Chapter 141: Shogo Haizaki’s Animal Instinct
The pressure on Shogo Haizaki spiked sharply. Shuzo Nijimura was far stronger than he had been back in middle school.
‘So that’s what two years under Tokima-san does…’
‘But it’s not like I’ve been standing still either.’
Shogo Haizaki slowly closed his eyes.
Under Shuzo Nijimura’s puzzled gaze, a familiar aura began to seep out from Haizaki’s body.
Shuzo Nijimura’s expression changed as he blurted out in shock:
“Animal Instinct?!”
Watching from the sidelines, Miyamoto Tokima’s face also shifted. He could clearly feel the change in Haizaki’s presence. Even though there were no visible effects, years of experience told him everything he needed to know.
Shogo Haizaki had activated his Animal Instinct.
‘Animal Instinct did not exist for Haizaki in the original story.’
What Miyamoto Tokima didn’t know was that, due to the changes brought about by the Miyamoto Family, Shogo Haizaki had completely cut ties with the delinquent path he once walked.
On top of that, the resentment and frustration of being expelled from Teikō Middle School’s basketball club had fueled him even further.
He trained harder than anyone else, driven by a single goal—proving himself.
And it was within that unwilling, relentless training that his Animal Instinct awakened.
His Animal Instinct…
was a lone wolf.
On the court.
A gray-furred lone wolf appeared behind Shogo Haizaki.
Its eyes glowed with savage ferocity, razor-sharp as it stared at Shuzo Nijimura like prey waiting to be slaughtered. A bloodthirsty aura radiated from it, chilling and merciless.
Shuzo Nijimura chuckled lightly and said teasingly:
“Haizaki, you’ve really grown up. You even awakened Animal Instinct.”
Shogo Haizaki ignored him. His eyes sharpened as he launched forward, attacking like a lone wolf hunting its target.
Behind him, the wolf threw back its head and howled, releasing a violent surge of feral intent.
Seeing this, Shuzo Nijimura smiled faintly.
“So I’m being looked down on, huh.”
In the next instant, an equally ferocious aura burst out from Shuzo Nijimura’s body.
From the sidelines, Makoto Hanamiya cried out in shock:
“Animal Instinct! Nijimura has Animal Instinct too?!”
Miyamoto Tokima simply smiled, his expression unchanged.
That’s right. Shuzo Nijimura’s time with the Black Emperor Dragon Team hadn’t just led to the awakening of the Zone. Under immense pressure, he had also awakened Animal Instinct.
His Animal Instinct was a manifestation of belief—an extreme hunger for prey, perfectly matching his desire to score and repay Miyamoto Tokima’s kindness.
His Animal Instinct…
was a shark.
Behind Shuzo Nijimura emerged a massive shark, its back dark and its belly stark white.
Its blood-filled jaws snapped open as it clashed head-on with the lone wolf.
On the court.
Shuzo Nijimura immediately shut down Shogo Haizaki’s offense.
Haizaki refused to yield, chaining together moves in an attempt to break through Nijimura’s defense.
Behind them, the shark and the lone wolf engaged in a brutal struggle.
The lone wolf leapt for the shark’s back, only to be sent flying by a powerful tail swipe.
The shark pressed its advantage, clamping its jaws around the wolf’s waist. The wolf struggled violently, but it was useless against the shark’s overwhelming strength.
At last, the shark bit down and tore the gray wolf in two.
The basketball was cleanly stolen by Shuzo Nijimura.
In the clash of Animal Instincts, Shogo Haizaki… was utterly defeated.
Shogo Haizaki stood in place, breathing heavily, disbelief written across his face.
He hadn’t expected Nijimura to possess Animal Instinct as well—nor that Nijimura’s strength after activating it would surpass his by such a wide margin.
But in truth, that outcome was inevitable.
Back on the Black Emperor Dragon Team, Shuzo Nijimura had been beaten down again and again by Zack and the others. Only after awakening his Animal Instinct did he finally manage to turn things around.
Unfortunately, they soon struck him with another harsh reality—Zack and the rest awakened Animal Instinct too. (Feel free to guess what theirs might be. Friendly hint: the Black Emperor Dragon Team will eventually all awaken Animal Instinct.)
During their training, Zack and the others had grown even stronger than in the original story.
The reason was simple: they now had clear goals and enough motivation to chase them.
Off the court.
Makoto Hanamiya and the others exchanged looks, none of them knowing what to say.
The impact of what they had just witnessed was overwhelming.
Shogo Haizaki was the strongest among them—none of them could beat him even without Animal Instinct.
Yet now, Haizaki had been completely dominated after activating it.
That meant only one thing: Shuzo Nijimura was absurdly strong.
And the most tragic part?
They were the ones who had to face him next.
On the court.
Shogo Haizaki passed the ball to Shuzo Nijimura and said:
“Let’s keep going.”
The lone wolf once again appeared behind Haizaki, facing off against the shark.
A faint smile crossed Shuzo Nijimura’s face as he took the ball and prepared to attack.
Shuzo Nijimura’s strengths lay in his speed and court vision. Vision truly shined in team play—but speed was a different matter altogether.
And a shark’s speed in the ocean was nothing to scoff at.
The shark and the lone wolf stared each other down.
Suddenly—the shark moved.
It attacked from the right, forcing the lone wolf into a defensive stance.
But in the next instant, the shark abruptly changed direction, lunging from the left and biting down on the lone wolf’s front leg.
On the court.
Shuzo Nijimura didn’t hold back. He slammed the ball down, switched it from his right hand to his left, executed a sharp crossover, and burst past.
Shogo Haizaki stayed right on him, refusing to give up.
Then Shuzo Nijimura suddenly pulled back and came to a dead stop.
Haizaki froze in place, helplessly watching as Nijimura released the shot.
In the clash of Animal Instincts…
The shark tore violently at the lone wolf’s front leg, ripping it clean off.
Unable to move, the lone wolf was left defenseless as the shark lunged forward and bit down.
Haizaki… was defeated once again.
...
In the end, Shogo Haizaki was completely crushed by Shuzo Nijimura, losing the match 0–5.
Shuzo Nijimura laughed as he patted Haizaki on the shoulder.
“Haizaki, you’ve still got a long way to go. That little puppy of yours didn’t stand a chance against my shark.”
“It’s a wolf!”
“Got it, puppy.”
“It’s a wolf!”
“Alright, puppy.”
“……”
Miyamoto Tokima glanced at the two of them helplessly.
‘What a pair of idiots.’
Turning away, he looked at the others and said:
“Next.”
They looked at each other and swallowed nervously.
Makoto Hanamiya shut his eyes, clenched his teeth, and stepped onto the court like a warrior heading into battle.
The result was no different.
A shutout loss…
One by one, the rest followed, all falling 0–5.
And just like that, Shuzo Nijimura completed… well… a five-man sweep.
Miyamoto Tokima turned his head and asked:
“ Momoi, how are the stats?”
Author's Note
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