You guys!
Team 10!
What are you doing here?
I was right.
I figured you guys went after Mitsuki
and would be around here.
My Super Beast Scroll made it easy to catch up to you.
Don't tell me you were sent out to capture Mitsuki?!
You got it slightly wrong.
– Watch out! – Wha—?!
Tsk! Don't make us waste time!
What's the big idea?!
That's what I'd ask you guys.
It's only natural to interpret your actions as desertion…
We came to take you two back to the village!
Though, we don't like doing this!
Team 10 is hunting us down?
Sorry, but orders are orders.
If you resist…
We'll have to use force.
Shikadai!
The Enemy, Ino-Shika-Cho!
Our mission is to bring you back to the village.
I'm sure you already know,
but if you refuse, you'll be branded as Rogue Ninja.
That's right, and we don't want that to happen!
So, let's go back, Sarada!
Cho-Cho!
Hold on a minute!
I have to see Mitsuki one more time and confirm things with him!
I know you're worried about your friend.
But investigating the incident isn't your mission, right?
I can't go and save a friend unless it's a mission?!
That's not it!
I'm saying it's a dangerous situation
because you're rushing in while you're frantic!
So, you're saying I'm irrational?!
Yeah!
I totally get why you feel like rushing in.
After all, he's a friend.
But it's because he's a friend,
that you should be cool and rational, right?
I can't do that.
Boruto!
Shikadai, you have a fair argument.
But I just have to go to Mitsuki!
You…
Sadly, I don't think we're going to be able to convince them.
Jeez…
Get ready.
Ninja Art: Super Beast Scroll!
Partial Expansion Jutsu!
That was close!
I expect this much from Moegi Sensei…
I have no choice now!
Sorry. Your eyes are amazing…
But I'm not a jonin for nothing.
Don't worry.
I wouldn't hurt one of Konohamaru's students!
At least, I'd try not to!
She's strong!
It's hard for any of us to use lethal jutsu…
Luckily, we have a lot of ways to capture you.
Exactly!
Sealing Jutsu: Crouching Tiger Bullet!
Boruto!
Sorry, but we're taking you home like this, Sarada!
I-I can't move!
Dad just taught me that special move.
You didn't know about this, did you?
Even a problem child who never listens can't escape
if he gets sealed away in a scroll!
Damn it!
Huh?
What was that?
Huh? What?
Sorry, Cho-Cho!
Wait!
We let them get away…
What was Boruto's jutsu just now?
He had a special jutsu up his sleeve too.
I figured out the pattern to their actions.
27 more moves and it's over.
That you, Yurito?
Were you loafing around again?
So you were here…
Oh?!
Thank you! Can you put it there?
Huh? What is it?
I get the feeling you're here for something else.
I heard only Team 10 was sent after Boruto and Sarada.
What's up with that?
Our top priority is to find Mitsuki.
We don't have the manpower to add onto Team 10.
That's not what I mean!
I'm saying pitting friends against each other makes things difficult!
You've got nothing to worry about.
He learned a lot during the Byakuya Gang incident.
If push comes to shove, he'll act even if they're friends.
Well, that's fine…
Besides…
If I know him, he's already thinking what I'm thinking.
What?
Spare me the doting parent act.
Anyway, it's the perfect mission for him.
I see…
They tried to throw us off
by using Shadow Clones as a deception tactic.
Just as Shikadai predicted.
You're up next, Inojin.
Roger!
Trees are sparse from here on out,
so they won't be able to hide from aerial tracking.
Still, even though it's an order,
I don't like the idea of having to fight Sarada…
Hey, c'mon. It's not like we have to kill them.
If we can capture them this time, it's over.
Shikadai! Could you possibly be forcing yourself to do this?
What's that supposed to mean?
I knew it!
You act like you're cool with what we're doing,
but actually, you're worried about Boruto and Mitsuki too, right?
Shut up! Is that a bad thing, if I am?
