CHAPTER 81
The day after Might Guy woke up, the messenger hawk from Konoha arrived at the camp.
This transfer order, stamped with the Hokage's seal, was announced personally by Orochimaru in the center of the camp.
Rotation.
The Mount Kikyo defensive line would be officially taken over by the batch of shinobi brought by Orochimaru, along with the subsequent reinforcements.
The 308 veterans who survived Mount Kikyo would be reassigned.
One hundred of them, due to their rich combat experience and familiarity with the terrain around Mount Kikyo, were assigned to remain behind.
The remaining 208 people would be withdrawn to Konoha in batches three days later, when the first wave of reinforcements arrived.
Withdrawing to Konoha meant they could temporarily rest and treat their wounds.
It also meant an unknown reassignment.
In the future, they would head to the next battlefield, which might be the Hidden Mist front or another war zone.
Akimichi Choza stood beside Orochimaru with a solemn expression.
When the list of personnel to be withdrawn was read aloud, the names of Might Guy, Ebisu, and Shiranui Genma were prominently among the first batch.
Might Guy felt no great waves in his heart.
However, when he heard the final appointment regarding the commander, he could not help but be stunned.
"Effective immediately, the defense of the Mount Kikyo defensive line will be under the full responsibility of Akimichi Choza."
Orochimaru's hoarse voice echoed throughout the center of the camp.
Choza was officially appointed as the supreme commander of the Mount Kikyo camp.
He was staying behind.
The order was announced, and the crowd gradually dispersed.
Ebisu, Might Guy, and Shiranui Genma soon found Choza, who was directing the inventory of supplies.
"Captain..."
Ebisu had just opened his mouth when his eyes turned red.
Half a year of life and death together had transformed their relationship from unfamiliarity into absolute trust.
This captain, who was as reliable as a mountain, who scolded them when they acted recklessly and stood in front of them whenever danger appeared, was no longer merely a superior.
The senbon in Shiranui Genma's mouth stopped spinning.
He simply looked at Choza's broad back in silence, his eyes filled with complicated emotions.
Choza turned around and saw the three of them.
Especially when he noticed Ebisu's expression, which looked as though he was about to burst into tears.
Out of habit, he tried to keep a stern face.
But the corners of his mouth twitched, eventually turning into a helpless smile.
"What are you crying for? Returning to Konoha is a good thing. You'll eat well, sleep warmly, and won't have to chew those hard military ration pills anymore."
"But Captain, you..."
Ebisu sniffled.
"This is an order and also a responsibility."
Choza interrupted him calmly.
"Mount Kikyo needs someone to guard it."
"What I can do is watch this gate properly for the sake of those brothers who couldn't go back, and for all of you."
His gaze swept across the three of them.
He patted Ebisu on the shoulder.
The force was not small and nearly made Ebisu stumble.
Then he looked at Shiranui Genma.
"Save your senbon. Nobody will spoil you when you get back."
Finally, his gaze landed on Might Guy.
His eyes were filled with gratification.
This kid, who had stepped onto the battlefield less than half a year ago, had brought him far too many surprises.
In only six months, he had already saved his life twice.
No.
If the Small Restoration Pills that prevented the side effects of the curry pill from killing him were counted, then it was three times.
Choza's gaze lingered on Might Guy for several seconds.
He suddenly turned his head, arranged for someone else to continue counting supplies, and said to the three of them:
"You three, come with me."
The three were somewhat puzzled but still followed behind Choza.
They walked out of the camp's perimeter and arrived at a relatively flat open area.
Choza stopped and turned around.
"I called you out because there are some things I want to say alone."
His voice was lower than usual.
"When you return to Konoha, heal properly. Don't rush to act tough."
"The next battlefield... I don't know where you'll be assigned, but remember this."
"Being alive is more important than anything else."
After a pause, Choza continued in a low voice:
"Don't learn from me and think about risking your life every chance you get."
Ebisu could no longer hold back his tears and responded with a choked sound.
Shiranui Genma nodded heavily.
"Yes, Captain."
Choza seemed to hesitate briefly.
Then he took a deep breath, fixed his gaze on Might Guy once more, and his expression became exceptionally serious.
"Might Guy, come here."
Might Guy was stunned for a moment before walking forward and standing in front of Choza.
