COBRA KAI: The Way of the Fist (Prequel to "COBRA KAI: Clash of the Five Dojos")

CHAPTER 26: "1985 PART 2 (TKK PART III 1989)."

The next day, Daniel and Jessica arrived at the cliffside. They latch the ropes on their waists and descend down the cliff. They made it to Nariyoshi’s rare bonsai tree and almost got it secured safely but Daniel accidentally drops it down the cliff and it lands on the rocks below. The tides were coming in so they acted fast. Luckily they reached the bottom and saved the tree in time but Suddenly, their ropes were being pulled up and they looked up to see Mike Barnes with Snake and Dennis. “Hey LaRusso! How are you doing?!” Mike Barnes asked, laughing at Daniel and Jessica’s situation. “Heads up, Danny boy! Here’s something you forgot!” Snake yelled, dropping a rolled up application, with a pen inside. It lands by Daniel and he picks it up. Daniel yells at Mike Barnes, demanding that he and his goons bring down the ropes. Mike Barnes said that he wouldn’t do that until Daniel signed the application and warned him about the tide coming in. Daniel had no choice but to sign the application. 

Once he did, Mike Barnes and his gang let the ropes down. Daniel and Jessica made it over the edge. Daniel told them to let them up but they refused until they saw the piece of paper. Mike Barnes threatened Jessica’s life by loosening his grip on her rope. Daniel gave in and gave it to Snake. “It’s all good.” Snake said, handing the paper to Mike Barnes. “Good. Don’t even think about backing out, LaRusso. Then I’ll really be pissed.” Mike Barnes threatened. The three villains continued to pull them up and Daniel kept rushing them. Snake spotted the tree around Daniel’s waist and told him to give it to him if he were to keep pulling them up. Daniel began to refuse and Mike Barnes threatened Jessica’s life again, which made Daniel immediately hand over the tree. Snake toyed with Daniel, pretending to throw the tree over. Mike Barnes then got slightly irritated. “Alright, alright! Enough! Give me it.” Mike Barnes said, taking the tree from Snake. “You want it?” he then asked Daniel. “Yes. Be careful with it, please.” Daniel begged. “Hey Daniel. Make a wish.” Mike Barnes snaps the tree almost completely in half, then throws it down in front of Daniel. 

After Mike Barnes, Snake and Dennis let Daniel and Jessica go, Daniel went back to the shop with the broken tree. He showed it to Nariyoshi and couldn’t bear the shocked and saddened look on his sensei’s face. They both set it down onto the table to repair it. After doing that, Daniel sees men bringing a bunch of bonsai trees into the shop, and it leaves Daniel confused. “Where did you get all these trees, Mr. Miyagi?” he asked. “Sold truck.” Nariyoshi responded. “You sold the truck? Why didn’t you tell me that?!” Daniel asked, frustrated. “Wake up this morning, you not there.” Nariyoshi responded. “Goddammit! Mr. Miyagi, I signed up for the tournament.” Daniel admitted, honestly. Nariyoshi looked back at his student. “Why?” he asked. “Because. I thought we could sell this tree so you wouldn’t lose the shop but those guys had me and Jessica trapped at the bottom of the cliff. Please Mr. Miyagi. Can you please train me?” Daniel begged. “Daniel-san, Miyagi always train you. But for tournament, cannot.” Nariyoshi answered his student and walked off with the tree. “What?! You know what, Mr. Miyagi?! Forget it! I’ll find my own way!” Daniel yelled before storming out of the bonsai shop. After he left, Nariyoshi looked down in sorrow, not knowing how to help his student in this tough situation. Deep down, he knew that something was up with Daniel’s attackers and Terry Silver showing up out of the blue after all these years. 

Daniel walked through the streets of the Valley, thinking of who would be able to train him to fight Mike Barnes in the upcoming karate tournament. Daniel thought of someone who could help, though he didn’t like the fact that he had to do it behind his sensei’s back. He had no choice but to ask Terry Silver to train him. He walked and walked until he reached the Cobra Kai dojo. It looked completely abandoned now, from the outside. He walked in and saw Terry Silver himself, doing some karate exercises. He spotted Daniel and walked over to him. “Hey Daniel. How are you doing?” Terry Silver asked. “I’ve been giving your offer some thought and if it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to take you up on it.” Daniel told him. “Sure, no problem. How does Mr. Miyagi feel about this?” Terry Silver asked. “He doesn’t need to know about it.” Daniel said, seriously. “That’s fine. I won’t tell anybody. Promise.” Terry Silver promised.