Slam Dunk: Sakuragi learned from Kawamura Eiki's experience

Chapter 104 The Number One High School Student in All of Japan

The doors of the Akita Prefectural Gymnasium were pushed open, and Sakuragi and his three companions filed in.

Leading the way was Aida Hikoichi, who looked around excitedly, muttering to himself incessantly.

Sakuragi Hanamichi followed behind him, Yanai Yuri linked arms with him, and Sendoh Akira walked at the very back, his spiky hair standing out from the crowd, with his signature lazy smile on his lips.

As the four of them walked into the stands, all eyes turned to them from all directions.

Two tall people, one with striking red hair, and a tall, beautiful girl, plus an ordinary short person.

It is very eye-catching.

Sakuragi was completely oblivious to the stares he was receiving. He stood in front of the railing at the entrance to the stands, looking down at the field.

As the first half of the game was about to end, players in white and dark blue jerseys ran back and forth on the court, the sound of their shoes rubbing against the floor mingling with the muffled thuds of basketballs hitting the ground.

His beam of light swept across the field and then landed on a very eye-catching person.

A white jersey, number 7. A large man is running from near the free-throw line toward the basket, his facial features scrunched up, prominent brow bones, and thick lips.

The yellow-shirted center he was guarding looked a whole size smaller than him.

Sakuragi's eyebrows slowly rose, and he pointed to the court: "Wow, this number seven looks more like a gorilla than a gorilla, let's call him Fat Gorilla!"

Yanai lowered his head and pressed his temples with his fingers.

Sendoh stood to the side, the curve of his lips froze for half a second, then he shook his head. Sure enough, here they come again.

Only Yan Yi completely ignored the nickname. He pulled a notebook from his bag, his eyes shining as he looked at the scoreboard on the court: "Sannoh leads Kinzu Agricultural by 8 points!"

Sakuragi crossed his arms, chin slightly raised, his tone laced with disdain: "Only an 8-point lead at halftime? Sannoh isn't all that great."

Yan Yi shook his head violently, flipping through his notebook: "It's not that simple! In the first half, Sannoh only fielded two of their key players, Fukatsu Kazunari and Kawata Masashi; the rest of their key players barely played!"

Sakuragi and his three friends found a place to sit down.

After halftime, the situation on the field changed dramatically once the second half began.

As soon as the Jinzu Agriculture player received the serve at the baseline, Sannoh's white jerseys surged up like a rising tide.

Five people pressed down at the same time.

Kazunari Fukatsu and Eiji Sawakita stayed close to the player with the ball, their footsteps following each other's every move like shadows.

The other three Sannoh players each locked down a receiving point, their arms outstretched like a tightening net.

Jinzu Agriculture's point guard was forced to the corner, trying to pass the ball, but all routes were blocked. The referee's whistle blew sharply, an 8-second violation.

Possession changed, and Sannoh inbounded the ball from the sidelines. Sawakita received the ball, faked out the defender, and easily scored.

Jinzu Agriculture inbounds the ball again. This time, the point guard receives the ball again and tries to dribble it across half-court.

Sannoh's pressing formation didn't retreat; instead, it became even more aggressive. Fukatsu used maximum physical strength, and together with Sawakita, they forced the ball handler towards the baseline corner.

Jinzu Agriculture's point guard was forced to stop at the baseline, struggling to protect the ball, but unable to pass it out, his footing locked. The referee blew the whistle again, an 8-second violation.

Yan Yi gripped the railing, his voice trembling: "This—this is Sannoh's trump card tactic, full-court press! They've used this move to crush so many teams in the national tournament!"

On the field, Sannoh's pressing came again. Jinzu Agriculture tried to break through with a long pass. Just as the ball flew across the halfway line, Sannoh's wing defender came out from the middle and intercepted the ball.

Fast break, the ball was passed between the three players twice before finally falling into the hands of Sawakita Eiji, who easily scored.

In just five minutes, Jinzu Agriculture's score remained stagnant, while their turnovers skyrocketed.

山王的得分像开闸的洪水一样往上涨。8分、12分、18分、26分、32分、38分。上半场结束时还咬在个位数的分差，被这一波全场紧逼直接碾成了碎片。

The players of Jinzu Agriculture stood on the field, looking utterly bewildered. Their morale had been completely shattered in those short five minutes.

The five-minute press ended, and the rest of the game became garbage time.

Sendoh Akira leaned against the railing, his eyes fixed on Sannoh's defensive formation on the field.

Coach Taoka also used the full-court press tactic in the final moments of Ryonan's game against Shohoku. But compared to Sannoh's press, Ryonan's press seemed like a rough, unfinished piece.

The difference isn't in tactical design, but in execution.

Each individual in the Sannoh team has a unique ability that forms a part of the system.

What's even more terrifying is their unspoken understanding; the timing of their advances is as precise as if timed with a stopwatch, and the rhythm of closing the net is as natural as breathing.

The final whistle blew. The score remained a cruelly lopsided number.

When the four of them walked out of the stadium, the sky outside had changed from the azure blue of the afternoon to the orange-red of the evening.

