Chapter Summaries

After Shohoku crushed Takahata High School, Kenji Fujima and the Shoyo players challenged Ryota Kudo’s group to a three-on-three friendly game. The teams reached an outdoor court, where the match was about to begin with Kudo receiving the ball first.

• Ryota Kudo and Hanamichi Sakuragi helped Shohoku defeat Takahata High School 123-51, with Sakuragi recording 8 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 blocks.
• Kenji Fujima approached Ryota Kudo and proposed an early three-on-three game between Shohoku and Shoyo, and Hisashi Mitsui and Hanamichi Sakuragi agreed to play.
• Kazushi Hasegawa confronted Hisashi Mitsui, saying he would stop him from scoring, though Mitsui did not remember facing him in middle school.
• Kenji Fujima and the Shoyo players secured the outdoor court after demonstrating their skills to the adults playing there.
• As the two teams warmed up, Ryota Kudo looked forward to testing himself and learning from Shoyo, and Fujima tossed him the ball to start the game.

Ryota Kudo and his teammates played Shoyo in a half-court three-on-three game that ended in a 32-32 tie. Afterward, Ryota encouraged the frustrated Hisashi Mitsui and promised they would settle things at the Prefectural Tournament.

• Ryota Kudo scored against Kenji Fujima, then used his strength to drive past him before Toru Hanagata blocked his layup attempt.
• Ryota passed to Hanamichi Sakuragi, whose open shot missed; Toru Hanagata rebounded and Kenji Fujima sank a three-pointer to put Shoyo ahead 3-2.
• Toru Hanagata scored with a fadeaway jumper over Hanamichi Sakuragi, who mistook the move for a foul.
• Ryota Kudo and Kenji Fujima traded attacks as Hanagata's fadeaways and Sakuragi's struggles kept the game close until it was tied 32-32 ten minutes later.
• After Kenji Fujima called off the game, Hisashi Mitsui lamented that Kazushi Hasegawa had held him to two points, and Ryota promised they would face Shoyo again at the Prefectural Tournament.

Ryota Kudo reviewed the basketball abilities he had gained and spoke with his clingy mother, who planned to attend Shohoku’s final-four games. On his way to extra practice, he saw Haruko Akagi playing basketball and encountered a helmeted stranger whose athletic feat and lecherous reaction startled everyone.

• Ryota Kudo assessed the new skills he had gained, then told his mother he would not return to Tokyo because he was focused on basketball.
• Ryota Kudo continued supporting Hisashi Mitsui’s extra training and set out for more practice on Saturday.
• Ryota Kudo found Haruko Akagi practicing layups at an outdoor court while the Sakuragi Gang watched her.
• A helmeted man rode onto the court, leaped from his motorcycle, and dunked Haruko Akagi’s missed shot.
• Haruko Akagi hurried away, and the helmeted man removed his helmet and declared that she was his; Ryota Kudo recognized his expression as resembling Hanamichi Sakuragi’s.

Shohoku faced Tsukubu High School in a game for a place in Kanagawa’s final eight, while Koichiro Nango’s rivalry with Hanamichi Sakuragi carried onto the court. Tsukubu’s teamwork and Nango’s scoring challenged Shohoku, and Takenori Akagi called for the ball after Nango taunted him about Haruko.

• Hanamichi Sakuragi headbutted Koichiro Nango after learning Nango wanted to pursue Haruko Akagi, and they bet that Sakuragi would step aside if Shohoku lost to Tsukubu.
• A week later, Shohoku and Tsukubu began their final-eight qualifying game, with Ryota Kudo starting and Hanamichi Sakuragi on the bench.
• Tomokazu Godai scored Tsukubu’s opening basket with a three-pointer after the team’s rapid passing drew Shohoku’s attention away from him.
• Ryota Kudo delivered a well-timed pass to Kaede Rukawa, who scored a double-clutch layup and drew Kenji Fujima’s notice.
• Koichiro Nango scored inside, taunted Hanamichi Sakuragi, and angered Takenori Akagi; after Coach Kazumi Kawasaki reprimanded Nango, Akagi called for Kudo to pass him the ball.

