After a few more minutes of idle chatter about clan affairs, Fugaku concluded the conversation. Beating the Hokage's son into a concussion was a notable event, but a few words of caution were enough.
What truly mattered to Fugaku was the emergence of a rare Taijutsu talent within the clan—that was his primary focus.
As Uchiha Mai exited the room, he encountered Mikoto Uchiha sitting in the corridor, watching Shisui tease a tiny Itachi.
"Mai, Fugaku didn't scold you too harshly, did he?"
Mikoto glanced at Mai, her voice soft and consoling. "If his words were heavy, I hope you understand. We Uchiha aren't exactly on the same path as the Hokage; the village has always been wary of us."
She was playing the role of the supportive elder, worried that a hot-blooded youth might resent the Clan Leader's caution. It was the classic "good cop, bad cop" dynamic of a leading family.
Mai smiled warmly. "Auntie Mikoto, you worry too much. The Clan Leader just gave me some advice and chatted about a few trifles. Everything is for the sake of the Uchiha; why would I resent him?"
"It's good that you understand." Mikoto nodded gracefully. She liked this sensible young man.
The Uchiha were like the "Mixed-Bloods" from the Dragon Raja series—naturally powerful yet marginalized by the higher-ups. Even the common villagers harbored a certain prejudice against them. Because they practiced endogamy, their numbers were limited, making every clansman precious. Most Uchiha valued family ties to an almost obsessive degree.
Since Mai had just beaten Asuma senseless, Mikoto feared he might lean toward the Radical Faction. She didn't want a disagreement in philosophy to drive a wedge between a talented youth and Fugaku.
Mai took a few steps toward the baby carriage, leaning over to observe the infant Uchiha Itachi.
This powerful shinobi, who in the original plot would be brainwashed by the "Will of Fire" into exterminating his own kin, was currently just a toothless brat, giggling as Shisui waved a rattle in front of him.
"So this is your child with the Clan Leader? His name is Itachi, right?" Mai asked, his eyes drifting inconspicuously toward the diaper area.
If I flick Itachi's little "peanut" right now, I wonder if I'll get Style Points? Even if I don't, it'll be great bragging rights for the future.
Uchiha Itachi? Hah! I defeated him with one finger back in the day. He was a total scrub.
You dare defy me, the Second-Generation King of Posing? Have you forgotten the day I flicked your little sprout?
"Yes, Itachi is your little brother. You must love and protect one another in the future," Mikoto said with a gentle smile.
As Mai's hand began to rise, his internal "evil" thoughts growing, the giggling infant suddenly did a complete 180. Itachi went from laughing to wailing at a speed that rivaled Mai's own mood swings.
Mai blinked, confused. I haven't even touched him yet. Why is he crying? Do I already possess the intimidating aura of a world-class master?
Mikoto peered down and immediately spotted the issue. She picked up the crying infant. "Oh dear, what a fussy child. It seems your brother, Itachi, has wet himself. I'll change his diaper, and then you boys can play with him again."
"Let me do it!" Mai raised his hand, looking incredibly eager. The opportunity he'd been waiting for had arrived.
"Me too!" the little brat Shisui added.
Mikoto looked at the two young boys, deeply moved by this display of "brotherly harmony." She laid the baby back in the cradle and guided them through the process.
After a bit of clumsy fumbling, Mai finally managed to pull off the damp loincloth, exposing a tiny, delicate "peanut" to the air.
Using a warm, damp towel to clean the baby, Mai found his moment. During the wiping process, he delivered a very subtle, inconspicuous flick.
He checked the system. The Style Points didn't budge.
Mai felt a wave of disappointment. It seemed "harvesting" wasn't that simple. Perhaps his initial plan of just bullying the Konoha Kindergarten was flawed.
The 200 points from defeating Asuma likely weren't just because Asuma was a "canon character." It probably had to do with the intensity of the confrontation, the presence of an audience, and the overall impact.
After all, the Third Hokage had been watching. Defeating the Hokage's son in front of his father was definitely "stylish."
Crashed and burned before I even started. The "Dog System" clearly wasn't going to let him exploit such an easy loophole.
Still, the diaper change wasn't a total loss; call it a long-term investment. When Itachi grew up and tried to act cool, Mai could pull rank: What are you acting tough for? I'm the one who wiped your butt when you were a baby.
I am the man who suppressed Uchiha Itachi with one finger!
After finishing the task, Mai returned to his own courtyard. He practiced his forms until 11:00 PM, drank a glass of milk, and went to sleep, refusing to let fatigue carry over to the next day.
Then, life returned to the daily grind of an Academy student.
Mai's class were "graduating seniors." In about a month, they would face the graduation exam. Those who passed would become shinobi; those who failed would be sent home to sell snacks.
The difficulty of the exam wouldn't be lowered just because Konoha needed more ninjas. In wartime, fresh graduates were more likely to be sent on dangerous missions.
In a squad-based system, one incompetent member could drag the whole team to their deaths.
With the exam looming, the schedule became more flexible to allow for individual revision. Mai used this time to focus on his Taijutsu.
After his daily routine of playing the harmonica and dancing to harvest whatever Style Points he could, he would hide in the corner of the training field to refine his style.
Mayweather's boxing was designed for a regulated "ring," but ninjas fought in ambushes and skirmishes. It was necessary to adapt these techniques to his own body and the realities of the shinobi world.
Fortunately, Mai didn't lack the insight to do so.
After several days of work, he used boxing, Jiu-Jitsu, and the "Lightning Whip" forms as a foundation to create the prototype of a martial art that suited him perfectly.
For now, he only had a few basic moves finalized, but it was enough to see a noticeable jump in his combat power.
After all, this was a Taijutsu style truly made for him.
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