After exchanging a few more casual words, Fugaku brought the conversation to an end. In the end, Maí had merely hit the Hokage's son hard enough to give him a concussion - two scolding remarks were more than enough.
What truly mattered was something else entirely: a rare taijutsu prodigy had emerged within the clan, and that was where Fugaku's attention lay.
As Uchiha Maí left the room, he ran into Mikoto sitting quietly in the corridor, her expression gentle as always, while Shisui waved a rattle to amuse little Itachi in his stroller.
- Maí, Fugaku didn't scold you too harshly, did he? - Mikoto asked softly, worried the young man might have taken it to heart. - If his words were a bit heavy, I hope you understand… our clan has never walked the same path as the Hokage. The village has always been wary of us.
Her concern was obvious, the classic balance of stern authority and gentle reassurance.
Maí smiled faintly. - Mikoto, you're worrying too much. The clan head only reminded me of a few things and chatted about some trivial matters. It was all for the sake of the Uchiha. How could I resent him?
- I'm glad you understand - Mikoto nodded, satisfied. This young man really knew how to conduct himself.
At the time, the Uchiha clan was much like the hybrids in Dragon Raja: innately powerful, yet constantly pushed to the political margins of the village. The villagers' distrust, combined with the tradition of marrying within the clan, kept their numbers low, making every single member precious. Most Uchiha valued family bonds deeply - sometimes to an extreme.
Mikoto suspected Maí might lean toward the more impulsive side. After all, he had sent Sarutobi Asuma straight to the hospital. That was why she didn't want a simple disagreement to drive a wedge between him and Fugaku.
Maí stepped closer to the stroller and looked down at the baby wrapped in blankets.
This same Uchiha Itachi who, in the original story, would later be consumed by the Will of Fire and wipe out his entire clan… was now nothing more than a toothless infant giggling at a rattle.
- This is your child, right? Itachi? - Maí asked, though his gaze had already drifted toward the baby's diaper.
If he pinched or flicked the little "peanut" right now… would that earn him any style points? Even if it didn't, it would at least make for a story later.
Uchiha Itachi?
I, the legendary King of Dance, defeated this guy with a single finger.
This brat dared to act tough when he grew up… he must have forgotten how he curled up when I flicked him back in infancy.
- That's right - Mikoto smiled. - He's your little brother. Get along well from now on.
Maí stared at Itachi, a spark of mischief slowly growing inside him.
Just as he raised his hand, ready to act, the baby chasing the rattle suddenly went from laughter to tears in an instant. The change was so abrupt it startled even Maí.
- Huh… I didn't even touch him yet… - he muttered.
Could it be that my gaze alone carries the pressure of a supreme master?
Mikoto figured it out with a single glance. She picked Itachi up and sighed.
- Oh dear… this child. He wet his diaper again. I'll change him. You two can play with him afterward.
Changing diapers, peeing, pooping… every baby goes through it. The first few months were nothing but this kind of chaos.
- Let me do it! - Maí raised his hand eagerly. The perfect chance for "Operation Flick."
- I'll help too! - Shisui chimed in, just as excited.
Seeing the two boys work together, Mikoto felt genuinely touched. She placed Itachi back in the cradle and guided them through changing the diaper.
After a long, clumsy struggle, Maí finally removed the soaked cloth. The tiny, delicate "peanut" was exposed to the air.
He dampened a clean towel and began wiping the baby… and in the middle of it, discreetly - flick.
Nothing.
The system didn't react at all.
No style points.
Maí sighed. Life really didn't hand out shortcuts so easily. Another thought began to make sense: the reason he'd earned so many points by defeating Asuma wasn't just because Asuma was a story character, but because of the situation itself - the intensity of the clash, the crowd watching, and the Third Hokage witnessing it all. Defeating the leader's son right in front of him was undeniably stylish.
His plan to get rich early by "farming rare targets" before even becoming a ninja… had collapsed before it truly began.
Still, changing Itachi's diaper wasn't a total loss. It was an investment for the future.
When Itachi grew up and tried to act tough, Maí would have the perfect line ready:
"Easy there, brat. I changed your diapers. Show some respect - I'm the man who defeated you with a single finger."
After finishing the job, Maí returned home. He trained until eleven, drank a glass of milk, and went to sleep without carrying his fatigue into the next day.
And so the days passed, one after another.
As a student of the current graduating class, there was just over a month left before the graduation exam. Those who passed became ninjas; those who failed were sent home to sell dried meat buns.
The exam didn't get any easier just because the village needed manpower. In wartime, ninjas were sent on dangerous missions, often deep behind enemy lines. A single incompetent teammate could doom the entire squad.
Because of that, the final month's schedule was lighter and more flexible - each student reviewed what they needed most. Maí, of course, used the extra time to train. After playing the harmonica, dancing, and farming style points, he would hide away in a corner of the training grounds to refine his own martial arts.
Mayweather's boxing techniques were excellent for direct, ring-style combat, but ninjas fought ambushes, pursuits, and sudden encounters. Everything had to be adapted for ninja warfare.
Fortunately, deep technical understanding was something Uchiha Maí had in abundance.
After several days of adjustments, he finally created the rough framework of a new personal style, built on boxing, jiu-jitsu, and the Five-Strike Whip. Only a few foundational moves were set, but his strength had already taken another step forward.
After all, this was taijutsu crafted specifically for himself.
(End of the chapter)