Akimichi Choji

Akimichi Choji (秋道チョウジ) is a member of Konohagakure's Akimichi clan. Being sensitive about his weight, Choji is nevertheless dedicated to his friends in Team Asuma.

Background
Choji was born into the Akimichi clan, and is slated to become the Sixteenth head of the Akimichi (秋道16代目当主, Akimichi Jurokudaime Toshu) after his father, Choza. When Choji was younger, he was often put down for not being good at a child's game called "Ninja", which appears to be a cross between tag and hide and seek, often employing the use of shuriken made out of cardboard and sticks. His peers would always berate him, telling him that any team that he was on was bound to lose. One day, they simply refused to let him play at all. However, Nara Shikamaru stuck up for him, saying that the teams would be uneven if Choji didn't join them. This gave Choji a little hope, although, in the end, they still refused to let him play.

Choji and his father were later seen talking on the roof of a building while Choji was still upset over the way he was treated by the other children, saying the Akimichi were all fat and stupid. Comforting him, his father told him that few people have a heart as kind and caring as his, and one day he would meet someone who would see that in him and respect him for it, and that eventually they would be the best of friends. Soon after, Shikamaru arrived. Choji recognized him as the one who had defended him earlier, and asked Shikamaru why he wasn't playing the game, to which Shikamaru responded that it was too troublesome.

He then told Choji that he liked to come up there to watch the clouds and that Choji happened to be sitting in his favorite spot. Choji moved over to give him space. Shikamaru proceeded to lie down before telling Choji that he should watch the clouds with him. This delighted Choji, and he eagerly asked Shikamaru if he wanted to eat some snacks that he had brought. Shikamaru took him up on the offer, causing Choji to be overjoyed, and then Shikamaru said "This is the best, watching clouds and eating chips". From that day on, the two became best friends.

During Choji's time at the Ninja Academy, he was another dead last student along with Shikamaru. He would often get caught eating in class, Including getting into trouble along with other dead lasts such as Uzumaki Naruto and Inuzuka Kiba including Shikamaru. Together, these four would cut class or otherwise be testing the patience of Umino Iruka, their Ninja Academy teacher. During the Search for Tsunade Arc, when Naruto was struggling to learn the second step of training for the Rasengan, Naruto recalled how once, during his days in the Ninja Academy, he, along with Shikamaru, Kiba, and Choji were held back in class, and lectured about their all around lack in concentration — in Choji's case, he was thinking more about food than about doing his school work. During the trap master arc, Naruto mention how he, Shikamaru, Choji, including Kiba would skip class together and hang out at the kunai practice course. Which was situated under the Ninja Academy, to hide from Iruka.

In the anime, around this time, Shikamaru, along with Choji and Yamanaka Ino went searching for a set of kunai Chōji lost. During their search, they met a mysterious young boy named Yota. They soon learned to their amazement that Yota had the ability to manipulate weather, especially through his emotional state. Fearing how the village would respond to an outsider considering how much turmoil it had with the other nations, Shikamaru and the others decided to hide Yota's existence, giving him shelter in a treehouse and regularly bringing him food. Later Haruno Sakura also learned of Yota's existence. They soon joined Shikamaru and the others in secretly being his the stranger's friend. They then confronted Naruto. They accused him of making someone named Yota, who was a stranger to the village, disappear. Seeing them look at him with such distrust like the rest of the village, Naruto grew furious and ran away, so angry that people would like a outsider over him. He then heard a young boy crying who strangely appeared to control the weather, making it rain with his tears. Naruto then realized that this boy must be Yota. Immediately taking a liking to Naruto, the young boy asked him to teach him how to whistle like he saw Naruto do earlier. As Naruto began teaching him, the two soon became close friends. Later Kiba and Akamaru also learned of Yota's existence. One day while playing, Yota became very sad from a misunderstanding with Naruto and caused it to rain, which alerted the ANBU. As they took Yota captive, Naruto and the others tried to stop the ANBU, but to no success.

Determined to save Naruto's first ever friend, Choji and the others staged a plan with Naruto acting as a diversion. Despite finding Yota, the ANBU easily foiled their plan. Seeing how much Naruto and the others cared for him, Yota summoned bolts of lightning to knock the ANBU out. Greatly weakened by the act, Yota was carried out of the village, determined to bring him to freedom. Upon reaching a river, unable to walk over it yet, they chose to swim. Their attempts proved futile and nearly drowned, only to be saved by Yota. Having overtaxed himself, Yota felt his life fading. Happy to have had friends, Yota didn't want them to suffer with this sad memory and erased all knowledge of him from their minds.

Personality
Choji is a very kind, polite, and caring person. These characteristics are said to be his greatest strength by both his father Choza, and his former teacher Sarutobi Asuma while his greatest weakness was his lack of self-confidence.

He is easily motivated by the prospect of food, and becomes highly agitated when somebody calls him "fat" (he refers to himself as "big-boned", "chubby"). However, he does not hide his love for food and his near constant hunger is also an annoyance to his team-mates, as eating often comes before other necessities such as stealth and teamwork. Food can also make him over-react about silly things, such as who gets the last chip, or when Akamaru tried to take his chips, and he refuses to let anyone else eat the last chip in the bag, even in battle-situation. Choji also tends to eat a lot when he's angry. Since Part II of the series, however, his eating habits are more controlled and it no longer interferes with his duties as a shinobi.

Choji has a long-lasting friendship with Nara Shikamaru. The two have complete trust in each other, with Shikamaru being one of the few people to look past Choji's lack of athleticism, and see that he had a kind heart; recognising Choji's true strength. Because of this, Choji has unwavering faith and loyalty to Shikamaru and, if necessary, would give his life for him, which nearly happened during his battle with Jirōbō. Choji also cares deeply for his mentor, Asuma, and had a difficult time in fighting him during the Fourth Shinobi War, due to not wanting to hurt his own teacher, even when Asuma called Choji "fat" in an attempt to anger him.

As stated by his father and teacher, Choji greatly lacked confidence in himself and his abilities which often times hindered his actions or even progression in some aspects. During the Fourth Shinobi War however, Choji was able to overcome these issues and become one of the major contributing factors in the Allied Shinobi Forces turning the tide of the battle in their favour.

Appearance
Choji has spiky, brown hair, swirl marks on his cheeks, and like the rest of his clan, he has a more robust physique. Since his childhood, he has always been quite husky, which is a necessity in his clan to perform their techniques since they convert calories to chakra. During Part I, Choji's wore black shorts, a long white scarf, a short-sleeved, blue haori, (depicted as green in the anime) over a white shirt with his clan's obligatory kanji for "food" (食, shoku) on it, small, hoop earrings, and his legs and forearms were wrapped in bandages. His forehead protector was styled in a manner that allowed two tufts of hair to poke out at each side.

During Part II, he sports a red suit with plated armour on his torso, arms, and upper legs, which is seemingly the standard attire for shinobi in his clan. On the front of his chest armour is the obligatory kanji for "food" (食, shoku). His brown hair has grown much longer reaching to his waist and he also changes his earrings from hoops to the studs that he got as a gift from Asuma. During the Fourth Shinobi War, he wears the standard Konoha flak jacket over his outfit. After Choji uses the Multi-Size Technique, he gains two extra markings underneath both his eyes as well.

Two years after the Fourth Shinobi War, Choji's overall appearance as slimmed down somewhat, being more plump as he considers himself. He has cut his hair short and sports a small goatee. His outfit is mostly the same, but wears larger wrist-guards and his boats reach his calves.

Abilities
As an Akimichi, Choji uses the calories he eats and converts them to chakra in order to perform his technique which is the primary reason for his, as well as the members of his clan's physical size. Chōji's most pronounced ability is his tremendous physical strength, being the physically strongest member of the Konoha 11. Shikamaru hinted at Chōji's raw power during the Sasuke Retrieval Arc, but it wasn't until he broke them out of Jirōbō's dome that the rest of Sasuke Retrieval Team believed him.

In Part I, Shikamaru said that Chōji is the strongest member of the Sasuke Retrieval Team, but that he lacks confidence in himself. In Part II, he was able to provide assistance against the Deva Path with his father, and helped Hatake Kakashi decipher the weakness of Shinra Tensei. After mastering Calorie Control during the Fourth Shinobi War, he helped Hyuga Hiashi subdue his brother Hyuga Hizashi, as well as restrain Kakuzu with the help of Darui, Izumo Kamizuki, and Kotetsu Hagane.

Taijutsu
At the start of the series, Choji's taijutsu was passable, and could be used to great effect with his clan's Multi-Size Technique and Partial Multi-Size Technique, which greatly increased the striking power of his blows. He is a 'power' type, using his massive physical strength enhanced with his clan's techniques to strike crippling blows. When he fought against Jirōbō, after the consumption of the Green Pill, he was able to flip him with ease. After taking the Red Pill, forming his butterfly wings, Choji was able to catch Jirōbō's fist with ease, which is even more impressive since his opponent was in his Cursed Seal Level 2 form which was able to lift him even in his gigantic form, and with a single punch he was able to kill his opponent.

