? Once more, he tries to build up momentum…now Kane jumps! He hits the mat, he falls in the water!!! A terrible fate has befallen the beloved actor!”

Kane staggers to the edge of the water and pulls himself out, kneeling in silent despair as he gazes at the red mat that was just out of reach. Like Takeda before him, Kane’s jump fell short, leaving him to only get his arms partially on the mat as he took a painful impact and slid back into the water. It is a heartbreaking end to a run that seemed destined for the Final Stage. Kane is still kneeling as the reporter approaches, and finally stands up as she reaches him.

R: “Kane-San, we were all so desperately hoping you could reach the Final Stage.”

K: “I know, and I’m deeply sorry to Shane and to everyone who put their faith in me. I really thought I could do it, but it wasn’t meant to be.”

R: “Tell me, did you think the Pipe Slider would give you as many problems as it did?”

K: “Well, with the Pipe Slider, you always have to expect some challenges. It’s not an easy obstacle, but that’s no excuse. I should have done better.”

At this point, Furutachi himself spoke directly to Kane to complete the interview.

F: “Kane-San, will you and your brother keep trying?”

K: “Absolutely. We’ve dedicated so much time and energy to Sasuke, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. We’ll be back, you can count on that.”

F: “I sincerely hope so. Thank you very much for trying your best tonight.”

R: “Thank you very much!”

K: “Thank you.”

Kane returned to stand with his brother, and together, the two of them watched the rest of the tournament. With just two men remaining, Jordan Jovtchev, Kane’s fellow Sasuke 8 finalist, was the next to go. He managed to get all the way to the Cliffhanger, where he did struggle a bit, but managed to hold on long enough to clear. He then faced the Pipe Slider that had already eliminated Kane, Takeda and Akiyama, but, amazingly, Jovtchev managed to repeat his performance from Sasuke 8, leaping to the edge of the mat and pulling himself up, making him a perfect 2/2 in terms of reaching the Final Stage. Jovtchev would end up crediting his training with Kane and the other All-Stars as helping him in the latter half of the stage, and said he looking forward to redeeming himself. Following this success, Nagano would follow through on his successful Sasuke 11 by once again romping through the Third Stage and leaping gracefully to the mat, bringing the total number of clears up to 4.

Final Stage

Kane and Shane watched as the four finalists faced the tower one after the other. Asaoka and Shiratori had admirable runs as they came up just a couple of meters short of the goal. Next, Jovtchev, having learned from his mistake in Sasuke 8, still struggled on the Spider Climb, but was able to get to the Tsuna Nobori in time. Then, displaying the incredible rope climbing ability he showed in Sasuke 8 during the first stage, he quickly made up for it in the second half, only to tragically time out about half a meter from the top of the tower. Finally, Nagano seemed to have Kanzenseiha in his grasp, but by the thinnest and most agonizing of fractions, victory evaded the humble fisherman.

Thus, Sasuke 12 came to an end, with no one managing to repeat the success of Akiyama despite several strong attempts. However, the Kosugi brothers, as well as the other All-Stars, had no intention of giving up, and it was a given that they would be back for Sasuke 13 in pursuit of even better results.

---

Next up, find out how Kane and Shane seek redemption in Sasuke 13.

[sasukewarrior333]

Sept 14, 2024 2:16:39 GMT -5 hatkun said:

I’m back to finish this post after over a year and a half away LOL. For those who don’t remember, this series explores an alternate universe where Kane Kosugi participated in every Sasuke up to Sasuke 28. Tournaments already done: 2, 9, 10, 11

Sasuke 12

It is the autumn of 2003, and 100 determined athletes have returned to Midoriyama yet again to confront the infamous four stages of Sasuke. After Nagano Makoto’s Final Stage attempt in the previous tournament, hopes are high that more athletes will progress deeper into the tournament, and that perhaps this will be the time for another Grand Champion to arise. Early in the day, a sea of familiar faces is seen arriving, including the two Kosugi brothers, Kane, 28, and Shane, 27. After Shane’s near miss on the Second Stage, and Kane’s painful fall on the Cliffhanger, the brothers are seeking redemption on the course.

For the second tournament in a row, Kane is given #97, while Shane gets #88 due to finally clearing the first stage again in the previous tournament. Before the day’s action begins, the Kosugis are interviewed briefly along with other big name competitors.

K: “We’ve done a good deal of all-around training to prepare for today. We’re feeling pretty confident about our chances, but we can’t underestimate the course.”

S: “We know our strengths and weaknesses, and we’re familiar with most everything here. The greatest challenge will be the mental one.”

There will also be another familiar face here, Jordan Jovtchev, the man who joined Kane in the final stage of Sasuke 8. Kane reveals that he invited Jovtchev to train with the All-Stars to prepare for the tournament, and hopes that the two of them along with Shane can get to the Final Stage.

First Stage

The Kosugi brothers aren’t wrong to be confident about their knowledge of the course; although two new obstacles have been added, neither the Yamagoe (which replaced the Godantobi) nor the Ipponbashi (replacing the Balance Bridge) have done much damage to the serious competitors. Instead it’s been the same tried and true areas, the Jump Hang, Soritatsu Kabe, and Rope Climb, that have stymied the competition throughout the night. By the time Shane’s turn arrives, only four men have been able to navigate each obstacle and punch their ticket to the Second Stage: Gifu firefighter and first-ever rookie to clear while wearing #1 Yamada Kōji, gymnast Sato Manabu, “Sasuke Sensei” Asaoka Hiroyuki, and government worker Shiratori Bunpei.

The mood in the air is electric as the next man steps up to the start line. On the broadcast, we first see a video of Shane Kosugi’s three consecutive First Stage failures, then his triumphant comeback in the last tournament. Throughout, we hear Shane’s All-Star theme play, then, as the clip ends, we follow along as the camera pans over the course. It is finally time for the younger Kosugi to make his entrance, with the incomparable Furutachi Ichiro providing his uniquely powerful commentary.

Shane

F: “Our next challenger has persevered through the darkest of times; thrice defeated by the First Stage, he has risen like a phoenix to reclaim his rightful title as a SASUKE All-Star. The blood of Sho Kosugi runs through his veins, filling him with the same fighting spirit that enabled him to advance to the Second Stage in the previous tournament. His work is far from complete, however. His elder brother has been to the Final Stage, and both brothers are more determined than ever to achieve Kanzenseiha today. Can he surpass his past performances and stand atop Midoriyama’s peak? Please welcome the younger son of Sho Kosugi, actor Shane Kosugi, 27 years old!!”

The young actor stands ready while the familiar beeps go off, and as the fourth sounds, he runs up to the new first obstacle, the Yamagoe. It is not that complicated, being a series of green hills that the competitors must find a way to climb over. It has only eliminated joke competitors thus far, and Shane figures it out easily enough. After surviving the Rolling Maruta, he now approaches the next new area, the Ipponbashi, Like most of his fellow athletes, Shane eschews the thin plank entirely, opting to run and leap over the gap without it, and he makes it with ease. Next is the Jump Hang, and while he’s not quite as dominant as his brother, he’s never failed this obstacle before, and he does the job here again, getting a decent grab on the net and choosing the safe higher route.

After escaping the net, it’s now time for his old First Stage nemesis from Sasuke 8, the Soritatsu Kabe. As in the last tournament, he narrowly misses on his first attempt, causing some unease in the crowd, especially after having just witnessed this obstacle basically end Iketani Naoki’s run a few minutes ago. Shane puts those concerns to rest in his second try, grabbing the top and pulling himself over. Now at the Tarzan Rope that drained his energy and eventually caused him to time out in Sasuke 10, he uses the technique of his fellow All-Stars to get a running start with one rope and bypass the others, shortening the transfer to the Rope Climb. Even as the klaxon begins to blare, he smiles as he hauls himself hand over hand to the top and presses the button with 6.21 seconds left, securing another trip to the Second Stage.

Shane slides down the fireman’s pole, where both his brother and the reporter are waiting for him. After a relieved handshake from Kane, he turns to to the reporter, who begins the post-run interview.

R: “Congratulations Shane-San! How did the course feel today?”

S: “I’m so relieved to have gotten through. I had a good time of it today. I don’t think I struggled too much on anything except the Soritatsu Kabe, but I fought through it, and…well, here I am!”

R: “Next up is the Second Stage. You ran out of time in your last attempt, do you think you’ll clear it today?”

S: “I certainly hope so. I’ve trained much more intensively for the Second and Third Stages this time compared to before.”

R: “Your brother is going to run in a little while, is there anything you’d like to say as far as encouragement?”

S: “I’d wish him good luck, but I know he won’t need it. We’ll be standing here together again soon enough”.

After Shane’s successful run, the elite competitors continue to struggle to overcome the obstacles and advance to the Second Stage. Most shocking of all are beloved narrator Ishimaru Kenjirou, who fails the relatively easy Ipponbashi, the previous tournament’s breakout star, Kobayashi Shinji, who can’t overcome the Jump Hang, and “Mr. Perfect” Nakata Daisuke, who has that nickname for about 30 seconds before his stunning fall from the Rolling Maruta, ending his streak of four consecutive First Stage clears.

In spite of this, four men do add their names to the list of finishers. First, gymnast Kobayashi Masāki marks his debut with an impressive clear. Next, SASUKE All-Stars Takeda, Yamamoto, and Akiyama all prove why this era belonged to them, overcoming each obstacle with ease and punching their ticket to the Second Stage. With the last three clears being consecutive, there is every expectation that the next challenger, All-Star Kane Kosugi, will make it four in a row. As his theme plays, announcer Furutachi introduces him.

Kane

F: “For six years, he has battled the demons of Midoriyama with a singular focus…Kanzenseiha! The course has tried to break his will, but the blood of Sho Kosugi, the blood of a warrior, will allow him to accept nothing less than complete victory. In his previous attempt, he made it to the Cliffhanger, only to see his dreams doused by the imposing obstacle. He must succeed where he failed before and return to Midoriyama’s Final Stage today! He is an actor who needs no introduction; Kane Kosugi, 28 years old, the spotlight is yours!!”

