Highlights
- Expansion Jutsu is an intricate technique passed down through generations in Akimichi Clan, boosting size, strength, and power in battle.
- The technique, with its multiple variants, offers versatility and autonomous battle capabilities for Akimichi Clan members in Naruto series.
- Despite its strength, Expansion Jutsu has drawbacks such as high chakra consumption and toll on the user’s body, mitigated by Calorie Control.
Among the hundreds of jutsu that populate Naruto’s narrative, a certain type of secretive techniques exists that are only passed down within specific clans, often called ‘Hiden’ techniques. The Expansion Jutsu is branded under the same category of techniques, as this jutsu has been passed down through generations within the Hidden Leaf’s Akimichi Clan.
As an integral part of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, the Expansion Jutsu’s true potential is contingent on the Shadow Paralysis and the Mind-Body Switch Techniques. Unlike its Ino-Shika-Cho counterparts, however, the Expansion Jutsu can hold its own in battle. With multiple variants that add to its versatility, the Expansion Jutsu holds considerable potential that is often overlooked in Naruto.
The Workings of the Expansion Jutsu
|
First Appearance |
Naruto, Episode 33, “Battle Formation: Ino–Shika–Cho!!” |
|
Debut Date |
May 14, 2003 |
|
Users |
Choji Akimichi, Choza Akimichi, Chocho Akimichi |
Also known as the Multi-Size Technique, the Akmichi Clan’s Expansion Jutsu essentially allows the user to increase their size by multiple folds, inturn leading to a dramatic increase in strength and power. This increase further results in stronger physical attacks that can strike down opponents with a single blow, coupled with the ability to immobilize enemies by simply grabbing them with multi-sized hands.
While it was never exactly explained how, clothes and certain weapons wielded by the users are also expanded alongside their bodies. Moreover, the Expansion Jutsu has two distinct applications, with the user’s body either expanding only in the torso and stomach area or increasing in size proportionately all over. It has been implied that these two variations are dependent on experience, considering Choji could only utilize the former in the initial parts of Naruto.
Variants of the Expansion Jutsu
A number of different techniques come under the umbrella of the Expansion Jutsu, making the secret technique all the more diverse and versatile. Apart from the various applications of expanding different body parts, the Expansion Jutsu itself can be a precursor to techniques that require a voluminous body, as seen in the case of Choji Akimichi’s Human Boulder technique.
With a number of different techniques, the Expansion Jutsu is arguably the most versatile among the Ino-Shika-Cho trio. Moreover, these techniques grant Akimichi Clan members more autonomy in battle, as they aren’t forced to rely entirely on their Ino-Shika counterparts.
Partial Expansion Jutsu
|
First Appearance |
Naruto, Episode 114, “Good-bye Old Friend…! I’ll Always Believe in You!” |
|
Debut Date |
December 15, 2004 |
Through the Partial Expansion Jutsu, the user can opt to simply expand a specific body part. This variant of the Expansion Jutsu is quite practical, as it allows users to swiftly enlarge their body parts and attain the same results as a full expansion. This version of the technique is far less chakra-intensive as well.
Moreover, the immense speed at which the body part expands can take opponents by surprise. Choji Akimichi is often seen using this version of the Expansion Jutsu alongside the Ino-Shika-Cho trio.
Super Expansion Jutsu
|
First Appearance |
Naruto, Episode 114, “Good-bye Old Friend…! I’ll Always Believe in You!” |
|
Debut Date |
December 15, 2004 |
The Super Expansion Jutsu is an extreme version of the regular Expansion Jutsu, with the user growing to colossal sizes. The size of the user is comparable to a mountain, and the sheer strength accompanied by this technique is enough to take down any opponent with a single strike.
However, the Super Expansion Jutsu can eat up a considerable chunk of Chakra, and maintaining this form can be rather draining. In Part 1 of Naruto, Choji could only utilize the technique after consuming the Three Colored Pills. By Shippuden, however, Choji and Choza Akimichi were witnessed using the technique for a considerably longer period, though that could be attributed to their mastery over Calorie Control.
Human Boulder Technique
|
First Appearance |
Naruto, Episode 33, “Battle Formation: Ino–Shika–Cho!!” |
|
Debut Date |
May 14, 2003 |
The Human Boulder Technique is derived from the Expansion Jutsu, with Choji being the main user of this technique. By expanding his body into a round shape, Choji can retract his arms and legs and spin at immense speeds, pulverizing any object that comes into contact with him.
While the technique itself is derived from the Expansion Jutsu, a few other techniques have been further carved out of the Human Boulder jutsu. Double Human Boulder, Human Boulder Yo-Yo, and Spiked Human Boulder are different variations that can be used depending on the context of battle.
Weaknesses of the Expansion Jutsu
While the Expansion Jutsu’s workings are rather straightforward, using the jutsu itself can be rather cumbersome for Akimichi Clan members. Since the technique not only expends chakra but also augments parts of the user’s body, the Expansion Jutsu can leave a hefty toll on the user’s body. To preserve chakra reserves, the Expansion Jutsu can only be used for a limited time, with the user’s body returning to regular size after they run out of chakra.
The hefty toll of the Expansion Technique led to the Akimichi Clan forging another technique called Calorie Control. Through this ability, users can convert their excess fat reserves into chakra, allowing them to bypass the immense chakra requirements of the Expansion Jutsu. The only downside to this ability is that Akimichi Clan members are forced to maintain an overweight body, leading to gluttonous appetites.
Naruto is available to stream on Prime Video.
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