Slam Dunk:Starting with perfect copy

Second Half BeginsAs the halftime break ended, the players from Shohoku and Ryonan returned to the court.

It didn't take long for the sharp-eyed players of Ryonan to notice changes in Shohoku's lineup.

"Look! Shohoku has subbed in new players!"

"Yeah, their vice-captain Kogure is on the court. I thought he wasn't coming today!"

"Wait, the red-haired guy is playing too!"

"Whoa! It's true!"

Seeing Sakuragi take the court sparked an animated discussion among Ryonan's players.

"Hey, is that red-haired guy any good?"

"Hard to say. He's arrogant, so he might have some skill."

"But he's a benchwarmer!"

"Don't be stupid! Our Kenichi Uesugi is a sub, too, and he's amazing!"

"Good point. Maybe I should dye my hair for good luck!"

Shohoku Strikes FirstThe second half started with Yuzumi and Akagi squaring off at center court for the jump ball.

As the referee tossed the ball into the air, Akagi managed a slight edge and tipped it to Yasuda, who quickly passed to Kaede Rukawa racing down the court.

Shohoku's fast-break tactic was a familiar sight. Winning the jump ball and catching their opponents off-guard had always been their go-to play.

But Kenichi Uesugi, ever the strategist and time traveler, anticipated their move.

Just as Rukawa attempted a layup, Uesugi appeared from behind and blocked the shot.

"It's him again!"

"Damn it! Rukawa was so close to scoring!"

Before Shohoku could recover, Ryonan transitioned into a fast break. Uekusa sprinted across the half-court and, after shaking off Yasuda, took an open jump shot—only to miss.

"Rebound!" shouted Uekusa as Akagi and Yuzumi battled for position under the basket.

Suddenly, a figure leaped above both centers.

It was Sakuragi.

Grabbing the rebound with ease, he quickly looked for Kogure, who signaled for the ball while running toward the basket.

Under the stern gaze of Akagi, Sakuragi reluctantly passed the ball to Kogure, albeit with poor accuracy. Fortunately, Kogure managed to secure the ball and finished with a clean layup.

Score: 52–26.

Shohoku's bench erupted with cheers as they scored the first basket of the half.

Kogure high-fived his teammates, rallying them further.

"Let's keep it up! Focus on defense for the next play!"

"Yeah!" the team responded, their spirits lifting.

Momentum BuildsRyonan quickly resumed their offense.

Uekusa considered passing to Uesugi but hesitated when he saw Sakuragi inching toward Uesugi for a double-team. To play it safe, he passed to Sendoh instead.

Sendoh, with his height advantage, jumped for a shot over Kogure, confident the smaller defender couldn't block him.

But Kogure, now full of energy and determination, leaped with all his might, just barely grazing the ball with his fingertips.

"Rebound!" both teams shouted as the ball ricocheted off the rim.

Once again, Sakuragi soared higher than anyone else, grabbing the ball and drawing astonished gasps from the crowd.

"Wow! That red-haired guy can really jump!"

"He just snatched a rebound from Yuzumi and Akagi!"

"Looks like he's no joke!"

Shohoku wasted no time, converting the rebound into another fast break and scoring two more points.

"Let's go! One point at a time!" Akagi roared, invigorated by their strong start.

The CounterattackRyonan regrouped. This time, Uekusa hesitated briefly before passing to Uesugi, who waved for the ball with confidence.

The moment Uesugi caught it, Rukawa was on him, pressuring hard. Sakuragi quickly joined, creating a tight double-team.

Undeterred, Uesugi prepared to shoot.

"I'll block this for sure!" Rukawa muttered, leaping to contest the shot.

Sakuragi followed suit, sprinting and jumping in sync with Rukawa to create a near-impenetrable defensive wall.

"Wow! They're double-teaming Uesugi!"

"Both of them jumped so high!"

"Uesugi's done for this time!"

Even Ryonan's bench began to worry.

But just as it seemed Uesugi was trapped, his expression remained calm. With his right hand, he caught the ball mid-shot, canceling his motion entirely.

In one fluid move, he pivoted and swung his arm, threading the basketball through the narrow gap between Rukawa and Sakuragi to an unguarded Ikegami.

Gasps filled the gym.

"Did he just cancel his shot mid-air?"

"What was that move?!"

This technique, inspired by Teppei Kiyoshi of the "Uncrowned Kings," was called the Right to Shoot Later. Using a perfect mix of intuition and deception, Uesugi had turned what seemed like an impossible shot into a flawless pass.