The forest darkened, the branches snapping around the group. A silent brook rippled. The burbling sound echoed through the forest, a counterpoint to the explosive noise of the explosion earlier.

The retrieval team continued through the trees.

Kiba glanced at Akamaru. "I agree," he noted shortly.

Naruto blinked. "What's wrong?"

"Akamaru-kun can estimate the opponent's strength by smell." Kiba hesitated. He glanced around at the others before going on, "He thinks one pill won't do it against that bastard."

Shikamaru shrugged.

"Well, if we consider the situation, we don't know how strong that big guy is, and Chōji-kun may not win, but." Neji hesitated.

"Unfortunately, you're correct in that respect," Shikamaru agreed, glancing back over his shoulder. "Presently we can't exactly compare the scores of those ninja. At the beginning of the mission, we had to assume one man one kill rules might apply. But we have about two to one odds, so we still have a pretty good chance of reaching Kōju-chan. Chōji-kun's kind-hearted, but he has no inner confidence. He thinks he's the weakest of us."

Kiba nodded. "Well, yeah, we know that." His voice sounded surprised. "That's why he stayed behind, trying to help us as much as he can."

Shikamaru nodded after a pause. "Yeah, that is why he stayed behind." Shikamaru tilted his head sideways. "So everyone took it in the way that he was to delay. No, that's not quite an accurate assessment of the situation." He smiled faintly as he went on through the trees.

Naruto blinked, looking sideways at Shikamaru.

"More than me or Neji-kun, well, more than almost anyone here except Sasuke-san and Naruto-kun, Chōji-kun is the strongest." Shikamaru's voice was quiet. "I believe in him. I'm totally certain he's going to win."

Sasuke nodded. She glanced at Neji. It might work out like that, if we're lucky. Chōji-kun might win and rejoin us.

The group hurried on through the trees.

Flight

The cracked earthen plain glimmered. Scorched tree trunks pierced the darkness, rising like posts of damage. The scattered pieces of exploding tags lay in the sand.

Chōji wrapped a chain of kunai around his body. "Enlargement Technique!" he shouted, forming his hands into the formation. Spinning swiftly, he charged Jirōbō. "Rolling Ripping Chain Ball!"

Focusing his mind, Jirōbō realized the danger of the kunai. Earth Style: Heaven To Earth Wall! he thought, creating a wall of a boulder to ward himself against the rapidly spinning kunai.

The boulder broke in half as Chōji spun through it.

Blood ran down Jirōbō's arms as the kunai cut them repeatedly.

Chōji's eyes widened as Jirōbō changed his body.

"Don't be so confident, trash!" Jirōbō shouted, the triangular patterns covering his face.

Chōji swallowed.

"Hammer Strike!" Jirōbō shouted, hurling Chōji back.

Chōji landed face down on the ground, crushing rocks around him.

"Let me tell you something," Jirōbō stated, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Chōji. "Whenever ten people are gathered, there's at least one loser in them. These losers are looked at as trash and are used as decoys in emergencies. You are that trash."

Chōji's head slowly rose. No. Shikamaru-kun believes in me. Chōji drew out the second pill, bit down on it, and focused his energy into growth.

"A lot of chakra, but not enough, I'm afraid." Jirōbō smirked.

Chōji didn't respond. "Let's go, fat ass!" he shrieked, running forward.

"That word fits you better," Jirōbō replied, smirking as he straightened.

Heavy Water Strike! Chōji extended his hand, wrapping around Jirōbō's body.

Jirōbō groaned. He punched Chōji upwards.

As Chōji flew upwards, he moved his hands into a series of seals. "Eat this!" he shouted.

Jirōbō's eyes widened. What?!

Falling Ball! Chōji fell heavily on the ground, catching Jirōbō beneath him. Sasuke had swiftly dodged, moving to the side.

Chōji blinked as he stared at the force beneath him. He was being lifted, slowly yet surely.

"A pity that I had to use level Two on such trash," Jirōbō claimed, his voice calm as he held Chōji up.