After the time-skip, Choji's taijutsu improved immensely. He was able to use his Partial Multi-Size Technique to effortlessly destroy a few of Sai's lions. He was also able to stun two of Kakuzu's masks after growing to tremendous size and using the Super Open Hand Slap technique. By the Invasion of Pain, he was nearly able to destroy Deva Path with a massive punch, and due to his massive physical strength he was key in restraining the Path after Shinra Tensei was used. By the time of the Fourth Shinobi War, he was able to get into striking range of a reincarnated Sarutobi Asuma twice, but was unable to land a blow due to his hesitation to hurt his teacher. After gaining confidence and using the Calorie Control technique, he was able to smash Asuma with relative ease, also using the Multi-Size Technique to increase the power of his blow. Choji's speed has also seemingly increased, as he was fast enough to save Shikamaru from being stomped by the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. In the anime, he was also able to save Hyuga Neji from being hit by Kidōmaru's extremely fast arrows. Even without enlarging himself, Chōji has demonstrated a considerable increase of strength, able to hold back with brute force the reincarnated Jirōbō without the aid of his clan's pills.

Akimichi Clan Technique
As an Akimichi, Chōji knows various secret techniques that allow him to expand body parts to several times their normal size, the most common of which is the Multi-Size Technique. He uses this to perform his Human Bullet Tank attack, where he turns himself into a giant ball and attacks opponents by running them over, shouting "roll" repeatedly as he does. He can also add spikes to this attack to make it more damaging. In Part I this was done by wrapping a chain of kunai around his body. He can also use the Partial Multi-Size Technique to expand his arms and legs as well as other body parts.

After the time skip, Chōji's Spiked Human Bullet Tank does not involve kunai wrapped around him, but instead involves a technique that hardens his hair into extremely sharp spikes that cover his body, similar to Jiraiya's Needle Jizo technique, after which Chōji spins rapidly. Also, Chōji no longer needs to take any pills to perform the Partial Multi-Size Technique.

Three Pills
Choji can take the Akimichi clan's Three Coloured Pills to greatly increase his strength, speed, and stamina for a short time. These pills convert the body's fat reserves into chakra, and are considered a last resort, since they take a tremendous toll on the body. The last pill is said to increase the clan member's power 100 times more than normal, but known to be always fatal, although Choji survived the effects, thanks to the Nara clan's medical book and Tsunade's medical expertise. The one consuming it loses most of their bodily fat, which is converted in an enormous amount of chakra, so much that it manifests in two massive butterfly-like wings on the user's back.

Originally, Choji requires to take these pills in order to use the more advanced Partial Multi-Size and Super Multi-Size Techniques. After two and a half years, however, he can now rely on his own improved chakra control to do so, without the pills forcing it out for him. During the Fourth Shinobi War, when forced to fight the dead Asuma, Choji is able to replicate the red pill's effects without actually consuming it. Since he formed the butterfly wings without the pill, he negates the negative side effects, and could tap fully into the calories he stored up without danger. The amount he stored made the wings grow to the size of the entire battlefield after Asuma's defeat.

Nature Transformation
Choji has shown some skill with Earth Release nature transformation. During the Fourth Shinobi War, after being taught the hand-seals by Kitsuchi, Choji and the rest of the Allied Shinobi created several earth walls, in an attempt to slow down the Ten-Tails' Tailed Beast Ball.

Introduction arc
Choji was first seen with his classmates in line to do the Transformation Technique. He was then seen with the Rookie Nine, after they all graduate from the Ninja Academy. He was seen with Shikamaru and Ino, while they waited to meet their new Sensei, Sarutobi Asuma.

Chunin Exam arc
During the second phase of the Chunin Exams, Chōji was reluctant to join his team in helping Haruno Sakura fend off a team of Oto genin, fearing for his own safety, and continuously asking to run. However, when Zaku Abumi called Choji "fatso", Choji proceeded to go berserk as he defended his size, and yelled that Konoha and the Sound ninja were now at war. Properly motivated, Choji fought against the Oto genin, but were unable to defeat them. His actions, however, bought time until Uchiha Sasuke awakened and forced them to retreat with the power of the Cursed Seal.

In the preliminaries of the exam, Chōji began feeling hesitant about fighting, but Asuma convinced him to fight, promising to treat him to barbecue if he won, and to intervene if he was in danger. In the last match of the preliminaries, Choji was matched against Dosu Kinuta. At the start of the match, Yamanaka Ino yelled to him that he was fat, so that he would be spurred into fighting. Using his Human Bullet Tank to charge at Dosu, Choji got lodged in a wall as a result of Dosu dodging the attack.

With Choji unable to fight back, Dosu sent a blast of sound into Choji's bulk, its effectiveness increased as a result of Choji's increased size, thus defeating Choji. As a reward to Choji for getting so far in the Chunin Exams, and as a bribe to help with Shikamaru's training, Asuma took Choji to a buffet, but Choji ate too much and hurt his stomach, forcing him to spend some time in the hospital. He recovered in time to watch Shikamaru and Sasuke's matches, but was put to sleep during the ensuing invasion of Konoha.

Invasion of Konoha arc
Choji can be seen at the Third Hokage's funeral alongside the other villagers, mourning his death.

Sasuke Retrieval arc
Shortly after Shikamaru's promotion to chūnin, the team celebrated at Yakiniku Q. After a brief argument over the meat, Asuma told Choji that he should eat less and train more. While Choji was briefly depressed, Shikamaru convinced him to be himself.

When Uchiha Sasuke abandoned Konoha, Shikamaru asked Choji to join the Sasuke Retrieval Team, to which Choji refused. Determined to have Choji come with them, Shikamaru and Uzumaki Naruto ate some of Choji's favourite snacks in front of his house. When they got to the last chip, Choji burst through the front door to eat it, saying that the last chip was sacred and he cannot let someone else have it. Having fallen for Shikamaru's trick, Choji joined the team to retrieve Sasuke.

At the start of the mission, Choji took on the Sound Four member Jirob. Jirobo initially proved to be too strong for Choji to beat, forcing Choji to use the Akimichi clan's special Three Coloured Pills. Although reluctant to use the pills, Jirobo's constant mocking of Shikamaru as a worthless, selfish, and uncaring leader convinced Choji to take all three pills. With the accompanying increase in strength, he was able to kill Jirobo noting that while it was fine for people to mock him and even eat his food, it was unforgivable to speak ill of his best friend. With that Choji sends a fist crashing into Jirōbō's stomach, killing the Oto-nin.

As he headed through the forest, suffering the effects of the pills and severely emaciated, Choji sees the arrow left by his comrades, he collapses beneath it, and tearfully mused to his father that he had finally found good friends. Near death, Choji was found by members of the Konoha Medic Corps and rushed back to the village for emergency treatment. With the efforts of The Nara clan's medical encyclopaedia which they had listed their research on their comrade's pills and their effects along with Tsunade's medical expertise allowed Choji to evade death, and make a full recovery.

Pre-Shippuuden Filler arc
Team 10 tells Naruto that they will take care of the brothers, and use their combined skills to immobilise them. Naruto leaves to catch up to Iruka, who is fighting Mizuki in a building used to test Academy instructors. It is revealed that Iruka and Mizuki are childhood friends, although Mizuki only hoped to get close to the Hokage. Mizuki reveals that he has become stronger and learned new techniques while in prison. Meanwhile Ino, Shikamaru and Choji form a new formation. Mizuki sets paper bombs on Iruka and blows up the building.

Naruto, Iruka, and Pakkun meet up with Mizuki's fiancée Tsubaki, and she has come to offer help to the three, feeling responsible for not having stopped him earlier. Meanwhile, Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji are having trouble holding the two brothers off, and they know that they can't defeat them, so they are stalling for time. Meanwhile, Tsunade discovers a startling secret about Mizuki and Orochimaru, and leaves to intervene. Naruto, Iruka, Pakkun, and Tsubaki finally reach Mizuki, but it's too late, he's already completed the formula he was making. Now that he's drunk it, he turns into a new monstrous form. And, Naruto has recognised Mizuki's transformation as one nearly identical to that of Orochimaru's cursed seal.

Mizuki is determined to make Naruto and Iruka suffer, and it appears like he has the upper edge with his improved strength and speed. Meanwhile, Ino, Choji, and Shikamaru are at their limits, and now Fūjin and Raijin are free. That is until Tsunade shows up and defeats them both easily. Fūjin and Raijin surrender and agree to return peacefully to the institution. Mizuki, on the other hand, has converted all of his speed to power and prepares to finish Naruto off. But, Iruka thinks up a plan and traps Mizuki, giving Naruto the chance to use the Rasengan on him. Mizuki reverts to his original form, badly damaged when Tsunade shows up and explains everything about the potion Mizuki took. Mizuki will no longer be able to fight as a shinobi. Iruka offers to treat everyone at the ramen bar, and thinks about how Naruto saved his life the same way he had saved Naruto before.

