Unlimited Military Ration Pills

Denji nodded, held out his hand, and activated Scorch Release.

Wind and fire, two completely different forms of chakra, converged and fused in the boy's palm.

The wind drilled into the fire, and the fire wrapped around the wind, like two snakes coiling around each other and hissing.

A layer of crimson light welled up beneath Denji's skin, as if lava had enveloped his fist. Wherever the red glow passed, the air warped from the heat, giving off a faint sizzling sound.

Choza's eyes flew open.

He wanted to say, "Wait," but it was as if something had gripped his throat.

He had never seen a jutsu like this. There were no Hand Seals.

This wasn't a jutsu. It was more like a Kekkei Genkai!

"What is this?"

"I don't know."

Denji shook his head. He remembered that, given what he knew at the moment, he shouldn't know about Kekkei Genkai, so he could only play dumb.

"After you taught me the Chakra Refinement Technique yesterday, I tried practicing it, and then I found I could do this.

But it doesn't seem to match what you described."

Choza's breathing grew rapid. Though he was a Taijutsu specialist from the Akimichi Clan, he had realized by now and was one hundred percent certain: this was a Kekkei Genkai!

A new Kekkei Genkai!

Excitement shot from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head, making his blood boil.

"A Kekkei Genkai..." he murmured, his voice seeming to scrape up from deep in his throat. "It looks like a fusion of Wind Release and Fire Release... a new Kekkei Genkai..."

"Try attacking me."

Akimichi Choza raised a hand and held out his palm, signaling Denji to hit it.

Akimichi Denji hesitated for a moment. He knew how powerful Scorch Release was.

Akimichi Choza noticed his hesitation and said, "It's fine. You can't hurt me."

Hearing Choza say that, Denji let go of his concerns.

His father was a famous tank in Ino-Shika-Cho, built to take hits and hold the line. He'd be fine.

Denji planted his feet, twisted his hips, and threw a straight punch at Choza with his hand coated in Scorch Release.

Choza wore a confident smile as he caught Denji's hand.

Not bad. He looked skinny, but he was already a little stronger than that kid Choji.

As expected of an Akimichi!

He was about to praise him when a sharp pain shot through his hand. He let go without thinking.

Looking down, he saw that the skin on his palm had gone black and charred, dried out from the loss of moisture.

So this was Denji's Kekkei Genkai?

Unlike Fire Release, it seemed to forcibly steal and evaporate the moisture in the body. That meant even he could be hurt without chakra to protect him.

Choza immediately realized that this Kekkei Genkai was exceptionally well suited to the Akimichi Clan's fighting style.

The Akimichi Clan was a shinobi clan famous for Taijutsu. Their secret techniques, based on the Multi-Size Technique, allowed them to unleash tremendous strength.

With this Kekkei Genkai on top of that, their damage output would surely double.

Akimichi Choza suddenly turned and grabbed Denji by the shoulders.

The force made Denji stumble forward. He looked up and met his adoptive father's gaze. The face that was usually kind and warm now held an almost feverish expression. His eyes were wide, moonlight reflected in his pupils.

"Son, your power is called a Kekkei Genkai. It's a power inscribed in your bloodline. You either have it from birth, or you don't!"

"The reason the Uchiha Clan and the Hyuga Clan are among Konoha's top clans is that they have powers flowing through their bloodlines.

"If we had a little more time, you could have several more children, and in time, pass this Kekkei Genkai down..."

There was a new respect in Choza's eyes as he looked at Denji. Before, he'd felt only a father's indulgence and guilt toward his son. Now, there was also a clan leader's hope and admiration for a promising talent.

"Then the Akimichi Clan could become one of the top shinobi clans!"

He'd only shown off a new Kekkei Genkai, yet Akimichi Choza had already imagined so much—even thinking about having him father more children.

Akimichi Denji asked, "Then what is this Kekkei Genkai called?"

Akimichi Choza considered it for a moment. "Your Kekkei Genkai forcibly draws moisture out of the human body, as if evaporating it. Let's call it Scorch Release!"

His eyes filled with respect. "Since you have such talent, we can't let it go to waste.

"The jutsu taught at the Ninja Academy are all basic. Starting tomorrow, I'll arrange for the clan's instructors to teach you our Akimichi secret techniques, little by little."

Akimichi Denji nodded. That was exactly what he wanted.

Choza crouched down. "Until you've grown stronger, use the Akimichi Clan's techniques to protect your Scorch Release."

"Also, you're skinny as a monkey. You need to eat more. If you're hungry, the Akimichi Clan has Military Ration Pills, and we'll supply you with them from now on."

Akimichi Choza had noticed that Denji had a huge appetite and especially needed a lot of protein.

At first, he'd thought his child had come back from Amegakure famished, having gone without good food, which explained his large appetite.

But after all this time, Denji still hadn't put on weight.

Even if Akimichi Choza wasn't as clever as Nara Shikaku, he realized that this might be an effect of his son's Kekkei Genkai.

Military Ration Pills were high-energy food made by the Akimichi Clan, and they were just what Denji needed.

Choza looked up at the dark night sky. He thought he should go talk to Shikaku.

The Ino-Shika-Cho clans had been a single unit ever since the village was founded. They had always shared in each other's fortunes and misfortunes.

The Akimichi Clan had gained a Kekkei Genkai prodigy, which would benefit the others, too.

Besides, this was the kind of good news you had to brag about.

Shikaku had always been against him bringing Denji back and taking him in as his son.

Thinking of how he could make his old friend reconsider, Choza's usually honest face broke into a sly grin.

"I'll have someone prepare your meals from now on. You won't have to cook for yourself."

The father and son talked a little longer before Choza went out. No one knew where he went.

Akimichi Denji closed the door and let go of his concerns.

Revealing his Kekkei Genkai had been part of the plan.

If he could, he'd have preferred to develop in peace, keeping his head down until he became powerful through ninjutsu in the Naruto world.

Then Hinata could exclaim, "This Akimichi Denji is way too cautious!"

But with the main plot about to begin, there wasn't much time left for him to develop in peace.

If he wanted enough power to protect himself in the future, he had to race against time.

He could only reveal a little of his talent to get Choza's attention and secure more resources.

After careful consideration, it was a somewhat bold gamble.

After all, in the month they'd spent together, Denji had seen how much Akimichi Choza cared for him. Someone could fake affection over a brief period, but it was impossible to fake that kind of care through a long stretch of words, actions, and glances.

Now it seemed he'd made the right bet.

Choza had made it clear that he would support him wholeheartedly, teach him the Akimichi Clan's secret techniques, and supply him with unlimited Military Ration Pills.

Both were things he badly needed. Whether it was the Multi-Size Technique or the clan's Taijutsu, the former would greatly help improve his physique.

The latter could speed up his energy accumulation. At the moment, energy points were the only way to improve his physique.

To accumulate energy, he'd been eating nonstop. But ordinary food had far too low an energy density. Military Ration Pills would be different... They were special rations for shinobi in wartime. A single pill could meet a shinobi's needs for three days.