The four familiar tones sound off, and Kane runs up to the brand-new Yamagoe. With only joke competitors failing this new area, it comes to no one’s surprise when Kane is able to easily bound over the green hills and reach the first real challenge of the day, the obstacle that just took out Nakata a few minutes ago, the Rolling Maruta. Kane displays no outward signs of nervousness as he wraps his limbs around the deceptively simple log and pushes himself down the track, withstanding each dizzying spin until he finally reaches the bottom of the track. Next, the Ipponbashi that stunned everyone by taking out Ishimaru, and in a few minutes, will nearly take down fellow Sasuke 8 finalist Jordan Jovtchev. Kane gets a good run up and ignores the plank, leaping directly to the other side and landing without much trouble.

Now he faces the obstacle he famously leapt to the top of in Sasuke 7, the Jump Hang. It’s never been a problem for him, but neither was the Rolling Maruta for Nakata, he knows he can’t afford to get cocky. Sure enough, he gets another great bounce and grabs the net high, pulling himself over and rolling down towards his next challenge. After escaping the net, it’s time to face the Soritatsu Kabe, which earlier tonight already slowed down Iketani to the point where he ran out of time on the Rope Climb. Kane takes a moment to catch his breath and lock in as he sits on the track and contemplates the curved beast that stands between him and First Stage victory. Finally making up his mind, the actor runs up the track and leaps to the top…he grabs with one hand, then quickly places the second, hauling himself up with plenty of time remaining, and only the Tarzan Rope and Rope Climb left.

Kane grabs the first rope and gets a running start, swinging across to the rope nearest to the Rope Climb, and quickly transitioning. He pulls himself up hand over hand and smiles as he presses the button with a comfortable 10.74 seconds left. The crowd erupts in cheers as the actor pumps his fist in delight. For the second tournament in a row, both Kosugi brothers will advance to the Second Stage.

He slides down the fireman’s pole to the awaiting reporter and his brother.

R: “Kane-San, what a great run, congratulations!”

K: “Thank you…I feel a bit winded.” (chuckles)

R: “You looked comfortable on the course today, did anything out there faze you?”

K: “Not particularly, I knew I could do everything that was in front of me as long as I didn’t make any mental mistakes.”

R: “Now that you and your brother are in the Second Stage, how far do you think you’ll go?”

K: “Hopefully, all the way to the top of the Final Stage.”

S: “We believe in ourselves and each other, we just have to make it a reality.”

R: “We’ll all be cheering you on, thank you very much!”

K and S: “Thank you!”

With their runs complete, the brothers return to the sidelines to watch the final three First Stage runs of the day. Following in the footsteps of the previous four clears, Katsumi, Jovtchev and Nagano all successfully navigate each obstacle to make it seven in a row, and bring the total number of survivors up to 13. Now, these remarkable athletes will face a whole new set of challenges in the next phase of the tournament.

Second Stage

Before the Second Stage begins, each of the 13 athletes who have made it this far are interviewed as always, including the Kosugi brothers:

K: “I’m confident, I’ve done these obstacles before, and I expect to be in the Third Stage in the end. Still, Sasuke is never to be taken lightly, so I will have to give it everything I’ve got. Hopefully both Shane and I will get through it.”

S: “I neglected to train for this stage in the past, but I’ve learned from my mistakes, and this time I feel ready. I have every intention of joining my brother in the Third Stage.”

The Second Stage remains unchanged from the previous tournament, which would seem to be a major advantage for the competitors. Sure enough, despite the many challenges lurking within the metallic maze, it appears that the athletes have got it figured out. One after the other, the first four challengers overcome each obstacle and walk triumphantly through the gate to the Third Stage. Even inexperienced Second Stage newcomers like Sato and Yamada Kōji have found the once intimidating stage to be more than manageable. With a 100% clear rate on the line, it’s now time for Shane Kosugi to redeem himself…

Shane

F: “Six months ago, he could not clear the Wall Lifting in time and join his brother in the Third Stage. This defeat has only reignited a blazing fire that burns within him, a desire to conquer all four stages of Midoriyama. Several years ago, both Kane and Shane reached the Third Stage, but they could not attain their ultimate dream of standing atop the Final Stage together. Now, that dream is again within sight. The four men who went before have shown him the way, can he now do the same for his brother? He is of Sho Kosugi’s lineage, born of a warrior’s spirit, he is the actor Shane Kosugi, 27 years old!”

Shane waits for the four tones to sound off, then pushes off from the platform, holding the Chain Reaction for dear life as it whips him around wildly. Once he manages to calm his body and switch chains, he pushes off again and glides over the mat, dropping down without any issues. After scaling the Brick Climb, he applies spray to his hands and feet in preparation for the first true test of the stage, the Spider Walk.

Although he struggles at first to gain traction on the plexiglass walls, he finally manages to get a solid grip and propels himself up, across and down to the end of the area. He grabs the dismount bar with both hands and swings himself to the platform leading to the Balance Tank. Having already seen his brother fail this obstacle two tournaments ago, Shane is cautious as he steps on the wooden cylinder and takes an extra second before pushing it off the stopper and beginning it’s roll. The tank moves down the track quickly, but Shane keeps up with it and hops off, straight into the Gyakuso conveyor. With time still on the clock, Shane lifts the walls on by one. With a shout of exultation, he presses the button with 7.3 seconds left, securing his first appearance in the third stage in over two years.

On the sidelines, Kane grins and pumps his fist, knowing that their training has paid off, and he now has extra motivation to clear the second stage.

As Shane steps down past the gate, he immediately finds himself being interviewed by the excited sideline reporter.

R: “You did it, Shane-San! You’ve made it to the third stage!”

S: “Yes, I did, and I’m so happy! I’ve put in so many hours of training with my brother. To see it all come together has been wonderful.”

R: “Your brother is going to run in a few minutes, do you feel confident that you’ll both be standing at the starting line of the Third Stage later tonight?”

S: “I have absolutely no doubt.”

R: “We wish you both the best of luck, thank you very much!”

S: “Thank you!”

After Shane clears, the incredible run of success on the second stage continues with Kobayashi, Takeda, Yamamoto and Akiyama all clearing, making it a perfect 9/9 so far. This all leads up to two time finalist Kane Kosugi, who must now step forward and follow in Shane’s footsteps to reach the third stage. Furutachi intones reverently as Kane’s theme plays and he walks up the steps to the Chain Reaction…

F: “His journey began in 1997 at the tender age of 22 years, yet the weight of expectation has always been heavy upon his shoulders. He is not only carrying his own hopes, but those of his family. He has watched with pride as his younger brother finally overcame his demons and reached the third stage, now, it is time for the elder sibling to fulfill his promise and stand alongside him. He is the one and only eldest son of the Kosugi clan, Kane Kosugi, age 28!”

As the tones sound off, Kane grips the Chain Reaction and glides down the track into the abyss. Keeping his cool, he swings violently, but makes a smooth transition, kicking off from the wall and landing safely on the mat at the end of the track. After removing his gloves and scaling the brick climb, it’s now time to face the ever dangerous spider walk. As ever, with his body being taller and heavier than the average competitor, he is forced to exert a bit more energy, but with the maturity that comes with age and training, he navigates it without panicking and is still making good time as he steps up to the balance tank. Testing out the cylinder with his foot, he finally pushes it off the notch and has no issues keeping pace, clearing the bothersome obstacle that took him out in Sasuke 10 and proving that his training has paid off. Kane quickly moves on to the Wall Lifting, but the klaxon begins to blare as he moves on to the second wall. Working quickly, he ducks under the final two walls and hits the button with 4.1 seconds left. As the smoke rises into the night sky, Kane is visibly in tears as the realization hits him that he and Shane will finally get to attempt the third stage together for the first time since Sasuke 6.

Shane rushes over to his brother and the two share an embrace as the reporter quickly finds them.

R: “That was incredible, you two! The Kosugi brothers will both be attempting the third stage this year!”

K: “Yes, and we’re not stopping here.”

R: “Do you think you’ll be the first ever double kanzenseiha?”

S: “Absolutely. We have trained so long and hard for this. I don’t know how Kane does it, he’s such an inspiration to me.”

R: “I think it’s safe to say you’re both an inspiration to all of us! Please, do your best on the third stage!”

K: “We promise. We’ll both be there at the end.”

S: “Definitely!”

After Kane cleared, his fellow Sasuke 8 finalist Jordan Jovtchev followed suit, as well as Sasuke 11 finalist and fellow All-Star Nagano, bringing the total of finishers to an amazing 11.

Third Stage

The third stage remained unchanged from the one that Kane attempted in Sasuke 11, but for Shane, it was his first time seeing it since Sasuke 7. Before the runs began, each of the remaining competitors were interviewed, including the Kosugi brothers

K: “I’ve trained specifically for the Cliff Hanger and Pipe Slider, I intend to reach the final stage again.”

S: “The third stage has been tough for me in the past, so I’ve trained relentlessly to build up my endurance, and I hope it pays off tonight.”

Shane

The third stage got off to a rough start thanks to Yamada Kōji and Sato Manabu both failing on the Cliffhanger Kai, but then, Sasuke Sensei Asaoka Hiroyuki and breakout star Shiratori Bunpei cleared back to back, generating great excitement for the next run, as Shane Kosugi steps forward while announcer Futurachi introduces him.

F: “He has waited over two years for this moment…at long last, Shane Kosugi will get his shot at the third stage once again! The younger Kosugi admitted that his arm strength and endurance was not where it needed to be, and has returned with a renewed confidence and a gritty determination. Shane must not fail today!”

The audience is silent as Shane sizes up the Rumbling Dice, a new obstacle to him. He finally decides to take a side to side approach, pulling the metallic box painstakingly down the track, each clang sapping a little more of his arm strength. Only the faint cries of competitors urging Shane on is heard until at last, he swings and leaps to safety, getting a smattering of applause. Now, Shane gets a chance to rest as he comes face to face with his old enemy…

F: “In back to back tournaments, he failed this obstacle. Shane has never been able to clear the Body Prop. Now, it blocks his path once more. It is like talking a walk through Hell, every movement must be precise, the hands and feet must be coordinated perfectly. Shane is wedging himself between the walls…and sets out in search of his destiny! Shane is proceeding cautiously, he does not want to fall here for a third time. He seems calmer now than he did before, but will his arms hold out? He reaches the halfway point…he crossed the gap! Shane is nearly there, but the fatigue is starting to show! Ganbare, Shane! He grimaces as he nears the end! Shane reaches out a foot, he touches the mat! Body Prop clear!!!”