Eager to have some Ichiraku Ramen, Naruto and Choji quickly go to the bar only to discover that it is closed early. They find out that Teuchi is trying to prepare a new kind of ramen because his daughter Ayame was taken hostage by the rarely heard of cooking-nin, who are led by Hakkaku. Naruto, Choji, and Sakura offer to help. Teuchi tries to teach them how to cook, and the three take advantage of their ninja techniques to make the perfect bowl of ramen. When they rescue Ayame, they became shocked as they noticed she has grown fat due to being unable to resist the cooking-nin's food. To bring her back to her regular self, she eats her father's diet ramen that appears to be designed to make people lose weight from eating it. However in the end, it shows Teuchi had eaten the diet ramen and ended up losing too much weight.

In episode 158, the Ninja Academy students were divided into teams of three, and were assigned a genin to lead them on a mission against the other teams. Choji was assigned to lead a team of three academy students; Dango, Ame and Choco. On route, Choji imparted to them the importance of being able to acquire food during a mission, introducing a plant called the "Ninja-Aid Plant", which is edible and nutritious. Choji even stopped one of his team from eating the wrong plant, the "Ninja Blockage Plant", even though it looked similar to the Ninja-Aid Plant, it was in fact noxious, and Choji identified the difference between their leaves.

Naruto, Choji and Hinata are sent to help some peddlers move out of the Land of Vegetables. Because of a package from Tsunade, the peddlers mistake them for "The Konoha Moving Service". Unknown to them, a group called the Criminal Brothers, have taken control of the land and are looking for one of the peddlers.

After an attack by Ruiga, one of the three Criminal Brothers results in the death of Kikunojō and Naruto notices that their attackers are looking for a specific person, Naruto's group realises that they have not been told the truth about the peddlers. They learn that the peddlers were being used as cover for the Land of Vegetables' princess Haruna in order to escape from the Three Criminal Brothers. It is then revealed that she does not trust others and is willing to sacrifice other people to protect herself, believing that it doesn't matter who dies as long as she, the only one who can rebuild her country, survives.

Naruto and Yurinojō do battle with Ruiga, and with Choji's help, are able to defeat him by destroying his "dowsing" tonfas, which allows him to search for places where there are great amounts of water, and leading him to a dry area to put him at a disadvantage. Ruiga survives the battle, but the second brother, Jiga, kills him for a greater share of the country's wealth. Meanwhile, after Haruna's reasons for distrust were revealed by the result of her father allowed her to be kept hostage as a child, Haruna manages to render Hinata unconscious to escape alone. Naruto pursues the princess, but encounters Jiga, who can manipulate magnetism.

As Naruto is faring poorly in the battle with Jiga, Hinata arrives. Although Hinata is initially unable to damage him, she realises that his magnetism is his potential weakness. She uses her Byakugan and Gentle Fist to interfere with his chakra flow, rendering Jiga unable to turn off his magnetism and buried himself alive in a vortex of iron sand. Naruto saves Hinata from the vortex and as she and Yurinojō are too badly injured to fight, goes to find the princess on his own. Hinata, Chōji and Yurinojō are kidnapped by the third brother along with several ninja. The last criminal brother Renga, who is able to manipulate the water vapour in the air to the extent that he can control sunlight, encounters Naruto and Haruna.

Naruto learns that his companions have been kidnapped by Renga's men and will only be released if he turns over Haruna. During this confrontation, it is revealed that the princess' father, shortly before his death, had confessed his regret of turning over the princess for the sake of his people and wished for the good of the people regardless of what happens to him. Haruna, having been influenced by Naruto and this revelation, offers to sacrifice herself to protect Naruto. Naruto defeats Renga by reflecting sunlight off his forehead protector, and learns that Shizune, Shikamaru and several Konoha ninja have rescued Hinata, Choji and Yurinojō. Haruna then succeeds her father as ruler of the Land of Vegetables, and Naruto and his companions return home.

Naruto has lunch with an old man named Gennō, who came to Konoha as a carpenter to help rebuild the village. However, during the night, the carpenter escapes with some documents and seemingly blows himself up in a suicide bombing, warning that Konoha will soon be destroyed. The Konoha 11 are told to find out more about the man's activities, but the ANBU brings Naruto in for questioning, saying that Gennō was the one who stole the plans and escaped.

The ANBU agents use reverse hypnosis on Naruto, but realise that he remembers nothing of importance. Some of the group researches Gennō, but finds little except for him being a mediocre carpenter who did little out of the ordinary. However, it is revealed that his letter of introduction was forged, and investigation of the scene of his suicide bombing and the corpse in the hospital suggests that Gennō staged his death.

A Giant Ninja Bird drops countless copies of the letter of introduction into town, serving as a diversion from Gennō's true plan. The group discovers that a kunai target in the Ninja Academy dojo is actually the trigger for explosive tags in the academy, and that explosive tags are planted all across the village.

The group sets out to disarm the traps without Gennō finding out. The research then concludes that Gennō set the traps 30 years ago, as part of a mission for the Kagerō Village, which was destroyed by another village shortly after he completed his mission, resulting in his son's death. Naruto comes to terms with the fact that the old man he befriended attempted to destroy the village, and finds a lead that Gennō is in the mountains. Meanwhile, Team Asuma investigate the events of thirty years prior.

Naruto pursues Gennō to the mountains at the back of town, and hears that he plans to detonate explosive tags there, burying Konoha in a massive rockslide. Before he can do so, Naruto's friends arrive, Hinata having informed them where he was going. They combine their efforts to prevent him from detonating tags, and manage to save the village. Gennō dies after saying that he wanted his son to enjoy another scavenger hunt, and the group realises that while he had initially intended to destroy Konoha, because Naruto reminded him of his son, he made his traps into a scavenger hunt. Hence, Konoha was actually in no real danger.

Naruto and Sakura host a special recap episode. The episode features highlights of five battles from the Sasuke Retrieval Arc: the battle between Naruto and Sasuke on the hospital roof, the battle between Chōji and Jirōbō, the battle between Kiba and Sakon, the battle between Neji and Kidōmaru, and the last battle between Naruto and Sasuke at the Valley of the End. There are also interviews with Chōji, Kiba, and Neji, who all beat up Naruto for making fun of them and saying things like "Chōji's fight made him sweat." At the end of the show, Jiraiya announces a surprise guest — Orochimaru — who gives Sakura and Naruto an opportunity to briefly see Sasuke.

A group of missing-nin from the Takumi Village invades Sunagakure and kidnaps Matsuri, the Academy student. They seek Gaara's powers to revive their village's ultimate weapon. Gaara, Kankurō and Temari pursue them with no other help from the Suna. Meanwhile, Shikamaru assembles the Konoha 11 (minus Tenten), and splits up into two-man teams — Shikamaru and Ino, Naruto and Lee, and Kiba and Choji. Each two-man cell will assist one of the Suna shinobi. Neji and Hinata will avoid combat and scout ahead, while Sakura and Shino act as medical support and command and control (using Shino's bugs to pass along information).

The missing-nin continue running as Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro chase. At the same time, Shino, Hinata, and Neji are using their abilities to find the location of the Four Celestial Symbols Men. Temari encounters the first of the members (a woman that uses swords to produce wind) and leaves Gaara and Kankuro to chase after the other three members. Shortly after, Kankuro encounters another ninja that uses a three-bladed sword that can separate yet still be connected by a wire. Gaara leaves to chase the other two members. Gaara then finds himself a battle with a huge, robust man who has a spiked flail. The Four Celestial Symbols Men prepare to kill Temari and Kankurō; however, Shikamaru saves Temari with his Shadow Imitation Technique, and Kiba saves Kankuro.

The members of Four Celestial Symbols Men create a triangular formation, using the waterways to stop Gaara from using his sand powers. Meanwhile, Shikamaru and Kiba are having trouble backing up Temari and Kankuro. Before the third member of the rogue ninja can kill Gaara, Lee and Naruto arrive to save him. At this point, Sakura's task is to head around aiding those with injuries. Shikamaru and Temari use a combination to wipe out their enemy, and Akamaru pulls the pieces of Kankuro's broken puppet together to surprise the second enemy, killing him as well. Lastly, Gaara uses a spear to take out the third member and pursues the leader in hopes of saving his student Matsuri.

Although his comrades are defeated, Hōki puts his final plan in motion by using Gaara to revive the "ultimate weapon" of Takumi Village, Seimei. To do this, he traps Gaara in a metal sphere that starts draining his chakra. Gaara partially transforms into the One-Tailed Shukaku, the overflowing chakra fueling Hōki's sacrifice of his body for Seimei's revival. Taking the weapons of the Four Celestial Symbols Men and wearing it as a spectral armour, he was able to drive Naruto to a corner despite Matsuri's attempted assistance.

