Of course, the exact nature of the half-star and one-star prize pools was still just speculation.
After all, the sample size was far too small.
You'd need to draw from each at least ten times before making any firm conclusions.
After all, you couldn't buy one Jack & Jones jacket and declare yourself a Nordic-style enthusiast, nor buy a pair of Uniqlo socks and claim to love Japanese fashion.
At the end of the day, it all came down to one thing—
your salary just hadn't been paid yet, so you couldn't afford anything else.
After some serious consideration, Uchiha Mai decided to place his final shred of trust in the system and go for another half-star draw.
He opened the familiar pool and spent 100 fashion points.
The roulette spun briefly, then the reward appeared—no suspense, no buildup whatsoever.
[Jean-Claude Van Damme's Spinning Kick · Half-Star
As the name suggests, this allows the host to quickly master Jean-Claude Van Damme's spinning kick. With deeper study, more of Van Damme's leg techniques can be unlocked.]
"…Huh."
This was like getting a pillow delivered the moment sleepiness hit.
Mai was extremely satisfied with this reward—it was exactly what he needed right now.
He'd heard of Jean-Claude Van Damme before.
A legendary Hollywood action star from the late twentieth century, once standing shoulder to shoulder with Stallone and Schwarzenegger.
And unlike most Western action stars who relied purely on muscle—
Van Damme had real skill.
During the golden age of Hong Kong cinema in the '70s and '80s, martial arts films dominated the industry.
Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet Li—those were the giants.
As a child, Van Damme had been frail and skinny. After accidentally encountering Hong Kong martial arts films, he fell in love with kung fu—and with Bruce Lee.
From the age of ten, he studied karate, taekwondo, Muay Thai, and other combat disciplines, competing in tournaments and achieving an impressive record of forty-eight wins and four losses.
After adulthood, he transitioned into acting and skyrocketed to fame, earning the title of Hollywood's Number One Leg Star.
His leg techniques weren't just visually stunning—they were genuinely practical.
Van Damme specialized in kicks.
Might Guy specialized in kicks.
Van Damme idolized Bruce Lee.
And Guy's prototype—anyone with eyes knew—was Bruce Lee.
Perfect symmetry.
As for complaints like Van Damme's spinning kicks being too flashy or less practical than modern kickboxing…
This was the ninja world.
Satisfied, Mai accepted the skill.
After dinner, he fell into a deep sleep.
The next day, he attended the Ninja Academy as usual.
During free activity time, he practiced and analyzed Van Damme's leg techniques.
Asuma—who'd previously been punched into a concussion—finally recovered and returned to school.
The moment he arrived, he planned to bring his lackeys and reclaim his dignity.
Then he saw it.
After finishing his harmonica performance and dance routine, Uchiha Mai walked over to a small tree and began practicing high whip kicks.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
After just a few kicks, the skin on his shin split open.
The tree snapped clean in half.
Mai casually wrapped his leg with bandages and medicine, then moved to another tree.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Still high whip kicks.
The academy's resident troublemaker swallowed hard and subconsciously stopped walking.
That's… that's brutal.
Even if you don't care about your own legs, shouldn't you at least care about Konoha's greenery?
Someone this ruthless to himself would be even more ruthless to others.
If he went over there now, he might end up crippled with one kick.
Not only would he become the academy's biggest joke—his entire future might be over.
Asuma silently made up his mind.
From now on, he'd take detours whenever he saw Uchiha Mai.
After graduating, he'd find a chance to leave Konoha entirely.
He'd heard the Uchiha were arrogant and vindictive.
If he got taken out with a dirty kick, that would be the end of him.
"Boss, why'd you stop? Didn't you say we'd jump him together?" a lackey whispered, poking Asuma's waist.
In Konoha, a group of kids ganging up on one kid was pretty common.
It was called righteous group justice.
"Smack!"
Asuma spun around and slapped the kid on the head.
"Jump him? All you ever think about is fighting and bullying classmates!
"We're Konoha shinobi—the inheritors of the Will of Fire! We must unite, be friendly, and love one another!
"You've followed me for so long—how did you learn absolutely nothing?"
The lackey scratched his head.
Wasn't it you who said we were gonna deal with him?
"Then… what about sister-in-law…" another kid asked weakly.
"Sister-in-law" referred to Kurenai Yūhi.
Despite their age, Asuma's little gang had a full organization structure.
They even had titles.
At that moment, the young Kurenai walked over shyly with a towel and a cup of brown sugar water, gently checking on Mai and showing concern.
Seeing this scene, the damage to Asuma's heart surpassed even Naruto watching Sakura care for Sasuke in Shippuden.
At least Sakura had never liked Naruto.
But Kurenai… she and Asuma once shared an innocent childhood bond.
Something once possessed cannot be treated as if it never existed.
Asuma stood there blankly, watching the two laugh and talk—like a complete outsider.
Bang!
He punched the tree beside him.
So hard that the rough bark tore open the skin on his knuckles, blood seeping out.
Sunlight filtered through the lush canopy above.
Light and shadow scattered across Asuma's body, making him look indescribably lonely.
Gritting his teeth, he muttered:
"Let's say she's just gaining experience.
"How many people meet the right one at the very first flutter of love?
"How many are born knowing how to love—how to tolerate, how to compromise?
"Without suffering through failed relationships, learning from pain, and growing wiser…
"How could anyone truly understand the weight of the word 'love'?
"Uchiha Mai—that pretty-boy—he's clearly the heartless type. He doesn't truly love Kurenai.
"When she experiences more, when she sees his cold indifference…
"Only then will she understand how precious someone who truly loves her really is.
"That moment—when she becomes mature—
That will be the perfect time for us to be together."
Asuma rattled off lines he'd once read in some third-rate romance novel—convincing his underlings, and more importantly, convincing himself.
The lackeys suddenly felt enlightened.
Their admiration for their boss deepened even further.
As expected of the Hokage's son—the academy's boss.
Such lofty emotional.
As for Asuma's entire internal monologue—
Uchiha Mai knew absolutely nothing about it.
Otherwise, he'd immediately recognize it for what it was:
classic self-moving-tissue-paper-tier coping logic.
Of course, Mai wasn't interested in the young Kurenai either.
A real man appreciates maturity.
Anything below 36E didn't even enter Uchiha Mai's field of vision.
Women might slow down my punches—
but big breasts won't.
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