It seems a medical ward employee's wooden tag is missing.
Hey… This isn't gonna turn into a lockdown, is it?
The wooden tag went missing three days ago.
Soon after, Kokuri was attacked by a man in an inmate's uniform.
This isn't a coincidence.
This means the guy who attacked Kokuri
could have stolen the wooden tag, huh?
Start the lockdown!
Close off all the cell blocks and search for the wooden tag!
No prisoner will be allowed out until it's found!
Aw man, there goes what little free time we already had left.
You've gotta be kidding me!
Boruto!
Hey, guys! I need to confirm something.
Sorry, but I'm gonna need to check your belongings.
Huh?
What are you talking about?
Someone in here has the wooden tag.
Yesterday morning, Kokuri was attacked in the medical ward
by someone wearing an inmate's uniform.
What about it?
Hold on and listen until I finish.
Earlier you just heard from the guard that
a staff member reported their wooden tag was lost three days ago.
Maybe the perp who took the wooden tag
is the same one who attacked Kokuri.
You're saying the one who attacked me
is the same guy who stole the wooden tag?
No way!
Is it even possible to steal a wooden tag?
I think it's possible.
Remember, three days ago when Boruto collapsed,
and staff from the medical ward came to get him?
Maybe it happened then.
True.
But, if so…
That time, all the cells were shut except ours.
All the other prisoners were all in their cells.
In other words…
The assassin who stole the wooden tag and attacked Kokuri is in this cell!
The Criminal Targeting Kokuri
Don't say stuff like that, Boruto!
Don't worry, just calm down.
Leave this to Mitsuki and me.
I don't like this one bit.
You're accusing me of being the perp.
Why am I under suspicion?
W-Well, we don't know who's associated with Tsukiyo, so…
Tsukiyo?!
You mean, Tsukiyo, the one who's in solitary?!
Kokuri's life is being targeted by Tsukiyo of the Mujina Gang.
You're saying this guy was involved with Tsukiyo
more than we first thought?
Yes. Since Tsukiyo is in solitary and can't take any action,
it might be why he's targeting Kokuri through an accomplice.
Hold on a minute!
Even if that's true, why are we the only suspects?
Where's your proof that you're not working for Tsukiyo?
Boruto is not the perp!
He came here just to protect me!
Protect you?
How do you know each other?
We're friends!
Friends?
Yeah, they're my friends!
When they found out that Tsukiyo was targeting me,
they decided to protect me.
I never heard about that.
'Cuz I never told you.
Is that how it is?
You guys put yourselves in such danger
just to be in the same cell as your friend?
Hearing it out of the blue like that, it's hard to believe.
No, I believe Boruto's story.
He's risking his life for Kokuri's sake.
That's more than enough proof.
I believe you, Boruto!
Thanks!
We're going to start the search!
If anyone is caught hiding the wooden tag,
all cellmates will be considered accomplices.
All occupants of the cell will be sent to solitary,
not just the perpetrator.
And all sentences will be extended!
If you don't want that to happen, hand over the perp!
Start with Building One!
Yes, sir!
There's no way I'm going to solitary!
That will mean even less free time!
My term is almost up too.
I'm not gonna get my sentence extended.
If I'm sent to solitary, I'm definitely gonna die!
We'd better do something quick.
Yeah. Let's settle this before things get worse.
Fine, I'll cooperate.
Guess I have no choice.
Are you going to go question Tsukiyo?
I'm assigning a guard for you.
There's no telling what he's thinking.
Is he that dangerous?
Ordinarily, members of notorious gangs like the Mujina,
are kept separated to prevent collaboration.
If I had known about Kokuri too…
You couldn't help it.
Kokuri himself kept his ties to the Mujina Gang a secret.
You're right.
In any case, you must be on your guard with that man.
Yes.
Kokuri, you didn't see your attacker's face?
No.
I had my back to the entrance, and it all happened so quickly.
You too, Boruto?
Yeah. I heard some noises,
so I followed the doctor and the guard to Kokuri's room…
and the attacker was already gone.
What an idiot.
Everything was in place, but he couldn't kill his target.
Kamata, are you the perp?
No way!
I'm just saying I wouldn't mess up like that.
Anyway, we'd better hurry before Benga and the others get here.
This is bad.
Hey! All this is happening because of you.