No, it's not!
I mean, you're a surprisingly kind person.
Mitsuki's my friend too.
That's why we can't let this thing get any bigger than it is.
You're right.
Mitsuki is the reason for Boruto and Sarada's desertion,
and that certainly won't improve his standing in the village.
You're saying that Lord Seventh won't be able to keep protecting him?
That's why stopping them here is not only for their sake,
but for Mitsuki too.
So unless they have a perfectly rational reason,
we can't give whatever they say any merit.
Seems like you understand completely!
For everyone's sake, huh?
But what bothers me is that even Sarada who's always so level-headed
went off with Boruto.
There must something driving them to do this.
If so, what is it?
Found them!
But…there's two sets of them.
There's are two sets of Boruto and Sarada,
going in opposite directions.
Shadow Clones.
Shikadai, what do you think?
It's classic strategy to split up our fighting power.
We'll go after one set.
Moegi Sensei, please go after the other one.
Got it. Whoever gets the decoy will rush back to aid the other.
I see… So whoever finds them…
Yeah, we'll still have the advantage.
I'm gonna checkmate you soon, Boruto.
What's wrong?
They already got our decoy clones…
It was Moegi Sensei.
Gotta hand it to her.
They caught up already?!
Seems we got the real ones.
I really think you should give this up soon.
Do we really have to fight, Cho-Cho?
Well, it's hard for me too, but…
Sorry, but this time I'm not gonna hold back, Sarada!
Boruto, I won't show mercy on you or Mitsuki either.
I'm gonna stop you right here!
Oh yeah?
I guess neither of us are willing to bend for friendship.
Then, I guess there's no other way.
Let's do this, Sarada!
First, he'll use Shadow Clones to confuse us.
Shadow Clone Jutsu!
Way too obvious!
I'm gonna get you in one shot!
Next, Sarada will take advantage of the chaos…
If I bring down the command post…
Are you okay, Sarada?
I've seen your strategy over and over again.
It may work on others, but not me.
You think you won already?
I know that desperate trick too.
One more time!
Sarada, back me up!
Like I'd let you!
Cha!
– Let's go! – Yeah!
– Boruto Stream! – Boruto Stream!
How about an aerial attack?!
You're done!
Shadow Paralysis…complete.
Boruto!
Everything's going just the way you predicted, Shikadai.
I figured you'd think a simple plan like this would work…
…and I was right.
D-Damn it!
You guys switched during the explosion!
Moegi Sensei will get here soon.
Sorry, Boruto, but this is checkmate.
Shikadai…
I have to find Mitsuki!
You idiot!
In the same way that you can't leave Mitsuki alone,
I can't leave you alone!
I can't just stand by and watch you do something reckless!
Shikadai!
Isn't that…
To begin with,
I think there's more to this incident than meets the eye.
What do you mean?
Whether Mitsuki did it or not,
he couldn't have pulled it off alone.
You're not saying it's some kind of conspiracy?
I can't say that it is for sure yet.
But it's also possible that Boruto and Sarada found some kind of clue.
By any chance, the reason you sent Shikadai was…
I can't leave my post here.
But if for some reason, he does uncover something…
he'll be able to make the optimum decision.
I'm gonna get going.
All right.
Hey, Shikadai…
Do you know the proverb,
"The knight that jumps far falls prey to a pawn?"
If a knight tries to charge in alone,
he'll be brought down without expecting it.
Yeah, I know it.
Well then, good.
I made sure he wouldn't get ahead of himself.
Hopefully, it doesn't backfire.
Is that the snake Mitsuki uses to send messages?
Where did you find it?
In the Leaf Village!
Tell me! What did he say to you?
It was a vague message!
It just said, "This is my will."
But something big is happening to him,
and he left me this message!
It has to mean something!
I have to find out what it means!
Boruto!
All this time, I thought I knew him, but actually, I knew nothing.
That's why I have to go!
Hey, what's the matter, Shikadai?