The crowd erupts in applause for Shane as he victoriously pounds the floor with his fist, his face flush with emotion, it is his best performance ever in Sasuke, but he still has a long way to go. Next, Shane must face the Lamp Grasper. It eliminated his brother in Sasuke 9, and has been a menace for Nakata Daisuke, and with his visibly fatigued arms, he will need all of his inner willpower to survive it. Shane grasps the first translucent blue globe, swinging himself out over the water, but he is in visible pain from the very beginning, even as Furutachi urges him forward. Shane grips the globes desperately, but after getting about halfway through, his next grab sees the globe slip through his fingers…

With just one hand holding on, Shane has reached his limit, and he hopelessly plummets into the murky waters of Midoriyama. The younger Kosugi is helped out of the water and as is still breathing heavily, his face a mixture of water and tears, as the reporter walks up to him.

R: “Shane-San, we were all so excited to see you finally get back to the third stage, what are your impressions of it?”

S: “It’s changed so much since I was last here! I truly gave it my all out there, and I am very happy to have finally cleared the Body Prop! However, tonight has shown me that I must train even harder if I hope to ever reach the final stage.”

Kane

After Shane’s fall on the Lamp Grasper, a string of similarly heartbreaking fails ensued. First, Kobayashi fell on the Body Prop, followed by Takeda injuring his shoulder on the Pipe Slider dismount, Yamamoto being unable to pass the Cliffhanger for the second tournament in a row, and Akiyama suffering a heartbreaking failure on the Pipe Slider. All of this leads up to the next competitor stepping up to the start line…

F: “He had hoped to be standing at the summit of the Final Stage alongside his brother tonight, but Shane’s fall on the Lamp Grasper means that the hopes and dreams of the Kosugi family rest once again, solely on the shoulders of the eldest son. Can Kane finally overcome his demons and stand victorious over Midoriyama?”

Kane steps forward and takes hold of the Rumbling Dice. Taking the backwards approach, he slowly but steadily heaves the demonic box down the track, the ringing noise echoing throughout the forest. Finally, he reaches the end of the track and leaps to safety. Having cleared this first obstacle, he now faces a real test, the Body Prop that took him out in Sasuke 6. Kane takes a moment to shake out his arms and apply spray to his feet before finally wedging himself between the walls. Working carefully and making sure not to lose his focus, Kane begins his painful crossing. With his fellow competitors offering encouragement, the sound of Kane grunting in exertion and his shoes squeaking against the plexiglass can clearly be heard, but at last, he touches down safely in the other side, and now prepares for the obstacle that took down his brother, and previously eliminated him in Sasuke 9: the Lamp Grasper. The mood is noticeably more tense as Kane places his hands on the demonic blue globes. At last, he sets out over the water. His technique is solid as he sways from globe to globe, not wasting any movements, making it clear he has learned a lot since falling here a few tournaments ago. As he steps down to the next platform, however, he must now confront the obstacle that he failed in the previous tournament, the Cliffhanger Kai.

Furutachi has a notably anxious tone as Kane applies chalk to his hands and tries to mentally prepare himself for the task ahead. Kane stretches out his fingers over the thin ledge, then finally, after a moment of hesitation, begins his battle for redemption. Furutachi’s voice becomes increasingly animated as Kane crosses the first ledge, reaches up for the first, and traverses that as well, reaching the critical downward transition that proved his undoing before. Kane visibly grimaces as he reaches down…and manages to hold on! Thankfully, the mat is close enough that he doesn’t need to cross the entire ledge before getting his feet on safely, clearing the obstacle with a look a relief. With Kane now back on solid ground, it’s time for him to face an obstacle he last attempted in Sasuke 8, the Pipe Slider. However, the mat is further away than it was then, and he will need an even better jump this time. Kane is not intimidated, however, as he steps up to the orange pipe after taking a short rest and thrusts himself out, dragging the pipe along the first track, accompanied by the iconic jangling sound of the pipe. Reaching the rest area, he swings his legs over the bar and pulls himself up with some exertion. He has the finish line in sight, and needs just one final push to get there…

F: “Two years ago, Kane was in this same position, and found the reserve of energy and power in his body to stand victorious of the Third Stage. Now, he must summon that same strength to clear the Pipe Slider for a second time. Kane Kosugi is just meters away from a date with destiny. The elder Kosugi lowers his body into position…and he’s off! Kane is powering through the Pipe Slider! He moves the bar into position at the end of the track, and now must build momentum for his swing! Kane is trying to get a good swing going, but the pipe has slid backwards, can he correct it?! Kane is grimacing, he is fighting with everything he has! Kane swings, the pipe refuses to remain still! How much longer can Kane hold on? Once more, he tries to build up momentum…now Kane jumps! He hits the mat, he falls in the water!!! A terrible fate has befallen the beloved actor!”

Kane staggers to the edge of the water and pulls himself out, kneeling in silent despair as he gazes at the red mat that was just out of reach. Like Takeda before him, Kane’s jump fell short, leaving him to only get his arms partially on the mat as he took a painful impact and slid back into the water. It is a heartbreaking end to a run that seemed destined for the Final Stage. Kane is still kneeling as the reporter approaches, and finally stands up as she reaches him.

R: “Kane-San, we were all so desperately hoping you could reach the Final Stage.”

K: “I know, and I’m deeply sorry to Shane and to everyone who put their faith in me. I really thought I could do it, but it wasn’t meant to be.”

R: “Tell me, did you think the Pipe Slider would give you as many problems as it did?”

K: “Well, with the Pipe Slider, you always have to expect some challenges. It’s not an easy obstacle, but that’s no excuse. I should have done better.”

At this point, Furutachi himself spoke directly to Kane to complete the interview.

F: “Kane-San, will you and your brother keep trying?”

K: “Absolutely. We’ve dedicated so much time and energy to Sasuke, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. We’ll be back, you can count on that.”

F: “I sincerely hope so. Thank you very much for trying your best tonight.”

R: “Thank you very much!”

K: “Thank you.”

Kane returned to stand with his brother, and together, the two of them watched the rest of the tournament. With just two men remaining, Jordan Jovtchev, Kane’s fellow Sasuke 8 finalist, was the next to go. He managed to get all the way to the Cliffhanger, where he did struggle a bit, but managed to hold on long enough to clear. He then faced the Pipe Slider that had already eliminated Kane, Takeda and Akiyama, but, amazingly, Jovtchev managed to repeat his performance from Sasuke 8, leaping to the edge of the mat and pulling himself up, making him a perfect 2/2 in terms of reaching the Final Stage. Jovtchev would end up crediting his training with Kane and the other All-Stars as helping him in the latter half of the stage, and said he looking forward to redeeming himself. Following this success, Nagano would follow through on his successful Sasuke 11 by once again romping through the Third Stage and leaping gracefully to the mat, bringing the total number of clears up to 4.

Final Stage

Kane and Shane watched as the four finalists faced the tower one after the other. Asaoka and Shiratori had admirable runs as they came up just a couple of meters short of the goal. Next, Jovtchev, having learned from his mistake in Sasuke 8, still struggled on the Spider Climb, but was able to get to the Tsuna Nobori in time. Then, displaying the incredible rope climbing ability he showed in Sasuke 8 during the first stage, he quickly made up for it in the second half, only to tragically time out about half a meter from the top of the tower. Finally, Nagano seemed to have Kanzenseiha in his grasp, but by the thinnest and most agonizing of fractions, victory evaded the humble fisherman.

Thus, Sasuke 12 came to an end, with no one managing to repeat the success of Akiyama despite several strong attempts. However, the Kosugi brothers, as well as the other All-Stars, had no intention of giving up, and it was a given that they would be back for Sasuke 13 in pursuit of even better results.

---

Next up, find out how Kane and Shane seek redemption in Sasuke 13.

My goodness, the return of a bloody legend!! Great to see you back, your posts were always awesome and I can't wait to see what you have in store for us next!

[hatkun]

A heads up: This run contains spoilers for Kane’s runs in Sasuke 3 and 5, which we haven’t covered yet. It’s just the risk of doing these out of order haha.

Sasuke 13

It is the spring of 2004, and 100 determined athletes have made the annual pilgrimage to Midoriyama to test their mental and physical strength against the most difficult obstacle course ever created by the hands of man. In the previous tournament, only four men were able to survive all four stages and stand at the base of the summit, and neither Kane Kosugi nor his brother Shane were amongst them. Instead, it was Nagano who showed why he was quickly rising through the ranks and making a case for himself as the leader of the All-Stars, as he came within milliseconds of Kanzenseiha. Meanwhile, Sasuke Sensei Asaoka Hiroyuki, rising star Shiratori Bunpei, and Kane’s fellow Sasuke 8 finalist Jordan Jovtchev all had admirable performances of their own, coming within two meters or less of the goal. With anticipation high that this could well be the year Kanzenseiha is achieved, Sasuke 13 is the most anticipated tournament of the renewal era to date.

With all of this in mind, 29 year old Kane Kosugi has returned to do battle with Midoriyama, and as has become customary, he has returned with his brother, Shane, 27, who is a little over a month shy of his 28th birthday. In the previous tournament, the brothers made a tremendous impact on the competition, with Kane having his best performance since Sasuke 8, falling just short on the Pipe Slider, while Shane had his best performance ever, getting back to the Third Stage and clearing the dreaded Body Prop on his third try, before falling on the Lamp Grasper. In recognition of Kane’s consistent excellence, he was given #98, placing him behind #100 Nagano and #99 Shiratori. Shane as well for his steady improvement was given his best number in quite some time, getting #92. Before the tournament officially began, several high profile athletes were interviewed, including each of the All-Stars. Kane and Shane were interviewed together, as usual.

Kane: “Last year was a tremendous breakthrough for us, but we can’t be satisfied until we stand atop Midoriyama together.”

Shane: “The course looks a little different this time, but I’m confident that our training has prepared us for anything.”

