Chapter Summaries

On the train to the Summer National Tournament, Shohoku clashed with Toyotama’s Minori Kishimoto, and Shirasawa stopped the confrontation before it turned into a fight. After arriving in Hiroshima and completing the tournament ceremony, Shohoku saw the draw and learned that the tournament’s groups included a notoriously difficult Group C.

• Minori Kishimoto taunted Shohoku and grabbed Kogure, prompting Miyagi to intervene after Coach Anzai left them to handle the situation.
• Kishimoto tripped over Sakuragi’s foot, then Shirasawa woke up and restrained him when he attacked Sakuragi; the train attendants broke things up, and Kishimoto left in disgrace.
• Shohoku arrived at Hiroshima Station, traveled to the sports center, and completed the tournament check-in and oath ceremony.
• The Shohoku players heard that some third-years aimed to reach the national top eight for an invitation from Fukazawa Sports University.
• Players gathered around the matchup screen and discussed Group C’s daunting collection of two A-ranked and two A+-ranked teams, while Sannoh Industrial High School had a favorable draw in Group B.

Shohoku and Ryonan reviewed their difficult tournament draws before clashes with Toyotama and Meihou Industrial players revealed the dangerous talent awaiting them at nationals. The teams checked into the tournament lodgings as the first games—and the first eliminations—approached.

• Uozumi and Akagi discussed their teams’ routes through the tournament, while Sendoh wished Shirasawa luck and Sakuragi teased that he had mastered a secret move.
• Kishimoto confronted Shirasawa over their past encounter, and Sakuragi restrained him before Toyotama captain Tsuyoshi Minami called for the dispute to be settled on the court.
• Minami warned Akagi not to let off-court anger affect the game, and Uozumi cautioned Akagi about Toyotama’s reputation as the teams parted.
• Hiroshi Morishige casually shoved Uozumi aside while trying to see the draw, then introduced himself as a player from Meihou Industrial.
• Uozumi and Akagi recognized Morishige as a five-star prospect and anticipated that he would be a formidable opponent in the paint.
• The teams arrived at their lodgings, where the players prepared for a tournament that would soon eliminate half its teams.

Shirasawa and Sakuragi visited Haruko and Yoko before the national tournament began, then Shohoku watched Toyotama face host team Yuki Technical. Toyotama raced into a fast start, and Kogure observed that Yuki could not keep up.

• Coach Anzai gave Shohoku the evening off, and Shirasawa and Sakuragi went to see Haruko and Yoko at their hotel.
• Yoko and Sakuragi went for a stroll, leaving Shirasawa and Haruko together; Shirasawa offered to make her noodles.
• The national tournament began, and Shohoku went to watch Toyotama play Yuki Technical in the first round.
• Toyotama's rowdy supporters clashed with Yuki's home crowd until security intervened, while Maki and Kiyota discussed the fans' impact and Shohoku's upcoming matchup.
• Toyotama stole the ball and scored a quick fast-break layup, then kept up a pace that left Yuki struggling to match them.

Toyotama crushed host team Yuki Technical by 67 points while using Kishimoto’s provocations to unsettle Shohoku before their next-round matchup. Shohoku recognized the bait, but Minami and Kishimoto had made other plans, and Maki and Kiyota ended the chapter criticizing Toyotama’s arrogance.

• Toyotama led Shohoku’s observers to realize Kishimoto was provoking them to make them lose their composure in the next game.
• Shirasawa explained that Kitano had warned Minami not to underestimate Shohoku, and Coach Anzai confirmed the provocation was a trap.
• Toyotama kept Minami on the court against Coach Jinpei’s wishes and widened its lead over Yuki Technical to sixty points.
• Toyotama defeated Yuki Technical 152-85 and celebrated ostentatiously in front of the hosts.
• Nobunaga Kiyota called Toyotama lunatics, and Shinichi Maki dismissed them as clowns and recalled Minami’s early exit against Hakata Shodai Affiliated.

Ryonan defeated Ebihara in its first nationals game, while Shohoku prepared for its matchup against Toyotama. Coach Anzai met Coach Kitano and agreed to a contest in which neither would direct his team during the game, unless Shohoku faced a major crisis.

• Maki invited Kiyota to lunch as the first-round games ended without any upsets.
• Ryonan defeated Ebihara 108-81, earning the first nationals victory in the team's history.
• Taoka and Hikoichi looked ahead to Ryonan's next game and hoped Shohoku would also reach the top sixteen.
• Akagi assigned Mitsui to defend Minami and reviewed Toyotama's stamina, quick shooting, and fast offense with the Shohoku team.
• Coach Anzai left dinner to meet Coach Kitano, who challenged him to let their teams play without sideline direction.
• Coach Anzai accepted Kitano's contest, while Kitano allowed him to step in if Shohoku faced a major crisis.

