Choji's Resolve

Because he knew so little about the Sound Four, Shikamaru's first move was quickly noticed by the group as they rested.

Just as Shikamaru used the Shadow Imitation Technique to restrain them, Jirobo broke free through sheer brute strength. Then he trapped them inside the Earth Prison Dome.

"Perfect. I'll absorb your Chakra to help me recover!"

The group inside the barrier discovered that not only was it difficult to break through from within, but it was also constantly absorbing their Chakra.

Kiba Inuzuka used Fang Over Fang, repeatedly drilling into the walls.

But whether it was the walls or the floor, they repaired themselves automatically—and at incredible speed.

Naruto tried to bore through the earthen wall with a Rasengan, only to find that a Chakra-intensive technique like that was useless inside a barrier that devoured Chakra.

"I want to talk to your leader! Take Sasuke if you want! Could you at least let us out?"

Shikamaru kept up a desultory conversation with Jirobo while scanning the dome formed by the earthen walls.

While Naruto and Kiba argued, Choji quietly opened a bag of chips and started stuffing his face.

"What are you doing, eating at a time like this?!"

Naruto complained.

"He's like this whenever he gets angry..."

Neji started to explain, but Shikamaru stopped him with a look.

"Fighting among yourselves? You're a real failure as a squad leader!"

Jirobo mocked Shikamaru without restraint.

"Choji!"

Shikamaru called out.

"Expansion Jutsu!"

Choji's body swelled in an instant.

While Naruto stood there in shock, the Meat Tank slammed into a section of wall in the distance that had yet to fully repair itself.

Jirobo suddenly sensed something wrong with the barrier's response. Then he saw the group charging through from the other side.

"Not bad. You managed to break through my barrier..."

"Everyone, don't be reckless..." Neji said calmly.

"Even though we outnumber him, we're almost out of Chakra!"

"That's right. If we waste any more time, Sasuke might leave the Fire Country! Without a diplomatic leader, we Konoha shinobi aren't allowed to enter another country's territory without cause!" Shikamaru added.

"Neji, we don't know where Jimo is right now. You're acting as deputy leader. Take Kiba and Choji and keep chasing! Naruto and I will handle this guy!"

Seeing the hand signs Shikamaru was forming, Jirobo sneered.

"You think your little trick will work on me again? You call yourself a leader, and you really think splitting up gives you a chance of winning?"

Jirobo laughed at them without restraint.

"With a moron like you leading the team, you deserve to die here today!"

"Before you idiots suffer because you're so willing to obey the orders of a scheming fool like him, I'll put an end to your pain!"

"Say that again, if you've got the guts!"

Choji slowly rose to his feet, murder in his eyes.

"Leave him to me!"

Choji took out a bag of Soldier Pills and handed it to Shikamaru.

"Quick, replenish your Chakra and go after Sasuke! Otherwise, once they cross the border, you'll really be a moronic leader leading a bunch of idiots!"

"You..." Before Choji took out the Soldier Pills, Shikamaru had caught sight of what was inside his bag.

The Akimichi Clan's secret pills...

"Make sure you catch up..."

"Got it!"

After the others left, Choji took out the blue pill and swallowed it. A tremendous amount of Chakra surged through him, giving him even more strength than Jirobo.

Choji swung a punch and sent Jirobo flying. But before he could feel relieved, a sharp pain shot through his body.

"Damn, I only just took the Pill of Refinement, and the side effects are already this bad?"

In the forest, the others continued their pursuit, but they were still worried about Choji's safety.

"Woof!"

"Yeah... I think so too..." Kiba Inuzuka replied to Akamaru in his arms.

"What's he saying?" Naruto asked curiously.

"Akamaru says that guy's presence feels dangerous... Animals have good instincts..."

"Yeah, we don't know enough about the enemy. Leaving Choji behind alone to hold him off is asking a lot of him," Neji added, unusually speaking up.

"But that's what battle is. This mission was never child's play... We have to be ready to risk our lives, to bleed and make sacrifices!"

Shikamaru spoke gravely. He knew better than anyone what those three pills could do.

"Splitting up to fight is the worst option, but if we don't hold the enemy back one-on-one, we'll never catch up to Sasuke! Choji stayed behind alone because he believes we're all stronger than he is. He trusts that leaving him behind will improve our chances of completing the mission!"

A tremendous explosion boomed behind them...

"Choji..."

Shikamaru's face twisted. A technique of that magnitude definitely hadn't come from Choji.

"Don't worry!"

Oddly enough, Naruto, who'd been the most visibly worried, looked relieved.

"Don't forget! We still have someone on our team who can bail us out!"

"You mean..."

"Only Jimo could pull off a technique like that!" Naruto said with a grin.

"Phew! I made it just in time!"

Jimo held the unconscious Choji in his arms and wiped the sweat from his brow.

"Jimo... Go, quick... Catch up with the others!"

Choji struggled to sit up, but the pill's side effects were too severe. Every movement felt like thousands upon thousands of needles were stabbing into him.

"I've got everything under control. Get some rest for now! You did great!"

Jimo smiled gently.

"The moment you risked your life for your friends, you were seriously cool!"

Looking at Choji, exhausted to the point of collapse, Jimo breathed a sigh of relief.

"Good thing I got here in time. You were this close to eating the Red Curry Pill..."

Jimo took out a Senzu Bean and fed it to Choji. Under its healing effects, Choji's breathing soon grew much steadier.

"Just get some rest. I'll take care of everything from here!"

With that, Jimo took out a Signal Flare and pulled the cord. A red orb of light slowly rose into the sky. Then Jimo broke Jirobo's arms and legs and tied him up tight with steel wire. To be safe, he'd specifically asked Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage, for medicine that would disrupt Chakra.

After forcing the medicine down Jirobo's throat, Jimo made a Shadow Clone. Only then did he set off after Naruto and the others, reassured.

"Squad Leader Anko... Th-this..."

The Konoha Anbu who arrived were startled to see Choji breathing steadily and Jirobo bound like a dead dog.

"That's brutal... Even worse than Captain Ibiki of the interrogation unit..."

Looking at the familiar handiwork, Anko said helplessly, "Get someone to take Choji and that thing back to Konoha. The rest of you, follow me. We're continuing the pursuit!"

"Don't get yourself killed... pervert!"