First Stage

Shane was not the only person to notice that the familiar course which had seen only minimal changes since the renewal seemed to have gotten a makeover. That was no accident. After the strong results of Sasuke 12, the First Stage saw a significant overhaul for a non-Kanzen redesign. Every single obstacle was either new or modified, while the classic green mats had been swapped out for black ones. The brand new course took out its first 37 challengers before Ueki Shigenori, a Sasuke trials alumni, cleared. From #39-#90, five more would clear, including old favorites like Nakata Daisuke, All-Star Yamamoto Shingo, and semi-All Star Iketani Naoki, and new faces Shimizu Hideaki and Yamaguchi Kōsuke. However, there would also be some notable failures, such as 13 year old Homna Kota incredibly almost clearing the stage before timing out on the Rope Climb, while Sasuke 12 sensation Yamada Kōji shockingly fell on the Jump Hang. The most devastating of all though, was #91 Akiyama. After two consecutive Third Stage visits, there were high hopes that he could repeat his success and get back to the Final Stage. However, the Grand Champion left everyone in disbelief after he misjudged the jump on the Nejireta Kabe. In the wake of this crushing result, it was now time for another All-Star to step up and avenge Akiyama’s defeat. A video montage would play over dramatic music as Shane Kosugi’s results over the years were shown, especially his incredible run in the last tournament. New lead announcer Hatsuta Keisuke would introduce him…

H: “He is a son of the great Sho Kosugi, and along with his brother, the heir to a legacy much greater than himself. Last time, he made his family proud by surpassing all of his previous results and reaching the Lamp Grasper, but he is not satisfied! This young man has a burning passion within him, and it will not be quenched until he stands victorious over the Final Stage. He is not just the younger brother anymore, he is a growing legend in his own right, and his name is Shane Kosugi, age 27!”

The audience applauds as Shane shakes his arms around and appears loose and ready. With the time limit reduced by 5 seconds to 80, he knows he cannot make the mistakes that have caused him to time out in the past. The tones sound off one after the other, and Shane rushes ahead towards the brand new Prism See-Saw, the latest in a rotating roster of first obstacles. None of the others have posed an issue for Shane, and despite the Prism’s unpredictable tilt having tripped up many competitors, Shane will not be one of them. After leaping through the first obstacle, he confronts the redesigned Sandan Rolling Maruta, which now has a nasty drop in the middle of the track. However, Shane manages to grip the log tightly and survive this as well. Next, he displays some deft footwork on the new Cross Bridge, clearing it without any problems, then proceeds to the first major checkpoint, the Jump Hang. No longer a solid net, it is now a series of ropes one must leap to. Despite its deceptively simple appearance, it has claimed plenty of victims, including the aforementioned Yamada. Shane sizes it up for a couple of seconds before bursting forward and getting a nice bounce form the tramp, catching a rope in each hand. Though he awkwardly dangles in the air for a few seconds, he manages to swing his way over to the platform.

Next, the Nejireta Kabe that just took out Akiyama. Shane appears a bit unsure on how to approach it at first, as he is seen calculating his jump briefly, before finally making up his mind and catching the rope, swinging himself over to the next wall, where he lands with a thud against the protective padding and now faces the iconic Soritatsu Kabe. The wall’s height has been increased, and this shows as Shane’s first two attempts are thwarted. The atmosphere is noticeably more anxious as Hatsuta points out that Shane is running out of time! Shane puts all of his energy into one last charge and finally manages to curl his fingers around the top of the ledge and pull himself over. With the Tarzan Jump + Rope Climb having reverted to its original form, Shane quickly grabs the rope and swings across as the klaxon begins to blare. He scales the rope desperately and dives for the button…he hits it, with just 0.9 seconds remaining! Shane collapses in exhaustion, yet a smile is clearly visible on his face as he eventually stands up and waves out to his brother and fellow competitors.

Shane slides down the fireman’s pole, where he’s greeted by an excited reporter.

R: “That was so close, Shane-San, we were worried for you!”

S: “I was quite worried myself, I wasn’t sure I could make it after I struggled on the Soritatsu Kabe!”

R: “What did you think of the new First Stage?”

S: “It’s very good, very challenging. The new areas seem doable, but they wear you down.”

R: “We’ll be watching your brother very soon, do you think he’ll join you?”

S: “Without a doubt. If I can do this, I know Kane can. I’ll be watching enthusiastically, along with everyone else.”

R: “Indeed we will, thank you so much!”

S: “Thank you!”

After Shane’s narrow clear, three more athletes fall victim to the new-look first stage, but gymnast Kobayashi Masāki and All-Star Takeda Toshihiro reignite hope for the crowd as they both clear, bringing the total to 9.

Kane

Kane is shown getting some last minute encouragement from his brother and the other All-Stars as he begins to walk towards the start line. A video montage begins to play along with Kane’s theme, showing his journey from 22 year old debutant in the very first tournament to his Final Stage attempt and most recent fall on the Pipe Slider. Also shown are clips of Kane and Shane training together, with Kane saying that this year, they are both going all the way to the Final Stage. As the acting legend steps up to the start line, announce Hatsuta introduces him.

H: “Since 1997, Kanzenseiha has been his goal, his guiding light through the ever-raging storm. Three years ago, the rain and his tired limbs conspired to end his dream, but he refused to allow this to extinguish the flame that burns within. Throughout the past m seven years, he has been the bedrock of Sasuke, he has never failed the First Stage. How will he fare now against these new obstacles? He is the eldest son of Sho Kosugi, Kane Kosugi, 29 years old!”

Kane has a look of determination as the tones sound off and he runs up to the Prism See-Saw. Like his brother, he has no issues with this brand new obstacle, clearing it without any issues, and finds himself facing the Sandan Rolling Maruta. It has taken out many less experienced competitors today, but for someone like Kane with a 100% clear record on the line, there was never a chance of him taking it lightly, and he survives each roll until he reaches the mat and dismounts. Next, the Cross Bridge, an obstacle that would shockingly eliminate “Mr. Sasuke” Yamada Katsumi a couple of tournaments later. Kane has no issues with it, however, and his feet are a blur of perfect coordination as he darts across.

After making short work of the first three obstacles, it’s now time for Kane to take on the first real threat of the stage, the redesigned Jump Hang. Kane takes a moment to measure the obstacle up, he previously leapt all the way to the top of the old Jump Hang, but this version will require a different strategy. Kane eventually gets a running start and hits the trampoline squarely, getting tremendous height. As he reaches out for the ropes, though, it becomes instantly clear that he went far more vertical than horizontal, and he just manages to wrap his hands around one of the ropes…

H: “Kane grabs the rope, but it slips through his fingers!!! Can this be?! Kane Kosugi is in the water! Kane will not advance to the second stage!”

The crowd, including Shane, are left stunned. This wasn’t how this tournament was supposed to go for the actor and Sasuke legend, not after he had come to the doorstep of the final stage in the previous tournament. The silence speaks volumes, nobody knows what to say or do, this is arguably the most devastating first stage defeat since Ōmori in Sasuke 4, or Akiyama in Sasuke 6. For the first time since its inception, Sasuke will proceed into the Second Stage without Kane Kosugi.

As Kane pulls himself out of the water, he is met by the reporter, who finally manages to find the words that everyone else must be thinking.

R: “Kane-San, what happened?!”

K: “I don’t know- I’ve never had any problems with the Jump Hang, maybe I was overconfident. The redesign caught me off guard. I’m upset with myself more than anything.”

R: “The redesign has made the Jump Hang more difficult?”

K: “I’m not sure if it’s more difficult, it just requires a different strategy. I approached it like the original version and- well, (melancholy smile) you can see where i've ended up.”

R: “I see, it’s such a shame. There was one bright spot today, Shane cleared the First Stage. How far do you think he can go?”

K: “Yes, he has trained tirelessly for Sasuke, and I just know he will go all the way to the end. I plan to watch over him until he gets there.”

R: “Thank you so much, Kane-San, and we hope you won’t give up on your dream!”

K: “Never. I’ll redouble my training, and I’ll be back. That you can be sure of.”

The crowd gives Kane a rousing round of applause as Shane steps forward with tears in his eyes and shakes his hand. Kane does his best to put on a smile as he gently places a hand on Shane’s shoulder and tells him to win it all for the both of them. Kane walks back to his other fellow All-Stars, where he is greeted by handshakes and condolences.

Second Stage

After the shock of Kane failing to clear the First Stage for the first time in seven years, fellow All-Stars Shiratori and Nagano would have been justified in feeling some nerves, but both shook them off and cleared the First Stage, which brought the total number of clears up to 11. Now, it is time for the remaining athletes to take on the Second Stage, which, unlike the first stage, remains unchanged from the previous tournament. Only once before has Shane had to go on without his brother, but never at this stage. Before the runs resume, each of the quarter-finalists are interviewed, including the younger Kosugi.

S: “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous, but I know I can do it, and I know Kane will be cheering me on. That’s all the motivation I need.”

As the Second Stage got underway, some of the early competitors would show their inexperience on the course, but even veterans found the stage to be too much to overcome. Shigenori timed out on the Gyakuso Conveyor, Nakata, Yamamoto and Yamaguchi were all stopped in their tracks by Wall Lifting, Yamamoto in particularly heartbreaking fashion, and Shimizu was tripped up by the balance tank. Thankfully, the streak of losses was finally ended when Iketani hit the button, setting up Shane to hopefully continue the positive momentum. As the camera focuses on him walking towards the stairway to the Chain Reaction, then on Kane standing stoically on the sidelines, Shane’s All-Star theme begins to play as Hatsuta introduces him once more.

H: “The two of them came here together, hoping to share in the glory of Kanzenseiha, but elder brother Kane Kosugi’s journey has been cut tragically short in the First Stage. Now, everything rides on the shoulders of his younger brother. He must summon the inner strength to overcome the shock and grief of Kane’s defeat, and make it all the way to the end of the course. He is a Sasuke All-Star and a son of Sho Kosugi, Shane Kosugi, age 27!”

Shane grips the chain, staring down into the maw of the beast, his face unreadable. The tones sound off in rapid succession, and Shane pushes off from the track, sliding rapidly down and maintaining his grip as he swings about in the darkness. Fumbling for the second chain for a few precious seconds, he finally grabs hold of it, and despite a somewhat weak kick from the wall, eventually slides over to safety. Scaling the brick climb in short order, he discards his gloves and takes a few seconds to apply spray to his hands and feet. He enters the transparent maze that once took down his brother, and carefully navigates his way up, across, and finally down, gripping the bar and swinging himself to safe ground again. Now, he faces the Balance Tank, an obstacle that has defeated his brother and even Mr. Sasuke himself. Shane doesn’t hesitate though, as he knows that time is a factor, having already caused several eliminations so far, and dances a frantic jig over the wooden cylinder as it picks up speed and flies down the track.

