Naruto Vol. 21

After Sakura reports Sasuke’s departure, Tsunade appoints Shikamaru to lead a retrieval squad. He recruits Naruto, Neji, Kiba, and Chōji, organizing them according to their tracking, defensive, and combat specialties. Before leaving, Naruto promises Sakura that he will bring Sasuke back, accepting the mission as a personal obligation as well as an official assignment.

The squad catches the Sound Four while Sasuke is sealed inside a container that allows his Cursed Seal to advance. Shikamaru initially traps the enemy with Shadow Possession Jutsu, but the Sound ninja escape and imprison the Leaf team inside Jirōbō’s earth barrier. Because the structure absorbs their chakra, the group must identify its weakest point before they are completely drained.

Chōji locates the vulnerable section and breaks the team free. Recognizing that Jirōbō will continue delaying them, he remains behind alone while the others pursue Sasuke. Chōji consumes the Akimichi clan’s military ration pills, progressively converting his body’s reserves into immense chakra. After Jirōbō insults Shikamaru and dismisses Chōji as expendable, Chōji uses the final pill and defeats him with overwhelming force, though the technique leaves his own survival uncertain.