Chapter 340: No Guard

Japan launches the second half with a passing triangle linking Tabito Karasu, Ryusei Shido, and Reo Mikage, leading France to assume Karasu is the axis of their play. A ball from Shido reaches Yo Hiori and lets Japan advance up the pitch. Karasu then skips his turn to leave the ball for Yoichi Isagi, who is instantly shadowed by Julian Loki. To keep possession, Isagi feeds Rin Itoshi as a decoy before threading a final pass to Shoei Baro, closing the first part.

In the second part, Baro's shot is denied by a sliding challenge from Vivian Hugo. Hugo swings a long ball past Reo to Leyden, who exploits the flank where Japan is thin, dragging both sides into an all-out, defense-free exchange. When Jyubei Aryu picks up Leyden, the winger releases Loki, who lines up a third goal against Gin Gagamaru. In the final instant, Kunigami throws his head at the ball and forces a rebound.

Japan disguises its structure with a Karasu, Shido, and Reo rotation, and Isagi uses Rin as a decoy to reach Baro. Hugo tackles away Baro's attempt, then springs Leyden down the undermanned wing, tipping the match into a reckless end-to-end pattern. Loki closes on his third strike only for Kunigami to head the ball clear at the last moment.

Published as Nō Gādo, this two-part release is the second chapter of Volume 39 and the 340th overall, set within the U-20 World Cup Arc. Part one ran in issue 2026-16 on March 18, 2026 in Japan, and part two followed in issue 2026-17 on March 25, with the American dates each falling a day earlier. Each half spans ten pages.