EARTH
Stop!
Master…
My dear father…
The test subject is ready.
We await your order.
Old Man Ohnoki…
No way!
Ohnoki's Justice
What's going on, Old Man?!
Old Man!
Damn it! Say something!
Watch your language, kid.
Boruto!
I'm sorry.
That old man isn't on our side?
Seems like we were wrong.
Hey! Don't hurt them!
Stay out of this, Akatsuchi.
This is for your sake.
This is all for the sake of peace.
EARTH
Hello?
FIRE
Is this Kontsuchi?
It is.
Can I speak to Kurotsuchi?
I'm afraid Lady Tsuchikage hasn't returned
from her trip to the border lands.
She's not back yet?
Have you learned anything since we last spoke?
No, nothing that requires immediate action.
I see.
I will contact you the moment Lady Tsuchikage returns.
Yes, I'd appreciate that.
But just so you know, that might not be for a while.
I understand.
All right, if you will please excuse me.
That's right… Good boy.
Not there?
No. I'd like to think they're doing something on their end, but…
We'll just have to wait to hear from Konohamaru.
Yeah…
You're right.
Damn you!
Where's Mitsuki?
Give Mitsuki back!
Keep still.
They told me.
The abduction of the Hidden Leaf genin
and the attacks on these kids who came looking for him…
Was that all your doing?
And…who the hell are they?
On top of that, Kurotsuchi's been absent all this time.
What's going on?
Why won't you say anything?!
Silence, Akatsuchi!
Answer him!
Release him, Ku.
Yes.
What do you mean for the sake of peace?
Explain yourself!
It's to avoid repeating another tragedy.
A tragedy?
Five years ago, our village was attacked by Rogue Ninja.
Many young shinobi lost their lives.
After that incident, it became very clear to me…
I have to protect the young lives that are our future.
Like us, you've been attacked, haven't you?
By the Otsutsuki before?
There's no predicting when
another frightening enemy like them will appear.
When it happens, we mustn't let them take the lives of our youth!
In order to save them,
we need something to fight in the place of our youth.
You mean these guys?
Yes.
What does that have to do with taking Mitsuki away from us?
Mitsuki will be helping me with my plan.
What?!
Mitsuki decided to, by his own free will…of course.
Mitsuki!
There you are!
You were looking for me?
Uh-huh.
Lord Ku instructed me to take you to him.
Take me to him? Or more like keep an eye on me?
Well, yeah.
Lord Ku's never met you, so he doesn't know much about you.
When you do meet, I think you'll get along.
I hope so.
This will be your room.
Do you like it?
Uh-huh.
If it lacks something,
or if there's anything you need, let me know.
All right.
Now then, let's move on…
This is how Akuta are created.
But, Akuta are not like us.
We have our own will.
Will…
I've mentioned it before, right?
Lord Ku will explain the secret behind our will.
When will I be able to meet him?
Soon.
I look forward to it.
There are so many…
Yeah, you're right.
Soon, we'll have more than all the shinobi in the Hidden Stone Village.
Hmm…
But Master says we still need more.
We need more to protect the young people of the village.
So what you're saying is that they and those like you
will die in their place?
Die in their place?
Hey!
Here you are.
You shouldn't wander around too much.
Lord Ku asked me to show him around.
Let's go. I'll show you my room.
How long are we going to let him live?
We should just cut him up already.
If you'd like, I'd be happy to do it.
Wait for Lord Ku's orders.
What do you mean, Mitsuki is helping?!
Maybe you shouldn't upset them, Sarada?
I know that.
But…
Take us to Mitsuki!
That won't be possible.
Why?!
The plan is entering its final stages.
I need Mitsuki's help to make it work.
Hold on!
If it becomes known that you harmed
the men from our village who went after Mitsuki, or us,
Lord Seventh is going to take action!
Yes, I'm well aware of that.
The plan was to do everything in secret.
I wasn't thinking I'd have to deal with you Leaf Shinobi.
However…
I have no alternative in order to proceed with my plans.
Take us to Mitsuki.
I want to speak with him once more!
I have to speak with him!
Please!
We're done talking.
Lord Ohnoki!
Just behave yourselves for a little bit.