Takenori Akagi powered past Koichiro Nango while Ryota Kudo shifted the game against Tsukubu High School with a long-range shot, a steal, and a dunk. As Tsukubu called a timeout, determined shooter Tomokazu Godai vowed to beat Kudo, and Sannoh Industrial High School arrived at the gym.

• Takenori Akagi dunked over Koichiro Nango and warned him to stay away from Haruko Akagi after Ryota Kudo revealed they were siblings.
• Tomokazu Godai sank another three-pointer, putting Shohoku behind and frustrating Hisashi Mitsui.
• Ryota Kudo scored from near the center line, intercepted Godai's lob more than three meters above the floor, and finished a fast break with a tomahawk dunk.
• Coach Kazumi Kawasaki called a timeout as Tsukubu High School's players lost confidence, while Godai stayed composed and resolved to defeat Kudo.
• Sannoh Industrial High School entered the gym and drew the attention of both teams.

Ryota Kudo dominated Tsukubu High School in the first half, then sat out to meet his friend Eiji Sawakita and Sannoh’s players. As Shohoku continued the game without him, Mikio Kawata belittled Ryota’s teammates, prompting Ryota to doubt Mikio’s own strength.

• Kazunari Fukatsu asked Eiji Sawakita whether Ryota Kudo was truly good enough to have surpassed him as the best middle school player.
• Ryota Kudo stole the ball from Hiroshi Natsume and scored, then overwhelmed Tsukubu High School with 64 points in just over ten minutes as Shohoku took an 84-21 halftime lead.
• Ryota Kudo asked Coach Anzai to let him sit out the second half, then joined Eiji Sawakita and Sannoh’s players in the stands.
• Ryota Kudo greeted Eiji Sawakita, chatted with Sannoh’s players, and ate some of Mikio Kawata’s potato chips while watching Shohoku play.
• Mikio Kawata said he could easily overpower Shohoku’s inside players, and Ryota Kudo privately judged that Mikio was not yet as strong as Hanamichi Sakuragi or Takenori Akagi.

Shohoku crushed Tsukubu 142-52 without Ryota Kudo playing in the second half, while Kudo prepared to face Shoyo at full strength. At the arena, Nobunaga Kiyota challenged Sannoh and was overwhelmed by Satoshi Ichinokura’s defense in their one-on-one match.

• Kazunari Fukatsu apologized after Mikio Kawata insulted Ryota Kudo’s teammates, and Kudo said Shohoku would meet Sannoh at the National Tournament.
• Shohoku beat Tsukubu 142-52, prompting Shoyo’s players to take their upcoming game seriously.
• Kazunari Fukatsu declined Ryota Kudo’s offer of a meal because Sannoh had to return to Akita for intensive training and its prefectural tournament.
• Nobunaga Kiyota declared that Kainan would beat Sannoh, then accepted Satoshi Ichinokura’s challenge to score once in ten possessions.
• Satoshi Ichinokura repeatedly stole the ball or stopped Kiyota before he could shoot, leaving Kiyota exhausted after five possessions.

Satoshi Ichinokura shut out Nobunaga Kiyota in a grueling one-on-one, while Ryota Kudo later encountered Koichiro Nango apologizing to Haruko Akagi. Shohoku High School traveled by bus to face Shoyo High School in the quarterfinal, where Hisashi Mitsui declared he would score thirty points on Kazushi Hasegawa.

• Satoshi Ichinokura defended Nobunaga Kiyota for ten minutes and stopped him from scoring, leaving Kiyota exhausted on the ground.
• Shinichi Maki thanked Satoshi Ichinokura for helping his junior, then brought Nobunaga Kiyota to practice after the spectators left.
• Ryota Kudo saw Koichiro Nango speaking to Haruko Akagi, learned Nango had come to apologize, and quickly left after Haruko thanked him.
• Shohoku High School traveled to the quarterfinal against Shoyo High School on school-arranged buses with a large cheerleading squad.
• Hisashi Mitsui told Ryota Kudo that Shohoku would not lose and that he intended to score thirty points on Kazushi Hasegawa.

