The Man Who Disappeared
What? Did I use too much power?
Training by yourself? I'm impressed.
Mr. Sasuke! I heard that you found it!
That means Shojoji wasn't just blabbering, right?
And, what about it?
What else? We can't sit back and relax!
Let's go and find this organization!
Why the rush?
Because of this!
That mark—!
Don't tell me…
you're part of that organization?
I want to find out what this weird thing is about.
Blindly seeking an enemy
without knowing their circumstance or intent invites only death.
But—!
Just focus of becoming capable enough to carry out your assigned missions successfully.
If you can't do that, you'll only be a burden during battle.
I understand that you want to rush out there.
But this is the time to learn from as many people as you can,
and gain experience.
And missions offer the perfect opportunities for that.
Although, I'm one to talk…
I left the village when I was really young.
Did you come all the way here just to tell me that?
Try it on.
That mark on your hand attracts attention.
I'm not gonna act all scared because of it!
No matter who or what may come at me, I'll—
Asking for trouble to come to you is what fools do.
Well, since my teacher is instructing me to do so…
It kinda looks cool!
Listen.
What you have to do right now—
Is to focus on my missions, right?
Fine! I'll complete 'em perfectly and successfully!
No matter what kind they are!
Huh?
C'mon, locating someone?!
For this mission,
you'll be searching for a missing person in the Land of Valleys.
Isn't there a mission that'll test our skills a little more?
Boruto, every mission is equally important!
I know that!
Even though they are ranked.
I know, right?!
Please get more details from the client
who will be waiting for you in the Land of Valleys.
The Land of Valleys is quite far, isn't it?
Searching for anyone in unfamiliar territory is going to be difficult.
That's why I was called here.
Mugino, you're back!
That was long one this time.
Has it been two— no, it's been three years, right?
Yeah… I was finally released.
How's it feel to be back home?
You think he was in jail?
No, stupid!
He was away on a long-term expedition.
We've been on lots of missions together
and I consider him one of my good friends.
Mr. Mugino is familiar with the terrain there,
so he'll accompany you on your mission!
Let me introduce you!
This is Sarada, Mitsuki and…
Boruto Uzumaki!
My mentor was just telling me to get a lot of experience…
So, I'm looking forward to going to a place I don't know, ya know!
We're not going on a little outing.
Don't be a burden, okay?
All right, we leave immediately.
What a bad attitude.
What was the nature of your long-term mission?
It's so boring, it's not even worth telling.
I'd like to know too!
My team's mission was to mediate in conflict-heavy areas.
Conflict-heavy?
Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Lightning…
When the Five Great Nations formed an alliance,
major wars certainly ceased.
But that pertains only to the Great Nations.
You can say that fighting
between the smaller outlying nations actually increased.
Even though the Fourth Great Ninja War ended a long time ago?
Did you think that the moment the Great Nations stopped fighting,
smaller skirmishes would automatically end too?
Putting out those embers before they spread and burn out of control…
was Mugino and his team's job.
Things look peaceful in this world, but there's an underbelly to it.
It wouldn't be strange if those who still want to destroy the world
are lurking in the shadows.
We just aren't aware of them.
Go to sleep as soon as you're done eating.
We'll be walking all day tomorrow.
I'll go find water.
Mugino not your cup of tea?
It's not like that.
I just feel like he's treating us like newbies.
Mugino's spent a lot of time in conflict-stricken regions.
He just comes across as very unemotional and matter-of-fact.
Just say it. Say that we're inexperienced.
He's saved my life countless times.
You'll understand in time.
This is the Land of Valleys?
Yes. Just as its name suggests,
it's a nation at the bottom of a giant valley.
We've come from the Village Hidden in the Leaves.
Someone by the name of Mia requested for us to come.
I've been expecting you.
I'm Mia.
A medical equipment company was established here,
where once there was nothing.
It attracted talented technicians from many regions.
My husband was among them.
I take it your husband is the one who's gone missing?
Anato is a researcher at the company's lab.
What kind of research?
Since it's related to company interests it's shrouded in secrecy,
so I don't know much.
I just know that he was on the team searching for
resources to use in developing new medical technology components.
Resources for components?
Like unusual plants and their sap, bird's nests, sometimes even animal waste.
In any case, his job was to gather and analyze
those resources from all over the world.
Did he disappear during one of these sourcing trips?
He was supposed to return in one month.
But he didn't and it's been three weeks past that initial date.
Three weeks?!
I've asked the company countless times,
but they refuse to tell me anything, saying they need to protect trade secrets.
That's why I went through a friend
to put in a request with the Hidden Leaf.
I know that Anato is still alive!
Please bring him back!
I'm just so worried about him.
You can count on us!
We'll find him for sure!
Please do!
This is the company where Anato is employed.
So, do you have an appointment?
I already told you!
We don't have an appointment!
We came today to—
Please leave this to us.
What kind of research is conducted here?
This lab conducts R&D of medicines to the manufacturing of prosthetics.
Our company conducts research in a wide range of medical fields.
That's a portrait of Mr. Victor, our proprietor.
After he was seriously wounded in the last Great War,
it became his wish to help others like him who are suffering.
With that desire, he started this company,
and turned it into one of the world's premier medical equipment manufacturers.
I want to know about Anato's disappearance!
Do you have any new updates?
We have also dispatched a search party.
I understand how you must feel,
but please wait until we get an update from them.
Can you at least tell me the location
where Anato's research team went missing?
The movements and actions of the search party are classified,
so even we don't know the details.
Well, that's a not good reason!