Dismounting the Balance Tank, Shane rushes towards the Wall Lift. In the crowd, his fellow All-Stars are seen cheering him on, especially Kane, who assures Shane that he’s still okay on time. Shane lifts the first wall easily, then the second with a little more effort, and finally ducks under the third. The klaxon sounds just once before Shane hits the button, clearing with a solid 9.26 seconds on the clock. The crowd applauds enthusiastically, as Kane rushes over to greet his brother and is heard telling him that he did a great job. The reporter catches up to them both soon afterward,

R: “Shane-San, that was one of your best performances in the Second Stage, were you determined to avenge your brother?”

S: “Yes, of course. I was shocked, I think we all were, and heartbroken. I only hope to make him proud.”

R: “Kane-San, how did it feel to watch Shane-San clear the Second Stage?”

K: “I’m obviously disappointed that I couldn’t be here joining him in the Third Stage, but I have nothing but joy for what he has accomplished. I won’t be surprised in the least to see him win it all.”

R: “I’m sure everyone here will be cheering you on in the Third Stage, Shane-San, thank you very much!”

S: (smiles) “Thank you.”

With the All-Stars rallying around Shane’s emotional victory, the Second Stage finished in spectacular fashion, with Kobayashi, Takeda, Shiratori, and Nagano all joining him in the Third Stage, bringing the total number of survivors to six.

Third Stage

Having survived the Second Stage, the semifinalists were now confronted with a Third Stage that was essentially the same as the tournament prior, with one major exception: the Lamp Grasper which had proven the downfall of Nakata, Takeda, and both Kosugis, but become increasingly less menacing over time, had been replaced by a newfangled obstacle which just looked like a giant piece of fabric, which was in fact known as the Curtain Cling. The athletes were seen discussing possible strategies for this obstacle in the lead up to the stage, and the customary pre-run interviews were conducted.

S: “Well, I have struggled on the early portion of this stage many times in the past, but now that I know I can defeat the Body Prop, I feel confident. I’m doing this for Kane, and I will lean on his support more than ever.”

Shane only had the benefit of watching one man precede him, fellow veteran Iketani, who failed on the always-dangerous Body Prop. Now, the bright lights of Midoriyama dimly illuminate a figure in the shadows, he walks over the platform, where he gets some encouragement from his fellow All-Stars and a handshake from his elder brother. Hatsuta introduces Shane once again, this time, the tone is stark, with everyone fully aware of how much this run means to the younger Kosugi.

H: “Today, he was thrust into the spotlight under the most unwanted of circumstances. No one could have predicted that the mighty Kane Kosugi would fail to complete the First Stage, leaving his younger brother to do battle with Midoriyama alone. Yet Kane has taken his defeat with grace, and his hopes are fully with his brother now. This is the younger Kosugi’s moment to shine. He has already defeated two stages, but the Third will be his toughest challenge yet. Once again, it’s time for Shane Kosugi to confront his destiny!”

Shane steps up to the Rumbling Dice, it is one of the most painful opening obstacles for a reason. Shane takes a backwards approach this time, laboring to pull the heavy box down the track, but his training seems to be paying off, as he is fully in control and never panics, finally turning around and dismounting nicely. Now, Shane applies spray as he prepares for a rematch with his nemesis. In two previous attempts, the Body Prop thwarted him, but in the previous tournament, Shane finally overcame the brutal obstacle, leading to an emotional celebration. Now, Shane seeks to replicate his success once again. Slipping his limbs into place, Shane sets out, grimacing and grunting as he carefully shuffles his hands and feet along the nightmarish corridor. His body is clearly seen trembling as he crosses the halfway point, with Hatsuta all but pleading with him not to fall. Shane lets out a primal cry as he continues his agonizing battle, but finally, he manages to step down to the platform in one piece, having successfully survived the Body Prop for the second tournament in a row.

Shane offers a fist pump, and simply getting past the Body Prop seems to have restored some vitality to his limbs. Now, he takes a few moments to size up the new obstacle, the Curtain Cling. As he is the first to attempt it, it is not quite clear what strategy he should adopt. The cloth, billowing in the breeze, seems to offer no clear handholds. Regardless, Shane is determined, and he finally makes up his mind, grasping the side of the curtain with one hand and swinging out over the murky abyss.

H: “Shane must be careful here…one wrong move, and his dream of Kanzenseiha will be extinguished. He grips the curtain tightly. Shane is on his way! The cloth is almost hypnotic as it billows in the evening breeze, but Shane must keep moving, he must not stay still for too long! He has found a handhold…Shane is completely focused on his goal of avenging his brother’s defeat. Again, he reaches out and somehow finds a grip. Only his two hands are keeping him from plummeting back to earth. Shane is about halfway through the new area, but his arms are showing signs of tiring! How much longer can Shane hold on?! He’s still got about a third to go, Ganbare Shane! He stretches out- oh no!!! Shane has been felled by the Curtain Cling! Shane gave it everything he had tonight…. (Camera shifts on Kane) Shane dedicated this run to his older brother, and he showed great fighting spirit, but the course has swallowed him whole once again.”

As Shane climbs out of the water, he is quickly greeted by the reporter.

R: “Shane-San, we’re so sorry to see that you weren’t able to make it. What did you think of the new area?”

S: “It looks easier than it is. It takes a lot of finger strength, and I guess I just didn’t quite have it.”

R: “Everyone here was hoping to see you reach the Final Stage, do you feel that you made some progress despite falling short?”

S: “Yes, I think I made it a bit further this time than I did on the Lamp Grasper. I’m going to take whatever positivity I can from this, and next time, get even further.”

R: “We hope very much to see you and Kane-San back here for the next competition, thank you for giving it your all!”

S: “Thank you all.”

The crowd applauds Shane’s valiant effort as he returns to Kane’s side and the two of them watch the rest of the competition unfold. After Shane’s heartbreaking fall in the Curtain Cling, Kobayashi also failed the new obstacle, while Takeda fell on the Cliffhanger Kai and Shiratori came within inches of returning to the Final Stage, only to be thwarted by the Pipe Slider. But it was Nagano who ensured his legendary status by punching his third consecutive ticket to the Final Stage with a near flawless run. In the Final Stage, tragically, despite coming very close again, Kanzenseiha continued to elude the humble fisherman, ensuring that no one would add their names alongside Akiyama on the list of Grand Champions this time. However, it was a given that these athletes would all be back to seek redemption, especially Kane and Shane Kosugi.

---

Next time, we go all the way back to Sasuke 3 to see how the Kosugi brothers handle the course that introduced the infamous rolling log. 

[hatkun]

May 16, 2023 9:08:17 GMT -5 YourResidentKojiFan said:

While I'm here though, SK3?

Sasuke 3

It is the spring of 1999, and 100 athletes have once again convened at the Midoriyama course for a Kinniku Banzuke special, the third Sasuke tournament. For viewers of the first two tournaments, some faces are already becoming familiar. Yamada, Akiyama, Omori, and of course, the 24 year old actor, Kane Kosugi. As in the previous tournament, Kane will be accompanied by his younger brother, 22 year old Shane Kosugi. In the last tournament, both brothers cleared the first stage, but Shane ran out of time in the Second Stage with the finish line in sight, while Kane was felled by the brand new Pipe Slider. Now, the duo have returned to seek revenge on the course. Shane, despite his solid performance in the previous tournament, has only been given #28 due to the number system not being fully worked out yet. Meanwhile, Kane, being a household name, is once again given a prime running position at #91.

While the first stage looks mostly familiar, athletes immediately take notice of two significant changes. First, the Burasagari Maruta, which you could really only fail by being as careless as possible, has been replaced by an obstacle that will come to be feared for generations to come, the Rolling Maruta, AKA the Rolling Log. Second, the Free Climbing / Kabe Nobori combo at the end has been replaced by the iconic Tarzan Jump / Rope Climb.

First Stage

As the tournament gets underway, it doesn’t take long for the new obstacles to leave their mark, as they combine to cause 8 out of the 10 known fails of the first 27 athletes, and probably a lot more. Impressively though, three men do manage to clear despite the new areas. First, “Real Life Ninja” Hasegawa Ken notches up his third consecutive First Stage clear. Next, gas station attendant and rising star Yamamoto Shingo also shows why he’s one of the most consistent and explosive athletes in the early going, as he leaves nearly 19 seconds on the clock for his third consecutive Second Stage appearance. Finally, rookie Tateyama Masaki strolls across the finish line with about 12 and half seconds left. With the early returns looking somewhat promising, it was now turn for the younger son of Sho Kosugi to take the stage.

Shane

After a brief introduction from second announcer Hatsuta Keisuke, Shane waits patiently for the four tones to sound off before running straight at the Maruta Nobori, leaping through the clear and clearing it in an impressive bound. Next, the new obstacle that has already been gaining early notoriety, the Rolling Maruta. Shane wraps his limbs around the log and pushes off from the platform. The first two spins go off like clockwork, but on the third, Shane loses his grip, and the log refuses to spin a fourth time, which might have tossed him onto the landing mat. Instead, it slides down the track, dumping Shane into the water just inches from safety, with Hatsuta and the crowd reacting in shock to the fall of the celebrity athlete. On the sideline, Kane is shown with his usual stoic appearance; though Hatsuta notes that he must be feeling devastated for his brother right now.

As is customary in the early Sasuke era, no post-run interview is conducted since Shane wasn’t considered high profile enough. Instead, the tournament continues as normal, but it quickly turns out to be a bloodbath the likes of which were unprecedented in the competition’s short history. In contrast to the 20 and 30 plus clears seen in the first two editions, only 10 athletes have advanced to the second stage by the time the 90s begin to take to the course. Amongst the seven who cleared after Shane’s run are a couple of soon-to-be familiar names: Sasuke Sensei Asaoka Hiroyuki and the future Mr. Sasuke, Yamada Katsumi, as well as a few one-off competitors.