Shohoku faced Shoyo in a hostile arena, where the opposing cheering squad rattled the team and Hanamichi Sakuragi nearly started a fight. Shoyo scored first through Toru Hanagata, and Ryota Kudo led Shohoku's response by racing up the court.

• Shoyo's cheering squad overwhelmed Shohoku with chants and noise, while Hanamichi Sakuragi shouted back until Takenori Akagi dragged him away.
• Takenori Akagi reassured Sakuragi in the locker room, and Coach Anzai stayed quiet as Shohoku prepared for the game.
• Shohoku kept its usual starting lineup, while Kenji Fujima watched from Shoyo's bench instead of starting.
• Takenori Akagi jumped too early at tip-off, giving Shoyo possession, and Taku Ito brought the ball across half-court.
• Toru Hanagata scored over Akagi with a fadeaway jumper, putting Shoyo ahead and drawing a roar from its supporters.
• Ryota Kudo encouraged Shohoku and then burst forward with the ball to begin their first attack.

Ryota Kudo scored a double-clutch layup through three Shoyo defenders, then inspired Shohoku’s cheering section and Hanamichi Sakuragi. Sakuragi disrupted Shoyo’s offense and claimed a spectacular rebound, leaving Ryota amazed by his jumping ability.

• Ryota Kudo evaded Shoyo’s defenders, scored a double-clutch layup while being fouled, and made the extra free throw.
• Haruko Akagi and Shohoku’s fans began cheering, while Hanamichi Sakuragi questioned Ryota about his feelings for Haruko.
• Ryota told Sakuragi to focus on becoming Japan’s best power forward, and Sakuragi’s fighting spirit rose.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi disrupted Toru Hanagata’s offense and leaped at Shoichi Takano’s midrange shot.
• Sakuragi jumped above Toru Hanagata to seize the missed shot’s rebound, astonishing Ryota with his athletic ability.

Shohoku struggled against Shoyo’s slow half-court offense until Ryota Kudo called for the team to speed up and disrupt Toru Hanagata’s touches. Shohoku regained control and widened the lead, and Kenji Fujima finally prepared to enter the game.

• Hanamichi Sakuragi fouled Toru Hanagata while fighting for the ball, and Ryota Kudo drew the crowd’s boos onto himself.
• Toru Hanagata scored efficiently as Shoyo slowed the game, keeping Shohoku ahead by only 22-20 after ten minutes.
• Ayako Inoue asked Coach Anzai for a timeout, but Coach Anzai trusted Ryota Kudo and the players to solve the problem.
• Ryota Kudo urged Shohoku to pick up the pace, and Kaede Rukawa scored a one-handed dunk on the fast break.
• Ryota Kudo had Kaede Rukawa double-team Toru Hanagata, helping Shohoku regain control and extend its lead.
• Kenji Fujima rose from the bench and prepared to enter as Shoyo requested a substitution.

Kenji Fujima’s return transformed Shoyo’s play, while Ryota Kudo helped Shohoku hold a four-point halftime lead. Hisashi Mitsui, exhausted and determined to answer Kazushi Hasegawa’s taunts, protested when Coach Anzai decided to bench him for the second half.

• Kenji Fujima entered the game, steadied Shoyo, and set up Mitsuru Nagano for a three-pointer.
• Ryota Kudo outran and overpowered Kenji Fujima to grab Hisashi Mitsui’s off-target pass and score a layup.
• Kenji Fujima organized Shoyo’s offense and defense as Ryota Kudo repeatedly attacked him, and Shohoku finished the half ahead 46-42.
• Kazushi Hasegawa taunted Hisashi Mitsui about limiting him to two points, but Mitsui left without responding.
• Coach Anzai named Ryota Miyagi as point guard and Ryota Kudo as shooting guard for the second half, telling Hisashi Mitsui to rest.
• Hisashi Mitsui insisted that he could keep playing and asked Coach Anzai to believe in him.

Hisashi Mitsui accepted Coach Anzai’s decision to rest him as Ryota Miyagi entered the game against Shoyo. Shohoku maintained its advantage, but Hanamichi Sakuragi picked up his fourth foul and worried that he would foul out again.