I have no intention of hurting you.
Ku!
That's not gonna happen!
Shadow Clone Jutsu!
Ku! Don't hurt him!
Get him!
K-Ku!
I've got this!
Human Boulder!
Rasengan!
Cha!
The mask! That's their weak spot!
They just keep coming!
Earth Style! Barrier!
Earth Dome Prison!
Earth Style! Earth Golem Jutsu!
Make a run for it now!
Mister Akatsuchi!
Hurry!
Thanks!
Split up, guys!
Meet back at the rendezvous point!
Got it!
Particle Style!
Atomic Dismantling Jutsu!
What was that?!
Lord Ohnoki!
Boruto…
Damn it!
Huh?
Something happen?
Never mind. Just keep an eye on him.
Oh, okay.
Let's go.
Okay.
This is my room.
Did you draw these?
I did. They're drawings of my friends.
Master created us so he could protect the people he cherishes.
That's why I want to create friendships worth protecting.
Human beings become stronger when they have someone to protect, right?
Yes, that's right.
Now…I have one more!
SEAL
Who are you?
You're…Lady Tsuchikage, aren't you?!
Are you Shikamaru's son?
Yes. My name is Shikadai.
What are you doing here?
Well, you see…
Do you draw, Mitsuki?
I don't…
Hmm…
We're ready.
All right.
Ready? For what?
Your examination.
Come this way.
I'll come with you, too!
Huh?
What's this…?
A Curse Mark?!
I see.
Naruto had asked for my help...
He said you all might be coming this way.
He asked me to make sure that you got back safely.
Lord Seventh did?
I see, so he saw this coming.
I really screwed everything up.
To think I'd be locked up in here…
What's going on in the Hidden Stone?
The Third Tsuchikage says it's all for peace.
I don't know what's happening right now to Boruto and the others.
If you know something, could you please tell me?
Yeah…
It all began when I rejected my grandfather's proposal.
Five years ago, an attack by Rogue Ninja,
took the lives of many young shinobi.
Then, shortly afterward…
What's going on here?
Just watch and see. You'll be amazed.
– Oh! – Oh!
What is that?
What is it?
What is this?
What…?!
Stand ready!
Begin!
At ease!
What do you think, Kurotsuchi?
What have you done, Grandfather?
Hey!
S-Stop!
Stop!
Grandfather, please explain.
They're still prototypes…
If I make improvements…
I know they'll benefit our village!
Next time, I'll make sure—
No…
Old Man, after the war,
the Five Villages convened extensively and decided that
we would stand by one another in the event of an emergency.
Creating an army for the Hidden Stone's use alone,
could upset the balance between the Five Villages.
And even if you do make improvements,
I could never go along with turning those things into soldiers.
Will that naïve thinking be able to protect the future of the village?
Our young shinobi have become weaker,
both in skills and in spirit.
Faced with a powerful enemy, they'll be the first to lose their lives.
Grandfather, I appreciate your opinion, but I am the current Tsuchikage.
At the time, I thought he gave up on the idea…
But before I knew it, he ended up with those things!
So, you mean those earthen doll-like Akuta are his doing?
I believe they were created
by infusing chakra into clay and applying jutsu.
But it seems that's not all.
Yes…
The ones leading the Akuta are extremely skilled fighters
who use Detonating Clay and Earth Style techniques.
Also, Mitsuki might be helping with the Third Tsuchikage's plans.
You're saying Mitsuki was the genin who was taken away?
We're in a bad situation.
But I have no intention of allowing this to continue.
I intend to keep my promise to Naruto.
Shikadai…
Are you confident in your skills?
Yes!
What's taking so long?!
Haven't you found the master yet?
Find them!
Now!
This is all for the sake of peace in the Ninja World.
It's also to help protect you, as well.
We don't need help, we're not weak!
The plan is entering its final stages.
Don't interfere!
I'm not gonna let that happen!
What are they anyway?
Next time on Boruto Naruto Next Generations:
"Ohnoki's Thoughts, Ku's Thoughts"
My name is Ku.
I am a vessel formed only to bring about Master's noble wishes.
OHNOKI'S THOUGHTS, KU'S THOUGHTS