"I Won't Regret It"

The benefits of the Taotie Technique for Akimichi Denji were beyond doubt.

Akimichi Denji looked at his panel; his greatly enhanced digestive capacity had directly led to a doubling of his energy absorption efficiency.

Previously, a single meal would barely accumulate one point of energy, but after supplementing with the Taotie Technique and Military Ration Pills, he could now accumulate 10 points per meal.

The system panel now displayed: <strong>[Energy: 26]</strong>.

At this rate, he would be fully charged by the third day.

Akimichi Denji's eyes gleamed with sharp light.

A physique of only 7 had already brought him to the threshold of a Chunin; if he could keep improving it...

Furthermore, the Multi-Size Technique should also be helpful for his growth.

However, Denji realized that this involved a fundamental principle: the Multi-Size Technique consumed fat in exchange for chakra, which was essentially a conversion between life energy and chakra.

This type of transformation already touched upon the essence of chakra.

If he could take this a step further, was it possible for chakra to strengthen life energy at its source? If so, he wouldn't have to rely solely on energy points to enhance his physique...

Akimichi Denji knew this might be a wild fantasy, but he had Wish Points; if he could cultivate it to a transcendent level...

Perhaps it wasn't impossible!

He had the "top donor" sister to thank for those Wish Points!

Akimichi Denji's gaze toward Yamanaka Ino softened.

Yamanaka Ino's heart was pounding, and although her hand movements demonstrating the shuriken throw remained steady, her voice betrayed a hint of panic: "Follow this form, and pay attention to the snap of your wrist."

Seeing that Akimichi Denji's movements were still slightly off-angle, Yamanaka Ino grew impatient. A plan formed in her mind, and she reached out to adjust him directly, touching Denji's hands.

"Bend your fingers, and use your forearm to drive the force in your wrist," Yamanaka Ino instructed.

"Ah, they're touching, they're touching!"

"Is it like this?" Akimichi Denji performed the motion and asked.

"Mm-hmm, that's much better."

"Your fingers are so slender..."

"Are you okay? Why is your face so red?" Akimichi Denji asked.

"Ah!? Is it?" Yamanaka Ino touched her face, then forced herself to remain calm. "I'm fine, it's probably just too hot."

"Is that so? Do you want to take a break?"

"No. As a ninja, how can I not endure such a small difficulty?"

"Alright, thank you for your hard work," Akimichi Denji said sincerely, staring at Yamanaka Ino.

"It's no trouble."

Yamanaka Ino turned her head away, not daring to meet his gaze.

Denji shifted his focus to the shuriken; unfortunately, he had no more Wish Points.

But gaining another Wish Point from Ino had already satisfied him, as she provided him with a fixed point every day.

His gratitude toward Ino was genuine.

Wait, did I forget something?

In the distance, Hinata kept her head down, though her pure white eyes couldn't help but glance at Denji's position from time to time, feeling sullen: "I was clearly here first."

Hokage Building.

The heads of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans were gathered together.

Sitting opposite them was the bandaged, one-eyed man, while Sarutobi Hiruzen silently puffed on his pipe, watching the farce.

Feeling the stifling atmosphere in the room, Shimura Danzō let out a cold snort and got to the point: "I am highly certain that the Akimichi clan's Denji is a spy! He should be handed over to my Root immediately to prevent any losses to Konoha!"

"A spy? That's quite a heavy accusation!" The one who spoke was the Hokage's advisor, head of the Nara Clan, and commander of the Third Shinobi World War—Nara Shikaku. He didn't indulge the "Darkness of the Shinobi" at all. "Everything requires evidence. You say Denji is a spy! Where is the proof?"

"The proof is that in just two days, he successfully refined chakra, and learned the Transformation Technique on the very day he started studying it. Is such a thing even possible?" Shimura Danzō retorted angrily.

"Denji is a genius. What's wrong with a genius learning quickly? Lord Danzō, do not try to understand a genius from the perspective of a mediocre person!" Protecting Akimichi Denji was a decision made by the Ino-Shika-Cho clans together, and Yamanaka Inoichi spoke up to refute him.

Previously, when the Yamanaka clan's ninjas were coerced away by Danzō, Yamanaka Inoichi had been holding back his anger. His current statement showed no regard for Danzō's face, and his words practically labeled Danzō as a mediocre person.

"You!" Danzō's eyes were sinister. "A Kekkei Genkai never seen before has also appeared in Akimichi Denji! How do you explain that?"

"That is merely a mutated Kekkei Genkai of the Akimichi Clan. It is not impossible for a genius to manifest a new Kekkei Genkai. It is precisely because of the wisdom of the First Hokage that Konoha was blessed with this bloodline!"

Akimichi Choza, who usually seemed simple and honest, was actually quite shrewd when it mattered. He placed the high hat of "the First Hokage's blessing" firmly on Denji's head. In fact, this was truly possible; the phenomenon of Kekkei Genkai appearing among civilian ninjas did occur, though the numbers were so small they were negligible.

"Preposterous! Do not use the Hokage as a shield," Shimura Danzō refuted viciously.

Once interests were involved, discussions among the upper echelons were no different from a vegetable market.

Seeing that the three clans had argued enough, Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke, delivering the final verdict: "Enough, Danzō. I don't think Denji is a spy. Put those thoughts away!"

"Hiruzen, you..."

"Are you trying to say that I will regret this?" Without waiting for Shimura Danzō to finish, Sarutobi Hiruzen cut him off, staring at him as he spoke indifferently, "I will not regret it."

Seeing his opening gambit interrupted, Shimura Danzō's speech system went haywire. Furious, he rose to his feet and stormed out, slamming the door behind him with a deafening bang.

After finishing throwing practice, Akimichi Denji walked home with a group of others.

Hyuga Hinata still walked in the corner, clutching the corner of her shirt with her small hands. Watching Akimichi Denji surrounded by others, she couldn't help but feel envious. If only I could become someone like Denji. I also wish to have friends around me, to be able to laugh and talk together.

"So hungry..." Naruto couldn't help but mutter.

"Why don't you come to my place for dinner?" Thinking of the expired food Naruto ate daily, Akimichi Denji felt a bit sorry for the kid, thinking he might as well provide some relief to this future Seventh Hokage.

As someone with pure Eastern University blood, even the fitness meals he ate in his past life were better than Naruto's current three meals a day. His ingrained Eastern University instincts couldn't stand it, which was why he made the suggestion to Naruto.

If Naruto maintained the fine quality of "never forgetting those who helped you when you were poor," a single grain of rice given as relief now might be worth ten thousand gold in the future.

By then, he might even be able to appoint himself a general, hearing the words, "The kindness of General Akimichi can never be repaid..."

"Is that okay?!" Naruto had been a bit embarrassed at first, but the moment he thought of the delicious lunch Akimichi Denji had brought out earlier, he began to drool and said excitedly.

"There's enough food at home. We are the Akimichi clan, after all; you're welcome to come over for a meal," Akimichi Denji replied with a smile.