I'll beat 'em at their own game!
Hold it.
Leave this to me. You two go on ahead.
Why?!
It will be easier if we fight them together!
You don't get it, do you?
They're puppets. I'm a Puppet Specialist.
There's no way I'll lose, right?
Besides, the strategy here is to put the mission first and foremost.
Uncle is right.
We'll head straight for the Leaf Village.
Why?!
You don't have to fight alone, Mr. Kankuro!
BLACK ANT
This is not the time for you guys to be hanging out here.
Our mission is to keep Master Shukaku out of harm's way.
But—!
Go, Boruto!
Besides, I'm sick of refereeing fights between two brats.
You better catch up to us later, Kankuro!
That goes without saying!
I really can't afford to lose!
They're taking too long to return, aren't they?
Yeah.
Though, I can't believe something would happen
to both Uncle Gaara and Mr. Sasuke.
You're still naïve, Shikadai.
Part of being a shinobi involves thinking about the unthinkable.
That's what your dad would say.
I'm just getting a bad feeling about this.
Is Kankuro really going to be okay by himself?
It should be no problem.
The true value of Uncle's Puppet Jutsu is revealed
when taking on a large number of enemies.
So, his specialty is being outnumbered?
We'd just get in the way if we were there.
Well, he was confident about fighting against puppets.
Let's hurry.
Our duty is to protect Master Shukaku.
Even if we die trying.
The Puppet Battle!
I'm up against four of them.
Well, I have tricks up my sleeve too!
BLACK ANT CROW
A Puppet User can't let puppets make a fool out of him, right?
Black Ant!
CROW Secret Black Move! Iron Maiden!
CROW
Don't amount to much, do you?
It's fast!
This one's not like the others.
So, it's not gonna be that easy, huh?
But I won't let you get to Shukaku.
I'll stop you, no matter what I have to do.
'Cuz, that's my job.
What's wrong?
Enemies?!
I was wrong, huh?
What? It's only a lizard!
I guess even calm and cool elites like you make mistakes sometimes.
Hey…
Don't you think you're being a little too wound up?
If you keep being so tense, you won't make it to the Leaf Village.
Don't think that I'm the same as you…
You're unable to consider the consequences.
I've already calculated my chakra allocation.
Calculated, huh?
Humans aren't machines.
That's why, in order to ensure a smooth mission,
we must be calm and rational like machines.
Are you always like this?
Aw man! Talk about being annoying!
Up we go!
Tum-tum drum!
Master Shukaku!
Oh, come on. I just need a change of pace!
Anyone would get depressed inside all that hot and stifling Iron Sand!
You can't just do what you please!
C'mon! We're in a hurry, right?
Is he always like that?
Who knows?
But he reminds me of the old Gaara.
Huh?! Mr. Gaara was like that?
The old Gaara wouldn't let anyone get close to him.
But someone changed him.
Who was it?
It was Naruto.
My dad?!
Naruto taught Gaara that
he should live for something other than hatred.
He changed Gaara's isolated way of life.
Changed his way of life…
Naruto has the power to pull others to him.
My dad does, huh?
Though, I don't think Shinki will turn out like Mr. Gaara.
Well, he's stubborn too.
Especially now.
He's desperately trying to fulfill the duty that was entrusted to him.
Entrusted… You mean from Mr. Gaara?
No, not just from Gaara.
Hey, why are you wasting time?
Yeah, yeah!
Entrusted duty, huh?
Someone's approaching!
Who is it?
I-Is it the enemy?!
If Lord Kazekage got attacked now—?!
No, it's okay.
Gaara!
I understand.
I can't believe that happened to Sasuke,
and Gaara was attacked as well!
The Otsutsuki that uses the fishing rod.
Lord Kazekage managed to seal him.
But he said the seal will break eventually.
I think we should rendezvous with Boruto and the others.
Please leave Lord Kazekage with us!
We will definitely take him back to the village!
Good, I'm counting on you.
I know you're good from the Chunin Exams.
I leave them to you.
Uh, thanks…
Let's hurry.
Even though Kankuro is with them,
I'm sure he didn't bring all of his puppets.
But it's Uncle Kankuro.
He'll manage somehow, right?
That's exactly why.
He'll always find a way
because he's the elder brother of the Kazekage.
No matter what he has to resort to.
One last puppet.
Where'd he disappear to?!
He was in the sand?!
Looks like Black Ant won't be able to catch you!
You think you're gonna torture me to death?
But you know what?