Kane

With lead announcer Furutachi Ichiro now handling the play-by-play, the excitement in the crowd begins to grow as the next athlete is one well known to most of them. Furutachi gives him a brief introduction:

“He is an aspiring actor and celebrity athlete who has already acquired a tremendous base of support in Japan. In his previous attempt, the pipe slider prevented him from reaching the final stage; now, he seeks redemption. He is Kane Kosugi, age 24!”

The tones sound off one after the other, and Kane leaps into action, running and leaping easily over the Maruta Nobori, and approaching the very same obstacle that felled Shane, Sasuke 2 finalist Tanaka Hikaru, and many, many others. If Kane is unnerved by this deadly new area in any way, however, he doesn’t show it, as he wastes no time getting himself into position, using his height to his advantage as he manages to get an excellent grip on the log, and pushes off from the platform. Furutachi’s voice rises to a fever pitch with each spin, and on the fourth, Kane takes a moment to calm the rotation of the log before carefully dropping himself down. Next, the rather harmless Yureru Hashi, which generally only takes out competitors who still don’t realize that you just need to run across it. Kane, as expected, has no issues here as he bounds across in only a couple of steps, then takes a moment to compose himself before leaping powerfully over the Maruta Kudari. Confronting the Sosoritatsu Kabe, he takes another moment to catch his breath before rushing up the steeply inclined track, getting his hands on the top edge and scrambling over. With the clock in sight, Kane can see that he still has plenty of time, but now he must navigate the new Tarzan Jump / Rope Climb combo. He unhooks the rope and swings across, impacting the wall with a thud as he begins to ascend towards the finish line. Despite being slowed down a bit by the rope climb, Kane still manages to reach the top and hit the button with a very solid 11.45 seconds on the clock, securing his third consecutive Second Stage appearance.

After his run, Kane gets a brief post-run interview.

Reporter: “Congratulations, Kane-San, are you excited for the second stage?”

Kane: ‘Yes, though I’m disappointed that Shane couldn’t join me this time. I would like to get another shot at the pipe slider!”

After Kane’s successful run, a string of failures drives home the bump in difficulty in this year’s course, yet the final three runners do successfully clear, including crab fisherman Akiyama Kazuhiko and 2 time finalist Omori Akira, sending a total of 14 athletes through to the second stage.

Second Stage

The Second Stage remains unchanged yet again, with the producers feeling it was still dangerous enough after only 10 of 35 cleared in the previous tournament. Early on, the results are mixed, with the massive spider walk still claiming the majority of the victims, while Asaoka gets tripped up by the Goren Hammer and 18 year old Marita Junpei suffers an agonizing time out on the Wall Lifting. However, there are some notable successes, as five men clear by the time the 90s roll around, including Hasegawa, Yamamoto, and Yamada. Now, it’s time for Kane Kosugi to take his shot at the second stage, as he looks to keep his streak of third stage appearances alive. Furutachi introduces him once again as he stands on the start line, staring down the Spider Walk.

F: “He has cleared this stage twice before, but he knows that the dangers of Midoriyama must never be taken lightly. It’s now time for the dashing young actor, Kane Kosugi, to continue his journey towards the top of the Final Stage!”

As the timer begins, Kane wedges himself into the Spider Walk, using his upper body strength to drive his body forward, though the extra weight he carries does clearly take a bit of a toll. Despite losing a few precious seconds, he is able to carefully navigate each of the plexiglass panels, eventually reaching the fireman’s pole and sliding down quickly to the Goren Hanmer. Facing down the swinging mallets, he waits until he has an opening and darts across the thin metallic plank to safety. Next, he rushes into the Gyakuso Conveyor, his limbs as blur as he crawls through the time-wasting obstacle. As he emerges from the other side, the klaxon has yet to sound, telling him still has plenty of time. Kane lifts the first wall, and the klaxon finally begins to sound off. Unfazed, Kane ducks under the second wall, then the third, walking through the gate with 4.9 seconds left.

As Kane walks back to the sidelines, he gets a short post-run interview.

R: “Excellent work again, Kane-San!”

K: “Thank you, I knew I could clear this stage, so I simply took everything as it came to me and didn’t worry so much about the time.”

After Kane’s successful run, lifeguard Kujirai Yasutoshi also falls victim to the Spider Walk, while Akiyama experiences deja vu, as he times out between the first and second wall for the second consecutive tournament. The runs do end in a high note when the comedian Omori manages to clear with just 2 seconds left, leaving just 7, half of the original 14, to continue their quest for Kanzenseiha

Third Stage

Before the Third Stage, some of the competitors receive short interviews, Kane included.

K: “I’m a bit nervous, admittedly, but I can’t let that get in my head. I’m ready to redeem myself on the Pipe Slider.”

If Kane had been feeling nervous at all before his run, watching the five athletes who preceded him must have eased them considerably. After Hasegawa fell on the Pipe Slider for the second consecutive tournament, four men cleared this seemingly impassable obstacle one after the other. First, the gas station attendant, Yamamoto, then, steeplejack Matsumoto, carpenter Yamamoto Tatsuya, and finally, the propane delivery driver Yamada. With four men already in the Final Stage, expectations are high that Kane will join them. The crowd is silent as he steps up to the new Pole Jump obstacle and Furutachi introduces him.

F: “Earlier today, his brother could not get past the First Stage. Now, Kane must use the pain of seeing Shane’s defeat to power him through to the Final Stage. Will the eldest son of Sho Kosugi finally stand victorious over the stage that shattered his dreams in the previous two competitions? First, the new Pole Jump area…”

Kane walks up to the platform and stares down the pole, his face a complete mask of concentration. After taking some time to test out the pole, he steps back and jogs towards it, grabbing the pole and sailing across the muddy water to safety. Next, the arm-sapping Propeller Untei. Kane again contemplates the maze of spinning bars before catching the first and floating over the water, then transitioning smoothly to the second. His timing is slightly off on the third, as he is forced to endure another rotation before finally catching the third bar and swinging down to safety. Then, after traversing the slightly modified but still very easy Hang Move, he finds himself staring down the instrument of his demise in the previous tournament: the Pipe Slider. The forest is silent except for the sounds of nature as Kane shakes out his arms and silently prepares for this final battle

Kane finally grips the orange pipe in his hands and begins his perilous journey, moving in quick, hopping bursts as he nears the rest area. The actor dangles a leg over the bar and pulls himself up, where he finds himself once again almost within touching distance of a ticket to the final stage. After what seems like an eternity, Kane gently moves the bar forward, then drops himself into position…

F: “Kane is just meters away from advancing to the Final Stage! The actor can only rely on his two arms and the resolve in his heart! He is nearing the goal, will Kane make it? Kane swings…he steps onto the platform!!! Kane will be a Sasuke finalist!”

Kane flashes a rare smile as he pumps his fist while his fellow competitors cheer enthusiastically, with Shane being shown among them. Kane steps down from the platform, where he is greeted by the reporter.

R: “Kane-San, you did it, you’re in the Final Stage!”

K: “Yes, I’m so glad I was able to clear the Pipe Slider, but I know the Final Stage will be an even greater challenge.”

After Kane’s clear, the only man to follow in his footsteps was #100, Omori, and the comedian did not disappoint as he punched his third consecutive trip to the Final Stage, setting up an epic finale with six finalists.

Final Stage

The last six athletes line up in front of the imposing tower, providing a good forecast for the future of Sasuke, with three soon-to-be All-Stars in Kane, Yamamoto, and Yamada, along with the aforementioned Omori and a couple of one year wonders. First, the young gas station attendant, Yamamoto, sets a new benchmark as he comes within a couple of meters of the top. The next two attempts from construction worker Matsumoto Minoru and Yamamoto Tatsuya are woeful, as they only get about halfway up before plummeting back to earth. The fourth attempt, however, is an early example of the heartbreak of Sasuke, as Yamada comes within inches of the top of the tower, only to fall agonizingly short of Kanzen.

With Yamada still left heartbroken over his defeat, Kane now steps forward to try to avenge his fellow finalists. The actor remains stoic as he slips into the harness and walks up towards the base of the tower, applying chalk to his hands and sitting behind the rope. The gong sounds off once, then twice, and three times…

F: “Kane’s final battle against Midoriyama has begun! The actor is climbing the rope with an untamed ferocity, his legs flailing in the air! Despite the exhaustion in his limbs, he passes the 5 meter mark in good time. Will he stand atop the tower tonight? He is nearly halfway there, the actor is trying to get his legs involved, but fatigue may be starting to slow him down!! Climb, Kane, climb faster! The klaxon has started as he closes in on ten meters! Kane is fighting all the way to the end, he must not give up as long as there is even a second remaining! He is only a few meters from the top, but time has run out!!! Kane’s face contorts in anguish as he plummets back down to earth! The actor was just a few meters shy of immortality, but for now, he can only gaze ruefully upwards the heavens.”

As his harness is removed, Kane gets a short interview with Furutachi.

F: “Kane-San?”

K: “Yes?”

F: “That was a very good effort, you got off to a fast start. Did you start to feel tired about halfway through?”

K: “Yes, the fatigue of the previous three stages must’ve caught up to me at that point. I gave it my all, but it wasn’t enough this time.”

F: “I see. Well, we hope this won’t be the last time we see you.”

K: “Absolutely not. I have a goal now, and I intend to keep coming back until I achieve it.”

F: “That’s just what we were hoping to hear, thank you very much for your effort!”

K: “Thank you.”

The crowd applauds Kane, and he walks over to meet his brother with a handshake. Then, everyone looks on as Omori falls short on the third stage for the third consecutive time, bringing this tournament of unprecedented third stage success to a nevertheless familiar ending: without a grand champion. However, one thing is for sure, and that’s that the Kosugis, and many of these 100 athletes, will be back soon to continue the quest for Kanzenseiha.

Next time on the Kosugi Chronicles: Find out how the brothers fare in the historic Sasuke 17….

[hatkun]

May 3, 2023 16:51:42 GMT -5 azn said:

Also, for my pick, SK17 I guess.

