Happosai's Ultimate Technique Arc

The Happosai's Ultimate Technique Arc is the 23rd story arc covered in the Ranma ½ manga, spanning three chapters. This arc was included in volume 11 of the  and volume 9 of the Viz Media tankōbon.

Plot Summary
After Happosai uses the dojo sign as firewood to cook, He gets beaten to the ground by Ranma, Genma, and Soun. He sees this as insolence and prepares his ultimate attack, but realizes he has completely forgotten how to perform it. Happosai claims that the secrets of the Happo-Fire Burst is written in a scroll and the three try to find the scroll before Happosai. When they find the location of where the scroll is buried, they find that the surrounding area has since become a women's hot spring.

To get the scroll, Happosai puts on various disguises and blends in with the environment, while Ranma is turned into a girl to fit in. Akane is also found to be in the spring with her friends. They both fail as Happosai's disguises are quickly noticed by Akane, and Ranma is unable to turn into girl without cold water. Ranma is successful at retrieving the scroll, but find that Happosai's handwriting is illegible.

Akane and Ranma then try to lure Happosai by enticing him with skirts and get him to translate his own scroll. When he is captured, Happosai finds that he can't read it either. However, he soon remembers the secret behind the technique and unleashes it on Ranma. The technique turns out to be no more than a ball of firework, and Happosai is quickly defeated after a giant firework explodes with him.

Major Events

 * Happosai's signature attack, Happo-Fire Burst, is introduced. This attack will be shown frequently throughout the manga.

Changes in anime

 * Arc starts with Akane leaving for the hot springs (and yet Ranma and their parents are suprised to see her there).
 * During the giant firework ball chase, It's Ranma who throws bra to distract Happosai, not Soun.
 * We learn that Happosai survived because he shows up at the end of the arc, using one more firework ball at Ranma.

Characters Introduced

 * No characters debuted in this arc.