Zack and Allen weren't particularly impressed by Kirisaki Daiichi's fast breaks.
With Nash Gold and Jason Silver on the court, it was practically impossible for Kirisaki Daiichi to link their fast breaks together.
The outcome turned out exactly as they had expected.
As Kirisaki Daiichi prepared to go up for a layup, Jason Silver shut them down. When they tried to move the ball, Nash Gold suddenly appeared and stole it.
After the steal, Nash Gold whipped the ball hard toward the frontcourt.
Allen caught it and called out:
"Go! Zack!"
Zack roared:
"Can you not say it like that?!"
Allen grinned, tossing the ball high into the air. Zack exploded upward, caught it midair, and slammed it through the hoop.
Kirisaki Daiichi couldn't even make it back in time. All five of them had committed to that fast break.
Yet after just one pass, they lost the ball.
That was something they hadn't expected at all.
Miyamoto Tokima nodded unconsciously from the sidelines.
It had to be said, the combination of Jason Silver and Nash Gold was incredibly effective at shutting down fast breaks.
Jason Silver pressured the ball handler, forcing a pass.
Meanwhile, Nash Gold used the [Belial Eye] to glimpse the immediate future and make precise steals.
Together, they were practically a fast break stopper.
The game continued.
Kirisaki Daiichi ball.
Makoto Hanamiya dribbled slowly past half court, his gaze sweeping across everyone on the floor.
Because of that, he could clearly see the situation each player was facing.
First, Shuzo Nijimura. Zack was locking him down completely, leaving him no chance to get into position.
Shogo Haizaki wasn't doing any better, constantly moving in an attempt to shake off Nick.
But Nick followed him like a silent killer, expressionless and relentless.
Murasakibara was also struggling, completely suppressed in the paint by Jason Silver.
As for Dicky Anthony...
That was just absurd.
Allen stuck tightly to him the entire time. As for whether his hands wandered anywhere else...
No one knew, and no one dared to ask.
Makoto Hanamiya's expression darkened, shock rising in his chest.
'Damn it… they're actually this strong!'
He had been mentally prepared, but seeing every member of Kirisaki Daiichi being suppressed still left him shaken.
After all, they had just won the Japan Summer Cup championship.
Just then, a voice suddenly rang out in front of him.
"Friend, what are you thinking about?"
Makoto Hanamiya was startled. He instinctively pulled the ball back and retreated.
Only then did he clearly see the person in front of him.
Nash Gold stood there with a faint smile, his eyes glinting with an unreadable light.
'Damn it. When did he get here?'
Makoto Hanamiya frowned.
The next second, unwilling to back down, he snapped:
"What are you, a rat?"
Nash Gold picked at his ear and replied:
"You should worry about your current situation. Trash talk doesn't work on me."
Makoto Hanamiya gritted his teeth and scanned the court again.
He couldn't help it. The shock Nash Gold had given him last time was too great. He was still wary.
But as he observed, his hand suddenly felt empty.
At the same moment, Nash Gold's voice sounded again.
"Looking around at everyone else right in front of me? That's pretty rude, my friend."
In an instant, Nash Gold stole the ball and charged toward the frontcourt.
Makoto Hanamiya's expression changed drastically.
'When did that happen?!'
He had clearly created distance, yet Nash Gold still closed in instantly and took the ball.
The shock hit him hard.
But there was no time to stand there stunned. Nash Gold had already launched a fast break.
Makoto Hanamiya quickly turned and gave chase.
This time, he actually caught up.
He was sharp enough to realize Nash Gold had been waiting for him. The moment he got into position, he demanded:
"What exactly are you trying to do?"
Nash Gold didn't answer. He only smiled.
...
Thud. Thud.
The crisp sound of the basketball hitting the floor echoed out.
At that moment, the entire court froze.
Makoto Hanamiya was sprawled on the ground, while Nash Gold stood in front of him, calmly dribbling.
His pale green eyes, ringed with gold, radiated an overwhelming sense of dominance.
The smile on his face faded as he looked down at Makoto Hanamiya and said coldly:
"Trash talk doesn't work on me. But you're getting a bit too noisy."
With that, Nash Gold tossed the ball high into the air.
A massive figure shot up, caught it, and hammered it into the hoop.
Boom!!!
The rim shook violently, as if it had taken a heavy blow.
And this was a reinforced rim from the Miyamoto Family.
Jason Silver landed heavily and grinned.
"Sorry, Zack. You were too slow."
Zack arrived a moment later, shrugging.
"Doesn't matter. Right now, I just want to go at Nijimura."
Shuzo Nijimura followed behind, veins popping on his forehead as he heard that.
"Zack! What do you mean by that?!"
Zack shrugged casually.
"I just want to play you."
"Zack! You'd better watch your. "
Before Shuzo Nijimura could finish, Zack covered his mouth and laughed.
"Nijimura, come on, we go way back. I just want a little one-on-one. Alright, let's keep the game going."
With that, Zack dragged Shuzo Nijimura back toward the defensive end.
Jason Silver looked a bit confused but didn't ask.
Shogo Haizaki ran over, pulled Makoto Hanamiya to his feet, and checked on him.
"You okay, Hanamiya?"
Makoto Hanamiya's face was dark as he stared at Nash Gold's back, grinding his teeth.
"I'm fine!"
...
The game resumed.
Kirisaki Daiichi ball.
This time, Makoto Hanamiya seemed to have completely snapped.
The moment he brought the ball up, he started trash-talking Nash Gold.
In just six seconds, he fired off thirteen lines.
It didn't just leave the Black Dragon Team stunned.
Even Miyamoto Tokima, acting as referee, was dumbfounded.
Six seconds, thirteen lines?
Are you a Gatling gun or something???
Nash Gold listened with a smile, completely unfazed.
He even clapped lightly.
"Not bad. Very well said. It's just… I didn't understand any of it. Mind saying it again?"
Makoto Hanamiya froze, his face turning as unpleasant as if he'd just swallowed something foul.
He finally realized.
His trash talk had absolutely no effect on Nash Gold.
If anything, all it did was make Nash Gold think he was noisy.
...
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