Mai Style Ancient Martial Arts

After the father and son had finished being moved, they remembered there was still an outsider beside them.

Might Duy covered his mouth with his left fist and coughed lightly twice. "Of course I can guide you in taijutsu training. We're both Konoha shinobi.

But I don't know exactly what you want to learn."

"Leg techniques and kicking skills. I want to create my own taijutsu style, but what I've learned so far has had very few kicking techniques. It isn't complete enough."

Uchiha Mai answered honestly.

In Shippuden, Might Guy and Rock Lee... no, not Lee-zi, had used moves such as the Leaf Whirlwind and Leaf Great Whirlwind.

Those spinning kicks were stylish, powerful, flashy, and highly entertaining to watch, while their strength was nothing to scoff at.

In ordinary combat, spinning kicks could easily cause the user to lose their center of gravity and balance, making them highly impractical techniques.

But this was the world of Naruto. Those various Leaf wind techniques were practically the accompanying taijutsu of the first few Eight Inner Gates. They had to be extraordinary.

According to the usual melodramatic novel setup, the Eight Inner Gates were the Might family's inherited secret art. Compared to it, the various Leaf wind techniques were like the box used to hold a luminous pearl—relatively less important.

Who would walk up and ask to learn someone else's family secret technique? Learning some Leaf wind techniques would do.

"That's right~"

Might Duy propped up his chin with one hand and nodded. "I do have some insights into leg techniques, so teaching you certainly won't be a problem.

However, your goal is to create your own taijutsu style. Learning leg techniques should only be meant to complete your system.

That means I need to give careful thought to what I should teach you. If possible, could you show me the taijutsu you've created so far?"

Might Duy did not doubt Uchiha Mai's ability just because he was a little brat claiming he wanted to create his own taijutsu style.

Wasn't that standard procedure for a Uchiha genius?

Copy Ninja Kakashi was said to have learned over a thousand ninjutsu, while Sarutobi Hiruzen was known as the Shinobi World Professor and was likewise said to be able to use over a thousand ninjutsu.

Yet in Shippuden, the two of them kept using only the same few moves. Why was that?

Because those "thousand-plus ninjutsu" had some tricks to them. Take the Great Fireball, for instance. This C-rank Fire Style technique had originally come from the Uchiha, before gradually spreading through Konoha and even the Ninja World.

It was powerful, required few hand seals, and its strength could be freely adjusted depending on how much chakra was used. Its only flaw was that it could not hit anyone.

But in the Ninja World, there were also techniques like Fireball, Big Fireball, Double Fireball, Fireball: Some Limited Edition, and others with almost identical learning difficulty and highly similar qualities in every respect.

Among all those near-identical techniques, the ones stronger than the Great Fireball required more hand seals, while the ones requiring fewer hand seals were weaker. That was how the Great Fireball stood out.

That was how there came to be over a thousand ninjutsu.

The same went for taijutsu. If one truly wanted to create it, the difficulty was not great; the problem was simply that its power and versatility could not be guaranteed.

He wanted to see Uchiha Mai's taijutsu skills?

Might Guy's eyes lit up. He immediately raised his arm and said impatiently, "Let me do it.

The true power of taijutsu can only be displayed in battle. Let me fight Mai, Dad. You can observe Mai's taijutsu characteristics from the side."

Might Duy nodded slightly. It was feasible. Taijutsu was not some flowery routine for show; one needed at least an imaginary opponent to see the fundamentals of a style.

Ever since meeting Kakashi, Guy had trained diligently every day, and his strength had soared. In terms of taijutsu alone, he was no longer weak.

"No problem." Uchiha Mai smiled.

Guy really was the perfect opponent. Besides, he might be able to pick up a few points this time.

Last time, he had beaten Sarutobi Hiruzen's son in front of Hiruzen. Today, he would beat Guy in front of Might Duy. This moment was just like that moment; the biggest difference was that there were no longer so many spectators.

He should be able to harvest some Style Points... right?

Might Duy's yard was rather cramped, leaving no room to stretch one's limbs. Fortunately, it stood at the very edge of Konoha and was not far from the river.

Might Duy led the two little brats all the way to an open area by the river. Only after witnessing them form the Seal of Confrontation did he retreat to the side and observe carefully.

"Mai, I have waited a long time for this day.

You are the second opponent I have wanted to challenge. Witness my youth and passion!"

Guy felt his blood boil throughout his body. He gathered his momentum, let out a roar, and charged forward, opening with a flying high whip kick aimed at Uchiha Mai's cheek.

The wind from his leg howled past. Uchiha Mai quickly lowered his head and threw an uppercut straight at Guy's groin—fast, accurate, and ruthless.

You were the one who exposed your crotch. Don't blame me for being too vicious.

Guy had barely extended his whip kick halfway when he realized something was wrong with Uchiha Mai's punch. His face instantly turned pale with fright.

Even if he did not understand those things, Guy, as a taijutsu practitioner, should have known that was a vital spot among vital spots. Besides, Guy did understand those things.

Guy had once tracked Kakashi down and pestered him for a fight. He had hounded him so relentlessly that he even followed Kakashi when he went to the bathroom.

Then he discovered that his Little Guy was not as imposing as Kakashi's Little Kakashi. For a time, he had felt terribly inferior and depressed.

It was not big to begin with. If one punch made his eggs fly and crack, would that not be misery upon misery?

Guy no longer cared about losing his balance. He mustered all his strength to change moves, shielding his crotch with both hands in an attempt to protect Little Guy.

Uchiha Mai smiled. Here it came!

Compared to punches, kicks had larger movements, made it easier to lose one's center of gravity, and were harder to alter midway through—especially flying side kicks and spinning kicks.

If an opponent lacked the eyesight or speed to catch the openings exposed when you attacked, then naturally there would be no problem.

Unfortunately, as an Uchiha who often dreamed of awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan, Mai had always taken good care of his eyesight. A few days ago, he had also learned the Lightning Five-Chain Whip, greatly improving his upper-body speed and flexibility.

True quick eyes and swift hands!

His attacks were already fast, while his opponent was using leg techniques, so comparatively speaking, it was easier for Mai to change moves.

Seeing Guy retract his leg to shield his crotch, his movements had already become distorted and it was difficult for him to change moves again. Mai swiftly pulled back his fist, raised his arms, and lightly leaped forward.

He clasped his hands together, channeling the strength of his left arm into his right. As he descended, he viciously smashed his right elbow down onto Guy's head.

Mai Style Ancient Martial Arts: Outer Style: Iron Crowbar!

Do not ask why the move name was so long. It was simply cooler, more impressive without anyone quite understanding why, and convenient for harvesting Style Points.

Boxing, jujutsu, traditional martial arts—Uchiha Mai combined those techniques into one, producing the effect of Yagami-Style Ancient Martial Arts from The King of Fighters.

Please call me Konoha Iori Yagami!

Guy was unable to dodge in time. His head buzzed after taking an Iron Crowbar, and he crashed to the ground with a boom, feeling dazed.

Might Duy, who was watching, twitched slightly at the corner of his mouth. Wasn't this supposed to test Mai's taijutsu characteristics? Shouldn't they at least have exchanged a few moves? What was with getting knocked down in one strike?

Still, from that one move alone, Might Duy could conclude that this child Uchiha Mai absolutely had his own understanding of taijutsu.