Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Episode 258

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Episode 258

The Haunted Inn Returns!

As I predicted at the end of my Episode 257 review, Boruto Episode 258 takes place in a familiar setting. After 150 episodes, we’re heading back to the haunted inn. That’s right, this is the very same inn Mirai, Kakashi, and Guy visited in Episode 108.

Unfortunately, I didn’t review Episode 108. At the time, I was skipping reviews of most filler episodes. I guess now I see why I shouldn’t skip reviewing filler episodes. You never know when they’ll be relevant again — even if it’s in another filler episode.

Since it’s been 150 episodes, I don’t exactly remember much about Episode 108. But, there are some things we know about it from watching Episode 258. For example, we know that someone sliced one of the statues at the inn in half. I have to assume it was Mirai, Kakashi, or Guy.

Mirai Sarutobi from the anime series Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Episode 258
Mirai Sarutobi

We also know that there wasn’t a true resolution to the haunting of the inn. Why? Because the ghost that haunts it is still there. So, it wasn’t a hoax or the result of some jutsu. The ghost is real — and that’s not all that surprising. There are plenty of other supernatural things in this series.

In this context, by supernatural, I mean things that have no explanations in-universe. A great example is the god Jashin. Jashin is the only “true god” we know of in the Naruto/Boruto universe. He’s where Hidan’s immortality and voodoo abilities come from. But, we really have no proof of his existence.

Anyway, it would have been interesting if Himawari or Hinata saw the ghost. By using their Byakugan, they may have been able to give us some sort of answer. Can the Byakugan even see the chakra of ghosts? I don’t know. But, it’s worth a shot.

Boruto and Kawaki vs. Naruto and Hinata

I’m not sure why Boruto and Kawaki thought they stood any chance against Naruto and Hinata in ping pong. Boruto and Kawaki aren’t Himawari. Naruto and Hinata were never going to go easy on them.

It’s almost like Boruto and Kawaki forgot Naruto and Hinata are/were shinobi. I don’t remember if Hinata still goes on missions. But, it’s not like her reflexes from decades of training as a shinobi are going to dull that much. And, it’s Hinata who uses her skills the most during this match.

Something I do wish we got to see, though, is the match devolve into using jutsu. Specifically, I thought Naruto and Hinata would be the ones to use their jutsu. I was waiting for it to happen, but it never did.

Naruto and Hinata about to defeat Boruto and Kawaki in combat from the anime series Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Episode 258
Naruto and Hinata about to defeat Boruto and Kawaki in combat

It would have been pretty great to see Hinata activate her Byakugan upon getting serious. That’s when Boruto would have known that he and Kawaki stood no chance. And, from Kawaki’s reaction to Himawari getting mad at the end of the episode, I don’t think he’s seen the Byakugan.

This could have been the perfect opportunity for Kawaki to see the “strongest” of the Three Great Dōjutsu. Boruto and Naruto both know how scary Himawari can be when she’s mad. But, Kawaki hasn’t yet had that fear instilled into him. It has to happen at some point, though, right?

Moving on to Naruto, it also would have been funny to see him resort to using Shadow Clones. And if he did that, Boruto may have responded in kind. Unfortunately, this was all a huge missed opportunity. The ping pong match was fine as we got it. But, it could have been so much more.

Haunted Stamp Rally

The haunted stamp rally Boruto and Kawaki participated in was a bit disappointing. There were only three stamps to collect. And of the three spooky spots around the inn, only one of them was actually mysterious — and they didn’t even notice.

Kawaki explains away the portrait’s eyes following them by saying it’s an illusion. But, when they turn their backs to the portrait, we also see it blink. And, the samurai ghost was hiding within the portrait.

Now that I think about it, in Episode 108, we may have found out it’s the ghost of the founder. That would explain why the ghost was within the founder’s portrait. But, either way, this was the only one of the stamp rally locations that’s actually haunted.

The next two spots have explanations, though I’d say they’re still more creepy.

The commemorative photo for completing the stamp rally at the haunted inn from the anime series Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Episode 258
The commemorative photo for completing the stamp rally at the haunted inn

Next, Boruto and Kawaki make their way to the painting of a woman. This painting is the stuff of nightmares. Even if there wasn’t a squeaky floorboard in front of it, I wouldn’t want to run into that painting in a dark hallway. The only explanation for having it up is that the inn is cashing in on its haunted reputation.

Last, there’s the statue that grows hair. The trick to this one is that there’s a magnet in the statue’s head and the hair is iron sand. Shinki could learn a thing or two about how to use his iron sand from this statue.

After completing the stamp rally, Boruto and Kawaki win a commemorative photo. If you ask me, that’s a pretty lame prize. I mean, the prize was always going to be lame. But a photo from your vacation is something you were already going to get.

Conclusion

What do you think of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Episode 258? Did you remember that we’d been to this inn 150 episodes ago before Mirai reminded us? Would you have liked to see Naruto and Hinata use jutsu during ping pong? And, have you ever done a stamp rally? Let me know in the comments.

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My review of Episode 259 is available now.

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