It's no use…
They either went really far away, or escaped inside a barrier…
I can't sense Sakura's chakra at all…
Sarada…
Mom!
Don't take your eyes off of her.
– Yes, Father. – Yes, Father.
Please behave…
You are not of Uchiha blood, but we can still use you.
That's the only reason why I'm letting you live.
You didn't hold back, did you?
It's because you tried to kill my husband and child!
As well as my dear friend!
That child needs medical attention immediately,
or he'll be in danger.
I'll help.
You don't want to lose your child, do you?
My child?
Don't misunderstand…
These children are clones,
created by culturing my teeth and nerves.
Clones? That's…
That's just like him…
Yes, that's right…
My master was…
Orochimaru.
What are you—?!
S-Stop it!
Connected Feelings
Orochimaru?
Yes, Kakashi Sensei said the same thing.
He felt the enemy this time could be connected to Orochimaru.
Who's that?
I've heard of him before.
He's a notorious criminal who tried to
destroy Hidden Leaf Village a long time ago.
He's a tremendously dangerous individual.
That guy who called himself Shin Uchiha…
Huh?
His left arm was implanted with multiple Sharingan.
The only one capable of doing something like that is Orochimaru.
So then,
Sarada's mom was taken to this Orochimaru guy's place?
No…that's not possible.
We have Leaf Shinobi keeping strict surveillance on him.
I don't believe he would be directly involved in this, ya know?
SEVENTH HOKAGE However, in order to track Shin's whereabouts,
SEVENTH HOKAGE we need to find out all we can from Orochimaru.
SEVENTH HOKAGE
Let's head to his research lab.
Dad!
S-Sarada?
What is it?
How can you be so calm?
Aren't you worried about Mom?
Hey, Sarada, Sasuke is…
Personal feelings only get in the way of a mission.
If you intend on becoming a shinobi, remember that.
LIGHTLY SALTED POTATO CHIPS
I only have… lightly salted chips left, but…
I totally hate intense, heavy situations like this!
The only thing heavy should be my weight!
You can do this, my delicate heart of glass!
Cho-Cho…
All right!
Do the two of you want to come with us?
Naruto, what are you—?!
They came after Sarada too.
It's safer to stay together.
Do what you want.
Besides, we may be able to see those people in the photo
at Orochimaru's.
What?!
Okay, it's decided.
We'll set out at daybreak.
How horrible!
Even if they're clones,
didn't you raise them like they're your sons?
They're just stand-ins for my organs.
Nothing more, nothing less.
There's no need to grieve.
Living creatures don't truly die.
What do you mean?!
Without a doubt,
the body of every living creature decomposes in time.
However, genes through reproductive cells survive forever
without change in the shape of progeny.
That is the system we call life.
What is that which we call death?
It's merely the expiration of the disposable corporeal vessel.
You're wrong!
You're wrong in thinking the body is just a vessel!
That's where one's feelings and will reside!
What exists between parent and child
is more than mere gene transmission,
much more!
Genes are the essence of life.
Weak genes perish,
and strong genes hybridize to create stronger beings.
That is evolution.
You don't understand at all
what should be important as a parent!
For evolution,
conflict is essential in the further selection of superior genes.
Through countless battles,
new ninjutsu and other arts were developed rapidly…
and strong shinobi were selected!
In the past,
the organization known as the Akatsuki stirred up such conflict!
For the sake of human evolution, I will revive the Akatsuki…
and carry out the wishes of Itachi Uchiha!
It's been awhile, Captain Yamato.
Please stop that.
I don't want to be called "Captain" by the Hokage.
I can't help it…
You'll always be Captain Yamato to me.
He's definitely not my dad.
So, they're Orochimaru's partners.
But why's Dad in the photo with them?
I guess, I really don't know anything about Dad…
Lord Sixth filled me in for the most part…
But I'm sorry, this is my mission and can't leave this spot.
I understand.
Sasuke will lead from here.
Follow me.
This way.
H-Hey, Sasuke!
It's not like we're going to one of your favorite restaurants here.
Be more on guard, will ya?
Damn it! See?!
Been a while, Sasuke.
The guys in the photo!
This isn't the kind of place you bring kids for a field trip…
The Hokage?
Good timing. Take us to him.
Huh? Hold on. Are you ordering us around?
Shall I take you to him?
Sasuke, looks like that won't be necessary.
Oh my… We have an unusual visitor.
Orochimaru.
Orochimaru… So this is the person…
Hey, you look younger than before.
You should know me by now.
So don't keep prodding at it, would you?
H-He's different from what I imagined.
Hey, so if this person is my parent…
Would he be my mom or dad?
Which? Which one, Sarada?!
Huh?!
My child's life was endangered and
my wife was kidnapped by a man
who seemed like an underling of yours.
If you're up to something, spill it now.
I wonder…
Have I done something suspicious?
What's the watcher outside for?
Then explain who the man who calls himself Shin Uchiha.
Let's go to another room. Come along.
Shin…
I haven't heard that name in a while.
He's gone off on his own already,
but he was one of my old experiments.
Danzo Shimura, the man you all fought…
his right arm came from Shin.
That child possessed a peculiar trait
where his body wouldn't reject any kind of tissue transplant.
He was the optimum subject for cloning experiments.