With Naruto's display of stubborn resistance to Seimei, Gaara manages to prevent Shukaku to fully emerge and kill Seimei with his Sand Waterfall Imperial Funeral. Everyone returns to Konoha, when Choji was release from the hospital. He celebrated his discharge with his team at Yakiniku Q. While eating with her team, Ino was surprised that Shikamaru also turned down the party to train and likewise, Choji wanted to resume training after eating. As Naruto prepares to leave for his two-and-a-half years of training with Jiraiya (who had returned with information about the Akatsuki's plans), the others discuss the future and resolve to train harder so as to keep up with Naruto. Hinata watches him head off.

Two years after Naruto left the village with Jiraiya for training, Konoha was decided to host an early Chūnin Exams alongside Sunagakure. Later, as Team Asuma began discussing their joining the exams, it became noted that with Shikamaru already a chunin and therefore ineligible to join, it left the rest of the team short. Ino came up with the idea of having Sakura fill in for the exams.

After Sakura accepted to join the team, once entering the exams, Choji and his team-mates were randomly split up and sent to different rooms to take the written test. On a monitor, Shikamaru, as proctor, explained that everyone only needs to answer one question on the test, but their combined score with their team-mates will determine if they pass or fail the exam as they need exactly 100 points to pass. Later, Ino telepathically contacted him and Sakura to make sure their score would be even.

After time is up, Shikamaru reveals a bonus question that asked the teams what member of their team would they sacrifice as a decoy and the answer had to be unanimous. Unfortunately, the person picked will be disqualified. Ino telepathically communicated to him that none of them are to answer the question on Sakura's orders. Ultimately, when the first exam concludes, he and his team are allowed to participate for the second round since a full team would be needed for the upcoming round. However, because the numerous amount of participants, a preliminary round had to be placed which involved a race to Sunagakure where the official second round will be, but only the first 30 participants will qualify.

Ultimately, Choji and his team made it to Sunagakure and qualified for the second round. The following night, as all the participants were ready to eat a largely-prepared dinner, everyone grew nervous about the overly-sweaty Burami ruining the food. To which, the genin all quickly tried to keep him away from spreading his sweat, which resulted in Neji using his Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven an accidently destroying the food. As tension grew between everyone over the recent event, an all-out brawl began. Ultimately, the late arrival of Fu with her out-spoken desire to make friends and play games caused everyone to lose their desire to fight. Later, while everyone returned to their rooms to prepare for the following day, an anxiously hungry Choji decided to go to the next building in hopes that the jonin supervisors would share their food. As Sakura and Ino went after their team-mate, they were attacked by a giant scorpion. They were saved by the joyful Fu who swiftly defeated the massive beast. After Choji got some food from Guy, everyone turned in for the night. The following day, the second exam began. Like the last exam in Konogakure, the teams were each given either a heaven or earth scroll and were required to within three days to obtain a matching set. They were then required to bring the set to main building in the center of the Demon Desert.

Once the second round begin, Choji and his teammates were seen jumping into their location to begin the second round. Team Asuma lost their provisions in a previous fight. Following Sakura's decision, they went for an oasis to replenish themselves. Taking so long to arrive, Ino and Sakura got into another heated argument. Their bickering was quickly ended by the attack of another giant scorpion. While Ino didn't have enough time to use her clan techniques and the scorpion overpowered Choji, Sakura surprised everyone by defeating the creature with a single punch. Afterwards, Ino healed Sakura's hand from the attack. With everyone calming down, they used the scorpion's meat as new provisions and commented on each other's growth, reasserted their desire to pass the exams.

Not feeling the provisions from the scorpion was enough, Ino insisted that the team go to the nearby oasis. Before arriving, they were cut off by a Suna-team. Knowing her sensory skills still are not strong enough to aid in actual combat, Ino takes Shikamaru's earlier advice and feigning recklessness. To which, Ino attacked first, letting the enemies counter and pretend to be knocked out. While the enemies then engage Sakura and Choji, Ino begins sensing the enemies' movement and telepathically informs her allies. Soon seeing through Ino's ploy, they erect a barrier to disrupt her ability to sense. This allows the enemies to continue their assault without resistance. Remembering what her allies and teachers taught her, Ino improves by linking minds with her allies, allowing them to counter-attack and defeat the Suna-nin. Afterwards, everyone calmly heals each other. While the Suna-nin openly admit defeat and offer their scroll, Sakura notes that it is unneeded as they already have two matching scrolls. The two teams then part ways, agreeing to meet again in the third exam.

Later, while Sakura was still struggling with her training, she and her team was attacked by another Suna-team. The leader of the team, Saya, attacked them with a small doll as her puppet. After snatching some of Ino's hair, she possessed Ino's mind and forced her to attack Sakura. As Saya's team-mates began to be overwhelmed by Choji, Saya canceled her technique on Ino and turned it on Choji. Ino explained that Saya's technique is similar to the Yamanaka clan's own mind techniques. Ino then used her technique to enter Choji's mind and attempt to free him. Meanwhile Sakura was left to face the giant sized Choji alone.

Kazekage Rescue arc
Mention by Shikamaru to Naruto that he became a Chunin.

Sasuke and Sai arc
Choji made his Part II début shortly after Naruto returned from successfully rescuing Gaara. Like most of the Rookie Nine, he had reached the chunin rank. Choji had also improved his skills during the time-skip, and was now able to enlarge various parts of his body without much concentration. His reaction time had also increased, being able to immediately prevent an attack by Sai from harming Shikamaru or Naruto.

Choji was then seen in a restaurant together with Team Asuma and Team Kakashi, now including Sai. Sai was surprised to see them after his encounter with them. Sai then started giving nicknames to everyone, in the hope of getting along better with them. He almost called Choji fat, but Naruto covered his mouth to prevent him doing so.

Twelve Guardian arc
While Sora explores Konoha, he gets into a conflict with Inuzuka Kiba and Akamaru. Choji then appears with Shikamaru while Sora and Kiba were arguing, telling them not to fight. Sora then insults Choji calling him fatty which enraged him. After Lee and Naruto join the "fray" it is ended before it gets serious by Shikamaru and Asuma.

Later when a horde of zombie ninja attacked Konoha under the summoning of Furido. Choji along with Ino, Shikamaru, Kiba, Akamaru, Rock Lee, Izumo and Kotetsu held the resurrected ninja at bay.

Chōji along with his team-mates then acted as back up for Team Kakashi when the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox's chakra was unleashed in Sora's body. Choji then uses his Partial Multi-Size Technique to immobilise Sora but soon after the chakra cloak begins burning Choji's hands.

Sora, now having four tails, attacked Choji and the others, but Yamato was able to shield them with his Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall. Ino and Sakura then attempt to heal Choji's burned hands and Sakura states that the attack caused by the Nine-Tails chakra cannot be easily healed. Choji is later seen with the other ninja seeing Sora off.

Hidan & Kakuzu arc
Choji arrived with Ino as back-up for Shikamaru and Asuma in their fight with Akatsuki members Hidan and Kakuzu. As the Akatsuki pair fled due to their arrival, Choji prepared to take the fatally injured Asuma back to Konoha for treatment. Asuma, however, knew that he wouldn't make it back to Konoha, and gave some parting words to his team. He told Choji that he was a kind-hearted boy, who thinks about his friends, and, therefore, may be a stronger ninja than anyone else, and to simply believe in himself. Asuma also told Choji to diet a bit more, and Choji said that, while it was difficult, he would try. Choji then reminisces his memories with Asuma like the day when they were assigned to him as students and he treated them for a meal and Choji had ordered a banquet, which hurt Asuma's economy. Choji then cried. After smoking one last cigarette, Asuma died, leaving Choji, Shikamaru, and Ino to set out in an attempt to avenge him.

When the remaining members of Team 10 distracted Hidan and Kakuzu, Choji attacked the two with his Spiked Human Bullet Tank, its effectiveness increased with his new ability to grow and sharpen his hair. Later, when Kakuzu's masks charged at Choji and his team, Choji used Super Open Hand Slap to crush the masks and keep them at bay. His attempt was unsuccessful, and Kakuzu was able to pin him down.

Later, after Naruto arrived and defeated Kakuzu, Choji returned to Konoha with the rest of his team, saying that Naruto's defeating Kakuzu made him "cool", even if not as much so as Shikamaru.

Tsuchigumo Kinjutsu arc
Choji is seen in a flashback by Naruto.