Sasuke 17

It is autumn 2006, and 100 athletes have made their pilgrimage to the hallowed grounds of Midoriyama as they attempt to once more complete its four imposing stages and stand victorious over the most infamous obstacle course in the world. Since its inception nearly ten years ago, Sasuke has captured the imagination of people in Japan, and is starting to do the same in other countries, especially the United States. Yet, in spite of the hundreds of athletes who have attempted the course since Akiyama’s 1999 victory, not a single one of them has been able to replicate this impressive feat. The eight men perennially viewed as the most likely to do so are known as the Sasuke All-Stars, and they include in their ranks Kane Kosugi, the 32 year old actor whose birthday has actually fallen on the date of this tournament, and his 30 year old younger brother, Shane. Throughout the years, the Kosugis have proven to be strong competitors, reaching the third multiple times and even the final stage. For this tournament, it is no surprise that they are rated highly again, with Kane receiving #96 and Shane getting #88.

Early in the morning, as the athletes prepare for the day ahead, several notable competitors get brief interviews, including Kane and Shane.

Kane: “There are a couple of new areas, but I have high hopes for both of us today.”

Shane. “We always expect to clear, but it’s important not to take anything for granted.”

First Stage

As Kane had noted, the course has seen some minor changes from the previous tournament. The Rope Reverse and Reverse Fly are gone, allowing the Jump Hang to once again lead into the Soritatsu Kabe. Instead, the early part of the course has been lengthened with the addition of the Maruta Zaka, a log placed at an upward angle that athletes must traverse, and the Circle Slider, a metal ring that athletes must leap to from a springboard and slide down to the opposite side. Another change that will soon be noticed is the significantly slashed time limit, from 100 seconds to just 85.

As the competition gets underway, the first half of the field all meet the same fate: defeat at the hands of the ever-dangerous Midoriyama. For many, the new Circle Slider brings their dreams to an end, while others meet their fate at the hands of familiar obstacles like the Sandan Rolling Maruta and Rokudantobi. In the end, it takes a 16 year old, Homna Kota, to break through and clear the stage. Teacher Adachi Yuta eventually adds his name to that list, as does All-Star Shiratori Bunpei, American Olympian Paul Anthony Terek, and 19 year old trampolinist Nagasaki Shunsuke. With the tide starting to turn in favor of the athletes, it’s time for Shane Kosugi to make his entrance…

Shane

As Shane walks towards the start line, his All-Star theme begins to play, accompanied by a narrated video montage of his results throughout the years, notably his successes and failures on the First Stage. Then, lead announcer Hatsuta Keisuke gives him a proper introduction:

H: “For eight years, he has waged battle on these hallowed grounds, a battle in which his only weapons have been his own limbs and his warrior’s heart. His father started the ninja boom in the United States, but now, he hopes to leave his own mark. Today, he has set his sights on the Final Stage, and will accept nothing less than Kanzenseiha. He is Shane Kosugi, 30 years old!

Shane stands at the start line, waiting for the tones to sound off before approaching the Rokudantobi. He deftly leaps across each of the five steps and jumps to safety without any issues. Next, the new Maruta Zaka, which has proven to be quite easy, despite being somewhat tricky due to the rotating log. However, Shane crosses it in just a few steps with only a slight stumble, and quickly finds himself facing the Sandan Rolling Maruta. Shane shows no outward trepidation as he faces off against this tougher version of the obstacle that took him out all the way back in Sasuke 3. Wrapping his limbs around the log, he pushes off and endures the two punishing falls, and despite his leg peeling off towards the end, he holds on and lands safely on the mat. Next, the Cross Bridge, which is typically not an issue for strong competitors (RIP Yamada and Kinnikun), but he manages to dart across with four quick steps, and now faces the first real test of the stage, the one that has been separating the pretenders from the contenders. It is, of course, the Circle Slider. Shane takes a moment to size this new area up, but with the shortened time limit, he can’t take too long…

H: “Shane is trying to figure out the Circle Slider. Now he seems to have made up his mind, he gets a running start for the springboard! Will he advance once more to the Second Stage? Shane leaps…he falls short!!! Doushitanda, Shane?! Surely this can’t be!”

The audience is in shock as Shane pulls himself out of the water, with Kane shown to be devastated at his brother’s fall. A dark musical theme plays while Hatsuta dissects the replay.

H: “Shane only got one hand on the ring, and could not hold on. His jump from the springboard was too horizontal. What a tragedy for the younger Kosugi!”

A soaking and dejected Shane is greeted by the reporter.

R: “Shane-San, what do you think went wrong on the Circle Slider?”

S: “I wasn’t accustomed to the springboard, it has a different feeling to the Jump Hang trampoline, and I suppose I just made a mistake.”

R: “I see. We were all hoping to see you go so much further, but we know you want to get back to your brother’s side.”

S: “Yes, I hope Kane can get all the way to the Final Stage today. I’ll be cheering him on with all my might.”

R: “Thank you as always for your tremendous effort.”

S: “Thank you.”

The audience applauds as Shane dries himself off and walks over to stand by Kane, who offers some words of comfort.

After Shane’s shocking fall, four more men clear the first stage, including All-Star Takeda, veterans Nakata Daisuke and Yamada Kōji, and newcomer Lee En-Chih. Now, the stage is set for Kane Kosugi to step forward and avenge his brother’s defeat. Kane’s theme begins to play as a video montage of his performances throughout the years plays out, especially focusing on his iconic Final Stage attempt in Sasuke 8.

Kane

H: “He was just 22 years old when his quest for Kanzenseiha began, and now, on the day of his 32nd birthday, he will renew his commitment to conquer all four stages and stand victorious atop Midoriyama. His brother has already fallen, the hopes of the family fall on the elder sibling’s shoulders once again. He is Kane Kosugi, age 32!”


Kane waits for the tones to chime off and takes off, breezing across the Rokudantobi as easily as his brother did. The Maruta Zaka, despite its deceptive spin, also proves no challenge for the Sasuke All-Star as he easily traverses the log and finds himself facing another log, the Sandan Rolling Maruta. He wraps his limbs around the log, taking advantage of his height to get locked in, and pushes off from the platform enduring multiple spins and two drops without letting go as he is thrown to the mat on the other side. Now facing the Cross Bridge, Kane takes a couple of moments to reorient himself before rushing towards the obstacle. He leans a bit too much onto the left side, causing him to nearly lose his balance, however he manages to stumble to safety, with Hatsuta uttering a cautious “abunai” and wondering aloud if Kane is feeling anxious due to Shane’s fall. And Kane indeed now faces the instrument of Shane’s demise: the Circle Slider. Showing no outward sign of panic, Kane takes another moment to prepare himself, then approaches the springboard…

H: “Kane gets a great jump and catches the ring, gliding to safety! He has avenged his brother’s defeat!”

The camera focuses on Shane for a moment, as he is shown watching Kane’s run intensely.

Back on the course, Kane now faces the Jump Hang, an obstacle he usually excels at, but which did shockingly take him down in Sasuke 13. Kane composes himself, then gets a running start, hitting the trampoline squarely and soaring high into the air, catching the net at near the top, to an impressed reaction from Hatsuta and the crowd. After rolling down the net and climbing out, he finds himself staring at the always-dangerous Soritatsu Kabe. He takes a cautious approach, running up and back to pick up momentum, then charges towards the behemoth, leaping and catching the ledge with his fingertips and pulling himself up and over. He quickly drops down to the rope, where he can now see that he has about 20 seconds remaining, giving him some breathing room, but not enough to afford to be complacent. Unhooking the rope, he swings across to the other side and begins climbing with conviction, and despite the klaxon beginning its blare, he still reaches the top and hits the button with 8.81 seconds left on the clock.

Kane slides down the fireman’s pole as the audience applauds and cheers, including Shane. After sliding down to ground level, Kane is met by the reporter.

R: “That was a great run, Kane-San! How does it feel to advance to the Second Stage again?”

K: “Well, I’m happy, but it’s hard to be too overjoyed after what happened to Shane. I hope I can clear all of the remaining stages and make him proud.”

R: “Did you feel nervous at all while attempting the Circle Slider?”

K: “A little, it’s a new obstacle, and it took down Akiyama-San and Shane, so I knew it couldn’t be taken lightly.

R: “Thank you and we look forward to seeing you in the Second Stage!”

K: “Thank you.”

After Kane’s clear, fellow All-Stars Yamamoto and Nagano both clear comfortably, but the First Stage ends on a emotionally melancholy note as Yamada, who has been given #100 one last time in what is presumed to be his final run, is beaten once again by the Soritatsu Kabe, leaving the total number of finishers at 12.

Second Stage

Before the stage begins, all of the survivors have a short interview, including Kane.

K: “Nobody wants to fail the Second Stage, especially with how much we’ve trained for these obstacles. Hopefully we can all make it through.”

As Kane has alluded to, Second Stage once again remains unchanged, which seems to bode well for the veteran-heavy cast of First Stage survivors. Sure enough, two fails come from Second Stage rookies as 16 year old Homna Kota slips off the end of the Spider Walk and Lee-En-Chih is unable to grab hold of the metal spin. Veteran Yamada Kōji also fails the metal spin, but a remarkable six athletes do clear, including five in a row. These include Yuta, Shiratori, Terek, Nagasaki, Takeda, and Nakata, although the trampolinist suffers a hand injury on the metal spin which leaves him in visible pain even as he clears the stage. Now, it is time for Kane to take center stage once again. Dramatic music begins to play as Hatsuta introduces him…

H: “Earlier today, he managed to clear the First Stage with a heavy heart after his brother’s unexpected failure. But he cannot afford to let this setback weigh too greatly on his mind, for the Second Stage holds many dangers even for a Sasuke All-Star. And so, once again, the eyes of all turn to Kane Kosugi, 32 years old!”

Kane silently grips the chain until he gets his cue to start, then pushes off, flying down the Chain Reaction and swinging wildly until he manages to coral the second chain with his legs, and swing slowly towards the platform despite not getting a great push off. After finally dismounting, he takes several seconds to scale the Brick Climb, then removes his gloves and begins applying sticky spray in preparation for the Spider Walk which took him down what feels like ages ago in Sasuke 7. Kane wedges himself between the walls and begins climbing through the narrow passage, being careful not to slip at any point, and despite losing some valuable time, finally grabs hold of the bar on the other side and moves on to the balance tank which also took him out previously. Kane takes a cautious approach on the wooden cylinder, as he rolls it down the track slowly at first, then leaps the final few feet and gets ready for the Metal Spin which decimated the competition in the last tournament. This time around, it hasn’t been as lethal, but still mustn’t be taken lightly. Kane sizes it up for a moment, then runs and leaps, grabbing the chain and despite getting a somewhat low grip, manages to hold on and get to the platform, where now only the Wall Lift stands in his way. Kane heaves the 30 kilo wall easily, and ducks under the 40 kilo wall with a bit more effort. Finally getting to the 50 kilo, he struggles a bit with it as he hears the klaxon go off, but still manages to duck under and press the button with 6.73 seconds left with visible relief on his face, securing another trip to the Third Stage.

