Chapter 23: Victory!

Tsuna held the ball tightly and dribbled it with impressive speed, easily maneuvering around the defenders trying to double-team him. His quick movements showed that he was more agile than his opponents.

"What the--"

"Holy--"

The defenders reacted with surprise and shock, struggling to keep up as Tsuna moved swiftly. Their team captain adjusted his position to block Tsuna's path, realizing the need to stop his progress.

Remaining composed, Tsuna maintained a slight smile, anticipating their rapid reaction speed. He changed his direction suddenly, moving to the right, where the captain followed, attempting to steal the ball from him. In a split second, Tsuna rotated his body in the opposite direction, showcasing his lightning-fast reflexes leaving the crowd amazed by his skill.

However, just as it seemed Tsuna might have an opening, the blonde guy with no more sunglasses demonstrated similar agility and managed to intercept Tsuna's path.

"You won't get by me," the blonde guy with no more sunglasses declared confidently. Tsuna's pleasant smile turned into a sly smirk, catching the guy off guard.

"...Maybe I won't, but we will," Tsuna stated, suddenly stopping while the ball mysteriously vanished from his grasp.

The blonde guy with no more sunglasses watched in astonishment as Tsuna's move caught him entirely off guard.

His eyes widened in disbelief as he processed what had just happened. He couldn't believe that Tsuna had managed to execute such a swift pass in such a brief moment, with very little opportunity to do so.

With a hint of amazement in his voice, Ben complimented Tsuna's play, "Impressive pass, haha."

Taking possession of the ball, Ben swiftly aimed and shot it toward the basket. Despite still grappling with the surprise of the unfolding events, the ball found its mark and went through the net, earning their team some much-needed points.

The spectators in the crowd were left stunned by the sequence of events. Tsuna's quick and seemingly impossible pass had left them awestruck, and they exchanged bewildered glances with one another.

The opposing team members were at a loss for words, clearly taken aback by Tsuna's unexpected maneuver. Even Tsuna's teammates wore expressions of shock as they processed the remarkable play that had just unfolded before them.

"Like I said earlier, just pass the ball to me," Tsuna instructed his teammates, again taking his position.

"Wow, I had no clue you had this skill level," Johnny burst out in amazement. The sentiment seemed to echo through the group, their surprise palpable.

From the nearby court where the younger players were gathered, Taiga Kagami and Tatsuya Himuro watched Tsuna with wide eyes, clearly astonished. They had considered themselves quite good, yet here was someone of their own generation who surpassed their expectations.

Back in the main game, Freddy and his team faced a predicament. Employing a double-team strategy against Tsunayoshi appeared futile. He maneuvered as nimbly as an eel, effortlessly evading their attempts to corner him.

"Goddammit!"

Freddy's frustration was evident as he clenched his teeth.

"I'll handle him solo. Rest of you, focus on guarding the others." He directed this to his teammates, who had previously formed a double team against Tsunayoshi. The blonde guy with no more sunglasses seemed to agree to this as he didn't say anything about this.

"Don't disregard us, you idiot!"

However, this made them vulnerable for the others to attack their defense. Taking advantage of the opponent's rearranged strategy, Richard broke through their defense, scoring two points for his team.

"Freddy, remember we're ahead by 2 points. Just control the ball until time's up."

The blonde guy with no more sunglasses said to Freddy.

"That's it. We can maintain possession till the game's end." Freddy thought to himself, dribbling the ball forward. His teammates skillfully passed among themselves, not intending to score more points.

Witnessing this, Tsuna's brow furrowed. He drew a deep breath, gathered his focus, and approached Freddy, who was currently controlling the ball.

Freddy, noticing Tsuna's approach, grinned arrogantly.

"Kid, you're not gonna outdo me," he jeered.

But Tsuna didn't retort. His demeanor shifted, and he suddenly charged ahead, seemingly aiming to collide with Freddy and exert pressure. Taken off guard by Tsunayoshi's boldness, Freddy reacted hastily, passing the ball to his teammate instinctively, yet the force behind the pass disrupted the catch.

"What a genius! Hahaha," Johnny seized the chance, snatching the ball and sending it Tsuna's way. Tsuna, already sprinting toward the opponent's hoop, caught it.

Bruised pride pushing him, Freddy sprinted back to block Tsuna with all his might. With the ball in his grip, Tsuna was stunned to find Freddy positioned defensively before him.

Tsuna's mind raced as he observed Freddy's expressions. He couldn't help but wonder if Freddy had deliberately held back in their earlier encounters. Yet, when Tsuna saw the frustration etched across Freddy's face, he swiftly dismissed the idea. "This guy is simply incapable of such strategy."

With the ball under his control, Tsuna maintained the rapid pace he had employed during his one-on-one match against Aomine back in Japan. He couldn't help but notice the disbelief evident in Freddy's widened eyes – a sight that filled Tsuna with a sense of accomplishment.

Executing swift dribbles, Tsuna moved with the agility he had honed. He darted left, prompting Freddy to follow suit. But in a split second, Tsuna changed direction, transitioning to the right side. To his astonishment, Freddy mirrored Tsuna's move with uncanny precision.

A sense of bewilderment enveloped Tsuna. It was astonishing to see a seemingly ordinary player following his every move. Yet, a closer examination of Freddy's gaze and stance allowed Tsuna to piece together the puzzle.

This player, seemingly insignificant on the streetball court, possessed an innate instinct akin to that of a fierce beast.

A beast instinct player!

The revelation surprised Tsuna, but he couldn't help but feel a touch of amusement.

"It's like the instinct of a chihuahua," Tsuna murmured inwardly, a smirk gracing his lips.

"That's cute..."

"Now, you can't win, you punk!"

Freddy's determination was palpable as he finally attempted to snatch the ball from Tsunayoshi's grip, his voice echoing his fierce resolve.

"Breaking your defense isn't my only option," he retorted calmly, maneuvering the ball toward Richard, who stood unguarded.

"Good job!"

Amidst the unfolding action, Richard's enthusiastic voice rang out, capturing the moment's anticipation. With a skillful shot from beyond the arc, the ball arced through the air before gracefully finding its mark in the net. The resounding swoosh signaled adding three points to their score, clinching their victory by a single point.

"WOOAAHHH!!!"

The spectators erupted in jubilation, their earlier skepticism giving way to elation. Tsuna's teammates were euphoric, their cheers a chorus of celebration. Their gazes turned to Tsuna, inviting him to join the collective joy filling the air.

As the cheers reverberated around him, Tsuna's smile conveyed both satisfaction and a renewed determination.

"That was a good game. However, it seems like I should put more training into my schedule." Tsuna thought silently as he looked at Freddy, who seemed to be frustrated.

The unexpected skill displayed by an unknown player had given him valuable insight. He recognized the need never to underestimate anyone, regardless of their appearance or reputation. This match had taught him a lesson he wouldn't soon forget.

On the opposite side of the court, Alexandra's eyes were wide with disbelief as she watched Tsuna's exceptional performance.

'He's managed to enhance his skills significantly in such a short span of time...'

Her thoughts swirled in quiet astonishment. While she was well aware of Tsuna's extraordinary potential, witnessing the extent of his progress left her stunned.

Despite her amazement, Alexandra pushed aside her musings, choosing instead to fully embrace the electrifying atmosphere. Alongside the exhilarated crowd, she joined in the enthusiastic cheers, reveling in the excitement of the remarkable match that had unfolded before them.

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