Chapter 260: A Clash of Aces

Tsuna shook his head, observing the unmistakable determination etched in Seirin's fiery gazes.

Turning to Nijimura, he found the acknowledgment in the nod even before Tsuna uttered a word. Nijimura swiftly retrieved the ball from the baseline and passed it to Tsuna, reigniting the game.

The rest of Fukuda Sogo surged forward in response.

As the mounting pressure bore down on them, Seirin tensed once more, refocusing their entire attention on the game.

Tsuna's expression shifted to nonchalance, his gaze fixed on Kagami rapidly closing in.

The onslaught of Kagami's aggressive defense did little to rattle his composed demeanor.

Rather than succumb to the pressure, Tsuna intensified his pace, seamlessly closing the gap with Kagami. A flash of surprise flickered in Kagami's eyes as Tsuna, like a phantom, abruptly vanished from his immediate line of sight.

The court seemed to warp around Tsuna as he executed a lightning-quick crossover, reappearing on the right side in a blink, leaving Kagami momentarily disoriented.

Reacting with instinctive precision, Kagami swiveled on his heels using a gust of determination that propelled him forward.

Beads of sweat formed on the brows of everyone in Seirin as they keenly sensed the gravity of the unfolding confrontation.

"...This is clearly beyond our grasp," Hyuga muttered, his face tensing.

The duel transcended their abilities, evolving into an intense ballet of agility and movement that left the spectators in awe.

As the two figures danced across the court with unparalleled finesse, Tsuna's mastery became evident. Each time Kagami closed in, Tsuna effortlessly dismantled his defense, leaving Seirin's players on the sidelines in sheer admiration.

As Tsuna approached the looming basket, the persistent presence of Kagami at his back sent a thrill of anticipation down his spine.

A smirk played on Tsuna's lips as he abruptly slammed the brakes, forcing Kagami to overshoot in surprise.

"Wha!?"

The court echoed with the synchronized beats of their footwork as they danced around each other.

In a mesmerizing display of finesse, Tsuna smoothly sidestepped with calculated grace, momentarily leaving Kagami in disbelief as he watched Tsuna glide past.

Quick to recover, Kagami forcefully halted his steps, reacting to Tsuna's maneuver. He turned swiftly, ready to mount his defense against Tsuna once more.

However, Tsuna seized the opportunity without hesitation.

In a seamless motion, he transitioned into a fadeaway jump, the fluidity of his movement a clear testament to his mastery of the game.

"...Shit!"

Recognizing the impending threat, Kagami gritted his teeth and propelled himself forward, soaring into the air to intercept Tsuna's shot.

With a precision that left Kagami trailing a beat behind, Tsuna released the ball just as Kagami's outstretched hand reached its zenith.

The sphere arced gracefully through the air, defying Kagami's desperate attempt to block it. He could only watch the ball helplessly as it sailed above his outstretched hand in a beautiful arc, just beyond the reach of his fingers.

"..."

A collective gasp echoed through the court as the ball found its mark with a resonant swish. 

As the game continued, the match became a duel stage between these two players as they zoomed the whole gymnasium's attention on them. 

Kagami found a way to score by thinking outside the box, knowing the usual tricks wouldn't cut it against Tsuna's ironclad defense.

In response to Kagami's aggressiveness, Tsuna skillfully picked apart Kagami's efforts without mercy.

The scoreboard kept ticking, with both teams piling up points.

However, it was clear that Kagami struggled to keep up.

But something changed in Seirin as their focus intensified, leaving everyone in Fukuda Sogo wondering what was brewing. They felt unsettled.

"What's their game plan?" Ogiwara whispered to himself, observing the intense showdown between Kagami and Tsuna.

Kagami tried to make his moves, but Tsuna stuck to him like glue, blocking every attempt to score.

Then, something shifted.

Kagami's eyes sparkled with a newfound determination. With a quick crossover to the right and a swift spin to the opposite side, Tsuna mirrored his every move.

Just when it seemed like Kagami had hit a dead end, a subtle grin played on his lips.

He sidestepped back to the right, creating a small window of opportunity, before explosively darting towards the basket.

In the electrifying moment of Kagami's leap for a dunk, Tsuna mirrored his ascent, aiming for the ball in Kagami's hand.

Time stretched, and it felt like an eternity as their hands collided with the ball suspended between them.

Meanwhile, a growing sense of unease tightened its grip on Ogiwara, leaving him on edge.

He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. With a puzzled expression, he turned and quietly questioned, "...What's your plan, Kuroko?"

"Huh? How!?"

However, disbelief crossed his face as Kuroko, who should have been nearby, vanished.

As Ogiwara scanned the surroundings for Kuroko, Kagami spoke up, his words measured, "...Even in the zone, playing against you is no walk in the park."

"But," he continued, a determined edge to his voice, "I'm not alone, Kazama!"

Kagami declared, steering the ball in a way that caught Tsuna off guard. The unexpected move added a surprising twist, momentarily putting Tsuna at a disadvantage.

Executing this move, Kagami skillfully bounced the ball off the board.

The impact created a resonant "bam" before it rebounded to the court, landing in an empty space.

However, Ogiwara, who had kept a keen eye on the court, suddenly shouted, "...Mochizuki, behind you!"

"Hmm?"

Confused, Mochizuki turned, but the sight of Kuroko materializing out of nowhere near the ball triggered his instincts into overdrive.

With the ball hurtling towards him, Kuroko's determined gaze met the challenge. He swiftly pushed the ball across the court, directing it straight into Hyuga's waiting hand with his Ignite Pass.

"..."

Hyuga remained silent, swiftly stepping backward in his Barrier Jump as he soared for the shot. He was well aware that opting for a standard shot would give Mochizuki ample time to mount a defense.

"I knew it," he muttered, observing a figure closing in with precision.

With a deliberate swing of his arm, he released the ball in a languid arc toward the basket, declaring, "But it's too late!"

Mochizuki gritted his teeth in frustration as he witnessed the ball swishing through the basket.

"...Hmm, I see," Tsuna observed that Kuroko's misdirection had finally come back online by capitalizing on the duel between Tsuna and Kagami that captivated everyone's attention.

It reduced everyone to mere shadows while breathing life into Kuroko who embodied the essence of shadow.

Although Fukuda Sogo's players were initially taken aback by Kuroko's subtle presence that had returned and managed to catch them off guard, they still had a vague sense of him, much like they did during the earlier quarter.

And with that, they knew that such a trick wouldn't catch them off guard again!

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