Invasion of Pain arc
When Pain began his invasion, Choji and his father arrived at the scene of Kakashi and Pain's fight, stunning Pain's Asura Path. After the Deva Path launched a counter-attack at them, Choji and Choza tried to distract the Path so Kakashi could land a finishing blow. Their effort failed, resulting in Choza being gravely injured. Kakashi, unable to move, sent Choji to tell Tsunade about the Deva Path's ability. Though believing his father to be dead, Choji did as instructed, and was delighted to learn from Tsunade that his father was alive. But he quickly sobered after finding out that Kakashi died protecting him. He went to attend to his father, and stayed with him during the destruction of Konoha. After witnessing Kakashi returning to life, Chōji greeted Naruto as he returned to Konoha, supporting Shikamaru on his shoulder.

Konoha History arc
After Naruto defeated Pain, Iruka, along with Suzume and Daikoku Funeno approach the ruins of the Ninja Academy to salvage things for class. They split up and Iruka sees the destroyed academy, remembering when he began as a teacher and the day Sarutobi Hiruzen assigned Uzumaki Naruto to his class. Though he hesitated at first, feeling awkward and conflicted about Naruto for his pranks and being the jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails, Iruka still accepts.

The next day, Naruto pulls a prank on Iruka but instead of scolding him, Iruka tells Naruto sit in his seat, remembering the advice given to him from Daikoku to ignore his pranks until he eventually behaves. When seeing Naruto being bullied by the other students because of his failed attempts to be better than Uchiha Sasuke, Iruka tells them to leave him alone and ignore him, punishing Naruto for his constant interruptions and misbehavior. The next day, Naruto learns that Sasuke is the only surviving member of the Uchiha clan.

After class, Naruto wants to join Hibachi and his friends in their "test of courage" though Hibachi tells him to not follow them. Naruto pranks them later in the night by dressing up as a fox demon. Hearing them say they saw a fox demon, Iruka runs to the Konoha grave site and learns it's Naruto. After getting upset at Naruto's insensitive joking about the fox demon for his prank, Naruto recognizes Iruka's glare as the same one everyone else in the village gives him. Naruto runs off with the intent not to return to the Academy again.

The next day, with Naruto is absent in class, and Iruka asks everyone if they seen Naruto. Everyone says no,and Iruka starts class. After being denied to be seen by the Third Hokage, Iruka sits in the park where he meets Hatake Kakashi, and discusses his issues of being Naruto's teacher. Kakashi remembers when after his mission with him, Iruka decides to become an instructor at the Ninja Academy to pass the Will of Fire to the next generation.

Hibachi and his friends decide to let Naruto in their group if he would do their test of courage. Hibachi was told by his father that in the hills, there are corpses left by enemy ninja. Naruto agrees to get an item from a corpse in the hills.Unknown to them, that Sjikamaru and Choji heard the whole thing. Hibachi tells his friends that there are still enemy ninja in the hills after Naruto left. When Iruka sees that Naruto is absent in class, Hibachi says he hasn't seen him, but Nara Shikamaru, having heard of his trick, tells Iruka who runs out the classroom to find Naruto. Remembering Suzume telling him of the enemy ninja, Iruka tries to find Naruto before the enemy ninja find him. Iruka finds Naruto and tries to get him to go back to the Ninja Academy, but Naruto refuses and tells him that he doesn't understand him. Naruto uses his Sexy Technique to escape Iruka before finding a kunai with a paper on it. Elsewhere, Kakashi hears from Shikamaru and Choji that Iruka went to look for Naruto in the hills. Kakashi tells Shikamru and Choji to go back to class for their own safety, and they do.

Then three enemy ninja approach Naruto, demanding that he gives them the kunai but he refuses, having them resort to get it by force. Finding his Sexy Technique useless on women, Naruto flees before running into Iruka as he protects the boy while evading the kunoichi until Kakashi arrives and easily defeats the female ninja.

Iruka gives the Third Hokage the paper that was hidden on the kunai that Naruto found. Iruka then thanks Hiruzen for making him Naruto's teacher which made him remember why he became a teacher. Now being strict with Naruto to keep him from getting into trouble, Iruka's after class lecture on the Will of Fire gave Naruto his Inspirations to become the next Hokage someday, so everyone would respect and look up to him.

Choji and Naruto bring lunch to Sakura and Shizune and Naruto leaves to assist rebuilding Ichiraku. When Chōji says the saying, "Fools never catch a cold", Sakura has a flashback of catching Naruto's cold. When Sakura sees Tsunade at her office, she collapses which Tsunade claims Sakura has an illness known as a chakra virus. It was an illness long ago in another village that would turn chakra into a terrible flu and Naruto recently went to that village for a mission. Tsunade, not wanting to scare the villagers orders Shizune and a team of medical ninja to capture Naruto.

The medical-nin try to capture Naruto, thinking they are after him for overeating ramen but he escapes them every time. The next morning, Naruto finds the village deserted and gets shot at from a distance from one of the medical ninja. Naruto finds the ninja and questions him. The medical ninja tells him that the villagers have evacuated and that Tsunade ordered Naruto's capture with explaining the reason. Shizune and a team of medical ninja arrive and chase after Naruto who tries to locate Tsunade. Naruto finds Tsunade but tries to corner him with a bunch of tall walls. In each sides are Choji, Kiba and Tenten who are also ordered to capture Naruto though the groups of shadow clones they defeat do not contain the real Naruto.

The real Naruto flees to Konoha Hospital, distracting Aburame Shino with one last another shadow clone as he hides in one of the rooms. The room Naruto is in happens to be where Sasuke is still recuperating after their Land of Tea mission. Learning Naruto was the source of ruckus occurring outside, Sasuke kicks Naruto out of his room with medical ninja grabbing him. After getting results from Naruto, Shizune tells Tsunade that he doesn't have the chakra virus but sneezed due to pepper he had in his pocket and Sakura just has an allergic reaction from Naruto's sneeze. After he is released, Naruto demands an apology from Tsunade for her mistake though she covers it up by claiming the entire event as an "emergency drill".

Team 10 tries to round up some hogs for the villagers to eat. Noticing their teamwork, Shikamaru remembers a time where the team also worked closely together in order to complete a mission. After a Village Headman's granddaughter was kidnapped by Baji, he hired Konohagakure's Team Kakashi and Team Asuma for assistance. When the teams accepted the mission to stop Baji and rescue the girl, an ex-bandit named Tōfu acted as their guide. Shikamaru then instructed Asuma and Kakashi to find an alternate route to the Baji's fortress. Tofu later gets captured and is revealed to be a double agent working for the gang leader. When the six genin infiltrated the fortress, Shikamaru agreed to a hostage exchange between him and Tofu in order to find out the location of the Headman's granddaughter. Ino and Choji managed to find the tower where the hostages were held, and later, helped defeat Baji. The mission ended with a success, the bandit group were captured, and the Headman's granddaughter was rescued. The scene then shifts back to present time, where Ino and Shikamaru leave Choji the arduous task of carrying all the hogs back to the village.

Five Kage Summit arc
Choji is seen comforting Ino after Teams Guy, Asuma, and Kurenai agree that Sasuke must be stopped. He is also noted by Shikamaru to want revenge if Ino was to be killed. Along with the rest of Konoha 11, Choji is prepared to kill Sasuke. Choji was later seen with the rest of the Konoha 11, hearing Naruto's decision about Sasuke. When Naruto explained it wouldn't have been easy to defeat Sasuke, even at his current level, Choji asks what he means by that.

Chikara arc
The Nine-Tailed Naruto clone tries to attack Dokku and the orphans, when [Gai (Might Guy) and Rock Lee arrive to repel it. While they fight the beast, Kabuto tries to control it, but to no avail. The rest of Konoha 11 arrive,Team Asuma's help. Sakura and Kakashi and Team Kurenai help Naruto. Tenten and Neji arrive, but are cornered by the reincarnated puppets. Kakashi chases Kabuto. The beast grabs Naruto to absorb chakra, which the Nine-Tails gladly shares. Hinata tries to defend Naruto, but is sent flying. After the beast absorbs Naruto's chakra, it grows in size and starts to devastate the Hachō Village, even firing a Tailed Beast Ball in far away, missing Yamato, Sai, Deidara and Hidan who are fighting outside the village. Dokku tries to save Naruto, who is still unconscious. Moments before the beast tramples them, Kabuto summons a snake to swallow both of them alive and retreats. While inside the underground hall in the Tonika Village, Naruto, unconscious and strangled by snakes, meets the Nine-Tails again in his subconscious.

The Konoha-nin investigates Kabuto's intention in the meanwhile. Shiseru remembers an earlier conversation between her and Dokku about the pros and cons of them adopting the kids. While the Nine-Tails tries to control Naruto, Dokku calls him, but gets shouted instead. Dokku asks Naruto what burden a powerful person carries and made Naruto choose the reason why he desires to be powerful, seeing flashbacks of his comrades of Konoha and Sasuke, leading to the seal inside Naruto to gain strength again. Dokku gives Naruto his forehead protector, stating that he believes in him. Meanwhile, Leo decides to save their teacher by giving the mysterious iron bars which were mentioned earlier by the Tonika Village Head. While inside the hall, Kabuto, along with two reincarnated puppets, approaches with Disonasu, revealed to have engineered Tonika's destruction. Disonasu pulls out a scroll from which emerges the item that he desired: the Saezuri.

