Chapter 17: Sparring

Genos checks the newly posted rankings and finds himself placed at the bottom of S-Class while Saitama lands in C-Class. The two head to a quarry to spar, and Genos asks his master to treat the match seriously before settling into a stance. What follows is a lopsided test in which Genos unloads his full arsenal and Saitama shrugs off every attempt.

Genos opens by revealing cannons hidden in his arm and fires a massive beam, then rockets after it. Saitama sidesteps the blast but gets swept up by Genos, and the two smash into the quarry wall with the beam close behind. Genos hammers away along the rock face until he realizes he has been striking nothing but an afterimage the whole time.

Scanning the area, Genos finds Saitama casually jogging across the quarry floor and launches after him. He lands in front of his master, brings both opened palms together, and unleashes a huge blast. Certain he connected, Genos is instead met by Saitama patting his shoulder and poking his cheek.

Genos throws a punch that Saitama dodges while accusing him of not taking things seriously. When Genos tries a kick, Saitama slips behind him and stops a punch just short of his face, flicking his forehead instead. As Saitama walks off, Genos turns to see the enormous dust cloud that single motion kicked up.

The chapter released in two parts on October 26 and November 15, 2012, under the title Sparring, which Viz Media also uses. It belongs to the National Superhero Registry Arc, fills Volume 3, corresponds to webcomic chapter 17, and is adapted in Episode 5 of the anime. Saitama and Genos share the cover.