Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Episode 242

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Episode 242

The First Confirmed Funato Jutsu

Did you know that today, March 27th, is Boruto Uzumaki’s birthday? What better way is there to celebrate than with a review of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Episode 242? And, this week we’ve finally seen the first confirmed jutsu to be used by a Funato clan member.

As far as I remember, we weren’t given the name of the jutsu Seiren Funato used. But, the jutsu creates a black mist that can be used as a smokescreen to cover Funato soldiers’ movements. And, this jutsu also pairs well with another jutsu Seiren shows off later.

Also, since this is a mist jutsu, that means it’s a water-style jutsu (as we would expect from pirates of the Land of Water). I doubt we’re going to see any jutsu involving a different chakra nature coming from the members of the Funato clan.

Seiren Funato using a dark mist jutsu from the anime series Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Episode 242
Seiren Funato using a dark mist jutsu

Ever since we had first been introduced to Araumi Funato while he was being held in the prison, I assumed the Funato clan would be powerful water-style users. But, once we learned of the Power of the Sea Dragon, that cast some doubts.

It could very well have been that the reason no moisture was allowed near Araumi’s cell was simply because of this power. That still may be the case. But, now that Seiren has shown her ability to use water-style jutsu, we can assume that the others can use it too.

I guess we’re not going to see the jutsu the other Funato clan members can use until it’s time for their battles in the arc. Tenma got a battle. But, it wasn’t the battle in which he gets defeated once and for all as this seemed to be for Seiren.

Seiren’s Echolocation

The other confirmed jutsu Seiren used was her echolocation. She explicitly refers to it as a jutsu. And while this doesn’t necessarily mean ninjutsu, that’s typically what’s meant when the word jutsu is used on its own in this series.

Sound-based jutsu are pretty cool. I’ve liked them ever since we saw the Sound Village shinobi use them back during the original Chunin Exam arc in Naruto. Dosu Kinuta, the leader of that team, was awesome. It’s a shame he had to be killed by Gaara so soon.

Other sound jutsu users include Tayuya of the Sound Four, the elder toads Fukasaku and Shima, and even Namida Suzumeno of Team 15 in the Boruto anime. But, Seiren’s sound jutsu is a bit different from any others we’ve seen before.

Boruto being located by Seiren's echolocation from the anime series Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Episode 242
Boruto being located by Seiren’s echolocation

Seiren doesn’t create the sound she uses for her jutsu with her own body. Instead, she strums the strings on her bow and uses the sound produced from that. It’s unclear exactly how this jutsu works, but it seems to be more like she’s enhancing her hearing capabilities rather than affecting the sound itself.

Also, in case you’re wondering, sound-based jutsu use natureless chakra for the most part. An exception is sound-based genjutsu, such as that used by Tayuya, which uses Yin-release. And if Seiren really is simply enhancing her own hearing, that may count as Yang-release.

Speaking of Seiren using sound-based jutsu, you may have also noticed that her name sounds a lot like siren. This can’t just be a coincidence considering Seiren (セイレン) is the Japanese name for the sirens, mythological Greek monsters that lured sailors to their deaths with their singing.

Seiren might not sing, but she is connected to sailors and the sea and she uses a variety of sound-based abilities.

Funato Weapons

Of the three Funato weapons we’ve seen wielded by Isari, Tenma, and Seiren, Seiren’s manta ray bow is probably the most interesting. I like the appearance of Tenma’s crab blade. But, as far as we know, it doesn’t have any special abilities.

Isari’s marlin spear is just a lame version of Samehada as far as I’m concerned.

Anyway, Seiren’s bow is cool for a few reasons. First, it’s a chakra weapon. Rather than firing physical arrows, the projectile is made of the user’s chakra. We didn’t see her do this, but that means she could technically change the nature of her chakra projectiles too.

Second, Seiren can pluck the strings on her bow (there are three) to create a noise to pair with her echolocation jutsu. In this way, the bow also functions as a harp. And, it might be that by doing so, the sound emitted is imbued with her chakra, which allows for the jutsu to work.

Seiren Funato drawing her manta ray bow from the anime series Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Episode 242
Seiren Funato drawing her manta ray bow

Third, after firing her bow, Seiren can strum the other two strings to alter the course of her chakra projectile. Every time she did this, she strummed both stings, causing the projectile to turn in the air twice. It’s unclear if she can control it beyond those two turns.

What’s also unclear is whether or not this control over the projectile is a jutsu or simply due to the nature of her weapon. A living weapon is alive by nature, not because a jutsu was used. So it could be argued that this weapon has a similar inherent ability.

Alternatively, it could be argued that Seiren uses a jutsu to control the projectiles. She can use sound-based jutsu, so perhaps this bow was made specifically with her abilities in mind.

Conclusion

What do you think of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Episode 242? Do you like Seiren’s jutsu? The dark mist was a bit boring, but I liked that it paired well with her other jutsu and style of combat in general. And which of the Funato weapons is your favorite? Let me know in the comments.

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My review of Episode 243 is available now.

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