Uchiha Mai's speed was too explosive. Guy, mid-leap and unable to dodge or change his move, took the hit head-on and was sent flying backward. The "storm" of his relentless offensive was finally broken.
Mai didn't let up. He lunged forward, leaping high into the air to catch Guy with a Flying Scissors Kick around the waist. He expertly seized Guy's arm, twisting his body mid-air to pin him to the ground as they landed.
The final position was clinical: Guy lay flat on his back, his throat and chest pinned by Mai's legs, while his right arm was trapped in Mai's grasp. Guy's elbow was braced against Mai's hip, and his wrist was held in a death grip, making it impossible for him to generate any leverage.
It was a textbook Flying Armbar.
"AAAHHHH!!!!"
Guy roared, straining every fiber of his being to break the lock. However, Mai simply arched his hips slightly, causing a surge of tearing pain to shoot through Guy's arm. The strength drained out of Guy instantly.
"Give up, Guy. You can't escape my Armbar," Mai advised calmly.
The Armbar is one of the most iconic techniques in Jiu-Jitsu, perfectly illustrating the principle of leverage. Mai's entire body acted as the back of a bow, while Guy's trapped arm was the string.
For Guy to break free, the strength of his single arm would have to overpower the combined strength of Mai's core, hips, and back. Even with the Gate of Opening active, Guy's raw power hadn't reached such an absurd level.
Watching from the side, Might Duy's eyes lit up. What a move! He realized immediately that if Mai applied full pressure by straightening his hips, Guy's arm wouldn't just be locked—it would be snapped at the elbow.
"I haven't... nnngh..."
Guy tried to act tough, but Mai gave his hips a slight nudge. Guy broke into a cold sweat as the sharp pain silenced him.
"Guy, you have lost," Might Duy stated, bringing a definitive end to the match.
Hearing his father's words, Guy finally stopped resisting. He deactivated the Gate of Opening and lay on his back, gasping for air as his chest heaved. Only then did Mai release the lock and stand up.
"Papa, I lost again," Guy said, staring up at the darkening sky. Despite the defeat, his eyes were clear, devoid of any frustration or despair.
"Yes, you lost again." Duy nodded, pulling his son up. "But what does that matter? Guy, we have no talent for Ninjutsu. We spend every day practicing Taijutsu that no one else wants to touch, and we don't even know if this path has a future.
But through effort and passion, you fought geniuses like Kakashi and Mai to this extent. That proves you have surpassed yourself."
"Failure is temporary. Train hard, feel yourself improve, and then challenge them again. As long as you don't give up, one day you will win. And even if you never do, you've become strong in the pursuit, haven't you?"
"Yes!" Guy's eyes filled with tears as he hugged his father. He immediately set a new goal. "It must be because I wasn't training hard enough! I've decided: from now on, I'll run 100km extra every day! If I can't finish, I'll do 1,000 pushups! If I can't finish those, 1,000 situps! If those aren't done, I'll kick a tree 1,000 times..."
Mai stood to the side, feeling like an outsider listening to a waiter rattle off a long menu. He realized that Guy was also a genius. His talent just wasn't obvious—it was the talent for effort. Most ninjas would break under Guy's training regime; that was his unique gift.
Once the emotional moment passed, Duy turned to Mai. "Mai-kun, Guy is like this. Once he picks a target, he won't stop until he surpasses them. I'm afraid he'll be bothering you quite a bit from now on."
Mai smiled. "Not at all. Having a rival like Guy is something every young ninja dreams of. Healthy competition helps both sides. To keep from being surpassed, I'll have to work twelve times as hard, too."
Mai took a secret peek at the system. His Style Points, which had been nearly empty, had climbed back up to 115. This was enough for another Half-Star draw.
He was starting to figure out the formula: it depended on the opponent's importance, the presence of witnesses, and his own performance. While only Duy was watching, Mai's "Asura" strike and the cool name of his "Ancient Martial Arts" had clearly made an impression.
"I'm glad to hear that," Duy said. "From our fight, I know what you need. The style you're creating—even if it's just a prototype—has a bright future. I have some 'insights' regarding leg techniques. I hope my simple kicks can help round out your style."
"That would be perfect," Mai replied, satisfied.
"I don't have missions for the next few days. Come over with Guy after school, and I'll teach you the leg techniques of the Strong Fist style."
As twilight settled, Mai dragged his bruised body back home. Guy was a beast; the Gate of Opening made him relentless, leaving Mai with sore muscles and bruises everywhere.
Soaking in a hot tub, Mai fell into deep thought. He had 115 points. Should he do a Half-Star pull now or save 300 for a One-Star pull?
Half-Star rewards were "keys to knowledge"—they gave him the foundation to build his own system. Without them, he'd never have been able to fight Guy to a standstill. One-Star rewards were more like "innate talents" or passives that boosted his baseline stats immediately.
Which should I go for?
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