Bring Anato back!
Mrs. Mia, please calm down!
Boruto, help us!
Mrs. Mia, let's calm down, ya know!
As I've said many times before,
the actions of the search party are confidential, so…
Please let me speak to the President!
Unfortunately, Mr. Victor is away on a business trip.
I'll assist you as much as I am able to.
I'm very sorry, but there's nothing more I can talk about.
Please excuse me.
They're very secretive.
Competition is very fierce in the field of medical research.
Every little leak is scooped up by rival companies
who want to get a jump on new inventions.
I see.
It's like a secret recipe for hamburgers.
Is that right?
That's not all.
The resources that a company must gather could be endangered plants,
or ones that can only be found underground in restricted locations.
Discovery of those sites could cause serious issues.
In any case, we'll do our very best.
Thank you. There's no one else I can rely on.
Count on us!
We don't even have a lead, so what's your plan?
Uh, well, you know…
We do have a clue.
Really?
I got some data when we were in the lobby earlier.
I couldn't find out where Anato is,
but we now know where the search party was dispatched to.
That's amazing!
Thanks to the scene you guys created, it was quite easy.
Well, yeah!
This is what's called perfect teamwork.
Where is it?
Where was the search party was sent?
They traveled west for two nights… where there's a huge waterfall.
They're focusing their search in that area.
Anato talked a lot about that location.
Do you know about it?
Yes. He said he had been there once,
and that it was very beautiful and that he'd take me there one day.
That means Mr. Anato is familiar with the terrain there.
If we leave now,
we'll get there the day after tomorrow in the morning.
Yeah!
I wrote down everything I could recall about what Anato told me.
Please bring him back safely!
Don't worry.
First, let's check the area near the waterfall.
Let's hurry! Every minute counts.
Mr. Mugino, there's another group on the move.
Five or six of them, huh?
Judging by their speed, they're shinobi.
Do you think they're enemies?
I don't know.
But don't let down your guard.
They're closing in fast!
They've surrounded us, huh?
Guess we've got no choice!
What do you want with us?!
Guess they don't wanna talk.
I'm positive that man is—!
The president of the company? Victor?
Everyone! Stand down.
There seems to be a misunderstanding.
Word reached me that Hidden Leaf shinobi were here.
It's because you guys are so secretive about everything!
That's why Mrs. Mia was so worried, and she hired us!
I have no intention of holding her at fault.
The receptionist said you were away on a business trip.
We didn't expect you to be in the search party.
We're searching for them as hard as we can as well.
It seems this was not communicated well enough to your client.
We heard…
about how you were involved in the Fourth Great Ninja War.
"The Fourth Great Ninja War," you say?
You shinobi love to give every war a name.
But, to the ordinary citizens who get caught up in the fighting,
named or not, it's all the same…
War is just plain war.
I want the medical technology developed by my company
to make a difference in people's lives.
Anato's team was looking for resources
related to research on lost body parts.
My dad has an arm just like that.
Your father, you say?
Boruto's father is the Seventh Hokage.
I see.
If I recall correctly, the Hokage lost an arm in battle.
He uses a custom arm now.
An ordinary citizen can't easily access the prosthetic arm that your father uses.
I'm striving for regenerative therapy that anyone can have access to.
Regenerative therapy?
Instead of a prosthesis,
it's the technique of using one's own DNA to regenerate a lost limb.
Is that even possible?
Not just for limbs, but for the heart or brain!
And in time, we'll uncover the secrets of aging,
and make it possible to extend human life.
But in order for this to happen, we still lack the essential resources!
If you can share any information that you have,
we will tell you what we know.
Our goals are the same, right?
Why don't we work together?
Perhaps, this is not the time to quibble about trade secrets.
Fine!
We've discovered the site
where Anato's team seems to have gotten involved in an incident.
It's about eight leagues north from here.
What happened there?
They were attacked by someone or something.
We found most of the research team dead.
Medical technology is worth money, so getting attacked is not surprising.
Was Anato among them?!
He wasn't there.
We did find footprints leading away from the site.
But those also stopped midway.
We've been combing this area for ten days.
All right. I've shared all that we know.
This is our lead.
What's that?
A list of spots that Anato might go to.
Here, and here…
Here as well!
We've already searched the top five on the list.
But not this last location.
Mr. Anato!
Please answer if you're here!
Mr. Anato, can you hear us?
The president might just be a good guy.
To come all the way here,
with that leg to help look for one of his employees.
Don't trust someone that you've just met.
That's an ironclad rule of the battlefield.
You're so distrustful.
It's become a habit over time.
I've spent a lot of time on missions in conflict regions.
But I'm still alive, thanks to that.
Sure, compared to you,
we may lack experience since you've been all over the world…
But isn't it depressing if all you can do is be distrustful of everyone?
Besides, we just met you too, Mr. Mugino!
Absolutely! Don't trust me either!
Yeah, yeah, is that right?
Huh?!
Hey, come here!
What are these?
This is—
What happened here?
Wait!
That's the company logo!
There's no mistake!
You're Mr. Anato, right?
Mia sent us! We've come to rescue you!
What's going on?!
Are you okay?!
You're Mr. Anato, right?
What happened?
He's lost all sense of self.
I don't think he'll understand anything we say to him.
But the differences between our fighting power is plain to see.
We'll attack and stop his movements.
Please wait! If we do that, Mr. Anato will—!
Next time on Boruto: Naruto Next Generations:
"The Hashirama Cell"
THE HASHIRAMA CELL
I made a promise with Mia…
that we'd definitely bring him back!