Cloning?
To put it in simpler terms for you…
He was like a Shadow Clone that never disappears.
Never disappears?
So once you're done, what happens to them?
If you want them to disappear…
your only option is to kill them.
Humans aren't simple things like that!
Humans are much simpler than you think.
Humans are practically slaves to their genes.
For example, take you, Sasuke.
The reason why your daughter looks like you
is because your genes were passed on to her.
Everything about her is simply data
that was recorded into her genes.
Genes!
Hey, that's not a nice way to put it!
Why does he call himself an Uchiha?
Oh, that's just him proclaiming that himself.
Granted, he's a reproduction,
but as someone who possesses the Sharingan,
he was obsessed with the Uchiha name.
In particular,
to your late brother, Itachi Uchiha.
I see…
I understand Shin's background now.
Do you know his whereabouts?
Oh my, such one-sided questioning!
You've become quite shameless.
Well, anyway…
It would benefit me as well
if the Leaf were to capture that troublesome Shin.
Besides…
I kind of owe you one, right, Naruto?
How is the child doing? Well, I hope.
Yeah, the kid seems to be doing well.
Really? That's great.
I'll explain more, come along.
Um…
You're all my dad's former partners, right?
I guess.
Then…
Can you tell me where this woman is?
Oh, Karin…
She's at a different hideout. She's not here.
I see…
Then…could I ask you one other favor?
No way!
I didn't know Sasuke was that much of a scummy bastard!
Could Karin actually have…?
Well, right now, it's still only a possibility!
A genetic test would show whose child I am, right?
That's funny. I could've sworn it was around here…
Found it!
All right.
We'll compare the genes that we harvested from you
with the genes from Karin's umbilical cord.
Okay, here we go.
ANALYZING
PERFECT MATCH
Seems your mom is definitely Karin.
Your dad and I are connected through our feelings,
so don't worry!
Well, you have similar glasses too…
Uh, anyway… I gotta go!
I kinda feel like I did something I shouldn't have…
Since the old days,
you guys have always messed things up!
You idiot!
Isn't Sasuke the one at fault?
Did you even know about this?
Of course not!
Sasuke, that bastard!
Well, you take it from here!
Hey, Suigetsu!
Wait—!
U-Um…Sarada…
We need to go and rescue your mom…right?
Liar…
You lied to me, Lord Seventh!
Why do I have to go and rescue someone
who's not even my mom?!
I'm done with people who've lied to me…
all my life!
At this point, I'd rather not look like that person at all.
What are you gonna do?
This has nothing to do with you, Lord Seventh.
What is it?!
Nothing to do with me, huh?
Well, it just doesn't work that way.
I've told Boruto the same thing time and time again.
To a Hokage, everyone in the village is family.
So what?!
Isn't that just a convenient excuse?!
Dad's away from the village so much.
He even forgot his own daughter's face.
And Mom…
She's been lying to me this whole time!
Plus…
we're not even related by blood at all.
I know now that I don't have a real family.
And…you're not me, Lord Seventh.
So you can't understand what I feel in my heart.
You and I are not family!
SHINOBI
Is that the extent of your bond with your mom and dad?
Bonds aren't just about history or blood.
It's something much stronger!
Then tell me! What is it?!
Feelings of love.
That's all you really need.
Nothing more.
So check yourself again to see if you feel any.
Hey…
When is Dad coming home?
He's out doing really difficult work,
so he can't come home right away.
Doesn't Dad care about you and me?
What? Don't ever think that!
Then why doesn't he come home?
Sarada… Dad treasures us both deeply.
That's why he can't come home.
You may not get it right now…
but I know one day you'll understand.
Mom, you're squishing me!
I-I'm sorry!
I can't help it because you're so precious!
Mom, have you ever kissed Dad?
Huh?!
What? What's the matter?
Nothing… I was just remembering something even better…
Mom…that's pervy.
No! Not that!
Then tell me! What was better than a kiss?!
I'll tell you next time.
I think you'll understand when you see your dad.
Mom!
I guess I do wanna rescue Mom!
Oh yeah?
But…it won't be like before…
What am I supposed to do?
It doesn't matter whether she's fake or real.
As long as you feel the desire to save her.
That's what's real!
Let's go rescue your mom.
Yeah!
Oh, there they are!
Sarada!
Where have you two been?
Sasuke!
We gotta discuss something later.
What about?
Not now!
First, we're gonna rescue Sakura!
She might be dead already, you know.
My wife's not weak.
But I will thank you for telling me where he is.
I'll take everyone there.
My Visual Prowess just came back.
Your Visual Prowess was diminished?
That explains things…
You have no right to criticize.
Everyone, get on.
In order to revive the Akatsuki,
I will kill Sasuke and take his Sharingan.
He does not deserve to carry on the Uchiha name.
The one who does…
is me, Shin Uchiha!
Wait for me, Mom… I'm coming.
As expected, you are all weak!
It's because worthless parental feelings have oppressed you!
It's okay, Sarada.
Something like this isn't enough to defeat your dad.
Trust us.
Your dad and I will protect you, no matter what!
Next time on Boruto Naruto Next Generations:
"Bonds Come in All Shapes."
Don't underestimate your parents!
BONDS COME IN ALL SHAPES