We're almost at the end of the Chunin Exam.
We've finally made it this far.
Aren't you nervous?
No way!
This time, I'm gonna become a chunin for sure, ya know.
And I'll become a chunin just like you.
Big Brother!
Over here, over here! I'm over here!
Big Brother!
Himawari?
Inojin vs. Houki
The day's come when we can finally use this arena!
Momoshiki and his group destroyed it during the last exam.
It was a rush job, but I'm glad they managed to repair it in time.
This place is equipped with broadcasting equipment,
so lots of people will be able to see their hard work!
This chunin exam is exclusive to the Hidden Leaf Village.
We won't be allowing any spectators inside.
The incident with Kara just ended,
so I had no intention of doing anything fancy.
If you didn't take on all the annoying prep work,
we wouldn't have gone all out like this.
This is a rare opportunity!
I wanted to make the exam environment as nice as possible!
You have a point.
I'm counting on you to referee as well!
Just leave it to me!
I hope things end without incident this time.
Don't say such ominous things!
If something happens,
we don't have the budget to repair this place again.
Lately, I've been practicing being a ninja with Eho and Yuina,
the kids I became friends with at the academy trial session.
This morning, we were searching the back alleys
as a part of ninja training.
Eho came across some sketchy people,
and figured something shady was going on,
so he started tracking them.
And then Yuina said she was worried about Eho and followed him.
What should I do, Big Brother?
What do you think?
I can't say for sure, based on that.
Maybe I should talk to Daddy about this...
Hmm...
No, I'll go check things out for you.
Really?!
Yeah.
Are you sure?
I still have some time until the exam begins.
This should be no problem, ya know.
Thank you, Big Brother!
Hey, Kawaki,
want to go watch the Chunin Exam with me?
Not really.
I'm not that interested anyway.
Don't be like that.
Let's go cheer on Boruto and the others.
I said I don't want to.
Hey, come on...
This round consists of full-contact battle.
It's a good opportunity to see all sorts of ninjutsu
and powerful shinobi in action.
The final round of the exams is about to begin.
As I explained the other day,
this round will be a one-on-one battle
in which we will be looking at your overall fighting abilities.
There's only one condition to pass.
You must win. That's all there is to it.
I'm glad things are simple.
This is a no-holds-barred, full-contact battle,
and this time, you will even be allowed to use
Scientific Ninja Tools.
The fight will continue
until one of you is knocked out or concedes.
Also, I will stop the match
if I determine things are getting dangerous.
Excuse me...
Boruto and Mitsuki aren't here yet. Could you wait for them a bit?
What are those guys doing?
Honestly, they're hopeless.
At any rate, regarding that...
This time, we'll be deciding who will be fighting
by drawing names for each match.
As long as you're present when your name comes up,
you won't be disqualified.
Thank goodness.
But that means if their names are the first to come up,
they'll be disqualified, correct?
That's right.
It can't be helped.
Y-Yeah...
All right, I'll announce the first match.
The first match is between...
Inojin Yamanaka...
and Houki Taketori.
INOJIN YAMANAKA VS. HOUKI TAKETORI
The first match, huh?
That's better than being forced to wait.
The match will begin in 15 minutes.
Eho! Yuina!
Himawari!
Be quiet! They'll find us!
Sorry!
Who are they?
This is my big brother and his friend Mitsuki.
Are you Eho, the kid who's pretending to be a ninja?
I'm not pretending!
I saw some sketchy people, so I'm following them!
Damn it.
You can't know people are sketchy just by looking at them.
Boruto, look.
What is it?
What?
Amado?
What's he doing here?
Boruto!
You guys go on home!
Big Brother!
Amazing, that was so cool!
Houki, huh?
If I'm not mistaken, he's in the Anbu Black Ops.
Does that mean he's a subordinate of Mr. Sai?
In that case, shouldn't you ask him for some information?
It's fine. I don't have to do that.
In actual combat, you usually don't have data on your opponent.
I'll win based on my abilities.
That's true.
You've gone through strict training
and handled all sorts of missions up to now.
If you show the results of all that,
you'll totally win.
We're all going to become chunin together, okay?
Of course!
Inojin, huh?
He's Mr. Sai's son, but don't pull any punches.
Houki would never do that.
Two of Inojin's jutsu I need to be careful of
are the Super Beast Scroll and the Mind Transfer Jutsu.
They're flexible abilities.
Be careful.
I know that.
And I'm sure that Inojin's improved quite a bit.
But...
I'll win this.
What are you going to do?
I'm going to save Amado.
I don't know what the situation is,
but it's clear that he was being threatened.
Understood.
Anyway, let's get into a nearby car.
You can do this, Inojin!
What are Boruto and Mitsuki doing?!
Just get here quick!
Let the first match...
begin!
Ninja Art: Super Beast Scroll!
I'm not done yet!
You're not getting away!
Now!
He's good.
Go get him!
Earth Style: Toujinbo!
You're kidding, right?!
What's with that Earth Style?!
Is he...
trying to keep me from pinpointing his location?
The stage has been set.
