Boruto, don't be in such a hurry!
I'm not in a hurry.
Orochimaru's research lab is guarded by jonin,
so we can't just approach carelessly.
Yeah…
It's all over if we get caught, okay?
Hey, about Mitsuki's snake…
Will we really find out more just by asking this Orochimaru guy?
Probably.
I think asking him about the snake is the quickest route.
As soon as we learn something,
we're gonna go and look for Mitsuki.
Okay!
Wait for us, Mitsuki!
The Other Side of the Moon
Disappeared?
The Other Side of the Moon …Mitsuki has?
The Other Side of the Moon Yes, and…
he didn't just disappear.
He attacked the guards at the gate and ran away.
I see…
You seem to want to express surprise,
but hiding anything won't be to your benefit.
Oh? Are you implying that
I'm the one pulling the strings from the shadows?
If that's the case, why would I do such a thing?
Well, it's been quite a while since I arrived here
to keep an eye on you.
There've been no problems during that time.
But, we just can't overlook this issue.
Yamato, you should know by now.
My goal is to unlock the truth about all the things in this world.
I have no other interests—
In any case…
If he contacts you, let me know.
This is for Mitsuki's sake as well.
Who would have ever thought this would happen?
FIRE Naruto, I get the gist of your point.
However…
I cannot accept it.
From this data,
we don't even know if this Mitsuki is a human child, right?
Why did you ever allow him in the village?
And by your discretion alone?!
Without a doubt, we acknowledged that Orochimaru posed a danger.
However…
We believed his research will prove useful to the village in time.
Naruto, is that true?
Even so, he should have consulted with us first.
Acting on your own like this is…
He probably thought you'd oppose if he brought it up, right?
Well…
I agree with you all.
Kakashi Sensei!
He was definitely reckless,
but I think Naruto has a point too.
The Hokage is the guardian of the village.
Surely, he wouldn't do anything that wouldn't be to its benefit?
Kakashi…
And, our role is to help the Hokage.
What we must do now is not criticize what has occurred,
but help him find ways to resolve it.
Isn't that so?
FIRE That kid… Ever since he came to the village,
Mitsuki's attended the Academy diligently,
and has worked hard on his missions with Boruto and Sarada as a Leaf shinobi.
That's why I want to believe in him.
I want to believe Mitsuki.
Then we have no choice…
Searching for Mitsuki is our top priority.
The situation will only worsen if we waste time like this.
Tsunade, you're so—!
Aren't you being too easy on Lord Seventh?
Lord Seventh?!
It seems Boruto and Sarada haven't returned home!
Yeah!
Okay!
I'll send the search party for Mitsuki
toward the direction of the setting moon.
Boruto and Sarada have probably gone after Mitsuki too.
Yeah…
Shikadai would know what Boruto is thinking.
So, Team Moegi should—
Konohamaru!
Please let me go as well.
Boruto, Sarada… and Mitsuki too.
This involves Team 7. It's my team's problem.
Konohamaru, I know how you feel, but—
Why did you keep quiet about Mitsuki?
You're well aware, aren't you, Lord Seventh?!
Orochimaru is not only a heinous criminal
who brought disaster upon this village,
he's…
He's the one who killed your grandpa.
So why did you place Mitsuki on my team?
Mitsuki is important to me,
and I trust him as a member of Team 7, but…
Listen, Konohamaru.
If you had known about Mitsuki before this,
would anything have changed?
It's only natural that you can't forgive Orochimaru,
but Mitsuki didn't do anything.
Just because he's the son of your sworn enemy
doesn't make it reasonable to hate him, right?
I know that too!
It's because I know, that—!
I wanted you to get to know Mitsuki
without any of that getting in the way!
But having you find out now, like this…
is something I truly regret.
Then please…
Let me go too!
Konohamaru…
Calm down.
Personal feelings are forbidden on a mission.
I'm sorry, but this time I can't let you go.
It's so unlike Sarada go off on her own like this, right?
I think she probably couldn't stop Boruto.
No, what if Sarada's the one who came up with the idea…?
There's no way.
Hey, what do you think, Shikadai?
Do you think Mitsuki is involved in this incident?
Shikadai?
That's not the problem right now.
We have to stop Boruto and Sarada…
before the hunters become the hunted.
Damn it, what a drag…
Sorry to keep you waiting.
As you're already aware,
we must bring Boruto and Sarada back at all costs!
– Right! – Right!
So he came back, after all…
After him!
Mitsuki used to live here?
Where are you, Orochimaru?
Mitsuki!
This can't be…
Don't move.
Sneaking in…
What a naughty kid.
You must be…
Boruto, correct?
Nice to meet you.
A-Are you Orochimaru?
It's Lord Orochimaru.
And I'm Suigetsu.
What is this?
He looks just like Mitsuki…
Yes, that's right.
Each and every one of them here are Mitsuki.
What?!
The Mitsuki I entrusted to the Hidden Leaf Village
is also one of my experiments.
Huh? Experiment?
What is going on?!
Isn't Mitsuki your child?
Of course, he's my son.
I heard…that he disappeared.
How can you be so calm? Aren't you worried?!
There's no need to worry.
If anyone gets wind of what he is,
the curse mark that I implanted inside of him
will automatically activate, and he will self-destruct.
So there's no need to worry
that the secrets of my research will be revealed.
That's not what I'm asking you about!
