Died of Overeating

Through the endless passage of time, Akimichi Denji felt as though he had lived through countless experiences.

This particular experience was vastly different; in his memories, he had been eating, eating, and eating, until his stomach was stretched to its limit and he could barely sense the threshold.

Through this method, Akimichi Denji constantly probed to see what else could further influence his digestive functions. It was no longer just about acupoints; he also incorporated specific postures and a unique breathing method.

Yet, this still failed to let him break through that final barrier.

It wasn't until a flash of inspiration struck him during a winter spent eating hot pot. He shoved the entire pot of base ingredients into his mouth, enduring the intense pain and numbing spice, and activated the secret technique.

Boom!

Akimichi Denji spoke slowly:

"Years of cultivation, the abyss within the stomach, the pot of seas and thunderous shocks."

"Eating a thousand bowls with an unwavering heart, devouring ten thousand pots of base, the soup runs clear."

"Taotie Technique, complete!"

As he felt his massive stomach rupture, a sharp, agonizing pain surged through him.

Akimichi Denji snapped his eyes open, breaking into a cold sweat.

At the end of his memory, although he had mastered the secret technique, he had also eaten himself to death because of it.

This inexplicable near-death experience left Akimichi Denji lingering in fear. It was the first time he had died in his memories; even though it wasn't his real self, it still left him shaken, unable to recover for a long time.

Fortunately, this was just a memory gained from adding points.

If he had truly practiced it himself, he likely would have exploded from overexertion, becoming the first transmigrator to die from overeating.

That would have been quite laughable.

He looked toward the panel.

[Ninjutsu: Taotie Technique (Proficient) -> (Grandmaster)]

[Effect: Automatically runs at all times, digestive capacity x5. Slowly increases physique, slightly amplifies the effects of the Multi-Size Technique.]

[Evaluation: You have successfully become the first transmigrator to eat yourself to death. Congratulations.]

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

Unlike the Chakra Refinement Technique from before, this time it seemed to have skipped the Expert level entirely and reached Grandmaster.

The Taotie Technique at the Grandmaster level increased his speed by two times compared to the Proficient level; he estimated that a single Military Ration Pill wouldn't even last him a day now.

He would need to consume one every half-day.

The Grandmaster-level Taotie Technique didn't just use chakra to circulate through acupoints; it also coordinated with a specific type of breathing, making his respiration much more steady and long-lasting.

If he were in the realm of martial artists, this would likely be considered the level of "Breaking the Void with a Single Breath," where one's aura could project three yards.

If he were in the world of Demon Slayer, he could surely create a style called the Breath of Hunger.

Shaking off the miscellaneous thoughts in his mind, Akimichi Denji looked inward, sensing his level of digestion. This time... it wouldn't even last a day.

It wasn't over yet; he still had one Wish Point left. Akimichi Denji turned his gaze to the final remaining point on the panel.

Recalling the experience of eating himself to death, Akimichi Denji felt a lingering fear and wondered if he should continue adding points.

After all, even if it was virtual, the pain transmitted through the memory was incredibly real—he had truly felt himself burst from overeating.

He gritted his teeth and attempted to add the point with his mind, and the system's feedback put his heart at ease.

A prompt appeared on the panel.

[Please cultivate the Multi-Size Technique before attempting further.]

The Taotie Technique was originally a supplementary secret technique for the Multi-Size Technique. It seemed that if he wanted to reach the stage of perfection, he would have to ground it in the Multi-Size Technique.

This left Akimichi Denji feeling both a bit regretful and somewhat relieved.

Thinking that he could tell his cheap father about it today, Akimichi Denji wasn't in a rush. He pushed open his bedroom door and walked into the dining room, where Akimichi Choza was eating breakfast, and Choji was also sitting at the table with a slumped face.

Akimichi Choza looked at the haggard-looking Akimichi Denji and asked in shock, "Did you not sleep at all last night?"

Akimichi Denji nodded decadently and sat at the dining table without much strength; he was in urgent need of food.

Seeing Akimichi Denji in this state, Akimichi Choza seemed to think of something. He spoke with a hint of disbelief, "You didn't already master it, did you?"

Akimichi Denji nodded in response, and Akimichi Choza gasped.

He actually mastered it in just one night? It took me a whole month back then. Am I a ninjutsu failure?

Akimichi Choza couldn't help but think, but then his right brain attacked his left brain.

No, this is my child; this just proves that he inherited my excellent ninja talent. He is worthy of being my own flesh and blood!

Akimichi Denji watched his father, whose expression shifted from depressed to cheerful and relieved, as if he had gone through a whole journey.

He felt it was time to ask.

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

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

Akimichi Choza originally intended to postpone it, as the Multi-Size Technique was significantly more difficult than the Taotie Technique, and since Akimichi Denji currently hadn't stored up even a shred of fat, learning it was all the more impossible.

But upon reflection, it was understandable that Akimichi Denji, having just mastered the Taotie Technique, would be so excited about the Transformation Technique.

After the incident with Shimura Danzō yesterday, it seemed it had left an impact on Denji; his desperate pursuit of power was, in a sense, a good thing.

Coupled with Akimichi Denji's talent for ninjutsu, perhaps... he might actually be able to provide a surprise.

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

"You are about to start school, so try reading the scroll and memorizing the principles first; there is no need to rush into practicing it."

After taking the scroll, Akimichi Denji headed off to school.

"Denji-kun!"

A crisp call came from ahead.

Akimichi Denji looked up to see Yamanaka Ino standing prettily by the side of the road, clearly waiting there on purpose.

She had obviously dressed up carefully today, wearing a brand-new light purple dress that made her blonde hair look even more dazzling, a bright smile gracing her face.

"What a coincidence, Denji-kun! I didn't expect to run into you on the way to school."

Yamanaka Ino smiled cheerfully at Akimichi Denji.

This was a lie!

Yamanaka Ino's route to the Ninja Academy did not pass by the Akimichi clan at all; the territories of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio were arranged in a triangle, and the Yamanaka clan was on the right, passing by the Nara clan at most.

But Akimichi Denji did not expose the girl's lie. He smiled and said, "What a coincidence indeed, Ino-kun. Let's head to school together!"

"Good morning!" Ino quickened her pace, approaching with a hint of anticipation as she asked, "What do you think of this dress? I just bought it!" She spun around lightly in a small circle.

"It suits you well, Ino-kun. It's very pretty." Akimichi Denji offered a strained smile, his voice heavy with exhaustion.

Ino immediately noticed his condition, her smile turning into concern: "Denji-kun? You look terrible, your eyes are bloodshot! You... you didn't stay up all night, did you?" She leaned in closer, her tone full of worry.

"Mm... I was studying ninjutsu last night and stayed up a bit late," Denji explained vaguely, rubbing his throbbing temples.

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