NINJA
Orochimaru, are you planning on leaving the village?
Ah, Tsunade...
Are you sad that your childhood friend will be gone?
My aim is immortality.
No one can stop me!
Orochimaru!
OIL
As your friend, I cannot allow you to leave!
Let's do this, Tsunade!
Got it, Jiraiya!
Summoning Jutsu!
Gamabunta!
Manda!
Katsuyu!
Why am I doing this?
Kawaki's Cover Blown?!
You're playing the part of the slug?!
That's brilliant!
You jerk...
I'm really looking forward to putting on a play
for the school festival!
Let's do our best to make this story about
the Legendary Sannin a success!
Good grief.
There's no stopping her now once she's like this.
Why must I be Orochimaru?!
I'm best suited to play the role of Lord Fourth, Minato!
Why did Himawari get the part?!
Everyone probably decided on it
because she's Lord Fourth's granddaughter.
The way you portrayed Orochimaru earlier was amazing!
It's a role only you can play, Osuka!
I-Is that supposed to be a compliment?
Okay, everyone, in order to enhance the performance,
I want each of you to bring a handmade headband tomorrow.
How authentic!
A headband, huh?
Good idea! Got it!
From tomorrow, we're going to be taking rehearsals more seriously!
Got it?
Yeah, yeah...
Good!
Then, see you tomorrow!
All right.
I'll take over guard duties from here.
All right.
The way things are going,
it looks like we'll get through this without Kae finding out.
NINJA
Extra! Extra!
Read all about it!
EXPOSÉ NEWSPAPER
Read this!
Here!
Here you go everyone!
"Eiki secretly reads Make-Out Paradise"
"to learn more about playing the role of Jiraiya."
What the hell is this?
Exposé Newspaper?
Once Sosha finds something out, it's all over.
Everyone in the Academy will know.
It's a terrifying newspaper, and everyone's scared of it.
OIL
Don't look! Don't look! Don't look!
Terrifying, for sure...
Okay, okay! Let's begin rehearsal.
I forgot my headband!
Here.
Huh? A real one?!
Well, I'm just playing a slug. You can use it.
That's not good!
Huh?
If anyone finds out you have a real one,
everyone's gonna think you're a genin!
Especially if Sosha sees it.
Oh, you're right!
Make sure no one finds out about your mission.
I know that!
What did you want to talk about?
I personally know how terrifying you can be,
so I'm going to share a secret with you.
Kawaki has a real headband.
Huh?! What does that mean?!
Does that mean he's a real shinobi?!
That's right!
But if that's the case, what's Kawaki's motive?
Huh? His motive?
The reason why he's hidden the fact that he's a shinobi
and is attending the Academy.
That would be...
That would be...?
He's hiding his identity to infiltrate the Academy
because he's trying to steal some valuable information...
Maybe?
Ah, that's it!
It just has to be!
If that's the case, he's a horrible villain!
You need to write an article about it right away!
So, where's your proof that Kawaki has a real headband?
Look at this.
What is this?
It was sent to me by an unknown source.
Since then, I've been cautiously keeping an eye on Kawaki.
And I saw him with a real headband a little while ago.
I can't exactly say that counts as proof.
I don't want to print a fake story.
I'm going to need some actual, physical proof.
Fine!
I'll get that headband and give it to you.
If it's genuine...
I feel like it's going to be a huge scoop!
With this... I can tear him away from Miss Kae!
Let's take a break, everyone!
I think I'm going to get some fresh air.
Kawaki!
I wonder why Mr. Orochimaru
chose his path at the expense of leaving behind friends.
What's this all of a sudden?
Orochimaru was apparently chased out of the village
for researching Forbidden Jutsu.
Even though it meant parting ways with
his childhood friends, Ms. Tsunade and Mr. Jiraiya.
I think friends are incredibly important.
I want to be with my friends forever.
That's why I wish I could continue experiencing
the "Academy life" with everyone... just like this.
Well, you know...
I'm here with you.
So, for now... isn't it okay to just enjoy the present moment?
Kawaki!
All right, I'm going to do my best in rehearsal!
That was not like me.
But before that...
Hey, Eiki!
I know you're there!
Damn it, you're still following Kae around?
If you don't cut it out, I'll beat you up for real.
Damn it!
It's impossible to steal it using regular methods,
even though he's just a slug...
A slug!
I see!
I just might be able to take advantage of that!
No one's here?
Oh, Kawaki!
Everyone went to see the set for the play.
Oh, I see.
Is it true that you have a real headband?!
Huh?
I heard that you've hidden the fact that you're a shinobi
to infiltrate the Academy.
Could you give me your thoughts on that?
W-Well...
K-Kawaki, let's go!
Could I get a statement from you?
It's coming together!
It's just a temporary setup, but I guess this should do.
I think this play is going to be amazing!
You're really something, Neon.
No one could have done a better job on something like this.
No, I couldn't have done it without everyone's help.
It's still unstable, so we'll need to reinforce it more.
Let's do our best to finish it!
Now we can rehearse like it's the actual performance.
I also need to brush up on my improvisational skills
so I can deal with any unexpected happenings.
Everyone, I have to leave to do some work in the faculty room,
so please try not to get hurt!
Okay!
Now, everyone, let's begin rehearsal!
Yeah!
Jiraiya Sensei,
are you really planning on fighting Mr. Orochimaru?