He looked up at this captain who was both teacher and comrade.
Choza did not speak.
Instead, he slowly raised his hands and began forming seals.
His movements were not fast and were even somewhat heavy.
Yet every seal was extremely clear and accompanied by the corresponding flow of Chakra within his body.
Boar.
Dog.
Bird.
Monkey.
Ram.
"Watch carefully."
Choza spoke in a deep voice.
The next moment, Chakra erupted violently.
Choza's already massive body expanded as though it were being inflated.
His muscles bulged, and his bones emitted faint cracking sounds.
In an instant, he transformed into a giant nearly twice his previous size.
A powerful sense of oppression rushed toward them.
Yet it was not directed at them.
It was simply a display of strength.
"Multi-Size Technique!"
Although they had seen it many times before, witnessing it from such a close distance and in a teaching format still made Ebisu and Shiranui Genma hold their breath.
A few seconds later, Choza released the technique and returned to normal.
A thin layer of sweat covered his forehead.
He looked at Might Guy, whose eyes were trembling as though he had already grasped something, and said in a deep voice:
"Might Guy, this is the basic seal sequence of the Akimichi Clan's Multi-Size Technique."
"I know."
Might Guy nodded.
During the past six months, he had witnessed it countless times.
"I'm teaching it to you today."
Choza paused and glanced at Ebisu and Shiranui Genma.
"Not just Might Guy. You two watch carefully as well. How much you learn depends on yourselves."
Ebisu and Shiranui Genma froze.
Expressions of disbelief immediately appeared on their faces.
The Akimichi Clan's secret technique?
They could learn it too?
Choza did not explain further.
He continued looking at Might Guy.
His voice lowered once again and became even more solemn.
"Might Guy, according to the rules, clan secret techniques must never be taught to outsiders."
"But this time, I formally submitted an application to the clan in my personal capacity."
He took a deep breath and looked at Might Guy with complicated eyes.
Within them were gratitude and the straightforward sincerity that the Akimichi Clan only showed to companions they truly acknowledged.
"You saved my life three times."
"Twice with those miraculous pills that pulled me back from the brink after using the curry pill."
"Once against Pakura's Scorch Release."
"If it weren't for you, I would already be dead."
"So I wrote a letter back to the clan."
"I recorded your situation and everything you accomplished on the battlefield."
"The clan agreed."
He paused before emphasizing each word.
"The Akimichi Clan has acknowledged you."
Those words made Might Guy's heart tremble.
He had not expected Choza to do so much in silence.
Nor had he expected to gain the recognition of the entire Akimichi Clan.
That recognition carried far more weight than the technique itself.
"However."
Choza's tone shifted, and his expression returned to seriousness.
"What I can teach is only the basic hand seals and the core framework of how Chakra expands and circulates through the meridians."
"As well as the most elementary methods of controlling localized enlargement."
"The parts that truly allow the body to safely expand and shrink, and the methods that combine with clan secret medicines to unleash maximum power, involve the Akimichi Clan's unique physique conditioning and secret medicine formulas."
"Those absolutely cannot be passed on."
"If practiced by force, your body will collapse."
"Or even die."
He looked at Might Guy with both concern and expectation in his eyes.
"Your physique is special."
"Your recovery ability is strong."
"And your control over your own body is even more extraordinary."
"Perhaps you can develop your own path from these fundamentals."
"Even if it only gives you one more layer of understanding regarding the explosion and control of power under extreme conditions."
Choza spoke very seriously.
This was not a simple lesson.
It was a heavy trust.
A gift that crossed the boundaries of clan and family.
What he valued was Might Guy's potential.
The friendship forged through life-and-death battles over the past six months.
And the hope that in the future, Might Guy and the others would possess one more means of survival and one more weapon on the battlefield.
Might Guy looked directly into Choza's serious and sincere eyes.
He did not offer empty words.
Instead, he bowed deeply and solemnly.
"Thank you, Captain."
Choza nodded and said nothing more.
He immediately began explaining the five seals of Boar, Dog, Bird, Monkey, and Ram in detail.
He also explained how each seal guided Chakra to gather and expand at specific meridian nodes throughout the body.
The three of them instantly focused all their attention.
And began studying earnestly.
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