While the Saezuri is revealed, learning that Disonasu employed Kabuto Yakushi to wipe out the residents of Tonika Village, Dokku tried to attack Disonasu, but stopped by a reincarnated puppet and restrained by a resurrected Takigakure shinobi. Disonasu also praised Naruto about defeating Pain, the one who scarred him and left him powerless, before kicking the boy repeatedly. Miina and the orphans came to The Hole to give the iron bars, but Kabuto's clone intercepted them. Meanwhile, the rest of Konoha 11, along with Kakashi, Shiseru, Yamato and Sai moved out to the area. Disonasu prepares the summoning of the "power" by putting the remaining iron bars while Naruto enters Sage Mode. Miina hums to the sound as the Saezuri is activated, causing the area Naruto is on, the Ama no Hoko, to rise above ground. Kakashi arrived on the scene, revealing Disonasu's past as a bloodthirsty murderer and former Akatsuki subordinate whose specialty is the field of Summoning Technique, having researched Impure World Reincarnatio with Orochimaru. Kabuto summons his puppets, the Nine-Tailed Naruto Clone, Hidan, and Deidara. Naruto faces off with the clone, while Deidara uses Explosive Clay to create a diversion and chase Naruto.

Disonasu escapes and Hidan faces Shikamaru. Deidara activates the Explosive Clay on the bodies of the resurrected individuals, as Hidan uses his ritual against Team Asuma, and Sakura got restrained by Hayate and the others. While Naruto relentlessly attacked the clone, he learned there is more than power. As Yamato restrained Disonasu, he activated the Saezuri, opening the area where Naruto faces the clone, draining the lake as an obelisk rises and creates a storm. After Hidan's clone body breaks down due to the shorten life spans of the snakes composing his body, Deidara is controlled by Kabuto to escape Kakashi. A lightning hit the area where the orphans are running, Miina pointing to the obelisk. When the storm expands towards Konoha, Tsunade goes out as the storm engulfs the Land of Fire. Naruto tried to stop Disonasu from ascending the tower, only to face his clone after he absorbed some of the tower's power and transformed a Hydra-tailed fox monster.

Absorbing the power within the Ama no Hoko, the Nine-Tailed Naruto Clone mutated into a hydra-tailed version of the Nine-Tails while sending Disonasu to his death. Overpowered, Naruto almost gave in to the Nine-Tails' offer for power when Minato's voice urges the boy to control the tailed beast as Naruto is engulfed in a six-tailed chakra cloak in the Nine-Tails' image. Over time, as he starts to lose against the clone, the Nine-Tails starts to take control over Naruto's body and assumes a seven-tailed jinchūriki state with Yamato trying to restrain it. At the same time, though followed by Kakashi, Kabuto Yakushi manages to take his leave in midst of the ensuing chaos. Dokku and Shiseru decide to deactivate the Ama no Hoko and say good-bye to the children. On their way there, they confess their love for each other and decide to get married if they survive before portions of the ground start to sink, with Dokku keeping Shiseru from falling.

By that time, Miina is able to get through Naruto, regaining control as he assumed a new form to save Shiseru after telling Dokku to go forward and stop the Ama no Hoko. As Dokku recalls the tune Miina hummed to change the sounds in the Saezuri to deactivate the tower, Naruto uses his new power to destroy his clone as the Ama no Hoko recedes into the ground. Everyone, including the Konoha 11 and children celebrate with Naruto.

Adventures at Sea arc
While on the way to the Land of Lightning, Naruto and his bodyguards stop off at a nearby island, due to all his bodyguards becoming seasick, Guy in particular. While there, they see Haruno Sakura, Yamanaka Ino and Choji picking up medicinal herbs on the orders of Tsunade and Naruto decides to help them, although he does not fare well, from eating poisonous herbs to being paralysed on a bridge. As Chōji spots one of the medicinal herbs, some ninja from the Benisu Island appear and make the Konoha ninja waste their time, while collecting the exact same herbs. However, they have a change of heart and give Sakura, Ino and Chōji all the herbs they picked up, as Naruto saved them from a monster protecting the Elixir Mud. With Guy feeling better, they head off towards the Land of Lightning and Tsunade's team back to Konoha happily, unaware that the Benisu ninja just gave them the herbs, so they could collect the debt owed after the war.

At a meeting held by the Hyuga clan regarding the impending war, Hyuga Neji is appointed as the commander of the clan on the frontlines by Hiashi which shocked some of the members. Hinata later meets with Kurenai where she is told by Shikamaru that he and quite a few of the other members of the Konoha 11 had seen Naruto since he left the village and that Tsunade was looking for her.

Hopeful that Tsunade had in fact requested her to go on a mission so she could see Naruto she goes in search of her only to be disappointed. She along with the other females of the Konoha 11 and Shiho are later invited by Tenten to a girls night out at [Yakiniku Q ]. Somewhat saddened that he wasn't invited, Choji comes up with the idea of a guys night out at the same place. The two groups talk about Naruto and the past, reminiscing about the first Chunin Exams. The girls are later joined by Shizune and a moderately intoxicated Tsunade. Tsunade attempts to apologise for how she dismissed Hinata earlier but Hinata tells her it was fine as she knew what she had to do. The next day during her training with Neji she tells him that she bore no ill will towards him for her father's decision and that he was the right person to lead them in the war.

As Team Asuma considers the impending war, they encounter Kosuke Maruboshi who reminds them of the time that they rescued him while they were still genin. With this, Kosuke retells the tale of the time their fathers saved him during the Invasion of Konoha< with their Formation Ino–Shika–Cho. Somewhat rattled by this story, Kosuke reminds them that great shinobi weren't made in a day. As the team contemplates everything, they decide to perfect their own formation, insisting that they'd be fine because they were not alone.

Fourth Shinobi War arc
When the Fourth Shinobi War begins, Choji is placed in the Fourth Division alongside Shikamaru. Choji, Shikamaru, and other members of their division are later sent to provide support for the First Division. They meet up with Ino - sent as backup from her own division - and they team up to help Darui fight Kinkaku. Choji attacks Kinkaku with his Human Bullet Tank, creating an opening for Shikamaru and Ino and ultimately leading to Kinkaku's capture. Ino–Shika–Cho next engages the reincarnated Kakuzu. As they prepare to face him yet again, he points out that he is not the only ninja to have been reincarnated: Sarutobi Asuma is on the battlefield too.

As Asuma's students and thus experts on his fighting style, Shikaku leaves fighting him to Ino–Shika–Cho. Choji is reluctant to fight Asuma, and despite Shikamaru and Ino's attempt to reassure him he cannot bring himself to attack him. Asuma attacks him with his Wind Release: Dust Cloud Technique and Ino tackles him to get him out of the way. As Choji struggles to come to terms with what is happening, Asuma tries to motivate him by calling him fat. Although Choji lashes out in his usual fashion, he still cannot bring himself to strike Asuma. Ino transfers her consciousness into Choji's body to fight on his behalf. As she fights, Choji reflects on his duty as an Akimichi, only coming back to his senses when his father shields them from Asuma's attack.

Seeing that his team-mates and his own father have the will to fight despite the circumstances, Choji finds the resolve he needs. He uses Calorie Control to create butterfly chakra-wings without the aid of the Three Coloured Pills, a feat which amazed his father. While Shikamaru manoeuvres Asuma into a vulnerable position Choji grew to gigantic size and used the Butterfly Bullet Bombing technique to punch Asuma into a nearby cliff. Immobilised, Asuma uses his last few moments before being sealed to congratulate his students on their perfect formation as well as thank Choji for finding the confidence. Choji then grew his wings to an enormous size, catching the attention of nearly everyone in the battle. He asked Shikamaru and Ino to back him up while he ended the battle.

By nightfall, Choji has managed to capture Hyuga Hizashi in his hand while crushing Kakuzu underneath his other fist. The apparent victory is short-lived, as Uchiha Obito soon appears on the battlefield Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. Choji and his father confront the statue but are no match for it, only being flung back in the failed offensive. Returning to his regular size, Choji bunkers down with the rest of his team as Statue goes on a rampage. After the attack subsides, Choji plans with the rest of his team and Tenten.

The next morning, in the anime, while everyone is still concerned about who to trust because of the transformed White Zetsu that had invaded their ranks, the Sound Four emerge on the battlefield, reincarnated with enhanced cursed seals. Choji quickly engages Jirobo, who notes Choji's much slimmer built. Despite not having his clan pills to aid him, Choji is able to hold back the Sound ninja and subdue him. However, his victory is short-lived, as Jirobo engulfs himself and Choji in a strange technique. Choji's body was left in a comatose state while his soul was sent to a new location where it was reanimate within a large barrier. Inside, the inhabitants are able to battle normal. However, the Sound Four inform their enemies that in time, their actual bodies' halted chakra flow will eventually cause them to die. In addition, killing the Sound Four will not undo the technique.