S-Sorry!
And by the way, why is Tsukiyo after you?
If he wants you dead,
you must've done something pretty bad.
Uh, well…
I'd keep my mouth shut, if I were you.
This guy's weak, but he's conniving.
He'll jump at anything that's profitable to him.
If you let a secret slip, who knows how he'll use it.
What?!
Huh?
You're dead!
Try it, if you can.
You're all bark and no bite.
You just bluff and can't even fight.
He doesn't look like an assassin at all.
No, this guy gets gutsy when he's in a favorable position.
Guys like him will stab someone in the back without thinking twice.
Why you—!
You better watch yourself.
Anyway, let's check out everyone's belongings.
The guards are gonna be here soon.
You're right.
Do whatever you want.
Kedama, you too, okay?
Be careful with him.
This guy looks like he doesn't care,
but he's a coward who'll betray you behind your back.
Got it.
Okay then, I'm going to check all the bunks.
That's about the only place where we can hide things.
Fine, search to your heart's content.
Hold it!
Don't be ridiculous!
You expect me to let you search where I sleep?!
What now?!
Didn't you just say we could do whatever we want?
This is different.
There's no way I'm gonna let anyone search through my bunk.
Aw man! This is ridiculous.
It's just gonna be a quick look.
Nope. No way!
Why are you against this?
You got something you don't want us to see?
Why are you looking at me like that?
The way you're acting, it's wrong not to suspect you.
Oh, yeah!
You always go to see Haie the guard, don't you?
What?!
That's got nothing to do with this.
I don't know about that.
I mean, maybe you're contacting Tsukiyo through Haie?
Quit grasping at straws, you country thief!
What did you call me?
I know about you.
You bragged about being the lone wolf in your village.
But you got caught the instant you went to a Great Nation.
Why you—!
Oh, and I just remembered.
Yesterday, during recreation time,
didn't you head for the medical ward?
I was watching you.
While you were walking,
you kept looking around to see if anyone noticed.
Did the country thief who pretended to be a lone wolf
decide to become Tsukiyo's lap dog?
Shut up!
So, what's the real story?
I was heading for the cafeteria.
I didn't go to the medical ward that's beyond it.
Can anyone back that up?
'Course not.
There's no one you can trust in Hozuki Castle.
Which means, we can't trust what you say either, right, Mr. Kamata?
Huh?
Quit trying to trip me up.
Yeah, there is someone.
I was meeting with the supplier in the cafeteria at that time.
You mean, the person who'll get you anything as long as you pay?
Yeah.
You see…I wanted something.
Wanted something? Like what?
He's got nothing.
He's lying to try and fool us.
I'm not lying!
Then tell us the truth!
It was…
What?
Aw man!
Chocolates! It was chocolates!
Chocolates?!
I have a sweet tooth.
Once in a while, I ask him to bring me chocolates.
Here it is!
They're actual chocolates!
You want some?
Really?!
They might be poisoned.
Huh?!
There's nothing in it.
Anyway, just ask the supplier.
He can prove my innocence.
The supplier, huh?
I guess, in a way, he's the one we can trust the most.
We just have to prove it though.
Why would you hide chocolates?
It's kinda embarrassing for a grown adult to love sweets like this.
Damn it, why are you putting up a front?
Shut up!
They're coming.
Next!
This is bad!
Benga and the guards will be here any minute!
Yeah, we don't have much time left.
I sure am lucky!
To have such a sweet, young lady come to visit me.
You're Tsukiyo the second in command of the Mujina Gang, right?
I'm honored that a young lady like you would know my name.
Would you mind telling me about yourself and the Mujina Gang?
I would think that in your position,
it's not necessary to ask me anything at this point.
Huh?
Instead, I want you to tell me about yourself.
Why are you pretending to be a reporter?
Who is he?!
Okay, next!
Yes, sir!
There's no time!
I showed you where I sleep. You're next!
There's no way I'm letting you check my bunk!
Are you still stuck on that?
Don't you want this thing to be over quickly,
so you can enjoy some free time?
This and that are different things!
I don't get it!
You know,
it always looks like you're doing something sneaky
when you're on your bunk.
It's none of your business!
There's something shady about you, after all.
I'm gonna take a look.
I'll check it out.
Hey, that's—!
Huh?
