The fundamental principle behind the Expansion Jutsu lies in converting the body's stored fat into specialized chakra, which then allows the user to enlarge specific body parts or expand their entire form to gigantic proportions. When this technique is employed repeatedly over time, the body begins to naturally grow larger under the continuous influence of chakra manipulation.
This particular fighting style didn't suit Shihouin Naraku's combat preferences. Even after mastering the Expansion Jutsu, he deliberately chose never to utilize it in battle. The technique simply didn't align with his strategic approach to warfare.
The reason the Akimichi clan willingly taught Naraku their most guarded family secret—a technique that served as the cornerstone of their clan's survival and power—wasn't given lightly. Such sacred knowledge represented generations of accumulated wisdom and formed the very foundation upon which major ninja clans built their legacies.
The answer lay in Naraku's invaluable contribution to the Akimichi family. He had successfully helped them revolutionize their ancestral secret medicine, dramatically reducing its dangerous side effects and, most importantly, eliminating the life-threatening risks that had plagued clan members for generations.
Many Akimichi clan ninjas found themselves trapped in a cruel irony. Some genuinely disliked excessive eating and drinking, finding the constant consumption not just unpleasant but genuinely painful over extended periods. However, their fighting techniques demanded they maintain substantial fat reserves, as these calories served as the primary source of their formidable strength. This created a torturous cycle where survival depended on enduring constant discomfort.
Recognizing this dilemma, Naraku had intervened at precisely the right moment. He developed an innovative series of nutritional supplement formulas that could dramatically enhance the nutritional value of ordinary food. From that breakthrough forward, Akimichi clan members no longer needed to force themselves through painful overeating sessions to maintain the tremendous energy reserves their bodies required for combat.
Given this significant contribution to their welfare, it came as no surprise that the Akimichi clan granted Naraku access to their Expansion Jutsu. The only condition they imposed was entirely reasonable: he could never privately teach this technique to outsiders without clan permission. This restriction seemed perfectly fair and appropriate.
Through this collaboration, Naraku had established an exceptionally strong relationship with the entire Akimichi clan, built on mutual respect and genuine benefit.
Naraku and Choza were engaged in casual conversation while sharing wild fruits they had gathered during their patrol. As they approached the command center, Shikaku intercepted them, extending an intelligence scroll toward Naraku with a serious expression.
"This message just arrived from the Land of Grass," Shikaku announced.
"Finally! Took them long enough," Naraku muttered under his breath before accepting the scroll and rapidly scanning its contents, his eyes moving quickly across the coded information.
"What's the verdict?" Nara Shikaku hadn't opened the scroll himself, so he remained unaware of the specific details contained within the message.
"They've agreed. Jiraiya-sensei is prepared to execute the plan as discussed," Naraku replied, rolling the scroll back up with satisfaction evident in his voice.
"Excellent news! This development means we finally have genuine hope for ending the conflict on that front as well," Shikaku responded, his shoulders visibly relaxing as tension left his body.
Nara Shikaku exhaled deeply with relief. While ninjas were trained as tools of warfare, any reasonable person naturally preferred to avoid the devastating consequences that war inevitably brought. The recent heavy casualties had even forced the Land of Hot Water, typically too intimidated to voice any complaints, to raise their hands in reluctant agreement to peace negotiations.
"When do you plan to depart?" Shikaku inquired, already anticipating the answer.
Naraku closed the scroll definitively and responded without hesitation, "Right now. There's no point in delaying."
"So immediately?" Shikaku blinked in surprise, though he quickly nodded his approval. The faster they could implement this plan, the sooner this destructive war would reach its conclusion.
"Actually, wait..." Naraku suddenly remembered the ongoing diplomatic efforts, "How are the peace treaty negotiations progressing? It's been an incredibly long time, and they still haven't reached a conclusion."
Shikaku shrugged helplessly, spreading his hands in a gesture of frustration. "How could they possibly move quickly? Both sides are fighting tooth and nail over every single detail. Even the smallest numerical figure represents enormous financial and strategic benefits for their respective villages."
"What concerns me most right now is the possibility that news of your departure might leak out. If that happens, the Cloud Shinobi might attempt something desperate. After all, their losses in this conflict have been absolutely catastrophic."
"No, they won't dare make any aggressive moves," Naraku replied confidently, shaking his head. "Before they select and install their Fifth Raikage, they simply don't possess the courage for such actions. Regardless of how much hatred they harbor toward us, they wouldn't dare provoke Konoha further. They're terrified of being completely destroyed."
Naraku glanced toward the headquarters building, which had grown remarkably quiet since the war's effective conclusion. "Even if they somehow manage to mount an attack, I can return here in the shortest possible time. It really won't present a significant problem."
"Besides, I'm simply going to assist Jiraiya-sensei in completing his mission. The operation shouldn't require an extended period. By the time the Cloud Shinobi realize I'm no longer in the camp, I'll probably already be back here."
Shikaku considered these points carefully, weighing the risks against the potential benefits. Finally, he dismissed his lingering doubts and concluded that accepting a small calculated risk was worthwhile if it meant ending this war more rapidly.
Furthermore, if any unexpected complications did arise, he would be present to coordinate the defense. He felt confident in his ability to maintain their position until Naraku could return to assist.
Naraku proceeded to explain several additional strategic details and contingency plans before beginning his final preparations for departure.
"Well then, I'm heading out," he announced to the assembled group.