Despite the initial stalemate, the Sound Four's enhanced Cursed Seals grow even stronger from their accumulated malice, quickly overwhelming the Konoha ninja. Seeing that, Shikamaru begins to intentionally provoke them, knowing that Naruto's new senses would pick up on it. Eventually, Naruto finds them and breaks through the barrier, allowing Inoichi, through a telepathic connection, to release the technique and restore Choji and the others to their bodies. Upon awakening, Choji is tearfully hugged by a relieved Ino.

The battle continues on as when they spotted White Zetsu clones and fought them off. It suddenly starts to rain while it is sunny that's when Shikamaru spots a crying boy then huge amount wall of rain falls on Shikamaru that is preventing him from moving. Chōji uses is Multi-Size Technique to block it and while Ino helped Shikamaru up. Shikamaru then uses his Shadow Neck Bind Technique to bind him and as he does so the rain starts getting worse making them not move and their technique weakening. As that happens the boy started calling their names as then Ino question how does he know them as Choji doesn't know him and neither does Shikamaru. The boy then came up to them and plucked their foreheads after that happened they realise that its Yota. Shikamaru questions is he reincarnated the boy started to cry the rain stopped then a big wave of it washed them away that made them know that he can't control his actions just like Asuma. Yota then started shooting rain bullets that's pushing the trio back and thinking do they have to fight him. Ino contacted her father and asked to link her to Sakura and found out that she was also fighting Yota along with Kiba and Akamaru. She also found out that Naruto was fighting him and was told that those were not him just White Zetsu clones so she helped Chōji and Shikamaru defeated him and it revert to a clone.

Later, Choji and the rest of the shinobi stand in circles as a countermeasure against the White Zetsu until Naruto could come and differentiate them. Getting somewhat restless, Choji asks how much longer they'd have to stay like this, noting that if the Demonic Statue came back they'd be in a lot of trouble. He is greatly relieved when Naruto's shadow clone finally arrives.

After being informed by Inoichi from HQ that Naruto and B were fighting the "masked Madara", Chōji and the rest of the Konoha 11 rush to his aid. As he runs, he states to Shikamaru that it seemed Naruto was doing well. He then states that Naruto was as stupid as he was fat but that people were not always as they seem. Thinking to himself, he jokingly tells slightly stupid Naruto to wait because slim Choji was coming. Upon arriving at the battlefield alongside Shikamau, Choji announced their presence to Naruto and later stood alongside the other members of the Allied Shinobi Forces to face their opposition. After Shikaku and Inoichi were killed by the Ten-Tails after relaying their final strategy, Choji attempted to console Shikamaru, only to be reminded by his friend that they were in the midst of battle and did not have time to grieve. He was later shocked alongside the others, about Neji's death.

After Kurama had accumulated enough chakra, Naruto sent shadow clones to Chōji and the rest of the Allied Shinobi Forces to distribute Kurama's chakra. Kurama's chakra cloak enveloped Choji, causing his body to naturally begin converting the chakra into calories leading him to rapidly began to regain weight, somewhat to the young man's dismay. Soon after, the Ten-Tails launched an attack, Choji and several other Akimichi stopped its tails. This gave Ino the chance to take over Obito with her Mind Body Switch Technique to deflect an attack launched at them. With the other tails thrashing about, Shikamaru and several other Nara use the Shadow Imitation Technique to immobilise the beast. Later when Madara and Obito bear down on the Alliance with their Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation and Fire Release: Blast Wave Wild Dance, the cloak surrounding them protected them from the attacks. This lead Choji to comment that if it hadn't been for the cloak, they would be no different than pigs roasting on a spit. He would later remark that once again Naruto had protected them from the Tenpenchii.

Later as the Alliance banded together to protect themselves against the Ten-Tails' enormous Tailed Beast Ball, Choji and the other shinobi are able to create multiple weakened defences in an attempt to deflect the attack. However, when these seem to fail, they are saved by the Namikaze Minato's appearance on the battlefield, and even more so when the other Hokage arrive. He was later shocked to see Sasuke arrive on the battlefield as well, and went along with his team-mates to where they were. As Ino rushed forward, Choji cautioned her that Sasuke was dangerous and that she needed to keep her distance. Choji and the others were later shocked and confused to hear Sasuke's resolve to become the next Hokage.

He then comments on the reunion of Team 7, saying that it has been a while since their entire graduating class has gathered in one place, the last time being the Chunin Exams. He then charges at the Ten-Tails with his friends. Ino then rallies her own team together, for them to perform Formation E. While Choji uses his Multi-Size Technique, and Shikamaru uses the Shadow Clutch Technique on him, Ino uses her sensory abilities to lock onto all of the clones in the surrounding area, before using the Perception Transfer technique on Shikamaru. With Ino acting as the mind, Shikamaru as the body and Choji as the yo-yo, the trio perform the Human Bullet Yo-Yo technique, obliterating all of the surrounding clones.

As Choji prepares to double in size to strengthen his assault, Shikamaru states that the team has a lot more to show, with Ino then berating him for his sudden competitiveness with the other teams. He then watched Naruto and Sasuke attack the Ten-Tails, silently spurring them on. With the situation looking grim as the Alliance was trapped in a barrier with a Tailed Beast Ball-firing tree, Choji and the other shinobi soon found themselves shrouded in the previous Version 1 mantles again. Shocked that it had reappeared, he noted that it was even stronger than before. He and the other shinobi subsequently found themselves on the outside of the barrier, escaping the near-fatal attack thanks to Naruto and Minato's action.

Ready to begin the final stages of his plan, Obito unleashes the Ten-Tails' true form, the original source of all chakra known as the Shinju. It begins unleashing countless branches, attacking every living target to absorb its chakra, killing the victim in the process. To Choji's horror, Shikamaru fell victim to the Shinju's attack and drained of nearly all his chakra, Shikamaru collapsed in Choji's arms. Senju Hashirama has Ino everyone link-up telepathically to inform them of what his original had learned of the Eye of the Moon Plan as well as try and rally them. While Hashirama's words fail to inspire anyone, Naruto's senjutsu-enhanced Tailed Beast Mode combined with Ino's telepathy caused his emotions and personal memories to be conveyed to everyone, during which Choji sympathised with Naruto over the loss of Asuma.

Choji was later so overjoyed when Shikamaru recovered that the young man unreservedly embraced his friend while shedding tears on the battlefield, despite Shikamaru's protests. He and his team-mates later mobilsed when Naruto called for them via their telepathic link. While shocked when Naruto's Tailed Beasr Mode mantle surrounds him, Choji and the others were successful in using the Rasengan formed in Kurama's tails to break through Obito's defences and give Naruto and Sasuke a clear shot at attacking their opponent. He and his comrades later also assisted Naruto with wresting control of the tailed beasts' chakra from Obito to effectively stop the Shinju from blooming.

When Madara was revived, Chōji aided his comrades in combatting Guruguru. He later wondered just what exactly was going on across the battlefield when they saw meteorites falling from the sky close by. He and the others would later fall prey to the Infinite Tsukuyomi. He was then stuck to the Shinju tree. Inside the genjutsu, Choji dreams of eating a large meal while a beautiful girl praises him for it, to which Choji's father watches proudly. It is reveal, that Minato free Choji from the Shinju tree. But Minato was unable to free Choji from the Infinite Tsukuyoni Technique. Ultimately, the world was freed from the genjutsu by Naruto and Sasuke after they ended the war.

Two years later after the war ended, when Shikamaru gets back to Konoha from a mission, he has dinner at Yakiniku Q with Choji and Ino. They intent on asking him for their help with assassinating Gengo, but to no success.

When Naruto and Hinata start dating after the defeat of Toneri. while heading to Sunagakure with Sakura. Ino reveals to her that Choji is ina a dating relationship with the Kumogakure konoichi ninja, Karui.

Years later in Konohagakure, there was an announcement of a certain special mission by the Sixth Hokage. It was a confidential mission that Naruto and Hinata could not know about at all. The mission was that "The people who are attending the wedding ceremony of Naruto and Hinata are to bring celebratory gifts". And so, the shinobi of Konohagakure raise the curtain on a mission to procure the items. Shikamaru and Choji held a tactical meeting over barbecue. In which Temari appeared to help the boys out. Soon, the wedding ceremony begins.

Epilogue
Years later after the Fourth Shinobi War ended, Choji married Karui, who together had a daughter named Chocho. He began helping his friends training their respective children to become the new Ino–Shika–Cho.

Naruto movie 1
He is seen in a flashback by Naruto.