That's Kedama's bunk.
Not that it matters since we're going to check it too.
Oh, is that right? Sorry, sorry.
Don't touch my things without permission.
Ouch!
What are you doing?!
I didn't say I was gonna cooperate.
What?!
How?!
That's the—!
Kedama's the assassin!
Come here, Kokuri!
You haven't changed, after all.
You're still a coward.
At one time, he was respected by all the other prisoners.
Kedama was?
Yeah.
But actually, he was in with the guards and spied on the other prisoners.
And he ratted out his friend who was trying to break out from prison.
He's the worst kind of scum!
So, you're the one!
I guess you're not going to ask me for my side of the story.
'Course not.
We can't trust you.
I get that you can't trust me.
But I don't take orders from anyone.
Although I don't expect you to believe me.
Hey, I think it's too soon to decide.
I think we should hear him out.
Yeah.
Tell us what you were thinking.
No way!
Don't listen to him!
It's okay!
In this situation, there's no way he can deceive us.
I said no!
What's gotten into you all of a sudden?
You guys know nothing about him, that's why you can say that!
You can't be too careful with him!
Well, whatever! Just hurry it up.
There's no time left.
Let's just turn him in to the guards.
Yeah, I'm gonna call the guards.
Um…
I'm interested in what he has to say too.
Maybe this guy might know something about the Mujina Gang.
The Mujina Gang?
Why would you want to ask him? You probably know a lot more!
Huh?
Well…
Just a minute.
How do you know about Kokuri and the Mujina Gang?
Well, it's pretty obvious, isn't it?
He was a member of the Mujina Gang too.
It's obvious!
No one said anything at all about Kokuri belonging to the Mujina Gang.
He belongs to the Mujina Gang?
Kokuri's kept everything about his past a secret.
Yet, you knew about his true identity.
In other words, you knew everything about him.
What's going on, Arai?
In fact, you took the lead and
controlled the conversation from the start.
Was it so that you could steer us away?
No!
That's—!
Hold on a minute.
What about the wooden tag that was found in Kedama's bunk?
Maybe when Arai stripped off his blanket from his bunk,
the wooden tag was inside.
Oh, that's right.
He kept holding on to the blanket after that.
Yeah, and when everyone's attention was somewhere else,
he hid the tag in Kedama's bunk.
Arai. That's not true, is it?
You're the only one I need to—!
It seems you thought this through, but you were too optimistic.
You let Tsukiyo control you like a puppet.
You've got some harsh punishment waiting for you.
Better prepare yourself!
So, this is settled, right?
End the lockdown.
Thank you.
Also, please keep a strict watch on Tsukiyo in solitary confinement.
Watch it, don't be so smug.
Thanks for earlier.
Why did you decide to hear me out?
You looked a little hesitant.
I thought there was something behind that.
I see.
Imagine you, a member of the Mujina Gang.
Looks can be deceiving.
No! I'm just—!
Hey, you got any treasures or anything?
I don't have anything like that!
Come on! Don't hide it.
Never mind. Let's be friends from now on.
If you come across any profitable ventures, let me get in on it!
I read your report.
Make sure something like this doesn't happen again.
Yes, Sir!
Also…
What is it?
Yes.
Do you know anything about that Boruto kid and Kokuri?
It seems there's something between them…
They must've been acquainted in the past or something.
I'm not too keen on prisoners becoming close friends…
But if you push the prisoners too hard, they might end up retaliating.
But—!
Unsavory rumors abound about you as well.
I'm sure you know this,
but don't suspect prisoners out of mere supposition.
Yes, Sir!
Damn it.
What the hell is going on anyway?!
HIDDEN GRASS TIMES
I can't believe Arai was the assassin.
Guess looks can be deceiving.
Even Kokuri.
Despite how he seems,
he ran away with the gang's money and hid it.
Yeah.
There's still a lot we don't know about him.
Hey, Boruto, Kokuri's originally a member of the Mujina Gang,
I think he's still hiding something.
Yeah.
Seems he's hid the money he stole from the gang.
And he committed a robbery that landed him here at Hozuki Castle.
I think we just have to ask him directly.
Next time on Boruto: Naruto Next Generations:
“Kokuri's Secret”
Hey, Kokuri. Do you have a minute?
KOKURI'S SECRET