Chapter 252: The Unbalanced Showdown

"...They're still keeping secrets, huh?"

Midorima couldn't resist a disapproving shake of his head. It appeared that everyone in Fukuda Sogo hadn't revealed their full capabilities yet.

He realized he had been too optimistic.

In the court, Hyuga clenched his teeth as he had completely disregarded the blaring alarm in his mind. Stepping back, he skillfully distanced himself before seamlessly transitioning into his shooting motion.

He had executed a flawless Barrier Jump!

However, Mochizuki's form reacted with lightning speed, swiftly closing the gap and nullifying the effectiveness of Hyuga's move. He leaped up, intercepting Hyuga's shot effortlessly.

"Goddammit!"

Hyuga cursed as his released ball found itself perfectly thwarted by Mochizuki.

In Seirin's midst, everyone scrambled to respond and seize the rebound bouncing on the court. Ogiwara, however, exhibited quicker reflexes, having initiated his move the moment Mochizuki countered.

Snatching the ball, Ogiwara promptly streaked down the court, displaying impressive agility.

"This is a breeze..." he muttered confidently, his eyes fixed on the distant basket as he approached it with determination.

However, just as he was about to make his move, an instinctive warning surged through him. He felt a looming presence behind, causing him to sharply sidestep. A blur shot past him, attempting to seize the ball.

"...Ah, yes. They have this guy," Ogiwara muttered, beads of sweat rolling down his face as he acknowledged the threat.

It was Kagami! The red-haired teenager had immediately surged forward, realizing that his teammates were lagging behind in the chase.

Despite Ogiwara's swift reaction, Kagami showed no intention of letting up.

The pressure intensified as Kagami closed in, his imposing figure casting a shadow over Ogiwara.

"He's definitely on the same level as the Generation of Miracles. The hype wasn't exaggerated at all..." Ogiwara silently pondered.

He dribbled the ball with caution with his eyes gleaming with a fierce determination as he declared, "Still, I wasn't alone in this!"

Executing a sharp crossover move, Ogiwara felt Kagami reacted instantly, but instead of a typical dribble, he swung his arm behind his back and delivered a lob pass. Kagami's eyes widened in surprise as a figure, seemingly ready for the pass, materialized before him.

Gritting his teeth, Kagami shouted, "Kazama!"

"Don't shout like that, please..." Tsuna shook his head at Kagami's exclamation, a figure gliding past him as he leaped toward the basket, strangely without the ball in hand.

"He's so loud," Tsuna muttered, his arm swinging with the ball in tow.

The basketball soared through the air like a meteor, finding its mark in the outstretched hand of Nijimura, who had leaped with the finesse of a seasoned player.

With a powerful slamming motion, the ball connected with Nijimura's hand, producing a resounding sound that echoed through the gymnasium.

The force of his swing altered the ball's trajectory, guiding it smoothly into the basket.

"Whoa!"

"That combo is insane!"

"Hahaha, it's natural! You're standing before Our King!"

The exclamation of awe and excitement reverberated throughout the gymnasium as the crowd couldn't help but cheer and shout in unison. The electrifying reactions spread like wildfire, infusing the entire gymnasium with an infectious energy.

"Well, they're truly in a terrible situation..."

Imayoshi's usual polite tone was conspicuously absent, creating an odd atmosphere that prompted everyone in Too to turn and fix their gaze on him.

"...He's right."

Nevertheless, they all nodded in agreement, comprehending Imayoshi's underlying sentiments.

Shifting their attention back to the unfolding events, collective sighs escaped them as Seirin found themselves in a challenging predicament right from the beginning.

Seirin's attempt to pivot the game towards a three-point battle seemed more like wishful thinking, especially given the exceptional shooting skills displayed by players on both teams.

Frustration gripped them as their strategic plans were effortlessly thwarted.

"Damn it!"

Hyuga cursed loudly, his frustration palpable.

His gaze involuntarily shifted to Tsuna, whose nonchalant expression only fueled Hyuga's irritation.

Clenching his fist tightly, he muttered, "He actually read us like a damn book! This son of a bitch!"

As the first quarter came to a close, their frustration intensified upon glancing at the scoreboard. The score stood at 25 - 8, and Seirin seemed incapable of mounting any meaningful comeback.

The match felt almost one-sided!

"...Honestly, I almost feel bad for them," Takao commented, his words met with a heavy silence from everyone in Shutoku.

Yet, the expressions on their faces spoke volumes.

The genuine sentiment of pity for Seirin was evident among the Shutoku players.

On Fukuda Sogo's bench, Alexandra's gaze was fixed on Seirin's coach, her eyes filled with pity as she could empathize with the coach's current struggle.

"...Ah, she's having a hard time finding a way out," Alexandra muttered softly before shifting her attention to the apparent culprit.

Shaking her head, she added, "What a ruthless man you are, Tsuna..."

In contrast to their previous matches, since Tsuna had awakened a primal instinct in the entire team, he had nothing left to do but to win.

It became a relentless clash of raw, instinctual prowess.

The key to a swift victory lay in utterly overwhelming their opponents, leaving no room for resistance. Moreover, Tsuna harbored a distinct motive, a desire to completely crush their opponent.

"Is this his unconventional method of recruiting talent? He sure is eccentric," Alexandra remarked, a hint of speechlessness in her tone.

It felt akin to beating someone into submission before extending a hand to help them back up.

Yet, Tsuna appeared unfazed as he casually cast a glance at the scoreboard. His attention then shifted to Haizaki, a calm resolve in his voice, "Shogo, let's switch our positions in the next quarter..."

"Eh? This early?" Haizaki expressed surprise, though he acquiesced, "Alright, then..."

"Good. Apart from that, everything will go according to the plan," Tsuna remarked, prompting unanimous nods from the team.

He added, "So, let's stick to it until I decide to make a different call mid-game..."

"Understood!"

They chorused in unison.

Tsuna was adamant about ensuring nothing impeded their strategy to completely close off all avenues for Seirin.

"Well, technically, we don't have many openings..." He silently thought.

Fukuda Sogo still had some areas for improvement, but in terms of vulnerabilities, they had reached a level where a team like Seirin wouldn't easily exploit any.

Furthermore, even if Seirin managed to identify a potential opening, Tsuna was determined to thwart any attempt to exploit it.

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