I haven't been feeling well.
Has anything unusual happened to you lately?
Now that you mention it,
I've been having a lot of dreams.
Dreams?
These dreams…
When did you start having them?
If I recall,
they started the day I met Mr. Ohnoki.
What kind of a dream was it?
It was a dream of when I first saw Boruto's picture.
Can you get sick from a dream?
I'm not sure.
Mitsuki experienced quite a lot
during the Hidden Stone incident some time ago.
That may have affected him emotionally
and it may be surfacing now.
Affected him emotionally?
That's why I'm going to analyze Mitsuki's brain
to see if it left an impact on him.
A Wound on the Heart
All right, let's start the analysis.
First, as Mitsuki mentioned,
we'll go back to his memories of when he met Mr. Ohnoki.
This man seems to be lost in the village.
So, they want us to help look for him.
Ohnoki of the Land of Earth?
Hey, isn't this the Third Lord Tsuchikage?
This drawing… doesn't look like at me at all.
Could you be, Mr. Ohnoki?
It seems your will is a bit shaky.
It's very complicated… This thing called a will.
Mitsuki is unsure of his will.
Although vague,
he was already questioning his own memories and will.
And now with that dream, those questions are now more defined.
A dream where Mitsuki decides to find the answer on his own
rather than choose one of the options we presented to him.
Is Mitsuki in bad shape because he had that dream?
No, this is akin to a rebellious phase,
much like puberty.
He now dreams because he's getting closer to becoming human.
In that sense, one can say that
Mitsuki is maturing like a human.
Personally,
I think it's a great sign.
Didn't I tell you he'd come?
You just can't suppress curiosity.
Sekiei, don't let your guard down!
Haven't you considered the possibility that
his friends might be hiding around here?
So, they're the Fabrications.
Ohnoki had already been creating these synthetic humans.
He must've known that these beings
would become interested in their will and soul.
And that's why he used the word "will" to lure Mitsuki.
At this point, did Mitsuki go with the enemy
because he wanted to find out about his will?
I wonder about that.
At this stage, it looks to me like he's still trying to figure out
if they pose a threat to the Hidden Leaf or not.
This is the first time I'm seeing the Fabrications,
but it looks like they have certain levels of emotions.
They seem to be quite intrigued with Mitsuki
who's also a synthetic human like them.
I wouldn't be surprised if Mitsuki felt the same way towards them too.
You're mine!
Mitsuki?
What is this?
– Did Mitsuki go there to help the enemy?! – Mitsuki!
– No. – You're okay!
– Most likely he did this – Mitsuki!
– to gain the trust of the enemy. – I really wanted to see you!
Mitsuki?
Are you okay?
Yeah… I'll manage.
Hey, Mitsuki?
Sorry. I'm going with these guys.
This is…
my will.
Mitsuki… You're kidding, right?
I mean, here!
Let's go back to Hidden Leaf Village, Mitsuki…
But if that happened,
it would have put Boruto and the others in danger.
There was only one path he could take.
Lightning Style: Snake Lightning!
No way…
Boruto Uzumaki?
I knew it.
At first glance, it might have looked like he betrayed Boruto,
but it was the best course of action to keep Boruto safe.
It successfully helped distract the enemy from Boruto and the others.
So he did this to find out more about the enemy?
Do you think there were no adverse effects
when he hurt his friend? He considered him his "sun."
No, I'm sure his soul was disquieted to no end.
Yeah, as in we were "made" into people.
C'mon, let's hurry.
Time lost cannot be regained.
Okay, okay.
Hey, you think Kirara got back safely…?
This Fabrication was so defective,
it had already reached the end of its lifespan.
Yes. That's why they wanted to analyze Mitsuki,
a perfect synthetic human, so they could improve the Fabrications.
It looks like Mitsuki was very surprised about this.
And it seems that he was very interested in that one called, Sekiei.
Stay calm!
Boruto is a being… who was like my sun.
"Was"?
Past tense, eh?
Even though he tried so hard to stay with Boruto.
He must've said this to fool the enemy again.
No, I'm not so sure about that.
Even if it was to protect Boruto, Mitsuki did attack him.
And even if it was to find out more about the enemy,
he did abandon the village.
This might have been the moment he came to the realization
that he may never see Boruto again.
That's why Boruto always has a lot of friends around him.
Boruto's larger than life, blindingly bright…
He's my sun, so far away.
But maybe even these feelings…
might have been created?
Do you think Mitsuki realized
that we're the ones that encouraged him to see Boruto?
That would be bad.
But Mitsuki's never asked us about that, right?
Yes, and that's the problem.
There's still a vague uneasiness that swirls inside Mitsuki.
Maybe that swelled, prompting him to go with them.
Mitsuki may have felt that he was truly alone.
Alone…
That's a sentiment I don't understand very well.
Mitsuki's mind has matured more than I thought.
Now that we know why he's in bad shape,
is there a way to make him better?
There is.
Just one.
