Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Episode 230

Kurobane’s Jutsu

In Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Episode 230, it was revealed that my assumptions from Episode 229 regarding Kurobane’s jutsu were correct. He has a jutsu that creates a layer of mist, and a jutsu that dries out living things, including people.

In this episode, it was implied that those two jutsu are one and the same. But, I don’t think that’s quite right. Rather, Kurobane has multiple mist-based jutsu. The mist we saw in the previous episode was used for Kurobane and Jujumaru to hide in. So we can assume that was a different mist jutsu.

In Episode 230, we see Kurobane use three jutsu. First, is the mist that sucks the moisture out of everything, which we saw him use to torture the boy at the start of last week’s episode.

Second, Kurobane used his Infinite Sea Watchtower jutsu, which creates mist clones for him to hide behind. And third, Kurobane used the same blood-thread jutsu that Jujumaru did in the previous episode. However, Kurobane can’t use his blood to control people who come in contact with it.

I’m still fairly confident that Jujumaru’s ability to control people with his blood is a kekkei genkai. But it was a bit surprising to see that Kurobane could also use the blood thread jutsu. I had assumed that was part of the kekkei genkai as well.

Was it stated in the previous episode that Kurobane and Jujumaru are brothers? I don’t remember if that was the case. But if so, that could explain how they both have that blood jutsu. It doesn’t seem like a jutsu that would just be common among Land of Calm Seas shinobi.

Mozuku’s Sacrifice

I really wasn’t expecting this episode to be as dark as the last. But then, Mozuku sacrificed himself to save Kawaki. I can honestly say I didn’t see that coming. When the weapon was flying toward Kawaki, I assumed that’s when Boruto would show up to save him. Though, that happened a bit later.

Even after Mozuku was wounded, I was expecting Sarada to show up and provide him with first aid. I wasn’t expecting him to die despite the severity of his injuries. But, I guess having Mozuku die in part because Kawaki refused to turn back after Chocho was injured is important for Kawaki’s character development.

And, at least we can take solace in the fact that Mozuku and his comrades who were killed were all shinobi in their own right. Sure, they were medical ninja. However, a medical ninja is still a ninja and so could be killed on any mission.

I’m glad that this experience made Kawaki more determined to become a shinobi in the end. It could very well have had the opposite effect. For example, Kurobane stated that the duty of a shinobi is to follow orders no matter what they are. Kawaki could have easily latched onto that and had it taint his view of all shinobi.

Additionally, Kawaki has been struggling just to survive for most of his life. So I wouldn’t have been surprised if Kawaki couldn’t comprehend why Mozuku would throw his life away simply to complete his mission.

Luckily, this experience didn’t convince Kawaki that shinobi are just mindless killing machines or don’t value their own lives. But at the same time, this just makes me more interested in what eventually causes Kawaki to become disillusioned with the concept of shinobi.

Kawaki the Genin

Something I’m a bit surprised by is that Kawaki passed his test to become a genin. Yes, he was able to successfully hand the medicine over to Mozuku’s teacher so that he could use it to save the people of the Land of Calm Seas.

However, I find it hard to believe that allowing the client to be killed in the course of the escort mission would count as a success. Even if we take into consideration that the mission should have been ranked higher and should never have been given to a chunin/genin team, this surely wasn’t a good outcome.

Now, that’s not to say that I don’t think Kawaki should have been allowed to become a Leaf shinobi. I just think that he should have been given another shot at being tested. And this time around, he would have passed with flying colors. We wouldn’t have even needed to see this second test as long as we knew it happened.

What’s interesting about Kawaki passing the test, though, is that he isn’t immediately being added to a pre-existing team (Team 7). Naruto tells Kawaki that the two of them will be completing missions together instead. I’m sure Sarada will be jealous of Kawaki.

Perhaps it’s one of these missions Kawaki goes on with Naruto that makes him decide the way of the shinobi isn’t for him. “How could that be?” I hear you ask. Well, it’s possible that something happens to Naruto during one of these missions and Kawaki blames the shinobi code for it.

Remember, in the first episode of the series, Kawaki says that he sent Naruto somewhere. Perhaps what Kawaki means is that Naruto died while protecting him and that he blames the teachings of the shinobi for causing Naruto to sacrifice himself. And, Kawaki also blames himself for needing to be protected.

Such a course of events could make Kawaki think that the world would be better off without shinobi so they don’t sacrifice themselves.

Conclusion

What do you think of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Episode 230? Do you think blood-based jutsu are common among the shinobi of the Land of Calm Seas? Should Kawaki have passed the test despite Mozuku dying? And what sorts of missions do you think he’ll go on with Naruto? Let me know in the comments.

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My review of Episode 231 is available now.