"Come on."
Uchiha Mai smiled faintly. His left fist, which had been held forward, opened as he curled his fingers inward in a beckoning gesture—pure provocation.
Arrogant.
Far too arrogant.
This absolutely demanded a heavy punch in response.
With the goddess Yūhi Kurenai still watching, Asuma didn't want to look timid. While staying on guard, he threw another heavy punch straight toward Uchiha Mai's cheek.
The fist whistled through the air, carrying a faint gust of wind.
It was obvious that Asuma had put serious power into this strike—and had even infused it with chakra.
Taijutsu itself didn't require chakra to damage an opponent.
However, when chakra was used during an attack, it could highly activate the body, granting far greater strength and explosive force.
This so-called "body activation" wasn't some unique ability belonging only to Kakashi or to Kumogakure's Lightning Release body techniques.
Any shinobi in the ninja world could do this.
Did anyone really think that ten-year-old Naruto running up walls and leaping onto rooftops was relying on pure physical strength alone?
Kakashi's cell-activation techniques, Kumogakure's Lightning Release body-forging methods, and the Eight Gates were all simply more refined ways of utilizing chakra.
With the same chakra consumption, they produced greater power and faster speed.
Asuma's chakra-boosted punch was clearly aimed at smashing Uchiha Mai's face.
Uchiha Mai repeated his previous maneuver.
His torso and head leaned backward once more, narrowly evading the blow. At the same time, his left fist shot out in a straight punch—a defensive counterattack.
This time, however, Asuma had learned.
The moment his punch missed, he immediately pulled back and dodged, narrowly saving his not-so-handsome face.
"I've already seen through your moves!" Asuma said smugly, mocking him.
"Oh? Is that so?"
Uchiha Mai smiled faintly and stepped forward half a pace.
His left fist snapped out again toward Asuma's cheek—fast as lightning.
Asuma's heart jolted.
He had assumed Uchiha Mai would only rely on counterattacks.
He never expected him to take the initiative.
For an instant, Asuma lost focus and instinctively raised his arms to block.
After all, one punch had already swollen his face—if he took another, things would be disastrous.
Yet the moment he reacted, the front of his guard opened wide.
Uchiha Mai seized that fleeting opening.
The right fist that had been coiled near his jaw exploded forward in a sharp jab, smashing straight into Asuma's eye socket.
"Ahhh!"
Asuma screamed. Tears streamed out uncontrollably as his left eye instantly darkened to a deep bruise.
That punch had clearly not been light.
Feints and tug-of-war counters—
Classic boxing tactics, and ones that Mayweather excelled at in particular.
Taking another hit, Asuma's face flushed red with shame.
He had talked so tough earlier, yet after just two exchanges his face was already ruined.
Humiliating.
Utterly humiliating.
And worst of all—
His dream girl, A-Hong, was watching.
It's fine. Winning early doesn't count. The one who laughs last laughs best.
As long as I beat him senseless next, I can still turn everything around!
After soothing himself with pure A-Q spirit, Asuma—desperate to salvage his reputation—launched another punch toward Uchiha Mai's chin.
Uchiha Mai remained calm.
He lowered his head and raised his shoulder simultaneously, protecting his chin—the vital point—preventing himself from being knocked out in a single blow.
After that exchange, he retreated two steps once again, reopening the distance.
His left fist formed a punching motion, constantly flickering in front of Asuma's eyes.
Short jabs—one of Mayweather's signature techniques.
They effectively controlled the opponent's line of sight, disrupted balance, and scattered attention.
Although Asuma was eager to attack, he remained extremely wary of Uchiha Mai's fists.
If he took another clean hit, his face truly wouldn't survive.
Uchiha Mai carefully observed Asuma's gaze.
The instant he noticed his focus slipping—
His right fist lashed out again, slamming into Asuma's cheek.
Before Asuma could even flare up in anger, he realized something terrifying.
The Mai who had always struck once and retreated—
Suddenly rushed in with both fists, unleashing a storm of punches like pouring rain.
What the hell?!
On a boxing ring, a professional fighter's first reaction would be to raise both hands to guard the face.
But Asuma was a ninja.
He chose to meet it head-on.
A real man feared nothing.
Unfortunately, before Asuma could throw more than a few punches, he was completely overwhelmed by Uchiha Mai's combination.
In the end, a powerful right hook smashed squarely into his chin.
Asuma collapsed to the ground and passed out on the spot.
Instructor Murakami Keinin panicked.
Did he just beat Asuma to death?!
He rushed forward at once, pulling Uchiha Mai back, prying open Asuma's eyelids and mouth to check, then testing his breathing and listening to his heartbeat.
Only then did he subtly signal toward the office with a reassuring expression.
Not dead—just unconscious.
Though several molars had been knocked loose.
Asuma lay on the ground, his face swollen and bruised, blood frothing from the corner of his mouth.
It was… miserable.
"Teacher, aren't you supposed to count to ten?" Uchiha Mai asked instinctively.
"Count what?"
Murakami Keinin replied, then realized what he meant.
"There's no need.
The force of that last punch traveled through his bones straight into his brain. I doubt he'll be waking up for several days.
This match—
You win."
"I told you getting hit on the chin could make someone pass out," Might Guy said excitedly to the girls beside him, waving his arms.
Uchiha Mai sighed quietly.
He couldn't even stand back up…
What a pity.
I still haven't used my coolest, hardest move yet—the flying armbar.
Since one side was unconscious, the Sign of Reconciliation naturally couldn't be formed.
The match ended in an anticlimactic manner.
Of course, others were free to challenge Uchiha Mai as well.
But with Asuma serving as a vivid example, no one felt eager to try their luck.
They could only find other opponents and engage in pairs on the training field—rookies pecking at rookies.
Murakami Keinin seized a moment to return to the office and approached the Third Hokage, asking cautiously,
"Hokage-sama, what do you think of that Uchiha Mai?"
"Very good."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded slightly and praised,
"He didn't rely on his kekkei genkai or ninjutsu. Using pure strategy, he toyed with Asuma in the palm of his hand.
He possesses exceptional combat intelligence—a rare talent."
Uchiha Mai's displayed taijutsu hadn't surpassed his peers by an overwhelming margin.
What crushed Asuma was technique—and psychological warfare.
In shinobi battles, strength was important.
But intelligence was equally vital.
Nara Shikamaru, after all, had once buried the immortal Hidan alive using nothing but strategy.
And Sarutobi Hiruzen especially valued shinobi with battle intelligence.
In the original Chūnin Exams, 153 contestants from various villages participated.
Naruto, Rock Lee, Hyūga Neji, Sasuke, and Gaara all demonstrated feats that surpassed even some jōnin.
Yet in the end—
Only one person was promoted to chūnin.
Nara Shikamaru.
Which was proof enough that when Konoha evaluated shinobi, it never judged them by strength alone.
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