Yan Yi's mouth hadn't stopped since he left the house, recounting the entire scene of Shan Wang's relentless pressure: "Did you guys feel that oppressive feeling? That suffocating feeling of being stared at by five people at the same time, no wonder he's been the national champion for so many years!"

Kinashi Agriculture is supposed to be a top-four team in Akita Prefecture, but they were completely crushed in just 5 minutes!

Sakuragi Hanamichi walked silently to the far end. The scene from the previous five minutes was still replaying in his mind. He pondered how he would break through such a full-court press if he were facing it. Would he rely on brute force to break through? Or would he make a pre-emptive run? Or—

Sendoh's voice suddenly came from the side: "How are you feeling?"

His tone carried a calmness so serious that it made Sakuragi feel a little uncomfortable.

Sakuragi snapped out of his daze, his expression instantly shifting from contemplation to arrogance.

He put his hands on his hips, chin held high: "Hmph! Sannoh is nothing special! This genius will defeat them in the national tournament!"

Then he saw Sendoh and Hikoichi looking strangely behind him. Hikoichi's mouth was open as if he wanted to say something but didn't dare to.

Sakuragi frowned: "What's with those expressions?"

Yanai was the first to react, tugging at Sakuragi's arm and looking behind him.

A voice suddenly rang out from behind.

"You said—we want to defeat the Mountain King?"

Sakuragi turned around and saw a tall figure standing before him—it was Kawata Masashi. Behind him were a group of Sannoh players.

As soon as they stepped out of the basketball arena, they heard someone boasting that they would defeat Sannoh.

Masashi Kawata looked down at Sakuragi, his eyes beneath his thick eyebrows showing no anger, only a faint scrutiny.

Sakuragi didn't back down. He tilted his head back, his red buzz cut burning like fire in the setting sun, and stood face to face with Kawada, who was half a head taller than him.

Sakuragi spoke again: "That's right. This genius will defeat Sannoh in the national tournament."

"You red-haired monkey—what nonsense are you spouting!" A member of the Sannoh team behind Kawada exploded, taking half a step forward. "You guys aren't from this prefecture, are you? And which team are you from?"

Sakuragi crossed his arms, puffed out his chest, and grinned in his signature arrogant way: "Listen up—I'm from the Shohoku basketball team!"

"Shohoku?" The Sannoh players looked at each other, and one of them muttered, "Never heard of it." There was no sarcasm in his voice; he genuinely had never heard of it.

To the Akita powerhouses, the Kanagawa teams were nothing more than an insignificant dot on the national map.

Several members of the Sannoh team took another step forward, and the air was thick with the smell of gunpowder, almost enough to spark a fire.

A voice suddenly came from the back of the Sannoh team: "Huh? Long time no see, Sendoh. Is this guy your teammate?"

'

Sawakita Eiji stepped out from the crowd. He wasn't the tallest in the Sannoh team, and his appearance was almost too delicate. Standing next to Kawata, he looked like a junior who had wandered onto the wrong set.

But when the Sannoh team members saw him come out, they automatically made way for him.

"Long time no see, Kitazawa!" Sendoh greeted him with a smile.

Zebei's smile froze on his face. His eye twitched. "—It's Zebei, not Kitazawa. You bastard—"

"Huh?" Sendoh was stunned for a moment, then scratched the back of his head and apologized with an embarrassed look on his face, his sincerity sounding completely fake.

The tense atmosphere deflated like a balloon that had been pricked by a needle.

Kawada's lips twitched slightly. The Sannoh team members looked at each other, unsure whether to laugh or keep their faces serious.

Sakuragi remained with his arms crossed, but his gaze had already passed over Kawada and fixed on the guy named Sawakita.

This guy actually knows Sendoh.

Zebei and Sendoh chatted for a few minutes, mostly about things like, "You guys made it to the national tournament this year too?"

"Yes, I'm in Ryonan."

"See you at the national tournament then."

Short exchanges like, "Okay, see you at the national competition."

The Sannoh team turned and left. Their white figures walked in the Akita sunset, their shadows stretched long and thin.

Once they were out of sight, Sendoh turned to Sakuragi and said, "That guy just now, Eiji Sawakita. He's known as the best high school basketball player in all of Japan."

Sakuragi Hanamichi's pupils contracted slightly.

His gaze followed the most inconspicuous figure among the group of white-clad backs, a look of disbelief on his face: "Huh? That guy?"

Yanai stood next to Sakuragi, also looking at the departing figure with a surprised expression.

Just now, she thought that the most eye-catching person in the Sannoh team was Masashi Kawata, followed by the bald captain Kazunari Fukatsu.

Zebei blended into the group; he was neither tall nor short, neither fat nor thin, and apart from having a slightly handsome face, he was completely unremarkable.

But the number one high school basketball player in all of Japan is actually this guy who doesn't even raise his voice when he argues.

Sakuragi Hanamichi stood there, watching the group of white figures disappear around the corner of the parking lot.

The number one high school student in all of Japan. This title rolled around in his mind several times, and he should take it over.