The shadow of Chōji covered the clearing. Jirōbō lifted Chōji with one hand. Jirōbō smirked. His body had grown towards the proportions of Chōji.

"This is the end for you. No enemy stands a chance against my level two seal. It has increased my strength to ten times its original value." Jirōbō's dark grin widened. The demon's horns on his head darkened, forcing a cold grey look onto his eyes once more.

Chōji looked at the monster, stunned. His body had returned to its original size.

"I'll tell you honestly—I can't keep this one up too long." Lumbering closer, Jirōbō grinned again.

This much pain. I can't move. I have the red pill left, but if I use that, I'll die. Chōji gritted his teeth. Wait. Wait, wait, wait.

Jirōbō gripped Chōji firmly. He pulled the boy up by his jacket. "I can't get any more chakra out of you at all . This ain't enough."

Chōji desperately reached for his bag of chips.

Jirōbō forced Chōji back to the ground. His hand broke the arm. "Is this your last bite?" Smirking, Jirōbō held the bag above his head, letting the chip fall on his tongue. "That's really not enough."

Chōji gritted his teeth, anger filling his eyes.

"You were just a pawn. But don't worry; I'll take care of those cruel and hideous idiots you came with soon enough." Jirōbō drew back his arm. "Die, you worthless fat ass!"

Choji closed his eyes and recalled. "Ninja can't be played well with him," he hears, his eyes warming with tears. He runs back to Chōza, his fa.

Chōza tells him that one day his heart will attract a friend.

Chōji then meets Nara Shikamaru, who is kind to him and always treats him well.

Chōji looked back up at Jirōbō, his eyes saddened. I'm going to die, but not without accomplishing this much. His fist clenched. Without killing him! His throat tightened. Wait! He looked upward. Shouldn't I realize the fact? I have to kill the bastard! I should do it by myself!

Jirōbō plunged his fist against Chōji's body.

Leaping away, Chōji focused the final technique of the Akimichi clan into his body. Four enormous blue wings extended from Chōji's body.

Jirōbō growled. "That won't save you!"

Chōji easily deflected the thrust, his hand catching the fist without difficulty. His strength had grown significantly. "I'm at least a hundred times more powerful than I was. The one who was the decoy here wasn't me; it was you," he commented easily, elbowing Jirōbō in the stomach and sending him flying backwards.

Jirōbō's eyes widened as the strike sent him backwards. Impossible!

"'A grudge over food is deeper than the ocean'," Chōji quoted, his fist glistening with blue energy. "That strike for the last piece of the snack; this strike is for insulting me." He punched downward with each word.

"Wait!" Jirōbō pleaded, his eyes frightened.

Chōji drew back his fist. "I can't forgive you for calling me useless," he shouted, emotion overcoming him.

Jirōbō swallowed, well aware of what was about to befall him.

"But more than that—I won't forgive you. Not for my meal, not for being called a fat ass, not for insulting my BEST FRIEND!" Rage filling his voice, Chōji delivered the final blow.

The ground cracked, shattering into a thousand fragments as Jirōbō's spine shattered.

The cursed seal receded from Jirōbō's body.

Chōji fell motionless to the ground. He gasped. I hate that pill. I don't move after it. His hand tightened. A small smile crossed his face. At least I won, right? I beat you.

Jirōbō lay motionless on the ground. Blood stained the jacket.

Flight

The forest darkened. A heavy pressure descended through the trees. The darkness oppressed the group heavily.

Shikamaru hurried through the trees. "Funny, no sound anymore." He glanced over his shoulder.

Kiba growled. "Then the fight's over? Why hasn't someone caught up?"

"That's the question, isn't it?" Shikamaru frowned. "It doesn't make sense." His eyes narrowed as he looked up ahead. "Whether it was Jirōbō or Chōji, they should have showed up already. Still, those four aren't setting traps either. Probably they're waiting on Jirōbō to catch up, so we've got a chance to catch them off guard."

Naruto's eyes widened. "Great! So we can get Kōju-chan back?"

Neji nodded. "We should be able to."

Flight

The ground darkened. The water rippled down the surface of the stone, dark with the residue of metal and stone.