Shohoku prepared to face Toyotama in the national tournament as their fans clashed and Hanamichi Sakuragi provoked the opposing crowd. The game began with Coach Anzai leaving the on-court decisions to Akagi and Xiao Bai.

• Kogure and Akagi watched Shohoku's teammates fool around in the hot spring before the team's first national tournament game.
• Yohei took Okusu and Tetsuo Hotta to confront Toyotama's delinquent fans after they harassed Haruko and Yoko.
• Sakuragi taunted Toyotama during warm-ups, igniting a shouting match between the two teams' supporters.
• Haruko surprised Akagi in the stands, and Akagi punched Sakuragi after he waved at Yoko instead of warming up.
• Ryonan's players watched the scene, and Jun Uozumi urged Sendoh and Rukawa to watch out for Kainan next year.
• The referee called the players back to their benches, and Coach Anzai told Akagi and Xiao Bai to handle things on the court as the game began.

Shohoku faced Toyotama in the national tournament, where Shirasawa stopped their opening fast break with a pin block and scored the first basket. Toyotama quickly tied the game, and Kishimoto’s dirty play against Sakuragi left the red-haired forward furious.

• Coach Kitano watched from the media area and criticized Toyotama’s run-and-gun strategy while Jinpei’s defensive plan went unheard.
• Toyotama surprised Shohoku at tip-off, but Shirasawa chased down Kishimoto and blocked his layup against the backboard.
• Shirasawa beat Itakura and scored Shohoku’s first basket of the tournament despite Toyotama’s attempts to disrupt him.
• Toyotama launched a fast counterattack, and Kishimoto struck Sakuragi in the stomach with his elbow before scoring to tie the game at two.
• Kishimoto taunted the injured Sakuragi, who accused him of fighting dirty and glared at him in anger.

Shohoku and Toyotama traded quick scores as Toyotama’s run-and-gun offense challenged Shohoku to adjust. Yohei Mito and his companions returned after decisively defeating the six Toyotama men who had confronted them, while Maki hinted that the game was about to change.

• Kishimoto baited Sakuragi into a charging foul, and Sakuragi kept his temper under control after Shirasawa warned him.
• Iwata pulled the chair on Akagi to steal the ball, and Minami finished Toyotama’s fast break to put them ahead.
• Shirasawa blew past Itakura and dunked, but Minami answered with a fast-break dunk to tie the score five seconds later.
• Akagi urged Shohoku to get back on defense, and Shirasawa decided to start the offense farther from the basket so he could recover sooner.
• Yohei, Tetsuo Hotta, and Okusu returned with injuries, while the six Toyotama men who had gone outside with them looked badly beaten.
• Kiyota reacted with admiration to Yohei’s return, and Maki said the game was about to change.

Shohoku slowed Toyotama’s offense and led 24-19 as Toyotama’s players grew frustrated during a timeout. After the game resumed, Kishimoto drove at Akagi and collided with him in midair, raising his knee.

• Shirasawa’s isolation scoring and Akagi’s defense slowed Toyotama’s run-and-gun attack, while Iwata’s shooting kept Toyotama competitive.
• Jinpei called Toyotama’s first timeout, and Minami and Kishimoto discussed turning up the intensity despite Jinpei’s warning.
• Jinpei recalled Minami threatening him after he had criticized Toyotama’s dirty tactics the previous year.
• Anzai offered Shohoku no instructions, and Akagi told his teammates to extend their lead after the timeout.
• Kyohei screened for Kishimoto, who cut to the basket on Minami’s pass and collided with Akagi while raising his knee.

After Kishimoto deliberately fouled Akagi, Shirasawa retaliated by overpowering Kishimoto and dunking, while Toyotama continued its rough play. Akagi nearly attacked Iwata after a dangerous foul, but Mitsui stopped him, and the game remained tense.

• Kishimoto fouled Akagi, and Akagi restrained Sakuragi and Miyagi from retaliating.
• Shirasawa backed down Kishimoto with several forceful hits and finished with a two-handed dunk.
• Kishimoto urged Toyotama to raise its intensity, and Sakuragi committed a foul after dodging Kishimoto's elbow.
• Minami made a three-pointer, then Mitsui missed a three and Akagi grabbed the rebound.
• Iwata and Kyohei fouled Akagi as they dragged him down, and Akagi advanced on Iwata in anger.
• Mitsui stopped Akagi from confronting Iwata, and both teams settled down temporarily.

Shohoku and Toyotama continued their brutal, dirty game as Shirasawa answered Toyotama’s fouls with escalating force. After Shirasawa’s spectacular dunk over Kishimoto, the first half remained tense and the chapter left Toyotama’s planned retaliation unresolved.