Curse marks, secret research…
Mitsuki is not a thing!
How can you call yourself a parent?!
What's so funny?!
It's nothing…
Anyway, Boruto…
You didn't come all the way here to complain to me, did you?
I wonder if Boruto's already managed to sneak inside?
Boruto's waiting.
Leave that damn Yamato to me.
Ms. Karin?!
I'm so glad!
Those glasses look great on you.
Thank you very much!
And what did this snake communicate to you?
It just said… "My will."
But that doesn't tell me a single thing.
So, I figured if there's anything,
even if it's the tiniest clue, inside of it…
It doesn't matter what… I just want you to check and see.
Fine. It will take some time, so please wait.
Your friend should be here shortly.
Sarada!
I heard he's going to check. Thank goodness!
Yeah, but…
Hey, Sarada.
You've been here before, right?
Yes, it was just for a little bit, though.
Then did you know?
What?
Hey, these are…
They're all Mitsuki.
SNAKE
It seems Mitsuki has gone into stage two.
What?
I've told you before…
that the boy cannot become the light by himself.
However, if the sun shines on him,
even he will shine through the darkness, like the moonlight.
Yes.
But before he could,
perhaps he felt the need to understand the true nature of that moonlight.
The true nature… of the moonlight?
Yes…
And all we can do is watch over him so that he can understand.
Found him!
You can't escape now, Mitsuki.
Just what the hell are you up to?
Wasn't that some good training, Yamato?
You have to get serious once in a while,
otherwise you'll grow dull!
Unfortunately, this snake had no other messages,
aside from what you heard.
Why…?
Why don't you know?!
So, why did Mitsuki disappear then?!
You ask me, but I don't know…
Aren't you Mitsuki's parent?!
Or, because you have so many replacements,
you're not worried?!
Is that why?
Why didn't Mitsuki let me know so I'd understand?
Why did he go off all by himself?
I just don't get it!
After the incident,
when we found out about Mitsuki's true identity…
Grandma Tsunade and everyone became suspicious of Mitsuki!
But, there's no way he'd do something like that!
How can you be so sure?
Huh?
You saw earlier.
That boy was born in a test tube and was raised in there.
You didn't even know that, did you?
It was his decision to leave this place
and go to the Hidden Leaf Village.
I supported his decision, and asked Naruto to take him in.
Let me ask you now, Boruto.
If it was Mitsuki's will to leave the Hidden Leaf Village,
how will you feel?
Boruto… Are you okay?
Sorry…
I got so heated…
That was unlike you.
So uncool, right?
I feel the same way.
Huh?
I don't have a clue about what Mitsuki was thinking.
And he didn't tell us at all.
No, you're wrong.
We didn't even try to listen to him.
All this time, not once.
We were together all the time,
we had all the time in the world to talk…
But…I…
But what you said is right.
Huh?
Friends trust each other until the very end, right?
Yeah, but that's not all.
How Mitsuki was born here…
How he lived after coming to the village…
What he was thinking, what he felt…
I didn't understand at all…
But…because of that, I want to see Mitsuki
and really, truly get to know him.
I feel that from the bottom of my heart.
Hey!
What are you doing?
Hurry!
You're right.
That's why I'm absolutely gonna find him.
But where do we start?
What will you do now?
Are you out of options?
Yeah.
But one thing's for sure.
I still trust Mitsuki, even now.
After all, he's our friend!
I don't know why he disappeared,
but I'm gonna keep on believing in Mitsuki!
That's why…
I have to see him again!
You're just like the Naruto of old.
Is your only clue the message?
Huh?
I believe that all things have thoughts.
And it's not only words that can convey one's will.
Can you please stop saying things I don't understand?
You're so impatient.
You should listen to what people say more carefully.
The snake itself, should have its own thoughts.
Thoughts?
You mean,
we can extract detailed information about Mitsuki from the snake?
As expected from Sasuke's daughter.
Then can you check that out?
That's impossible for me.
However, I know someone who can.
Who is that? And where are they?
HIs name is White Snake Sage.
He resides in Ryuchi Cave.
But he's no ordinary man… He's quite an eccentric.
Orochimaru!
Oh, what else do you want now?
Why did you set Karin after me?
What are you talking about?
Feigning ignorance again?
Then I'll ask another question.
Did anyone come here?
I'm considered a heinous criminal by the Hidden Leaf.
Now who in the world would come looking after someone like me?
Boruto and Sarada are supposed to have come here,
looking for Mitsuki.
Well, that's news to me!
I have no choice.
I'm going to look around.
Be my guest…
Ryuchi Cave lies in the darkest and farthest reaches
of the night.
Only those seeking it can reach it.
I hope you get to meet the White Snake Sage.
However…
Even if you do meet him,
I wonder if you'll be able to return alive?
Hey, Boruto…
Do you really think we'll be able to get there?
It's not whether we'll be able to.
We have to!
Found them!
You're not getting past us, Boruto!
We can't afford to stop here!
Our mission is to bring you back to the village.
Hold on a minute!
I just want to see Mitsuki one more time and confirm things!
I know you're worried about your friend,
but investigating the incident isn't your mission!
Next time on Boruto Naruto Next Generations:
"The Enemy, Ino-Shika-Cho!"
So, I can't go and save a friend unless it's a mission?!
THE ENEMY, INO-SHIKA-CHO!