Naruto Shippuuden movie 1
He made a small cameo before Team 7 was being called up, he, Shikamaru, and Ino were seen running through the streets.

Naruto Shippuuden movie 2
Choji played a short role while they were trying to fight off the sky ninja and was seen with Sakura, Neji, and Yamato while Naruto destroyed the Land of the Sky.

Naruto Shippuuden movie 3
Choji was first seen eating barbecue with Shikamaru and the others celebrating Naruto and Sai's recovery. Later when Hiruko announced that a Fourth Ninja World War would occur once he gets the final kekkei genkai, Choji was seen with the rest of Konoha 11 except Naruto assigned by Tsunade to secure the village. When Naruto and Sakura left the village to rescue Kakashi, Choji, and the others left to stop them. While they encountered them, they got ambushed by San which caused them to fight while Sai took Naruto and Sakura ahead. Later when Hiruko finally approached them they all fought and defeated him.

Naruto Shippuuden movie 5
Choji appears along with the other members of the Konoha 11, Kakashi, Yamato, Guy, Shizune, and Tsunade to help save Naruto from the Hōzukijō and help defeat Satori

Naruto Shippuuden movie 6
Choji first appeared with his friends battling several White Zetsu clones disguised as deceased Akatsuki members. Later, a different version of Choji appeared in the alternate universe. There, while still a user of the his clans expansion techniques, Choji was seen slimmer and more fit, with square-shaped swirls on his cheeks. Also, this Choji was more level-headed and keen-minded, as well as more self-conscious about what and how much he eats.

Naruto Shippuuden movie 7
He was seen with his team as they look at how popular Naruto is now with Ino noting many people, mostly women, are drawn to him as a hero. He was last seen at Naruto and Hinata's wedding.

Video Games
Akimichi Choji is a playable character in the following video games:
 * Naruto RPG 2 Chidori vs Rasengan
 * Naruto Shippuuden Clash of Ninja Revolution 3
 * Naruto Shippuuden Gekito Ninja Taisen! EX 2
 * Naruto Shippuuden Gekito Ninja Taisen! EX 3
 * Naruto Shippuuden Gekito Ninja Taisen! Special
 * Naruto Shippuuden Kizuna Drive
 * Naruto Shippuuden Ultimate Ninja 4
 * Naruto Shippuuden Ultimate Ninja 5
 * Naruto Shippuuden Ultimate Ninja Heroes 3
 * Naruto Shippuuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 2
 * Naruto Shippuuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 3
 * Naruto Shippuuden Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations
 * Naruto Shippuuden Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution
 * Naruto Clash of Ninja Revolution 2
 * Naruto Gekitō Ninja Taisen! 3
 * Naruto Gekitō Ninja Taisen! 4
 * Naruto Konoha Senki
 * Naruto Ninja Council 2
 * Naruto Ninja Council 3
 * Naruto Path of the Ninja 2
 * Naruto Rise of a Ninja
 * Naruto The Broken Bond
 * Naruto Ultimate Ninja 2
 * Naruto Ultimate Ninja 3
 * Naruto Ultimate Ninja Heroes
 * Naruto Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2 The Phantom Fortress
 * Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm
 * Naruto Uzumaki Chronicles
 * Naruto Uzumaki Chronicles 2

Uzumaki Naruto
Originally one of Uzumaki Naruto's fellow "dead lasts" during their Academy days, Chōji Akimichi, like his friend Shikamaru, mostly hangs out with Naruto when not on missions, usually going out to eat. Growing up alongside Naruto, he has witnessed Naruto's personal and physical development first hand; something he made mention of during their battle against Akatsuki members Hidan and Kakuzu.

During the Fourth Shinobi War, Choji and the rest of the shinobi stand in circles as a countermeasure against the White Zetsu until Naruto could come and differentiate them. Getting somewhat restless, Choji asks how much longer they'd have to stay like this, noting that if the Demonic Statue came back they'd be in a lot of trouble. He is greatly relieved when Naruto's shadow clone finally arrives.

After being informed by Inoichi from HQ that Naruto and B were fighting the "masked Madara", Choji and the rest of the Konoha 11 rush to his aid. As he runs, he states to Shikamaru that it seemed Naruto was doing well. He then states that Naruto was as stupid as he was fat but that people were not always as they seem. Thinking to himself, he jokingly tells slightly stupid Naruto to wait because slim Choji was coming.

Upon arriving at the battlefield alongside Shikamau, Choji announced their presence to Naruto and later stood alongside the other members of the Allied Shinobi Forces to face their opposition.

Later when Madara and Obito bear down on the Alliance with their Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation and Fire Release: Blast Wave Wild Dance, the cloak surrounding them protected them from the attacks. This lead Choji to comment that if it hadn't been for the cloak, they would be no different than pigs roasting on a spit. He would later remark that once again Naruto had protected them from the Tenpenchii.

He then comments on the reunion of Team Kakashi, saying that it has been a while since their entire graduating class has gathered in one place, the last time being the Chunin Exams. He then watched Naruto and Sasuke attack the Ten-Tails, silently spurring them on.

Ready to begin the final stages of his plan, Obito unleashes the Ten-Tails' tree form. It begins unleashing countless branches, attacking every living target to absorb its chakra, killing the victim in the process. To Chōji's horror, Shikamaru fell victim to the tree's attack and drained of nearly all his chakra, Shikamaru collapsed in Chōji's arms. Hashirama Senju has Ino everyone link-up telepathically to inform them of what his original had learned of the Eye of the Moon Plan as well as try and rally them. While Hashirama's words fail to inspire anyone, Naruto's senjutsu-enhanced Tailed Beast Mode combined with Ino's telepathy caused his emotions and personal memories to be conveyed to everyone, during which Choji sympathized with Naruto over the loss of Asuma.

Chōji was later so overjoyed when Shikamaru recovered that the young man unreservedly embraced his friend while shedding tears despite Shikamaru's protests. He and his team-mates later mobilsed when Naruto called for them via their telepathic link. While shocked when Naruto's Tailed Beast Mode mantle surrounds him, Choji and the others were successful in using the Rasengan formed in Kurama's tails to break through Obito's defenses and give Naruto and Sasuke a clear shot at attacking their opponent. He and his comrades later also assisted Naruto with wresting control of the tailed beasts' chakra from Obito to effectively stop the Ten-Tails' tree form from blooming.

He and the others fell prey to the Infinite Tsukuyomi. Ultimately, the world was freed from the genjutsu by Naruto and Sasuke after they ended the war.

Two years later after the war, He was seen with his team as they look at how popular Naruto is now with Ino noting many people, mostly women, are drawn to him as a hero. He attened Naruto and Hinata's wedding.

Knownable Relatives

 * Akimichi Choza (Father)
 * Unamed Mother (Mother)
 * Karui (Wife)
 * ChoCho (Daughter)
 * Nara Shikamaru (Childhood Best Friend & Teammate)
 * Uzumaki Naruto (2nd Childhood Best Friend)
 * Yamanaka Ino (Childhood Classmate & Teammate)
 * Umino Iruka (Childhood Sensei)
 * Sarutobi Asuma (Sensei/dead)

Trivia
According to the databook(s):
 * Choji was the only member of the original 15 genin to not be ranked within the top 30 characters in the sixth and most recent Naruto character popularity poll. He was not ranked among the top 30 in the fifth poll either. The only poll he placed in was the fourth where he was ranked 21st most popular character.
 * Choji's hobby is buying and eating snacks.
 * While Choji doesn't wish to fight anyone in particular, Choji will fight anyone as long as there is food involved.
 * Choji's favorite foods are Korean barbecue and junk food, whilst his least favorite food is anything inedible.
 * Choji has completed 39 official missions in total: 17 D-rank, 13 C-rank, 6 B-rank, 3 A-rank, 0 S-rank.
 * Choji's favorite word is 'meat' (肉, niku).
 * Choji is the only character to have a stat go down between databooks: his hand seal score goes down by half a point between the second and third databooks.
 * In Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles 2, it is revealed that Choji has a fear of lizards after he sees Ibushi<'s puppet lizard.
 * In the omake of Naruto: Shippuuden episode 163, Choji seemingly uses Wind Release by sucking up Potato chips, calling it "Wind Release: Great Absorption" (風遁・大吸引, Fūton: Daikyūin; English version "Wind Style: Great Suction") which angers Naruto questioning what kind of Wind Release was that.
 * In a 2012 Shōnen Jump interview, Masashi Kishimoto stated that Choji and Killer B were currently his favourite characters in the Naruto series.

Voice Actresses & Actors
all information on Akimichi Choji is from http://naruto.wikia.com/wiki/Ch%C5%8Dji_Akimichi
 * Japanese voice actress : Yumi Kawashima (Child)
 * Japanese : Kentaro Ito (Pre-teen & Teenager)
 * English : Robbie Rist (Both Appearances)
 * Played by in (Live Action) : Ryo Kato (Live Spectacle Naruto)