The game board's changed.
Sorry, Dad.
I'm going with Boruto.
– Huh?! – Huh?!
They should be fighting those two around now.
I gotta hurry!
Who's there?
Could he be one of the assailants?
Where are you from?
Refusing to answer?
Then I'll beat you into confessing!
He's strong! Who is he?!
Water Style: Water Hail!
Hey, what's going on?!
Hold on, just hear me out.
Think about it…
If Mitsuki wanted to leave the village,
why did he feel the need to attack the guards at the gate?
He should have had lots of chances to sneak away.
That's true.
And then, there's this snake.
Mitsuki took the time to leave Boruto a message.
What about it?
If he's really a spy who betrayed the village,
wouldn't that be weird?
Would he actually leave behind such damaging evidence?
Y-You might have a point, but…
Breaking through security, leaving the message…
I can't believe that was all premeditated…
Maybe Mitsuki's caught in the middle
of an unthinkable situation.
Are you saying that you believe Mitsuki's innocent?
Don't jump to conclusions. I didn't say that yet.
It's just that all these little suspicions…
add up to one big suspicion…
that flips the game board.
That's why in order to clear up this mystery…
I'm gonna go with you, Boruto.
Shikadai!
Like I said, he's my friend too.
Besides, you're too reckless.
Just don't celebrate yet.
The incident with the guards hasn't been disproven yet.
If Mitsuki turns out to be a traitor,
then that's it.
You talk a lot, but as of now… you're as guilty as me!
Shut up, I'm not like you.
I think things through.
Anyway…
Sorry, but could you apologize to Moegi Sensei for me.
Hey, are you serious?
Boruto's right, you'll be lumped in as a co-conspirator.
Cho-Cho, come on. Say something!
Hmm…
Well then… I'm gonna go with you, Sarada!
Huh?!
I mean, I don't wanna be the one to get yelled at by Moegi Sensei
for not stopping you.
Besides, I wanna help you, Sarada!
Cho-Cho!
Ugh, really?
Well, I don't like getting the short end of the stick either.
You guys… Don't tell me…
Look, all of us together make up Ino-Shika-Cho, right?
Since it's come to this,
I'm just gonna say you two forced me into this.
You guys!
You guys are so nosey!
You have no right to say that.
We haven't been together all this time for nothing!
He's gone…
Did he retreat?
He never intended to kill me…
What was he doing?
No way… Was he buying time?!
The kids!
We're sorry Moegi-Sensei!
Damn those kids!
KNIGHT
Ryuchi Cave?
Yes, that's where we're headed.
The White Snake Sage's there
and he can extract information from Mitsuki's snake.
I'm getting a bad feeling about this.
You know that we won't be able to deal with The White Snake Sage
using ordinary methods.
There's no point in wondering if he's a friend or foe right now.
Look at you guys.
We were just fighting, and now you're coming with us, right?
Don't be so naïve.
I just told you that it's not that I believe you just yet.
All I want to do is to find out the truth.
That's why I'm coming with you.
Sorry, Dad.
The knight ended up falling prey to a pawn after all.
But…
…there's just no way I can leave them alone.
This is dangerous and it feels like this is beyond them.
Damn it! What a drag!
This should be far enough, huh?
It's tough slowing down a jonin without showing your cards.
Damn it, that man's impulses are such a headache.
Or maybe, he's just being a doting parent?
This is super creepy…
Ryuchi Cave's up ahead…
Yeah, let's go!
What's this Ryuchi Cave like?
Ryuchi Cave is a place of this world,
while at the same time, not of this world.
It's an unexplored, secluded place where Sages live
and undergo severe training.
Are we gonna be able to make it out of there?
There's no telling what we might stir up…
Next time on Boruto Naruto Next Generations:
"The Trials of Ryuchi Cave"
Just you wait White Snake Sage! We're definitely gonna find you!
THE TRIALS OF RYUCHI CAVE