Recaps

Kawamoto led Shohoku to a crushing victory over Shoyo, drew attention from rivals and an offer from Kainan, and chose to risk pursuing his own plans. The arc ended as Shohoku and Kainan prepared to face each other, with Anzai tasking Kawamoto with disrupting Maki.

• Kawamoto opened Shohoku’s game against Shoyo with a half-court three, then scored freely and directed the offense as Shohoku built a commanding lead.
• After Hasegawa failed to contain him, Kawamoto scored 71 points in the first half, and Shohoku defeated Shoyo 146–68.
• Kawamoto interviewed with Sanae Nakagawa, borrowed Ode to Gallantry, and began considering a Japanese manga adaptation for his business plan.
• Kawamoto helped Sakuragi persuade Oda to seek treatment instead of playing Kainan, then stopped Okubo from attacking Sakuragi and Haruko with a switchblade.
• Kainan defeated Takezono, and Takato brought Maki to watch Kawamoto work at Toyomi Fish Market before offering Kawamoto a scholarship and stipend to attend Kainan.
• Kawamoto weighed the Kainan offer against his own plans and chose to gamble on his future, then prepared with Shohoku to face Kainan.
• Anzai named Miyagi, Rukawa, Mitsui, Akagi, and Kawamoto as Shohoku’s starters and told Kawamoto to break Maki’s defensive confidence and disrupt Kainan’s offense.

Kawamoto led Shohoku to the prefectural championship, then pursued plans for his mother’s heart treatment, helped Takamiya begin writing Naruto, and organized the bikers into a delivery business. The stretch ended with Flash Wind Express preparing to launch while Kawamoto’s teammates passed their makeup exams and summer vacation began.

• Shohoku defeated Kainan 138-94, with Kawamoto scoring 52 points, and Maki congratulated him after the game.
• Shohoku beat Ryonan 89-58, won the tournament, and Kawamoto received the MVP award and a place on the All-Tournament Five.
• Kawamoto asked Dr. Kitakura about treatment for congenital heart disease in the United States, and Dr. Kitakura recommended the Cleveland Clinic and offered help.
• After Kawamoto gave Takamiya a translated manuscript, Takamiya began writing a ninja story titled Naruto and drafted its opening chapters.
• Kawamoto arranged to take Sakuragi’s exams, but his own papers received seven zeroes and the teachers initially refused makeup exams for Shohoku’s failing players.
• Kawamoto met Yoko Minamino during a fishing trip, then joined Kyosuke Masaki’s Racing Angels and proposed a daytime delivery business.
• Akagi and Kogure tutored the team through their makeup exams, while Kawamoto revised Takamiya’s Naruto manuscripts and Sanae Nakagawa agreed to recommend them for serialization.
• Kawamoto named the delivery venture Flash Wind Express, outlined its customers and services, and assigned the group to prepare a storefront, phone line, flyers, and bikes within a week.