Slam Dunk:Starting with perfect copy

As a freshman just entering high school, Tokugawa Nagashima had never faced an opponent as tall as Yuzumi. With limited experience in high school games, he felt a bit intimidated before the match started.

"Beep!"

"The final of the Kanagawa Prefecture Tournament between Ryonan and Buri begins now!"

With the referee's signal, the basketball was tossed into the air, and the game officially began.

Tokugawa knew he wasn't tall enough to win the jump ball, so he decided to take the initiative. He leaped up immediately, hoping to catch Yuzumi off guard. But Yuzumi was sharp and focused. By the time Tokugawa's outstretched right hand was still some distance from the ball, Yuzumi had already made contact, batting the basketball away with ease.

"This guy jumps too high!" Tokugawa thought, feeling helpless. Yuzumi's height of over 200 cm and his exceptional jumping ability made it hard for the rookie to cope. Tokugawa suddenly wondered if he and his senior teammates had underestimated the game.

On the other side, after receiving Yuzumi's rebound, Uekusa quickly surveyed his teammates' positions. Without hesitation, he passed the ball to Uesugi Kenichi, who was already in motion, as usual.

However, this time was different. Buri's small forward, Kitagumo Takayama, appeared just in time to challenge Uesugi's shot.

"You still want to use that fast break to score? We've studied the tapes and are ready for it," Kitagumo said confidently, his eyes fixed on Kenichi. "We're going to score first today!"

Uesugi didn't respond. Instead, he received the pass, jumped, and shot, all in one fluid motion—too fast for Kitagumo to react.

Before he even had time to prepare, the basketball swished through the net.

2-0.

Uesugi walked past Kitagumo and said with a hint of amusement, "You studied it and prepared for it, but that doesn't mean you can stop me from scoring!"

Kitagumo was stunned. Uesugi's actions from receiving the ball to shooting had been lightning-fast. Watching the footage the day before, Kitagumo hadn't noticed anything special about the play. It had seemed like just another fast break that caught the defense off-guard. But now, as he faced Uesugi directly, he realized how wrong he had been. Uesugi's speed and precision were unmatched.

Meanwhile, Buri had their turn on offense. After several passes, the ball found its way to Tokugawa Nagashima in the paint. In the previous Buri games, Tokugawa had been a key scoring option, and his teammates had great faith in his ability to deliver. But facing Yuzumi, who stood like an imposing mountain in his way, Tokugawa immediately felt the pressure.

With the eyes of his teammates on him, Tokugawa had no choice but to push forward. He held the ball with both hands, made a fake to the left to drive, and quickly spun to the right, hoping to shake off Yuzumi's defense.

"Is it really this easy?" Tokugawa thought, surprised at his own success. Without wasting any time, he went for a layup.

But just as the ball left his hand, Yuzumi's enormous palms swatted it away with incredible force, sending Tokugawa's shot crashing to the floor. The impact was so powerful that Tokugawa felt a sharp pain in his right hand. In that moment, Tokugawa realized that he had never truly gotten past Yuzumi's defense.

As soon as Yuzumi blocked the shot, Ikegami reacted quickly, grabbing the loose ball and securing the rebound.

Ryonan now had possession, and Uekusa quickly advanced the ball to the frontcourt. After a brief moment of hesitation, he passed it to Kenichi Uesugi, his most trusted player.

Upon receiving the pass, Uesugi immediately prepared to take the shot, causing Kitagumo to jump in front of him in defense. Kitagumo had learned from the last play, knowing that Uesugi's quick shots were dangerous, but again, he was too slow. Before Kitagumo could properly react, Uesugi faked the shot, dribbled around him, and drove toward the basket.

Tokugawa, realizing the danger, rushed over to help defend, leaving Yuzumi open near the basket. Uesugi saw this and made a high pass to the open Yuzumi.

Yuzumi caught the ball mid-air, and with no hesitation, slammed it through the hoop with both hands. The basket shook violently with the force of the dunk.

"Wow! What a beautiful pass by Kenichi Uesugi!" shouted the commentator.

"Yeah, his breakthrough was amazing too!" another voice chimed in.

"Kenichi Uesugi is so strong! He can score, and he can also set up his teammates!"

Hearing the praise directed at Uesugi, Yuzumi stood there in silence, irritated. Are they serious? I was the one who made that dunk!

Frustrated by the attention Uesugi was receiving, Yuzumi scowled as Uesugi approached him for a high-five. Without acknowledging his teammate, Yuzumi snorted and turned away, leaving Uesugi standing there, confused and unsure of what had just happened.

Buri quickly resumed their attack. Point guard Katakura Kagetsuna passed the ball back into the paint to Tokugawa Nagashima. But once again, Tokugawa felt the overwhelming pressure of Yuzumi's defense. Unable to force a shot, he passed the ball back out.

Uragami Munei, receiving the pass,

attempted a three-pointer from the outside, but Sendoh Akira blocked the shot. Kenichi Uesugi grabbed the rebound and immediately passed it to Uekusa, who was sprinting down the court.

Uekusa caught the ball in stride and soared for an easy layup.

6-0.

Ryonan had gotten off to an excellent start.