One week later, inside a secret training chamber of the Akimichi clan, Tatsuya sat cross-legged on a raised platform, eyes closed, meticulously sensing the flow of chakra within his body.
He was currently circulating his chakra using the Akimichi clan's standard chakra refining technique. Pure physical energy was being converted into chakra at an astonishing rate. Simultaneously, the bio-chip in Tatsuya's mind was recording every subtle change during the refining process.
"Information gathering complete. Optimization of the Akimichi clan's chakra refining technique is finished."
A moment later, accompanied by the pleasant chime of the bio-chip's notification, Tatsuya opened his eyes. A look of delighted surprise spread across his face as he murmured, "Finally, it's done!"
After entering the clan's secret archive and absorbing a vast amount of information, it had taken a full week for the bio-chip to pinpoint the reason behind Kyoko's transformation.
As it turned out, there were two variations of the chakra refining technique passed down within the Akimichi clan.
The differences between the two were subtle. Tatsuya wouldn't have discovered them if he hadn't synthesized the training insights of dozens of Akimichi ancestors.
The mainstream technique, the one Tatsuya practiced, had been passed down since the Warring States Period.
The other version, the one Kyoko used, was a modification of the mainstream technique. An ancestor of the clan had improved it by incorporating aspects of the Butterfly Mode secret technique.
This modified technique had only one advantage: slimming.
As the chakra refining speed increased, Akimichi ninja using this version would rapidly convert their body fat into chakra, resulting in weight loss.
Akimichi clan members excelled at the Multi-Size Technique. Generally, the larger their bodies, the greater their power. Therefore, this slimming version of the chakra refining technique was primarily practiced by the women of the clan. Male members typically wouldn't choose to learn it.
Over time, the two versions naturally became divided along gender lines. Only those deeply familiar with the clan's history were even aware of this fact.
The wildly different mutations of the Illness Sealing Technique on Tatsuya and Kyoko were also caused by these different chakra refining techniques.
While other male Akimichi might find the slimming function useless, Tatsuya welcomed it with open arms.
Tatsuya's future development path wasn't solely reliant on the Akimichi clan's secret techniques. He considered sacrificing a bit of jutsu power in exchange for greater agility a worthwhile trade.
Moreover, he had the bio-chip, capable of optimizing ninjutsu. The optimized chakra refining technique and Akimichi secret techniques might not necessarily be inferior to the orthodox methods.
"Analyze and optimize the Butterfly Mode technique," Tatsuya immediately instructed the bio-chip after a short rest.
Butterfly Mode – the ultimate state achievable through the Akimichi clan's secret techniques.
In the original story, Choji Akimichi, one of the Konoha 11, had used this technique to unleash tremendous power on three separate occasions, even managing to resist the Gedo Statue at his peak.
Obtaining Butterfly Mode and the Three Colored Pills were Tatsuya's top priorities upon entering the clan's secret archive.
Originally, after successfully researching the Illness Sealing Technique and acquiring the Body Activation secret technique, Tatsuya's desire for these two techniques wasn't as urgent.
Based on his previous "pay-to-win" training speed, by the time he reached adulthood, he would undoubtedly possess the strength of an elite Jonin, with a growth ceiling far exceeding Choji's from the original story. Combined with his foreknowledge, Tatsuya was confident he could survive much longer in the ninja world, lasting until the destined children grew up and saved the world. That seemed likely.
But a week ago, his brief encounter with Orochimaru had driven home a harsh realization: he was weak.
Against true strength, he still had absolutely no power to resist.
That feeling of despair, of having his fate controlled by another, was something Tatsuya never wanted to experience again.
He needed to get stronger!
Fortunately, Orochimaru hadn't intended to kill Tatsuya that night.
After thoroughly thrashing him, Orochimaru revealed his true objective.
He simply wanted a sample of Seiryu's cells.
Seiryu's appearance in the Forest of Death had piqued Orochimaru's interest.
With his extensive experience in "playing with snakes," Orochimaru could tell at a glance that Seiryu wasn't very old, yet its power was completely disproportionate to its age.
Naturally, Orochimaru wanted to obtain some of Seiryu's cells for research.
If he could successfully replicate it, or even just learn something from it, Orochimaru's strength – as someone with numerous snake summons – would increase significantly.
In exchange, Orochimaru promised to take Seiryu to a place suitable for its growth.
Tatsuya hadn't hesitated for a moment before agreeing to Orochimaru's offer.
First, facing the powerful aura of the Snake Sannin, Tatsuya feared that another ill-advised refusal would put his life in danger. He had no choice!
Second, Tatsuya was well aware of Seiryu's origins. The key factor in its rapid growth in such a short time was the Fujinhoin, not any special constitution. Even with Seiryu's cells, it was virtually impossible for Orochimaru to replicate another Seiryu through research.
Third was the place Orochimaru mentioned, the one suitable for Seiryu's growth.
Tatsuya guessed that this place was most likely Ryuchi Cave.
Given Seiryu's current size and strength, there were few places left in the ninja world suitable for raising it. Ryuchi Cave was undoubtedly one of the best.
Although the snake sages living there were not to be trifled with, placing Seiryu there carried some risk. However, compared to the risk, Ryuchi Cave's environment was extremely suitable for Seiryu's growth. Perhaps, before long, he would truly have a summon snake comparable to Manda.
Thinking along these lines, Tatsuya readily agreed to the deal with Orochimaru.
Afterward, Orochimaru released the contract seal on Tatsuya, obtained a piece of Seiryu's cells, and left with the summoning scroll.
While Tatsuya had some concerns about whether Orochimaru would actually send Seiryu to Ryuchi Cave, he had no control over it, so he decided not to dwell on it.
For the next two days, Tatsuya immersed himself in training with the newly optimized chakra refining technique.
In just two days, under the influence of the new technique, Tatsuya's body began to visibly slim down.
His body fat was rapidly consumed, yet his chakra levels showed no significant increase. With his constitution already at its limit, all the chakra generated from the rapid consumption of body fat was simply being lost.
Although Tatsuya felt a pang of regret, there was nothing he could do.
Two nights later, just as Tatsuya was lamenting the wasted chakra, a massive wave of malevolent chakra erupted over Konoha.
The Nine-Tails' attack had begun!