• Akagi made one of two free throws, putting Shohoku ahead 51–40 with four minutes left in the first half.
• Shirasawa blocked Kyohei’s layup attempt and fouled him hard, prompting Maki to praise Shohoku’s resolve and urge them not to go easy on Toyotama.
• Kyohei made his second free throw, while Kishimoto urged Itakura to let Shirasawa drive so he could target him.
• Shirasawa drove past Itakura and avoided Kishimoto’s attempted charge by leaping over him, then dunked while striking Kishimoto in the face and landing on top of him.

Shirasawa dunked over Kishimoto, and Toyotama’s rough play faltered as Shohoku took a 64–45 lead into halftime. In the locker room, Shohoku prepared to widen the gap, while Coach Kitano mourned what Toyotama had become.

• Shirasawa drew Kishimoto’s fourth foul by dunking over him, then made the bonus free throw to complete a three-point play.
• With Kishimoto off the court, Toyotama’s offense became disjointed, and Shohoku held its own in the rough play to lead 64–45 at halftime.
• Shinichi Maki noticed Minami had committed only one foul and suspected he was saving a dirty trick for the second half.
• Haruko Akagi condemned Toyotama’s conduct, and Coach Kitano lamented that the team he had built was desecrating basketball.
• In Shohoku’s locker room, Akagi urged Sakuragi to control his fouls, while Miyagi, Mitsui, and Shirasawa resolved to keep widening the lead.

Tsuyoshi Minami took charge of Toyotama’s second-half response and matched up against Shirasawa, but Shirasawa immediately stifled him and snatched his three-point shot out of the air. Minami spotted an opening after the block and prepared to take Shirasawa out of the game.

• Minori Kishimoto vented his anger at Minami, who ordered Daijiro Itakura to switch positions with him and said he would guard Shirasawa.
• Coach Jinpei demanded tighter defense and an end to run-and-gun play, but Minami dismissed his authority.
• Shohoku began the second half with a nineteen-point lead, and Shirasawa dunked after Akagi tipped the ball forward.
• Minami kept Toyotama’s fast offense going and faced Shirasawa, whose pressure forced him to slow down and attack in the half court.
• Shirasawa leaped in front of Minami’s quick three-point attempt, blocked it, and pulled the ball out of the air.
• Minami saw Shirasawa’s landing as an opening and prepared to send him off the court with a decisive attack.

Shirasawa avoided Minami’s attempt to undercut him and knocked him down with a knee, leaving Minami injured. During the timeout, Jinpei confronted Minami about the dirty play, then punched Kishimoto when Kishimoto grabbed him; Toyotama’s bench erupted into a fight as Kitano finally left the court.

• Minami tried to put his foot beneath Shirasawa as he landed, but Shirasawa noticed, struck Minami with his knee, and fell in a way that made the collision look accidental.
• Maki, Anzai, and Kitano recognized Minami’s attempted undercut, while players from both teams gathered around the injured Shirasawa and Minami.
• Kishimoto charged toward Shirasawa, but Iwata and Kyohei restrained him, and the referee stopped the teams as Minami’s injury forced a timeout.
• Jinpei told Minami to examine his behavior, and Kishimoto grabbed Jinpei by the collar before Jinpei punched him and tried to strike again.
• Toyotama’s players restrained Jinpei and Kishimoto as the bench descended into chaos, while Kitano hesitated before leaving the court.

After Jinpei was ejected, Toyotama rallied under Tsuyoshi Minami, but Shohoku contained their offense and built a 38-point lead. As Shirasawa raced toward the basket for another score, Minami decided to cripple him in one last attack.

• Kitano left after realizing Toyotama had changed, while Coach Anzai sympathized with him and Jinpei was ejected from the game.
• Tsuyoshi Minami rallied Toyotama, and Shirasawa assured Coach Anzai that Shohoku could handle their dirty play.
• Shohoku defended Toyotama aggressively, Shirasawa shut down Minami, and his hook shot scored while slapping Minami across the face.
• Hisashi Mitsui made a three-pointer to give Shohoku a 90-52 lead, and Coach Anzai prepared to slow the game and bring in substitutes.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi blocked Minori Kishimoto's shot, Ryota Miyagi sent the ball downcourt, and Shirasawa sprinted ahead as Minami decided to cripple him.

Shohoku defeated Toyotama 108–65 after Minami’s dirty play sparked a brawl that got both Minami and Shirasawa ejected. After the game, Sakuragi lamented forgetting to use his practiced shots, while Akagi grew suspicious of the teammates’ talk about Haruko.