Yeah. Tsunade and I are the only ones who can stop him!
Sensei, let me go with you!
Minato, this has nothing to do with you.
Don't interfere.
Hey, Kande.
Wasn't Eiki playing Jiraiya?
Yeah. For some reason,
he said he wanted to switch roles with Ehou.
Eiki said that?
I can't believe he'd step down from a leading role.
What's going on?
Scurry, scurry!
Orochimaru!
As your friend, I cannot allow you to leave!
Let's do this, Tsunade!
Got it, Jiraiya!
Summoning Jutsu!
That's not it. This isn't it, either!
Found it!
Ribbit, ribbit!
Hiss!
Go forth, Manda!
Hiss!
Katsuyu, protect me!
Yes... Lady Tsunade...
Hiss!
Ow!
Slither, slither, slither, slither!
Slither, slither, slither!
Are these two working together?!
Slither, slither, slither!
Lord Orochimaru!
It looks like he's hiding something!
What's going on?
Th-That's not in the script!
Lord Orochimaru!
Please hurry!
Tsunade! It seems you were hiding something up your sleeve!
Out of the way!
Summoning: Rashomon!
Go, go, go, go, go, go, go! Go, go, go, go, go, go, go!
Hey, stop it!
Go, go, go, go, go, go, go!
Osuka's improvising is amazing!
Go, go, go, go, go, go, go!
You're finished now!
You bastard!
What's going on?
What's this about?
If I hand this over to Sosha,
she'll write about it in her paper and the Academy's gonna—!
Is everyone okay?
Y-Yes... thanks to Kawaki!
Thank goodness!
Sosha!
Where's Sosha?
Sosha!
Here's the proof we talked about!
Now you can write your article, right?
But that's...
a handmade headband!
Huh?
Wha—?! What's going on?!
I'm sure I saw a real one!
Don't feed me fake stories!
It's not like that!
He definitely had a real one!
It would get him expelled from the Academy...
Damn it!
And then... I could protect Miss Kae!
What did you want to do?
Isn't it obvious?
I was going to get you—
Take a look...
Huh?
What are you talking about?
We all worked so hard to make this...
I wonder if we'll make it in time for the school festival.
If the play gets cancelled...
Everyone was looking forward to the play.
Did you want to ruin it?
N-No!
I was... I was—!
I don't care one bit if you're trying to dig up dirt on me.
But it's wrong to ruin the joy of people
who have nothing to do with this.
I-I'm sorry!
I-I... this wasn't my intent!
H-Hey now, come on!
Hey, could someone deal with him?
Seriously?
I have to do this?
Uh-huh.
I understand already.
Come on, let's fix the stage together!
Huh?
C'mon, Eiki!
Thank you!
We'll make it in time for the school festival now!
Thank you, everyone!
It's getting dark. Should we head home?
Yeah.
NINJA
Well, see you tomorrow!
Yeah, see you tomorrow!
See you tomorrow!
I'm sure I had it here!
Then we need to find it quick!
It's nowhere!
You two...
Huh?
Here you go.
Whoa!
Wait! Why did you have this?
I happened to overhear something.
Kawaki has a real headband.
Huh?! What does that mean?!
Does that mean he's a real shinobi?!
That's right!
So, when you fell during rehearsal earlier...
Ow!
Slither, slither, slither, slither!
Afterwards, I switched it out
while I was trying to raise you up with the Rashomon.
So, that's when it happened!
Why would you do all this?
W-Well...
I wanted to repay you for saving me when I was kidnapped.
You...
Even though you're a shinobi,
I suspect you had to re-enroll in the Academy
because of bad behavior, am I right?
H-Huh?
Don't worry.
Your secret is safe with me.
See you later!
Osuka's really nice, isn't she?
Bad behavior?
I guess I can't deny that.
Anyway, thanks to her, I'm safe.
That aside, where did they get that info?
I know, right?
I was so sure that no one knew.
Um, about earlier...
I'm really sorry!
I get that you regret what you did.
Forget about it already.
I vow never to do something like that ever again!
Okay.
Damn it. I wish I never got this!
Huh?
KAWAKI IS A SHINOBI HE HAS A SECRET...
"Kawaki is a shinobi..."
"He has a secret that will get him expelled from the Academy."
Who would pull a prank like this?
When I find them, they're gonna get it!
Well, see you tomorrow!
What was that?
That's not a simple prank, is it?
How would someone know about you?
Is someone trying to get me away from the Academy?
Hey, where's Kae?
Miss Kae said she was tired, so she went to the infirmary.
Kawaki!
What? Are you sure about that?
Yes, sir. His Majesty intends to
officially announce Princess Kae as his heir.
If he does that, our efforts to push
her younger brother to be heir would be for nothing!
What should we do, Minister?
It seems the time has come to use them.
I figured you would say that,
so I've already given them their orders.
I see.
Even the Leaf won't realize...
that an assassin has infiltrated them in such a way.
No way!
There really was an assassin!
It's almost time for the performance!
I'm getting nervous!
Wouldn't a princess be used to being in front of people?
This is different than before.
This is our first event that we all worked together to put on.
Wouldn't you want it to go well?
Next time on Boruto: Naruto Next Generations:
TARGET: THE SCHOOL FESTIVAL
"Target: The School Festival."
I'll protect Kae on my own until the festival ends!