Naraku nodded respectfully toward the Ino-Shika-Cho trio and Hyuga Hiashi, acknowledging their continued service. In the next instant, he launched himself skyward, his form rapidly diminishing to a small black dot before disappearing completely into the vast blue expanse above.
"I still can't figure out when he learned to fly like that. Naraku's true strength remains somewhat mysterious to me," one of them commented thoughtfully.
"Who really knows? That guy has demonstrated exceptional talent since childhood. It's impossible to predict what techniques he might master next," another replied with a mixture of admiration and bewilderment.
"That's certainly true. If he didn't possess such extraordinary natural ability, Tsunade-sama would never have accepted Naraku as her personal student," came the thoughtful response.
"Actually, I can fly too, you know," Choza interjected with a slight grin.
"Ha ha ha... Yes, yes, we know, we know," the others laughed good-naturedly.
With Naraku's departure, everyone remaining felt their responsibilities suddenly grow heavier and more pressing. However, every person present maintained complete confidence in their collective ability to protect Konoha's hard-won victory, so the increased burden didn't present an insurmountable problem.
Flight represented a dream buried deep within every human heart. Watching Naraku soar away so effortlessly, everyone felt a touch of envy, including mature and typically composed individuals like Hyuga Hiashi.
Akimichi Choza felt no envy because he possessed his own flying capabilities, though his method proved far less convenient than Naraku's approach. Choza required chakra transformation to manifest butterfly wings for aerial movement, a technique that was both more limited and energy-intensive.
Naraku, who was now performing his Air Dance Technique at maximum capacity while maintaining high altitude, discovered that this method still couldn't match the speed or convenience of riding his Sky Comet Dragon summon.
After covering a reasonable distance through his own power, he made the practical decision to summon his preferred mount.
"Let's move out!" he called to his summoned companion.
"ROAR!" the dragon responded enthusiastically.
A brilliant comet wrapped in crimson light streaked across the heavens, leaving a magnificent trail in its wake!
The Land of Grass Battlefield
In the heart of the contested battlefield, Konoha shinobi forces under Jiraiya's direct command had engaged in fierce, unrelenting combat against the Rock Shinobi troops led by the formidable Huang Tu.
Both military forces had deployed their most elite warriors, demonstrating no intention whatsoever of conserving strength or holding back their most devastating techniques. The atmosphere clearly indicated that each side was fully prepared to eliminate their opponents in one decisive engagement.
Huang Tu commanded from the front lines of his formation. His impressively tall and powerfully built frame made him an unmistakable target, naturally drawing concentrated fire from numerous Konoha shinobi. However, each assault was systematically defeated by his masterful Earth Style ninjutsu techniques, which he wielded with exceptional skill and precision.
"BANG!"
He drove his massive fist into the ground with tremendous force. The earth before him immediately erupted, producing countless razor-sharp stone spikes that pierced through advancing Konoha shinobi, causing blood to spray across the battlefield in gruesome arcs.
"Signal the demolition squad and prepare for immediate action!" he commanded.
"Yes, sir!" came the prompt response from his subordinates.
Despite Huang Tu's normally calm and measured personality, he couldn't suppress his growing excitement at this critical moment. He stood on the verge of achieving a crushing victory against Konoha forces led by none other than Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin!
Several days earlier, Huang Tu had received crucial intelligence from his father, the Third Tsuchikage Onoki. The message contained troubling news: the Land of Lightning forces had suffered devastating defeat, and Konoha was actively negotiating peace terms with the Cloud Shinobi. This development meant that Konoha Village could potentially redirect most of its military strength toward their conflict with Iwagakure.
This scenario presented extremely problematic complications for their current strategy.
After recognizing that continuing the war wouldn't yield any significant advantages, Onoki had grown uncertain about whether they should persist with their military campaign. Consequently, he had written to Huang Tu seeking his field commander's assessment and recommendations.
Huang Tu found himself similarly conflicted about the best course of action. Iwagakure currently maintained a tactical advantage in this particular theater of war. Although they couldn't completely repel the Konoha forces immediately, retreating at this juncture would obviously represent a missed opportunity and significant waste of their progress.
Onoki's strategic suggestion was logical: since they couldn't achieve a decisive victory against Konoha forces in the immediate future, perhaps they should redirect their efforts toward attacking the significantly weakened Cloud Shinobi Village, attempting to claim substantial territorial or resource gains from that vulnerable target.
Huang Tu found merit in this alternative approach, but before he could finalize his decision, Jiraiya had suddenly launched an aggressive assault against the Rock Shinobi defensive positions.
This unexpected development initially alarmed Huang Tu, who assumed that significant reinforcements from Konoha Village had finally arrived to support their field operations. However, when he dispatched reconnaissance teams to investigate the situation thoroughly, they reported back that his fears were unfounded—no additional forces had actually arrived.
While this false alarm had initially frustrated him, Huang Tu quickly recognized that it had simultaneously revealed an excellent opportunity to inflict devastating damage on the Konoha shinobi forces currently in the field.
From Jiraiya's seemingly reckless advance, Huang Tu could deduce that Konoha did indeed have reinforcements en route, but those additional forces had not yet reached the battlefield. Therefore, if the Rock Shinobi could achieve complete victory over Jiraiya's current team before those Konoha reinforcements arrived, it would represent a tremendous strategic accomplishment.
Even if they later decided to redirect their efforts toward attacking the Cloud Shinobi Village, they wouldn't need to worry about threats from remaining Konoha forces in this region.
This represented the perfect solution—achieving the best possible outcome from both strategic options!
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