"Heh." Tayuya's eyes narrowed. "Those morons haven't realized yet. They haven't caught on." She glanced to one side. "Kidōmaru! How's that trap coming along?!"

"Most of the thread is already spun."

Tayuya grinned. We'll have to work them over carefully.

Flight

"Hold it." Shikamaru raised his hand.

Naruto frowned. "What is it?" he questioned aggressively.

"I've already underestimated my opponent once. Repeating the same mistake is unacceptable. It's possible that she's already preparing a trap." Shikamaru's eyes narrowed.

"So what do we do?"

"Neji, check the area using your Sanshigan. Let's figure out the plan." Shikamaru's eyes narrowed.

Golden thread lashed outward.

Shikamaru ducked downward.

Naruto caught the thread with his arm. He gasped. "Huh? What the—" He tugged sharply on his arm. "It's not coming off!" he groaned in irritation.

The sword lifted. White light surrounded the body. Sasuke landed in the middle of the group. Her sword pressed against Kidōmaru's throat.

Kidōmaru gasped in shock. "Jeez. You Leaf ninja really are crazy high level enemies. I need to grind or something."

"Kidōmaru. We're wasting time here, you spider-dork." Tayuya's eyes narrowed. "You mind testing out a theory for me real quickly?"

Kidōmaru's eyes narrowed.

"What I'm thinking is this. You pieces of shit really don't know how to give up. Brainwashing only has so much effect."

Naruto's eyes widened.

"So here's the deal. You can still wrap them up pretty efficiently, right? Even when they're right next to you."

Shikamaru's eyebrow twitched. This woman.

"Fucking get it together. First move. Wrap up this person. Second move. Take care of the rest of the trash. I mean, get your shit together. We're being torn up by amateurs."

Neji glanced at the others quickly. "Go. If we waste time here, it's possible we might not find Kōju-chan in time. She must have gone ahead. Especially you two." He looked meaningfully at Sasuke and Naruto. His hand slashed downward, severing the thread holding Naruto still. "It seems I'm the only one capable of dealing with this guy's techniques." Neji forged solemnity into his gaze as he looked at Kidōmaru. "Go. I'll handle him."

The group rushed on rapidly, running through the trees.

Kidōmaru grinned. As though I'd let trash through that easily! His mouth opened. Energy gathered around the body.

Neji opened his white eyes wide. Energy flowed around his body. Sanshigan!

The webbing rushed toward the group. Kidōmaru's eyes widened.

Neji's hands whirled around his body.

The web fell away.

Neji nodded. He did not say anything.

Kidōmaru scowled. Even if he is pretty good, he's not good enough! Web flicked around his fingers.

Neji's eyes widened. Blue light extended from the eyes.

Kidōmaru stopped in mid-motion. His eyes narrowed. "I see, huh. Well, even if it was all of you fighting I'd still win. I need to move quickly. So, this is gonna be something. This is getting interesting, huh?" Kidōmaru chuckled, a genuine smile crossing his face. "I really want to play now. Okay, let's try something. A quick game would be no fun. I'll see what your weakness is and then kill you. Three minutes, tops, since I gotta catch up with your friends."

A/N: As promised.

Chōji not using pill number 3: Basically, the threat posed by Jirōbō was somewhat lessened. On top of that, Chōji in this version was stronger, as Shikamaru indicated. This resulted in not cheapening the consequence of 'death' the pills promised, despite the fact that most people involved were pretty certain that he wouldn't actually die.

Shikamaru and Tayuya: In this version of the story, even earlier on, I've tried to bring out the fact that the battle is largely a game of shōgi played using human pieces. Thus, the battle is as much a conflict between the commanders of the two sides as it is a fight between the individual pieces. I won't provide any more details to save words, but this is the reason for both sides taking time to plan and strategize between the fights and debating over actions.

Kidōmaru's 'gamer talk': While this was to some degree present in the original story, it probably wasn't present to anywhere near this degree. I increased it because Kidōmaru, like Tayuya, will have an extended role in the future of the story.