• Minami tried to choke Shirasawa, but Shirasawa dodged, kicked and punched him, and Shohoku’s players rushed into a fight with Toyotama.
• The referees stopped the brawl, ejected Minami and Shirasawa, and gave technical fouls to Sakuragi, Miyagi, Mitsui, and Akagi.
• Shohoku’s second lineup played out the remaining minutes, and Shohoku beat Toyotama 108–65 as Shirasawa finished with 42 points, six rebounds, 15 assists, six steals, and five blocks.
• Reporters briefly interviewed Shohoku’s players and photographed Shirasawa’s torn jersey before the team returned to the locker room.
• Sakuragi complained that he had forgotten to use his practiced midrange shot, and Miyagi suggested he ask Yoko for half his promised reward.
• Akagi punched Sakuragi and warned the others to stay away from Haruko, while Shirasawa hid his thoughts about Yoko and drew Akagi’s attention with a smile.

Shohoku watched Ryonan crush Rakuan while Maki and Kiyota saw Morishige dominate Urayasu Commercial. Morishige finished the game with a bold claim that no player could threaten him, setting up a potential challenge for Shohoku.

• Maki warned Kiyota that the national tournament could make or break players, and Kiyota vowed he would not lose to his peers.
• Ryonan took a 25-point halftime lead over Rakuan, then extended it to 37 before Taoka rested the starters.
• Rukawa scored 37 points, Sendoh recorded 26 points and 13 assists, and Uozumi added 18 points, 17 rebounds, and 7 blocks.
• Morishige scored 34 points, grabbed 21 rebounds, and blocked 9 shots as Meihou Industrial overwhelmed Urayasu Commercial; his dunk injured Urayasu's center.
• Morishige told a reporter that no player could pose a threat to him.

Shohoku prepared to face Aiwa Academy in the round of 16, with the matchup framed as a duel between Shirasawa and Dai Moroboshi. Meanwhile, Sannoh’s alumni practice exposed the team’s strength and Goro Domoto’s concern that Eiji Sawakita was losing focus, as Sawakita planned to study abroad after the Winter Selection Tournament.

• Kuwata confirmed that Aiwa Academy had advanced, led by Dai Moroboshi’s 42 points and 13 assists, and Akagi told Shohoku to focus on the coming game.
• Tournament results highlighted Shirasawa’s 42-point, 15-assist performance and Moroboshi’s scoring, while Sannoh held back in its opening win.
• Shohoku and Aiwa analyzed each other and concluded that the guards’ performances would decide their round-of-16 matchup; Akagi told Shirasawa the team was counting on him.
• Goro Domoto arranged a practice game between Sannoh and ten alumni, and Sawakita and Masashi Kawata led the current team to a commanding lead.
• Domoto worried that Sawakita kept getting distracted and lacked a challenging opponent, while Sawakita’s application to study abroad meant he might leave for Lighthouse Country around the Winter Selection Tournament.

Domoto let Sannoh’s players choose between two games to watch, and Sawakita picked Shohoku versus Aiwa Academy after Domoto considered Shirasawa a possible rival who could spur him on. Meanwhile, Sakuragi learned he had become the youngest player to compete in the national tournament, and the night-market outing ended with the group discovering a remarkably accurate basketball shooter.

• Domoto ended the practice game early, then offered Sannoh’s players a choice between watching Ryonan versus Daiei Academy and Shohoku versus Aiwa Academy.
• Sawakita chose to watch Shohoku versus Aiwa Academy, and Domoto suspected Shirasawa’s play could motivate him.
• Mitsui and Miyagi soaked in the hot spring and discussed their bruises, fatigue, and Shirasawa and Sakuragi’s supposed training outing.
• Shirasawa and Sakuragi wandered through the night market with Haruko and Yoko, where Yoko showed Sakuragi a Slam Dunk feature naming him the youngest player ever to compete in the national tournament.
• Sakuragi celebrated his record and kissed Yoko, then he and Shirasawa followed Haruko toward a crowd gathered around a basketball shooting game.
• Shirasawa and the others saw an unidentified player making accurate shots while the game’s owner looked close to despair.

Hanamichi Sakuragi challenged a skilled shooter after mocking him, only to miss nearly every shot at the shooting game. With Shirasawa’s advice, Sakuragi calmed down and made his final two shots, regaining his confidence.

• A young man won the shooting game's grand prize and gave it to the children after the owner had cheated one of them.
• Sakuragi mocked the young man's shooting, and Ken Hoshino challenged him to prove his own skill.
• Shirasawa recognized Ken Hoshino and Hajime Chiba, stars of Hakata Shodai, watching the challenge.
• Sakuragi's first eight shots missed as the crowd watched, while Chiba and Hoshino doubted he was a Shohoku player.
• Shirasawa advised Sakuragi to adjust for the lighter ball and lower hoop, helping him calm down.
• Sakuragi made his ninth shot and sank the final ball as a buzzer-beater.