Slam Dunk:Starting with perfect copy

Seeing Kenichi Uesugi knock Mori Shigehiro out of the way and slam the ball through the hoop, the entire arena erupted in chaos. The crowd roared in disbelief, their voices blending into a cacophony of shock and awe. "Oh my God! Mori Shigehiro was just knocked out of the air! Did you see that?!" "How is that even possible? Mori weighs over 100 kilograms! What kind of monster is Kenichi Uesugi?!" "This guy is unreal! How can someone so lean pack that much power?!"

In the back row of the stands, Jun Tsuchiya of Daiei College watched the scene unfold with a mix of fear and relief. "He went easy on me," he muttered under his breath. The thought of being on the receiving end of that kind of power sent a chill down his spine. If Kenichi had unleashed that kind of force on him, he doubted he'd even be standing here now.

Nearby, two seasoned basketball veterans stood up, their faces pale with astonishment. They had seen Kenichi hold his own against Mori Shigehiro, but this? This was beyond anything they could have imagined. "To think he not only matched Mori but outright overpowered him... What kind of strength does this kid have?" one of them whispered. Sugiyama Shota, a former national team center, shook his head in disbelief. Even if he were on the court, he wasn't sure he could have stopped Kenichi. The young player exuded an aura of dominance that was both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

Kazuo Karasawa, a veteran coach, was equally stunned. In all his years of coaching, he had never encountered a player with such raw talent. "If I could recruit him..." he thought, his mind racing with possibilities. Kenichi Uesugi was a once-in-a-generation talent, and Karasawa knew it.

On the Meiho bench, the atmosphere was one of stunned silence. The substitutes stared at the court, their mouths agape. They had seen Mori Shigehiro dunked on before, but this? This was something else entirely. Their star player, their unstoppable force, had been sent flying by a player who looked like he belonged in a different weight class. The reality of what had just happened was sinking in, and it was devastating.

Coach Tokugawa stood frozen, his mind racing. He had placed all his hopes on Mori Shigehiro, believing him to be the cornerstone of their team. But now, seeing him humiliated so thoroughly, Tokugawa was at a loss. Should he call a timeout? What could he even say to his players? Their entire game plan revolved around Mori's dominance in the paint, and now that foundation had crumbled. The once-imposing Meiho defense now looked fragile, and Tokugawa had no answers.

As the game resumed, the morale of the Meiho players began to crumble. Mori Shigehiro, in particular, seemed lost. The confident, dominant player who had terrorized opponents all season was now a shadow of his former self. He fumbled passes, missed easy shots, and even found himself blocked by Yuzumi, Ryonan's center. For Yuzumi, it was a surreal moment. Had he gotten stronger, or was Mori simply falling apart?

Nakayama Noriri, Meiho's captain, tried to rally his team. He scored a few quick baskets, but it wasn't enough to stem the tide. Without Mori's presence in the paint, Ryonan's players began to find their rhythm. Sendoh dazzled with his slick ball-handling and precise passes, while Uekusa and Fukuda capitalized on the openings created by Meiho's crumbling defense. Even Kenichi, after his explosive dunk, seemed content to let his teammates shine, only stepping in when necessary.

The score quickly ballooned to 92-64 in Ryonan's favor, and with less than three minutes left, the outcome was all but decided. Coach Tokugawa glanced at Mori Shigehiro, who sat on the bench with a vacant expression. The rookie had hit a wall, and there was no coming back from it—not today. Reluctantly, Tokugawa signaled for a substitution, pulling his starters and conceding the game.

As the final buzzer sounded, the crowd erupted in applause. Ryonan had done it again, defeating another powerhouse team and advancing to the semifinals. The players celebrated on the court, their joy palpable. Kenichi Uesugi, however, remained calm, his expression unreadable. He had done what needed to be done, and now his focus was on the next challenge.

In the stands, the spectators buzzed with excitement. "Ryonan is unstoppable! Did you see Kenichi Uesugi? He's a monster!" "But can they beat Sannoh? That's the real question." "If anyone can, it's them. But Sannoh is on another level."

Among the crowd, Kazuo Karasawa shook his head as he watched Mori Shigehiro trudge off the court. "He's still too young," Karasawa muttered. "He lacks the experience to bounce back from something like this." Sugiyama Shota, standing beside him, nodded in agreement. "What a waste of talent," he said, his voice tinged with regret. Then, his gaze shifted to Kenichi Uesugi. "But that kid... he's something else. When he reaches his full potential, no one will be able to stop him."

As the arena emptied, a group of players from Hakata University of Commerce entered, their uniforms emblazoned with the school's name. They had come to scout their next opponent, and what they saw left them intrigued. Jun Tsuchiya approached their captain, Qian Yeyi, and said, "You missed the best part. That Kenichi Uesugi is no joke." Qian Yeyi raised an eyebrow but said nothing. His team had faced Sannoh last year and come up short. In his mind, they were the only team that mattered.

Meanwhile, Ryonan's players returned to their dormitory, where Coach Taoka Moichi had already begun preparing for their next game. He showed them footage of Hakata University of Commerce, a team known for its balanced roster and relentless defense. Kenichi Uesugi watched intently, his mind already analyzing their strengths and weaknesses. He knew the road ahead would only get tougher, but he was ready.

The next day, the semifinals began. Ryonan arrived early to watch Sannoh dismantle Kainan in the first game. The defending champions were as dominant as ever, their full-court press suffocating Kainan's offense. Despite a valiant effort from Kainan's star player, Amu, they were no match for Sannoh's relentless pressure. The final score was a testament to Sannoh's dominance, and it left Ryonan's players with a mix of admiration and dread.

As the second game approached, Ryonan took to the court, their determination evident. The crowd roared in anticipation, knowing they were about to witness another epic battle. Kenichi Uesugi glanced at Sawakita Eiji, Sannoh's ace player, who was watching from the stands. Their eyes met, and for a moment, the air seemed to crackle with tension. Sawakita smirked, as if to say, "I'll be waiting for you."

The game began, and Ryonan's players took their positions. Kenichi Uesugi stood at the center of the court, his eyes focused and unwavering. He knew the stakes, and he was ready to prove once again that he belonged among the best.