We have to erase…
Mitsuki's memory!
His memory?!
You mean completely wipe his memory like before?
His brain can't keep up with the rapid growth
and that may cause his brain cells to become necrotic.
In order to stop that, we have no choice.
What a shame after he's grown this much.
That's exactly why.
I can't afford to lose him.
Let's keep watching. We can make our decision after that.
Boruto, don't interfere.
Mitsuki!
Lord Ku…
At last, a complete life is in our grasp!
We will become beings who will surpass humans.
At the dawn of this new day,
we will stand at the top of this village— no, the entire world!
What?!
This is my will.
Mitsuki figured that Ku was a threat to the Hidden Leaf,
and so he lied and said the heart was complete.
But even then, who would've thought he'd try to kill him.
You lied to me!
I thought you were my friend
and I felt that we really got along well!
But in your heart,
you were laughing at me all this time!
You're wrong. I want to help you.
You all have a will.
I do, and so do you.
That's why I want to save you.
Hey, why didn't you try to fight me?
I'm your enemy.
No, you're not.
Boruto and everyone in the village treat me very well.
But…
Sometimes, I feel as though my words don't reach them.
So, I thought, if that's what loneliness is,
then you were right.
You guys and I are alike.
We are?
I fought because it was for Boruto.
But it wasn't only that.
I told you earlier that…
I wanted to stop you.
Mitsuki…!
Hey…
Mitsuki?
We were friends…right?
He wasn't just feeling lonely, on top of that,
someone close to him had died.
And that left a deep wound on his heart…
Something like that can push you into the darkness.
I've seen that happen to many a shinobi.
Mitsuki must've been in a state great shock.
Before he left the village,
he had ample opportunity to ask others for help.
But he didn't, and came on his own to meet us.
He was happy to find others like himself.
He couldn't ignore his curiosity for a chance to meet real comrades.
Isn't that right?
Mitsuki, tell him he's wrong!
Mitsuki?
It seems you were also looking at a different side of him…
You didn't even notice the change he was going through.
You have no right to say you're his friend!
Shut up!
Boruto!
It's so easy to get you riled up!
Boruto!
Hurry and come on out!
I know something like that isn't going to kill you!
Magnificent!
With your body, we can create any number of perfect Fabrications
without relying on those defects!
It would be wise to stop talking nonsense.
Because I'm unusually angry right now.
Striking Shadow Snake!
It's useless!
Earth Style: Golem Jutsu!
I will lure Ku.
You two take Mr. Ohnoki and get out of here.
What are you saying? We can't do that!
I want to protect you guys.
That's my will.
Also, there are clones of me stocked in the research lab.
Don't worry. We'll meet again, just like now.
You're wrong about that.
It doesn't matter if you look the same or not.
What's important is…
the will inside there, right?
To me, Mitsuki is you,
the one standing before me right now!
Boruto!
That's Boruto for you.
He truly is the sun that shines brightly on a moon
shrouded in darkness.
In the end, it looks like Boruto's words and actions
had the biggest impact on Mitsuki's heart.
Getting too close to the sun will burn you…
Well, isn't that the truth?
Your desire to save the village,
and your desire to know more about yourself…
They're both a part of your will.
Both are my will?
Besides, I thought I knew all about you, Mitsuki.
So, I was just being just as smug as you were.
I see!
So, it's okay for me…
for us to be the way we always were?
Not the way we always were.
Huh?
We're connected now with a stronger will than ever before.
Thank you, Boruto.
Hey, don't be so sappy.
Looking forward to working with you from here on out, Mitsuki.
Yeah!
But it's not like he was really burned by the sun, right?
No way!
Do we really have to erase Mitsuki's memory?
Are you awake?
Are you done…
with the analysis?
Yes.
Will I…
get better?
You got too close to the sun.
And that's why your heart was burned.
But…
Drink this and your body will revert back.
But in exchange,
you'll lose all of your memories.
If you don't take this,
you will keep getting burned by the sun
and possibly continue to suffer.
Now, you make the choice.
With your own will.
Hey, Mitsuki!
Come on, hurry and open up!
Sarada won't stop talking about wanting to see Mikazuki!
Hang on, I'll be right there, Boruto!
So, his distress was just temporary?
SNAKE Yes, but there may come a day
SNAKE when I'll really have to erase his memory.
But…
Depending on his growth, he may be able to overcome it.
There's still so much to look forward to.
Are you speaking as a parent,
or generally speaking as an experiment?
Oh well, I guess it doesn't really matter either way.
Mirai! Are you going on a mission?
Just between us,
it's an important mission that surpasses even an S-Rank!
What kind of a mission is it?!
Well, Boruto, it's an escort mission to guard Lord Sixth!
Next time on Boruto: Naruto Next Generations:
"The Steam Ninja Scrolls: The S-Rank Mission!"
In a few days' time, the village will know
of the great achievements made by me, Mirai Sarutobi!
THE STEAM NINJA SCROLLS: THE S-RANK MISSION!