As Kane walks down from the finish line, the reporter rushes up to greet him.

R: “Well down, Kane-San! That was an excellent performance!”

K: “Thank you. I’m running for Shane as well as myself, so I know I have to go all the way.”

R: “It didn’t seem like anything in the Second Stage overly fazed you. Was that the case?”

K: “Well, the Second Stage is far from easy, but we’ve all seen these obstacles before, and we know what to expect. I’d be disappointed in myself if I didn’t clear.”

R: “Thankfully, you have cleared, and we’ll look forward to seeing you back in the Third Stage. Congratulations again!”

K: “Thank you very much.”

Kane is then seen walking over to Shane, with the two of them sharing a few private words as Shane looks visibly thrilled to see his brother advancing to the Third Stage. After Kane’s impressive clear, the All-Stars continue to dominate the Second Stage as Yamamoto and Nagano both clear without any issues, setting up an exciting climax to the tournament with 9 men advancing to the penultimate stage.

Third Stage

The nine semifinalists are greeted once more by the hellish endurance test that is the Third Stage, with its myriad grip intensive obstacles. Kane, with the others, is seen preparing and potentially exchanging strategies with his fellow All-Stars. Before the runs begin, everyone gets the customary short interview, including Kane.

K: “My goal is to clear the early obstacles quickly so I can conserve my strength for the second half of the course.”

As the Third Stage gets underway, the competitors once again find it to be a nearly impossible task. Yuta and Shiratori are both taken out by the Body Prop, Terek’s weight works against him as he quickly falls from the Cliffhanger, Takeda suffers a heartbreaking fall on the Pipe Slider, and Nakata has an emotional departure of his own as his injured hand forces him to drop out right away on the Arm Rings. In between these defeats, however, one remarkable athlete becomes the first person to clear the Third Stage since Nagano did it in Sasuke 13. Nineteen year old trampolinist Nagasaki displays incredible strength and endurance as he overcomes each obstacle and stands victorious on the ending mat, which inspires even more hope in the athletes as they know the Final Stage is within reach. Now, after Nakata’s devastating failure, the focus shifts back to actor Kane Kosugi, who is shown walking over to the start line as his theme begins to play, accompanied by a montage of some of his previous Third Stage attempts.

H: “He has battled the Third Stage many times, and knows what it is like to stand at the summit of the mountain. Already, one young athlete has shown the way for the All-Stars, but thus far, none have been able to follow in his footsteps. Will the actor finally fulfill his destiny and return to Sasuke’s Final Stage? 32 year old Kane Kosugi’s fight begins now!”

Kane walks up to the Arm Rings, Nakata’s devastating fall still fresh on everyone’s mind. Grasping a metal ring in each hand, he pushes off forcefully and crashes into the first bumps in the track with a loud clang that echoes throughout the dead silence of the forest. He struggles a bit to get the top ring over the bump, but eventually manages to free himself and reach the end of the track, where he now faces the Body Prop. He takes the time to stretch his hands and apply spray before carefully wedging himself in. Kane is deliberate with his movements as he grunts with exertion, clearly being tested, yet still he pushes onward, navigating each gap, and finally touching down on the mat, where a look of agony can clearly be seen, as the Body Prop has taken a toll on him. Even so, he now faces the Curtain Cling, the obstacle that eliminated Shane in Sasuke 13, and one that is notorious for draining grip strength despite not taking out many people on its own. Kane observes the curtain fluttering in the breeze before finding his first handhold and mounting the piece of fabric, his two arms being the only things keeping him from a watery doom…

H: “Kane cannot afford to let his momentum stop. He is on his own, relying on the strength in his fingers…he reaches out for another handhold…Kane is about halfway through. How much strain is the Curtain Cling putting on his tired arms? He is nearly there, ganbare Kane! The actor is clearly aching, but he finally touches down, he has cleared the Curtain cling!”

Kane is visibly worse for wear as he stretches out his arms and prepares to battle the Cliffhanger. It is an obstacle that he failed way back in Sasuke 4 in its original form, but the current Cliffhanger Kai has been around long enough for everyone to more or less figure it out, though that hardly makes the task any easier. Kane takes several seconds longer to rest his arms and prepare for his next challenge before finally placing his hands on the thin ledge…

H: “Kane is on the Cliffhanger! He must move quickly, but carefully here as he approaches the first ledge. He has to reach up to grab it, he must not fail here! Kane reaches up, he has a good tempo, he shifts his second hand, he cleared the first transition! Kane’s arms are all he has, there is nothing else to save him if he falls. He is at the second transition, Kane reaches down for the ledge! His face is contorted in pain, can he go any further?! Now the second hand…he’s got it! Kane completes the third ledge and steps to safety, he has cleared the Cliffhanger!”

The crowd applauds and cheers as an exhausted Kane pumps his fist, knowing that it’s an accomplishment just getting this far, however, he still has the back half of the course to deal with. Next up, the Jumping Bars. Kane eyes up the four metallic bars as he shakes out his arms…

H: “Kane has said he wanted to save his strength as much as possible for the back half of the course. It’s time to find out what he has left in his tired limbs. He jumps out to the first bar! Kane is swinging over the murky waters of Midoriyama…he goes for the second bar, and catches it! He is fighting for more than just himself, his family’s pride is on the line. Kane jumps to the third bar! He is almost at the end of the Jumping Bars. The beloved actor is owning the spotlight as only he can! Kane swings one more time, he jumps for the fourth bar!!! He is nearly there!”

Kane is visibly fatigued as he labors to ascend the Climbing Bars, using the same technique Takeda used in Sasuke 15 by utilizing his feet to assist with the climb. Finally, he pulls himself up to the green rest bar, where he can lock eyes with the final mat, just feet away…

H: “Kane has fought with the heart of a warrior today, and his brother has watched over him. Now, he is within touching distance of the Final Stage. First, he must traverse the Devil Balanço to reach the Pipe Slider. Kane has rested all he can, it’s time for him to begin his final assault on the Third Stage! He has lowered himself into position, using the green bar to gather momentum, he gets a good swing going, and reaches out for the Pipe Slider! Kane has both hands on the orange bar, and is making one last push for the Final Stage! He is using the last of his reserves to force the bar down the track, will he join Nagasaki in the Final? He has reached the end of the track, does he have anything left for the jump?! Ganbare Kane! He is trying to swing, but the bar refuses to cooperate! Again, the bar slides back- AHHHH KANE TENRAKU!!!”

The ground is filled with gasps of shock and dismay as Kane drops into the water, just feet from the finish line, reaction shots of his fellow All-Stars show them all stunned and clearly hurting for him. Melancholy music plays as Kane wades over to the edge of the muddy pit and buries his head in his arms. Meanwhile, Hatsuta breaks down Kane’s tragic fall while it replays.

H: “Kane was so close to returning to the Final Stage. He gave it everything he had, but he was out of stamina by the time he reached the Pipe Slider. What a tragedy for the actor, who has meant so much to Sasuke, and a devastating blow to the All-Stars.”

Kane eventually climbs out of the pit and is greeted by the reporter.

R: “This is something no one wanted to happen, and now we’ve seen it with you and Takeda. What do you think went wrong on the Pipe Slider?”

K: “I was just too tired. I put my heart and soul into this competition. I wanted to win it so badly, but I wasn’t good enough today.”

R: “I see. Do you think that your strategy helped you get as far as you did?”

K: “Yes, but I also know I could’ve done it better, I could’ve done it a lot better. I lost too much stamina on the early obstacles, which was exactly what I didn’t want to do.”

At this point, Hatsuta himself takes over the interview.

H: “Kane-San?”

K: “Yes?”

H: “You gave a valiant effort today, were you motivated to avenge Shane’s fall?”

K: “Shane and I always look out for each other. When one of us falls, the other will have a new fire lit beneath him. So I was absolutely running for Shane tonight.”

H: “I see. The bond you share is very strong, isn’t it?”

K: “Yes, it is. As strong as the bond between brothers can be.”

H: “We hope you two will keep coming back, the competition simply wouldn’t be the same otherwise.”

K: “Yes, of course, we have absolutely no plans to give up on our dream. You’ll see us both again.”

H: ”We look forward to it. Thank you for giving it your all!”

R: “Thank you, Kane-San!”

K: “Thank you.”

The crowd applauds for Kane as he returns to stand by Shane, with the two exchanging some words and settling in to watch the rest of the competition. Immediately after Kane’s emotional departure. Yamamoto shockingly falls early on the Body Prop, only adding to the unease amongst the All-Stars. However, Nagano absolutely dominates the course, as he manages to navigate each obstacle, make the seemingly impossible Pipe Slider jump, and join Nagasaki in the Final Stage.

Final Stage

Kane and Shane watch Nagasaki attempt the Final Stage first, only to run out of stamina on the rope and plummet back to the earth. Next is Nagano, and what unfolds over the next 30 seconds is nothing short of historic. The fisherman ascends the spider climb, blazes up the rope and hits the button with 2.5 seconds left, securing the first Kanzenseiha since Akiyama’s in Sasuke 4, and only the second ever. Kane and Shane are in the crowd and join their fellow All-Stars in cheering Nagano on as he looks down from the peak of Midoriyama. With that, this truly historic Sasuke has ended on a bittersweet note for the Kosugis, as while they have witnessed an incredible run from their fellow All-Star, Kane’s fall from the Pipe Slider means he won’t get another chance to attempt this version of the Final Stage and, along with Shane, will have to start all over again in the second renewal.

-

That takes care of the backlog we had, and I am now taking requests again for tournaments to cover. Preferably chronological so I can incorporate past lore, but I will do any of them. Remaining tournaments:

5, 14-16, 18-28