You're not the only puppet…
who can dive into sand!
Secret Black Move! Salamander!
I lured you right where I want you!
Is this all of them?
Huh?
They're still—!
Damn! They're stubborn!
This might not be enough to stop them from functioning!
If I'm gonna end this thing,
it's time for my secret weapon!
What was that?!
Isn't that where we left Mr. Kankuro?!
That was a Paper Bomb explosion.
Is he all right?
Let's hurry.
What did you say?!
My uncle will finish this,
even if he has to take his foes down with him.
Down with him?
Hey—!
Did you know about this all along?!
That's right.
If he defeats them, good.
Otherwise, he'll take them down with him.
This is what a Sand Shinobi would do in this situation.
What did you say?!
Get your mission priorities straight.
And don't make me remind you so many times…
of what our duty is.
Protect Master Shukaku at all cost, until we get to the Leaf Village.
Am I wrong?
Still…
I can't accept that!
Hey, what do you think you're doing?
Isn't it obvious?
I'm gonna go rescue Mr. Kankuro!
Are you serious?
Damn right I am!
He could be alive and fighting.
I can't just abandon him!
But we don't have the time to go back.
Our duty is to—!
Shut up! We're not machines!
We can't be swayed by momentary emotions.
We must make calm and rational decisions!
You're wrong!
I don't care if I'm wrong!
I don't want to be the kind of trash who'd abandon a friend!
What did you say?
Anyway, I'm going back to Mr. Kankuro!
You gonna go alone?
Of course.
My uncle fulfilled his duty.
If he can't understand that much…
he's a failed as a shinobi, after all.
Damn it!
Mr. Kankuro!
Please say something!
Boruto!
Aunt Temari? Shikadai?!
Why are you here?
That's what I'd like to ask you, Boruto!
I heard that you and Shinki were on your way
to bring Shukaku to the Leaf Village.
Yeah, but—!
We haven't been able to find Kankuro either.
He might have blown himself up…
N-No way!
Hey, are you okay?!
Shikadai, go search the perimeter a little more.
I got it.
Still, Boruto…
Why did you come back?
I was worried about Mr. Kankuro!
I appreciate that, Boruto.
But what about Shinki?
All he's concerned about is the mission.
So, you think Shinki doesn't care?
You probably argued with him and left, but…
It's just as difficult for him.
He doesn't show it, but he loves Kankuro dearly.
He's his uncle, and one of his masters.
Most importantly,
he's the trusted confidant and supporter of Gaara, whom he reveres.
Kankuro is someone he tries to emulate.
That's why he hardened his heart and put his duty first.
The duty that was entrusted to him by not only Gaara,
but Kankuro too.
Duty?
Abandoning the mission and coming back here…
Did you seriously think
that's what Kankuro who did everything to buy you time,
wanted you to do?
But that's—!
You're right.
Maybe I didn't totally understand…
Mr. Kankuro's resolve… or Shinki’s either!
But…I can't accept it!
To leave a friend like that!
And to just resign yourself to it because it couldn't be helped.
Even if it's not what Mr. Kankuro wanted me to do…
I can't just accept it like Shinki!
I guess so.
But it's not about Shinki being right and you being wrong.
Boruto.
You desperately rushed back for Kankuro's sake.
As his sister, that makes me very happy.
Aunt Temari!
For the friend or for the mission…
It's a difficult decision a shinobi must make all the time.
Boruto, what do you think your duty is right now?
To protect Shukaku with everything I've got!
For Mr. Kankuro's sake, too!
Hey!
Come here a sec!
What are they?
It's almost like they were shielding something.
Look here!
No way!
Quicksand flows underground around here.
If the enemy puppets have the ability to dive underground
like Kankuro's Salamander, then—!
If so, it's possible they've traveled quite far.
Shukaku and Shinki are in danger!
Shinki!
I'll be there soon!
Shinki, do we have a chance of winning?
I doubt that they're weak enough to allow us to get away.
Besides…
I have to avenge my uncle!
Wait for us, Shinki!
We'll reach the village soon, Lord Kazekage.
P-Please hang in there!
No!
The seal on Urashiki is going to—!
You gave me a harder time than I expected…
But this game…is mine!
Found you!
I'm going to enjoy our playtime together!
I'll torment you to my heart's content…
Let me avenge…my uncle!
Next time on Boruto: Naruto Next Generations:
"Urashiki Returns"
Shinki, I'll be there soon, so don't let 'em get you!
URASHIKI RETURNS