One Finger Suppresses Uchiha Itachi

After a few more pleasantries, Fugaku ended their conversation. It was just giving the Hokage's son a concussion, after all; a few words of reprimand were enough.

The most important thing was that a rare taijutsu genius had emerged within the clan, and that was where Fugaku's focus lay.

Uchiha Mai stepped out of the room and immediately ran into Uchiha Mikoto, who was sitting in the corridor, and Shisui, who was busy teasing Itachi.

"Mai, Fugaku didn't scold you too harshly, did he? If he spoke a bit heavily, I hope you understand. We Uchiha are not on the same path as the Hokage, and we have always been viewed with suspicion by the village."

Mikoto glanced at Mai and offered a gentle word of comfort, fearing that a young man like him might misunderstand Fugaku and develop some resentment.

This was likely the work of a supportive wife playing the "good cop" to her husband's "bad cop."

Mai smiled and replied, "Aunt Mikoto, you worry too much. The clan leader just gave me a few words of advice and we chatted about some trivial matters. Everything is for the sake of the Uchiha; how could I resent the clan leader?"

"I'm glad you understand." Mikoto nodded gently, thinking the young man was quite sensible.

The Uchiha clan was much like the hybrids in Dragon Raja—naturally powerful yet ostracized by the Konoha high-ups, and the villagers held no favorable impression of them either.

Because they practiced endogamy, their numbers had never been high, making every clansman precious. Most Uchiha valued family ties deeply, sometimes to an extreme degree.

Uchiha Mikoto assumed Mai might be a radical, given that he had actually given Asuma a concussion.

Therefore, she didn't want a conflict of ideology or a single dispute to cause a young man to drift away from Fugaku.

Uchiha Mai took a few steps to the side of the stroller and leaned over to observe the infant Uchiha Itachi in his swaddling clothes.

This powerful ninja, who in the original story would be brainwashed by the Will of Fire into wiping out his own clan, was currently just a little brat without a single tooth, giggling as Shisui teased him with a rattle.

"So this is Aunt Mikoto and the clan leader's child, his name is Itachi, right?" Mai asked, his eyes unobtrusively drifting toward the diaper between Itachi's legs.

If he flicked Itachi's little "hook" right now, he wondered if he could rake in some Style Points. Even if he couldn't, it would at least be a good conversation starter for the future.

Uchiha Itachi? Back in the day, I defeated him with a single finger. A total scrub.

A mere Uchiha Itachi dares to act up in front of me, the Second Generation Dance King? I think you've forgotten how I flicked your little hook back then.

"Yes, Itachi is your younger brother. You must love and get along with each other in the future, okay?" Mikoto nodded.

Uchiha Mai stared at Itachi, evil thoughts growing in his mind, itching to try.

Just as Mai raised his hand, the infant Itachi, who had been waving his little hands while chasing the rattle, suddenly switched from laughing to crying, letting out a "waaah." His speed at changing expressions was on par with Mai's own.

Uchiha Mai was baffled. I haven't even made a move yet, why is he crying?

Could it be that I already possess the intimidating aura of a peerless master?

Mikoto only had to glance down to see the issue. She picked up the infant Itachi and said, "Oh my, what a silly child. Little Itachi has wet his pants again. I'll go change his diaper; you two keep playing with him."

Wet pants, dirty diapers—this was a stage every infant went through. After all, newborns lacked wisdom and would only gradually learn how to "hold it."

"Let me do it!" Uchiha Mai raised his hand, looking eager. He had just wanted to flick Itachi's little hook, and now the opportunity had arrived.

"I'll help too," the little brat Shisui chimed in.

Mikoto looked at the two little brats, feeling deeply comforted by this scene of brotherly harmony. She simply placed the infant Itachi back in the cradle and directed the two boys to change his diaper.

After a flurry of chaotic movements, Mai finally managed to peel off the wet loincloth from the infant Itachi, exposing that tiny, delicate peanut to the air.

Finding a clean towel, he soaked it to wipe the infant's crotch. Mai finally found his chance and, in the process of wiping, gave it an unobtrusive flick.

The Style Points on the system interface did not increase in the slightest.

Uchiha was slightly disappointed. As expected, the wool wasn't so easy to shear. Perhaps his initial idea of beating up the Konoha kindergarteners was flawed.

The reason he gained 200 points for severely injuring Asuma might not have been entirely because Asuma was a plot-relevant character.

It was very likely related to the intensity of their confrontation, the onlookers, his own inner thoughts, and other factors.

After all, the Third Hokage had been watching at the time. Defeating his son head-on in front of the Third Hokage was an act that could truly be associated with the word [Style].

The mission failed before it even began, and my get-rich-quick scheme has collapsed halfway through. This damn system really doesn't leave any loopholes for people to exploit.

Still, this diaper change wasn't a total loss; it counted as a future investment.

When Uchiha Itachi grew up, he could pull rank and act cool in front of him: What are you acting so tough for, you little brat? I even changed your diapers back in the day.

I am the man who suppressed Uchiha Itachi with a single finger!

After finishing the diaper change, Uchiha Mai returned to his own courtyard. He practiced his punches until eleven o'clock, drank a glass of milk, and went to sleep, never leaving his fatigue for the next day.

Then, it was back to the day-to-day life of a student.

Mai's class was considered the "graduating batch." In about a month or so, they would have to prepare for the graduation exam. Those who passed would become ninjas, and those who failed would be sent home to sell pork floss pancakes.

The difficulty of the graduation exam would not be lowered just because Konoha was short on ninjas. The more it was wartime, the more likely ninjas were to carry out dangerous missions deep behind enemy lines.

In squad-based combat, having one unqualified member would severely drag the entire team down.

With the graduation exam fast approaching, the various course schedules for Mai's grade were no longer as rigid as before, as everyone had different areas they needed to review.

As a result, Mai gained a large amount of time to train his taijutsu. Every day, after playing his harmonica and dancing to harvest a wave of Style Points, he would hide in a corner of the training ground to refine his own boxing and taijutsu.

Mayweather's boxing technique was better suited for "ring-style" head-on taijutsu combat, whereas most of the battles ninjas fought were "ambushes" and "encounters."

It is essential to refine taijutsu based on one's own physical condition, needs, and personal preferences, which requires a profound understanding of the martial arts.

Fortunately, Uchiha Mai does not lack such understanding.

After spending several days, Mai finally combined his actual circumstances with the foundations of boxing, jujutsu, and the Five-Link Whip to create the prototype of a fighting style best suited for himself.

As of now, this fighting style has only finalized a few basic moves, but it has still allowed Mai's strength to improve further.

After all, this is a form of taijutsu that is truly suited to him.