Uchiha Mai and Asuma Sarutobi stood on opposite sides. Simultaneously, they raised one hand and formed the Seal of Confrontation.
Konoha was a village of traditions and protocols. Before any formal sparring match or mission duel, shinobi were required to perform this gesture—the same one mirrored by the two giant statues at the Final Valley.
After the fight, they would be expected to perform the Seal of Reconciliation, signifying that no matter how badly one had beaten the other, they remained comrades and wouldn't hold a grudge.
"Go for it, Big Brother Asuma! Knock him flat!"
"Boss, win this! Smash that face of his!"
Asuma's lackeys pumped their fists and roared, cheering for their leader. Uchiha Mai was long used to the hostility of the Academy boys. Being this handsome is a heavy cross to bear, he thought.
The girls, not to be outdone, waved their hands and screamed for their idol: "Mai-kun, teach that arrogant jerk a lesson!"
"Mai-kun, mess up that monkey's face! Let him know he's nothing but a brat hiding behind the Hokage's shadow!"
In the original series, there wasn't much detail about Kakashi's generation during their Academy years, other than Asuma being a rebellious delinquent who eventually fled to the capital of the Land of Fire after a falling out with his father.
Living through it, Mai could confirm: Asuma was indeed a brat. He spent his days swaggering around with his group of followers. While he wasn't exactly evil, he was definitely annoying. Naturally, the girls had no love for his type.
Hearing the girls side unanimously with Uchiha Mai, Asuma's face turned a deep shade of crimson. Am I really that unpopular?
Kurenai Yuhi glanced around, seeing everyone cheering for Mai. She raised her hands and called out shyly, "Mai-kun, please be careful!"
Puchi! That was the sound of a knife stabbing into Asuma's heart.
Seeing that the atmosphere was primed, the instructor Murakami Jingning raised his hand and dropped it sharply. "Begin!"
Asuma lunged forward, intent on obliterating Mai's handsome face, but he suddenly skidded to a halt. Uchiha Mai had taken a very strange stance and was light on his feet, bouncing rhythmically in place.
Mai's left fist was forward, raised parallel to his shoulder with the elbow at a 90-degree angle. His right fist was tucked back, protecting his jaw. He tucked his chin slightly.
His torso remained straight, but with a slight bend at the waist, giving him a forward-leaning profile. His legs were staggered—one front, one back—with knees slightly bent and feet parallel, roughly shoulder-width apart.
What kind of weird posture is this? Asuma was baffled.
"Mai's stance is kind of ugly. It doesn't match that infuriatingly handsome face of his," Obito muttered from the sidelines.
"How is that ugly? If you don't understand, don't talk nonsense!" Kurenai turned and glared at Obito, her voice sharp with protective annoyance.
Obito shut his mouth, thinking to himself: If anyone else stood like that, you'd be the first one to call it ugly.
Might Guy, however, was staring intensely at Uchiha Mai. Suddenly, his face lit up with overwhelming joy. Tears began to stream down his face as he cried out, "I see! I understand now!"
"I'm not the only one in this school specializing in Taijutsu! Taijutsu isn't just a move for 'failures' who lack Ninjutsu talent!"
Guy's emotional outbursts were always loud and passionate. His shout drew everyone's attention—including Asuma's.
"You damn watermelon-head, what did you 'understand'?" Obito asked, confused.
Guy wiped away his tears of excitement and explained frantically: "Mai's stance looks strange, but it is a masterfully designed Taijutsu preparatory pose!
"His left fist is forward, making it easy to probe and strike. His right fist is back to protect his chin, but it's also coiled like a spring to deliver a heavy blow—pulling the hand back is for the sake of hitting harder!
"The chin is a fragile point; a heavy hit there can cause an instant blackout. To protect that weakness, Mai has lowered his head.
"Meanwhile, his knees are bent to better generate power from the ground. His feet are staggered but parallel, allowing for maximum balance. Overall, this is a stance that can advance to attack or retreat to defend in a pure physical confrontation!"
Might Guy was happier than anyone to see Uchiha Mai using Taijutsu.
For the longest time, Taijutsu specialists were overlooked by the Great Villages. Guy's father, Might Duy, had been a Genin for decades because he lacked Ninjutsu talent.
But no one knew better than Guy how powerful his father truly was. With the Eight Inner Gates, Duy could crush an average Chunin with ease.
Guy, like his father, lacked talent in Ninjutsu but viewed him as an idol, believing one could become a great shinobi through Taijutsu alone. Because he looked a bit "dopey" and couldn't perform Ninjutsu, he was often discriminated against.
But now, the Academy idol Uchiha Mai is using Taijutsu! Let's see what you guys have to say now!
That's an Uchiha!
"Oh." Obito just nodded, not really getting it but feeling it sounded impressive. He turned back to the fight.
The reaction of the other students was similar. They didn't suddenly think Guy was cool or that Taijutsu was amazing. They just thought Uchiha Mai was amazing for "inventing" such a sophisticated style at such a young age.
Guy still didn't understand this world: everything depends on the face.
"Advance to attack, retreat to defend? I don't believe that crap!"
In the center of the field, Asuma grit his teeth. Hearing Guy praise Mai only fueled his resentment. What does a pretty boy know about Taijutsu?
Asuma exploded forward, throwing a punch aimed directly at Mai's face.
Mai's pupils contracted slightly. He leaned his head back just enough to let the punch whistle past his nose. Simultaneously, his left hand shot out—a jab, fast and precise. It caught Asuma right on the cheek, swelling the skin instantly.
"Good!"
Inside the office, Hiruzen Sarutobi clapped. I've wanted to teach that little brat a lesson for a long time.
Having landed the blow, Mai quickly hopped back two steps, resetting the distance. He wasn't in a rush to go on the offensive.
"Hiss—"
The pain made Asuma gasp. Tears nearly welled in his eyes. How was that pretty boy's punch so accurate?
Having taken a hit, Asuma learned his lesson. He stopped charging recklessly and began to circle Mai with a grim expression, looking for a better opening.
Uchiha Mai smiled. Mayweather's boxing techniques were incredibly effective, at least in Genin-level combat.
At this level, students lacked combat experience, their hand seals were slow, and their chakra reserves were shallow. Most fights were decided by physical brawling.
Even if someone used a Jutsu, it was usually a basic Academy technique like the Body Replacement. Ultimately, Taijutsu decided the winner.
In this environment, boxing logic reigned supreme. Even if a shinobi duel wasn't a boxing match, the principles of the stance applied perfectly to "no-holds-barred" combat.
Most importantly, it provided a framework of combat intelligence. Just as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is called "Human Chess," boxing is more than just raw power; its tactics and battle wisdom could be adapted to any world.
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