Kuso urges Onazi to leave them behind and follow his own ego.
In the previous chapter of the Blue Lock manga, we learned how little Isagi fell in love with football, and how his curiosity about himself helped him shape his insatiable ego. In the recent chapter, we see Onazi trying to follow in Isagi’s footsteps. Isagi tells their captain that the more their opponents evolve, the more data he will have to work with. In the end, Kuso understands that to fulfill his own ego, Onazi will have to leave his teammates behind and play for himself.
Warning: Spoilers ahead!
Blue Lock Chapter 323 recap
The chapter begins with Isagi finally getting the ball and heading for a counter. Onazi remembers Isagi telling them that his ego grows from the curiosity in himself and wonders if he can do the same. Isagi taunts the Nigerian players by telling them to surpass his brain and Blue Lock if they want to be the world’s best. Oliver asks Isagi if it’s a good idea to try and pump up their opponents when Ego asks them to keep Nigeria’s score at 0. Isagi answers that if one of them awakens, he will be able to experience a new form of football. And if he is able to adapt and stop the egoist, then Blue Lock will evolve further. Oliver wonders just how greedy Isagi is.
Isagi runs to the frontline and asks the captain to take care of the back. Bachira tries to pass the ball to Reo, but the Nigerian player Obo intercepts it, saying it’s an old trick. Kuso then takes control of the ball, beating Blue Lock’s Karasu. Kuso remembers how Onazi gave everyone the chance to dream about winning the World Cup. In a flashback, we see Kuso telling Onazi that the data shows they haven’t been increasing their attack patterns recently. He says that the coach suggested bringing someone else to help Onazi in the frontline. Onazi points out that if that happens, one of them might be taken out of the starting lineup.
Kuso agrees, and says it’s normal and things can’t always stay the same. Onazi tells him that he doesn’t want to play if it’s not with his friends. When he was lonely, they saved him. He wants to repay them by staying as their family forever. It makes Kuso happy, but he realises that Onazi is killing his potential to stay with them. In the present, Kuso realises that due to Onazi’s kindness, their dream changed from ‘winning the world cup’ to ‘staying together’ and Isagi caught onto it. Onazi asks for a pass and Kuso readily gives it to him, realising that at this stage, the only way for Onazi to move forward is to throw them away.
Kuso passes through Blue Lock players expertly as he urges Onazi to chase after his ego that makes him fight for himself. Kurona tries to stop him, but Kuso is determined. He realises that his curiosity is to see Onazi take on the world. He passes the ball to their ace in a beautiful shot that nobody can intercept. Onazi gets the ball with only Oliver standing in his way. Kuso asks his ‘Shining Hope’ Onazi to reach the world stage with this shot.
Blue Lock Chapter 323 review
It was both heartbreaking and inspiring to see the Nigerian players, especially Kuso, urging Onazi to find his own ego by leaving them behind. Even if they aren’t able to stay together forever, one of them will be able to find his own true ego and become a player who only plays for himself. It’s unlikely that Onazi will be able to score a goal with how hungry Isagi is to update his database. However, it’s good to see how much Blue Lock’s playstyle is influencing the other teams.
Blue Lock Chapter 324 release date
The next chapter of the manga is coming out on Tuesday, 4 November, 2025. You can read the latest chapters on Kodansha’s K Manga platform and app.