That night, Akimichi Denji took out a flesh-colored pill he'd brought along: a Military Ration Pill, just like the ones Akimichi Choza had mentioned.
Military Ration Pills replenished both energy and chakra. They were generally emergency provisions for wartime, and few people used them regularly because of the cost.
But with Akimichi Choza's permission, Denji had an unlimited supply, which was just what he needed to meet his energy-point requirements.
Everything was falling into place.
He swallowed the pill and felt the chakra and energy spread through him. Denji grew a little excited.
After a month of gorging himself, Denji's stomach had grown, and his digestive capacity had improved as well.
Even so, he estimated it would take two days to fully absorb a single Military Ration Pill.
After all, Military Ration Pills were specially made for shinobi in wartime. One could provide enough nourishment for three days.
Accordingly, his energy was increasing faster, too.
At this rate of digestion, Denji estimated that one Military Ration Pill was worth about 10 energy points.
Feeling the energy points slowly rise on his panel, Denji nodded in satisfaction.
This way, he wouldn't have to go out of his way to eat, and he could ensure a steady supply of energy.
Otherwise, he'd have to stuff himself every day, worry about what to eat all the time, and risk turning himself into a glutton.
With chakra to spare as well as energy, Denji decided to use it to practice the Three Body Technique.
The road ahead was long and winding; he would search high and low.
The night was still young. Deep in Nara Clan territory, the heads of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans—Yamanaka Inoichi, Nara Shikaku, and Akimichi Choza—sat around a brazier.
Sake warmed over the brazier, and all three were dressed casually.
This was a private conversation, with no one else present—only the three clan heads.
They had served on the same squad during the Second Shinobi World War, and as the heads of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans, they were close. Their years of fighting together had forged a deep friendship, and they often got together like this.
But tonight, they had a different topic to discuss.
Nara Shikaku looked surprised. "You mean your new son is talented enough to use the Chakra Refinement Technique on his own after just one day?"
Yamanaka Inoichi tried to recall the name Denji. It sounded familiar. His daughter seemed to have mentioned it to him tonight...
Choza looked very proud. "That's right! He must've inherited my talent. He's got the makings of me in my prime."
Yamanaka Inoichi wasted no time in puncturing Choza's boast. "Oh, come on. We grew up together. Who doesn't know it took you a whole year to manage it on your own?"
Choza didn't get mad at the jab. After all these years of friendship, he was used to trading barbs with them. "My son naturally inherited my talent."
Among the three clans, Nara Shikaku, known as the Deer of Wisdom, wasn't as carefree as his two friends.
Denji learning to do it in a day made him uneasy. He suspected there was more to the story.
Nara Shikaku spoke slowly. "Are you sure he's using the Chakra Refinement Technique of your Akimichi Clan? Yours isn't the only one. What if he learned the technique used in Amegakure...?"
Akimichi Choza looked a little annoyed. "Of course I'm sure. I've been a shinobi for years. You think I can't recognize the characteristics of my own clan's technique?"
Nara Shikaku nodded. "In that case, it's good news."
When his two friends didn't react much, Choza slowly added another piece of news. "That's not all. I discovered that after Denji refined chakra, he awakened a Kekkei Genkai."
At that, Nara Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi, who had been calmly sipping their warm sake, both spat it out.
Yamanaka Inoichi blurted, "What did you say?"
Nara Shikaku wiped the sake away with a handkerchief and asked, "A new Kekkei Genkai?"
Shikaku's suspicions that Denji might be a spy vanished at once.
If Denji were merely a spy, hiding a Kekkei Genkai would be the better option.
No village would be foolish enough to send a Kekkei Genkai user out in the open as a spy.
Kekkei Genkai users were strategic assets in every shinobi village, vital to its strength.
"That's right. I named it Scorch Release. I found that this Kekkei Genkai works exceptionally well with our Akimichi Clan's secret techniques."
"I think our three clans should work together to train him. This is an opportunity for all of us."
Yamanaka Inoichi nodded. "That's good. Since it concerns a Kekkei Genkai, we should make his training a priority."
After some thought, Nara Shikaku said, "I agree. Denji should receive special training. But we should also inform Lord Hokage that Denji has awakened a Kekkei Genkai."
"Do we really need to tell the Hokage about this?"
Akimichi Choza instinctively wanted to object. A Kekkei Genkai could determine a clan's prosperity. He had already shared the news with the Nara and Yamanaka clans because the three families were so close. As part of the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance, the Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka clans had always stood together.
Revealing Denji's talent to the Nara and Yamanaka clans would help secure benefits for him among the three families.
But telling the Hokage would only add unnecessary risk, and Choza was naturally reluctant.
"The Ino-Shika-Cho clans have always been one of Konoha's great clans in large part because we've stood with the Hokage's faction.
"Although Lord Hokage didn't stop Denji from returning to the village, he's been keeping an eye on him.
"You know that the higher-ups have been wondering whether Denji is a spy. He was lost in the Land of Rain for years, after all..."
Choza muttered unhappily, "How could Denji possibly be a spy?"
Seeing his friend's displeasure, Shikaku reassured him. "I understand. Inoichi does, too. But the others aren't us. They're bound to have their doubts."
"Letting Lord Hokage know will show Denji's value and raise his standing in the Hokage's eyes.
"And by bringing it up ourselves, we can also put the Hokage's suspicions to rest.
"A Kekkei Genkai can't be kept secret forever.
"If Lord Hokage discovers it himself, it could cause more trouble. Someone with an agenda might even drive a wedge between us.
"So, all things considered, reporting it ourselves is better for everyone. With the village backing him, Denji can reveal his Kekkei Genkai without worry, which will help him grow."
Nara Shikaku patiently explained his reasoning.
As the Deer of Wisdom, he was more politically astute than Akimichi Choza and Yamanaka Inoichi, and he could see the pros and cons.
Akimichi Choza saw the sense in it, too, and nodded.
The Nara clan had always been the brains of their alliance.
He had objected at first because the word "spy" was so inflammatory.
But after Shikaku laid out the reasoning, he could see the pros and cons, even if he was an Akimichi.
The firelight flickered. The three moved on from the subject, sipping sake and chatting about everyday matters until it was time to part.
The next day, Akimichi Denji opened the door.
As soon as he stepped outside, he saw Akimichi Choji at the table, already wolfing down breakfast.
Choza had already arranged for Denji to live with him and Choji from now on.
At Denji's request, though, Choza had let him keep the little house on the edge of the Akimichi Clan's territory.
After all, Denji needed a place where he could try out new ninjutsu.
And spend time with Hinata, with Ino possibly joining them later.
Of course, that was purely for the Wish Points.
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