BLUE LOCK CHAPTER 5: THE "ZERO" OF SOCCER

Chapter 5 opens with Team Z settling their positions through a frantic round of rock paper scissors, a method that reflects both their inexperience and their desperation. Yoichi Isagi wins and immediately chooses to play as the center forward. Although startled by his own boldness, he feels a spark of determination, sensing that this may be his first real chance to shape his destiny. Before the match begins, Ego Jinpachi appears on the screen to explain the structure of the First Selection, outlining a round robin tournament where every action and every goal will impact each player’s future.

Ego details the harsh system that governs this stage of Blue Lock. The top two teams in each wing advance, but there is also a unique twist: the highest scorer from every team, even those that finish in the bottom three, will move on to the next round. This rule reframes soccer into a survival match centered around ego and individual ambition. Players are pushed to think like true strikers, willing to seize every opportunity regardless of team dynamics. As the explanation sinks in, the tension in Team Z becomes palpable, each member quietly weighing what they must do to avoid elimination.

With the rules established, Team Z tries to prepare for their first match against Team X. Their formation is hastily built around Isagi’s new role, and although the team shows brief unity, worry still lingers beneath the surface. The players question whether a lineup decided by chance can withstand the pressure of Blue Lock’s unforgiving environment. Still, they step onto the field determined to fight for their place.

The match begins with Isagi attempting to advance, but he quickly realizes how overwhelming the pressure is. Faced with multiple defenders, he hesitates, thinking he should pass back and regroup. Before he can act, chaos erupts. Both teams abandon teamwork entirely as players begin stealing the ball from anyone near them, including their own allies. The field becomes a frantic brawl driven by ego, each striker desperate to score first and secure their survival. Isagi stands stunned, recognizing that this distorted version of soccer is exactly what Ego meant by rebuilding the sport from zero.

The chapter ends with a dramatic shift when Barou, Team X’s intimidating striker, breaks through the chaotic crowd with overwhelming force. His presence silences the confusion around him and exposes the massive gap between a true ego-driven striker and the frantic desperation consuming the others. Isagi’s shock turns into resolve as he prepares to stop Barou himself, marking the beginning of his first true confrontation with Blue Lock’s brutal reality.