• Coach Anzai sent Hisashi Mitsui to the bench, and Ryota Miyagi took his place for the second half.
• Takenori Akagi won the jump ball, Ryota Miyagi passed ahead, and Ryota Kudo dunked to score for Shohoku.
• Kenji Fujima scored a midrange jumper and a three-pointer as Shoyo traded baskets with Shohoku.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi grabbed twelve rebounds but received his fourth foul after biting on Shoichi Takano’s pump fake.
• Ryota Kudo helped Hanamichi Sakuragi to his feet and told him to stay calm and play normally.

Hanamichi Sakuragi’s fear of fouling out hurt Shohoku, so Coach Anzai replaced him with Hisashi Mitsui, who returned to the court and overwhelmed Shoyo with a barrage of three-pointers. Shoyo trailed by nearly twenty points, but Kenji Fujima urged his teammates not to give up.

• Hanamichi Sakuragi hesitated to contest Toru Hanagata’s rebound and later passed up a drive, allowing Shoyo to score and prompting Coach Anzai to call a timeout.
• Coach Anzai took Hanamichi Sakuragi out, and Ryota Kudo filled in at power forward as Hisashi Mitsui returned to the game.
• Hisashi Mitsui confronted Kazushi Hasegawa, while Ryota Kudo blocked Toru Hanagata’s fadeaway and helped Shohoku launch a fast break.
• Hisashi Mitsui sprinted past Kazushi Hasegawa and made a three-pointer, then sank ten consecutive threes in five minutes.
• With Shoyo trailing by nearly twenty points, Kenji Fujima urged his teammates to keep fighting.

Shohoku defeated Shoyo to reach Kanagawa’s final four, while the team faced academic hurdles and prepared for the round-robin. Ryota Kudo reunited with his former junior Yoshiki Anzai and learned he was Coach Anzai’s grandson, but Yoshiki said he would not join Shohoku.

• Shohoku beat Shoyo 93–68, and Kenji Fujima broke down in tears as Toru Hanagata and Shinichi Maki watched.
• Takenori Akagi congratulated Kenji Fujima, while Shinichi Maki urged Kainan to work toward winning Kanagawa undefeated.
• Ryota Kudo worried that Hanamichi Sakuragi, Ryota Miyagi, and Hisashi Mitsui might fail their exams and miss the National Tournament.
• Shohoku intensified training for the final four against Kainan, Ryonan, and Takezato.
• Yoshiki Anzai met Ryota Kudo after practice and revealed that Coach Anzai was his grandfather.
• Yoshiki Anzai rejected the idea of joining Shohoku next year and said he might choose Kainan or Ryonan instead.

Ryota Kudo met his old friend Yoshiki Anzai, learned that Yoshiki wanted to defeat Shohoku to prove himself to Coach Anzai, and brought him to a pickup game to demonstrate the value of teamwork. Yoshiki dominated his first game, then challenged Ryota, whose pass to an open teammate put Shohoku’s teamwork lesson into action.

• Ryota Kudo listened as Yoshiki Anzai complained that his junior high teammates excluded him, and Yoshiki agreed to try communicating more with future teammates.
• Ryota learned Yoshiki had refused to join Shohoku because he wanted to defeat the team and prove he was the greatest basketball prodigy to Coach Anzai.
• Ryota brought Yoshiki to a floodlit pickup court to show him how strangers could succeed by playing together.
• Yoshiki scored all five points in a one-sided pickup game, treating his teammates as tools to pass him the ball.
• Yoshiki defended Ryota closely and challenged him to show his true ability, so Ryota passed to a wide-open middle-aged teammate, who made the layup.

Ryota Kudo led his three-on-three team to beat Yoshiki Anzai's side, but Yoshiki remained convinced that he could win alone. On June 20, Shohoku faced Kainan High School in the final-four round, and the chapter ended as Takenori Akagi prepared for the opening tip against Kazuma Takasago.