Do it, Houki!
It's time for your counterattack!
Where are you?!
Houki!
Which way should I go?!
This is like a maze.
What's Houki doing?
Did he get lost in his own maze?
No, that's not it.
Houki has the ability to instantly recall anything he's seen once.
He's memorizing the terrain as he's running around.
Okay!
Damn it! I can't find him!
Why you—!
You're not getting away!
Damn it!
This is bad.
Houki's totally got him where he wants.
Was he always that strong?!
Houki and his teammates desperately worked their way up
from the very bottom.
The ANBU Black Ops mainly engages in intelligence work.
Keen judgement, problem solving, and combat abilities
are all requirements.
But our missions are fundamentally top-secret.
In other words, we're rarely acknowledged by others.
But Mr. Kakashi was able to become the Sixth Hokage,
even though he used to be in the ANBU Black Ops.
So, I can too...
Houki is strong.
What will you do, Inojin?
Houki's attacking me from my blind spots.
He's totally figured out the layout of this maze.
I can't do anything similar...
In that case—!
Found you!
I figured you'd do that.
Earth Style: Toujinbo!
What—?!
– Inojin! – Inojin!
Did that do it?!
Super Beast Scroll!
Damn it!
He quickly used the Super Beast Scroll as a distraction
and hid himself.
Not bad.
I let my guard down.
He shouldn't have gone far.
Where is he hiding?
I used too much chakra at the beginning...
It'll be difficult to use the Super Beast Scroll to attack
with the amount of chakra I have left.
YAMANAKA FLOWERS
Remaining hidden will only draw out this match pointlessly.
If I do that, my injuries leave me at a disadvantage...
In order to turn this situation around and end this,
my only option is to use the Mind Transfer Jutsu!
Inojin!
I bet you barely have any chakra left.
Why don't you concede?
I'm not the Houki Taketori you knew before.
Your jutsu won't be able to defeat me.
He's not reacting to my provocations.
He's surprisingly level-headed.
Gotta just let it go, and bear with it right now.
Judging from his voice, Houki should be this way...
In order to ensure the Mind Transfer Jutsu is successful,
I need to have Houki directly in front of me...
Inojin's injuries leave him at a disadvantage
in an extended battle.
He's going to try to end this.
Which means, he'll use the Mind Transfer Jutsu.
That jutsu is bad news.
If he gets in a direct hit...
it's over for me.
I wonder which one of them will win...
It's totally obvious.
It's the one who doesn't give up.
In order to avoid the Mind Transfer Jutsu,
I need to move outside of the jutsu's range of effect.
Where are you? Where are you, Inojin?
That's...
...the Super Beast Scroll...
I found you!
I figured that's what you would do!
Mind Transfer Jutsu!
What—?
He did it!
Yay!
All right!
Wow! Inojin's pretty impressive, ya know!
I was sure you would figure out...
where I was hiding, based on the splatters off of my brush.
And that you'd attack me from my blind spot
in order to avoid the Mind Transfer Jutsu.
You moved just the way I expected you to.
Once I take control of your body and make you concede...
I'll win.
What?
That was close.
If you'd taken over my body right away...
I would have lost.
The winner is Houki Taketori!
– He did it! – He did it!
Inojin!
Are you all right?!
Shikadai...
Chocho...
Thank goodness!
What happened?
What was that?!
It's a jutsu that blocks out mental attacks.
If a member of the ANBU Black Ops is captured,
the enemy might peer into their mind.
And so I've trained Houki and the others to resist that.
What? Isn't that some pretty high-level training?
That's not something you have genin do at their level!
Is it really that difficult?
Of course it is.
At worst, it could destroy your mind.
Mr. Sai hands out outrageous assignments without hesitation.
Because of that, we've been through some pretty horrible stuff.
It's amazing we're still alive.
It's nothing to laugh about, though.
Mr. Sai, thank you very much.
Thanks to you,
I was able to become a chunin.
Well done, Houki.
You were very close, Inojin.
Dad...
Damn it, you should train your own son better.
I'm sorry!
Man!
Inojin, because you were so strong,
I was able to overcome my limits and give it my all.
Thank you.
I'll let you have this win today, but I'm not losing next time.
Hey, that was a good match, you two!
You did well,
Inojin.
Once the battle arena is cleared,
we'll start the draw for the second match!
We'll begin the draw for the second match.
The second match is between...
Iwabe Yuino...
and Wasabi Izuno!
IWABE YUINO VS. WASABI IZUNO
You're not gonna make it...
Hurry up and just get here, Boruto and Mitsuki!
Let's go!
They're not here?!
Where did they go?!
No way, did they jump off somewhere along the way?
What is going on here?
I'm gonna take you down and become Hokage!
The Hokage, huh? You must have it easy, huh?
What's wrong? You're low-energy today.
It's not like you!
You wouldn't understand.
I want to be an amazing shinobi as well, but...
Next time on Boruto: Naruto Next Generations:
"The Legend of the Monster Cat"
THE LEGEND OF THE MONSTER CAT
Becoming the Hokage or not, is a different story, right?