He Ate Himself to Death

Through an endless stretch of time, Akimichi Denji felt as though he had gained countless experiences.

This time, the experience was clearly very different. In his memories, he had done nothing but eat and eat until he'd stuffed himself so full that he could barely sense his limit.

Using this method, Akimichi Denji continually tested what else could further affect his digestive function. It wasn't just the acupuncture points; he also used certain poses and special breathing techniques.

But none of it helped him break through that barrier.

Then, at last, inspiration struck. One winter day, while eating hot pot, he suddenly got the idea to stuff all the hot pot broth into his mouth. He endured the searing pain and numbing spice as he practiced the secret technique.

Boom!

Akimichi Denji slowly began to speak:

"Through years of devotion, I've honed my art. My stomach's a vast ocean, where the pot-sea's thunder roars."

"Though I've eaten a thousand bowls, my resolve remains. I've downed ten thousand pots of broth, till only clear porridge remains."

"Taotie Technique, complete!"

As he felt his enormous stomach split, excruciating pain struck.

Akimichi Denji abruptly opened his eyes, drenched in cold sweat.

At the end of his memories, he had indeed mastered the secret technique—but he had also stuffed himself to death.

The inexplicable brush with death left Akimichi Denji shaken. It was the first time he had died in his memories. Even though it hadn't been the real him, he was still left reeling and took a long time to recover.

Fortunately, these were memories from adding a point.

If he'd really trained that way, he probably would have exploded and died, becoming the first transmigrator ever to stuff himself to death.

That would have been pretty funny.

He looked at the panel.

[Ninjutsu: Gluttonous Devour Technique (Mastery) -> (Grandmastery)]

[Effect: Runs automatically at all times; digestive capacity ×5. Slowly increases constitution and slightly boosts the effects of the Expansion Jutsu.]

[Evaluation: Congratulations on becoming the first transmigrator to eat yourself to death.]

Ignoring the system's evaluation, Akimichi Denji carefully examined the effects of the Grandmaster-level technique.

Unlike the Chakra Refinement Technique, this time he seemed to have skipped the Expert level entirely and gone straight to Grandmaster.

The Grandmaster-level Taotie Technique was twice as fast as the Master-level one. At this rate, he probably wouldn't be able to go a whole day without eating a single Military Ration Pill.

He'd need to take one every half a day.

At the Grandmaster level, the Taotie Technique did more than circulate chakra through his acupuncture points. It also incorporated a specific breathing technique, making his breaths longer and steadier.

At a martial artist's level, this would probably be the stage where one's breath pierced the heavens and one's inner force surged three yards.

In Demon Slayer, he could probably even create a technique called the Breath of Hunger.

Shaking off the jumble of thoughts in his mind, Akimichi Denji checked how much he'd digested. This time... it would take less than a day.

It wasn't over yet. He still had one Wish Point left. Akimichi Denji looked at the single point remaining on the panel.

Remembering how he'd stuffed himself to death the last time, Akimichi Denji felt a little apprehensive. He wasn't sure if he should keep going.

After all, even though it was all just virtual, the pain transmitted by the memories had felt utterly real. He really had stuffed himself to death.

He gritted his teeth and tried to add a point with a thought. The system's response put him at ease.

A prompt appeared on the panel.

[Please train in the Expansion Jutsu before trying again.]

The Taotie Technique was originally a supplementary secret technique for the Multi-Size Technique. It seemed that to reach the Transcendent Mastery stage, he would need to make progress with the Multi-Size Technique as well.

Akimichi Denji felt both disappointed and relieved.

But he figured he could tell his cheap old man today, so he wasn't in a hurry. He pushed open the door and entered the dining room, where his father was eating breakfast. Choji was also sitting at the table, looking glum.

Akimichi Choza looked at Akimichi Denji's haggard face and asked in shock, "Did you stay up all night?"

Akimichi Denji nodded listlessly and sank into a seat at the table. He was in desperate need of food.

Seeing Akimichi Denji in that state, Akimichi Choza seemed to guess what had happened. He asked, sounding almost unsure of himself,

"You didn't already master it, did you?"

Akimichi Denji nodded. Akimichi Choza sucked in a sharp breath.

He'd actually mastered it in one night? It had taken me a whole month. Was I a ninjutsu failure?

Akimichi Choza couldn't help wondering. Then he struck back at himself with a thought.

No, this is my child. That just proves he inherited my excellent talent as a ninja. As expected of my son!

Akimichi Denji watched his father's expression shift from gloomy to cheerful and relieved. He had no idea what had just gone through his mind.

He figured it was time to ask.

He swallowed a fried dough stick, gulped down the egg in his hand, and looked at Akimichi Choza.

"I want to try the Multi-Size Technique."

Akimichi Choza had been about to put him off. The Multi-Size Technique was much harder than the Taotie Technique, and Akimichi Denji hadn't stored up even a little fat yet. There was no way he could master it now.

But then he remembered how excited Akimichi Denji had been after learning the Taotie Technique. It was only natural that he'd be eager to try the Multi-Size Technique too.

After what had happened with Shimura Danzō yesterday, it seemed the incident had affected Denji. Wanting to get stronger was a good thing.

And with Akimichi Denji's talent for ninjutsu, maybe... he really could surprise him.

Akimichi Choza changed his mind and handed Denji a ninjutsu scroll.

"You'll be starting school soon. For now, try reading the scroll and memorizing the principles. Don't rush into practicing."

Taking the scroll, Akimichi Denji headed to school with Choji.

"Denji-kun!"

A clear, bright voice called from up ahead.

Akimichi Denji looked up and saw Yamanaka Ino standing by the roadside, clearly waiting for him on purpose.

She had obviously dressed up today, wearing a brand-new pale-purple skirt that made her blonde hair shine even brighter. A radiant smile lit her face.

"What a coincidence, Denji-kun. I never expected we'd run into each other on the way to school."

Yamanaka Ino smiled brightly at Akimichi Denji.

That was a lie!

The route from Yamanaka Ino's home to the Ninja Academy didn't pass anywhere near the Akimichi Clan. The territories of the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans sat in a triangle, with the Yamanaka Clan to the right. At most, she would pass the Nara Clan.

But Akimichi Denji didn't call her out. He smiled. "What a coincidence, Ino-kun. Let's go to school together!"

"Good morning!" Ino hurried over, a hopeful look in her eyes. "What do you think of my skirt? I just bought it!" She spun lightly in a circle.

"It suits you, Ino-kun. You look lovely." Akimichi Denji managed a faint smile, his voice heavy with exhaustion.

Ino immediately noticed how he was feeling, and her smile turned to concern. "Denji-kun? You look awful, and your eyes are all bloodshot! You... you didn't stay up all night, did you?" She leaned closer, her voice full of worry.

"Yeah... I was studying ninjutsu last night and stayed up a little late," Denji said vaguely, rubbing his aching temples.

Just then, a timid figure appeared at the intersection—Hyuga Hinata.