• Ryota Kudo passed to teammates and defended Yoshiki Anzai, helping his team score the winning basket while Yoshiki blamed others and insisted he would prove himself later.
• Shohoku began the final-four round against Kainan High School, and Takenori Akagi warned Ryota Kudo about facing Shinichi Maki.
• Shinichi Maki rallied Kainan with its “Ever victorious!” slogan before the teams took the court.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi called Shinichi Maki a middle-aged man, prompting Maki to joke that Akagi looked even older; Akagi punched Sakuragi and apologized to the referee.
• Takenori Akagi and Kazuma Takasago took their places for the opening tip, with Akagi visibly nervous.

Shohoku and Kainan traded baskets early as Ryota Kudo tried to contain Shinichi Maki, whose strength and playmaking kept Kainan’s offense moving. Maki eventually powered past Kudo and Kaede Rukawa to score through contact, leaving him with a free throw and Kainan’s Coach Takato confident.

• Takenori Akagi won the opening tip, and Ryota Kudo passed ahead to Kaede Rukawa, but Shinichi Maki blocked Rukawa’s fast-break dunk attempt.
• Ryota Kudo recovered the loose ball from Nobunaga Kiyota and passed to Kaede Rukawa, who scored Shohoku’s first basket with an open midrange jumper.
• Shinichi Maki drove into the paint and passed to Kazuma Takasago, whose shot Takenori Akagi blocked; Soichiro Jin collected the rebound and made a midrange jumper to tie the score at 2-2.
• Ryota Kudo fed Takenori Akagi inside, and Akagi scored with deft footwork as the teams continued trading baskets.
• Shinichi Maki repeatedly used his strength against Ryota Kudo, then drove past him and Kaede Rukawa to score a floater through contact and earn a free throw.
• Coach Takato confidently fanned himself, assured that Shinichi Maki and Kainan’s strength would carry the team.

Shohoku extended its lead over Kainan as Ryota Kudo’s three-pointer and a Hisashi Mitsui shot fueled their offense, but Takenori Akagi injured his ankle while battling for a rebound. Akagi left for the locker room, and Ryota assured him Shohoku could win without him and would play together again after he recovered.

• Yayoi Aida told Nakamura that Ryota Kudo was challenging Shinichi Maki for Kanagawa’s best-player title as Shohoku led Kainan 22-18.
• Ryota Kudo faked a pass and hit a three-pointer, while Shinichi Maki began wearing him down through physical play.
• Takenori Akagi scored inside to push Shohoku’s lead to ten, then grabbed a rebound and passed to Ryota Kudo, who set up Hisashi Mitsui for a three-pointer.
• Takenori Akagi injured his ankle during the rebound battle and could not return to the game.
• Shinichi Maki and Kazuma Takasago apologized, and Takenori Akagi forgave Kazuma before leaving with Kiminobu Kogure and Ayako Inoue.
• Ryota Kudo reassured Takenori Akagi that Shohoku could beat Kainan and that they would play together again after his recovery.

After Takenori Akagi injured his ankle and left the court, Shohoku rearranged its lineup, with Hanamichi Sakuragi taking over at center and Ryota Kudo helping contain Shinichi Maki. Shohoku and Kainan traded baskets, while Kainan’s Coach Takato recognized Kudo’s uncanny ability to imitate other players and began searching for a way to stop him.

• Takenori Akagi asked Ayako Inoue to tape his injured ankle so he could return if Shohoku needed him, but agreed to rest if Kudo and the others built a lead.
• Coach Anzai sent Ryota Miyagi to point guard, moved Ryota Kudo to power forward, and assigned Hanamichi Sakuragi to center.
• Ryota Kudo helped Ryota Miyagi trap Shinichi Maki, while Hanamichi Sakuragi held his ground against Kazuma Takasago and blocked Tadashi Muto’s shot.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi vowed to protect Shohoku’s paint in Takenori Akagi’s place and received cheers from Haruko Akagi and the Sakuragi Gang.
• Kainan’s Soichiro Jin sank three-pointers as Ryota Kudo and Kaede Rukawa scored for Shohoku, and Kudo matched Jin’s shooting threat with a fadeaway jumper resembling Toru Hanagata’s.
• Coach Takato concluded that Ryota Kudo could imitate players’ techniques and began considering how to contain Kudo and Shohoku.