I'm heading out, Father!
Mom, I'm leaving!
You're awfully late.
Aren't you supposed to be on Lord Seventh's guard detail today?
No.
I'm accompanying the previous Hokage,
so it's not a big deal if I'm late.
Previous? You mean, Kakashi?
And Mr. Guy, too!
I'll probably be gone for 2 to 3 days.
So, don't wait up for me.
Be careful!
Okay!
My name is Mirai Sarutobi.
By the way, Mom has unmistakably black hair,
and so did my late dad.
And this is my unruly hair!
I'm told my father gave me the name Mirai.
The reason why he named me that?
Hmm… Maybe because it sounds optimistic and thoughtful?
It probably sounded like a lucky name.
The Steam Ninja Scrolls: The S-Rank Mission!
And that's my grandpa,
the Third Hokage, Hiruzen!
Please!
Please make sure today's mission will be a huge success!
Yeah, I'm praying.
Of course, I'm going to pray!
Lord Seventh's someone I respect a great deal
and he personally asked me to take this mission!
No one will lay a finger on Lord Sixth…
and Mr. Guy too,
as long as I'm around!
I can understand praying to the other Hokage…
but praying to my dad won't get you anywhere.
Boruto?
Shikamaru Sensei!
Hey!
How unusual! I don't see you together often.
He wanted to try the new burger, so…
It was pretty average though.
Are your taste buds destroyed?
And naturally, I had to pay.
Damn it, that was a horrible experience…
Are you going on a mission, Mirai?
Oh, that's right. It's today…
I'll be guarding Lord Sixth… and Mr. Guy, too!
I'm early, so I stopped by to see Grandpa's face…
You've become a fine ninja.
I'm still just a student in your presence, Sensei!
You don't have to take that tone with my dad.
I…am…not!
Are you using them?
Yes, of course!
But they're quite difficult.
I can't seem to use them like you do, Sensei.
Your Chakra Nature is just like your dad's.
There's no reason why you can't master your dad's Chakra Blades.
Thank you, Sensei! I'll do my best!
See? There's that tone again.
That's enough out of you!
One day, Shikadai, you're gonna get it!
I'm counting on you when that day comes, Mirai Sensei!
Dad!
Give up while you can, Shikadai!
Oh, that's right, Sensei!
The answer is "bonds," correct?
What's this all of a sudden?!
Your quiz! Did you forget?
The "king" that a shinobi should protect!
Oh, that…
"King" can also be read as gem,
so it's in regard to that saying
about a flawless and unbonded gem, correct?
So, what's precious to a shinobi is their flawless bonds!
Wrong.
What?! That's not right?
Mirai. You overthink things.
Look at it more simply.
FIRE
Sensei!
I'll get it right next time!
Do your best!
And then, Himawari was being such a know-it-all!
There's nothing wrong with that.
I'm jealous that you have a little sister.
I wish I had siblings!
I'm jealous of you, Mirai.
I want to hurry up and become a chunin,
so I can go on missions higher than B-rank.
Yeah well…
Just between us,
my mission today is an important mission
that surpasses even an S-Rank!
S-rank?
What kind of mission is it?
You see, Boruto…
Strolling around the villages along the national border with Lord Sixth?
And Mr. Guy, too!
Looks like a leisurely vacation to me.
Absolutely, on the surface it does.
However, Lord Sixth… and Mr. Guy too!
…are personally going on this mission!
There's just no way this is just an ordinary trip!
A shinobi must be able to read between the lines!
I'm supposed to pretend that I'm just accompanying them!
But if something happens,
I have to put my life on the line to protect Lord Sixth…
It's obvious this is going to be an extremely difficult mission!
Well, if you say so.
Give it your all, Mirai!
See ya!
That kid's got no charm at all!
Oh well.
In a few days' time, the Leaf Village, no…
the entire Shinobi World will know of the great achievements
made by me, Mirai Sarutobi, who
"crushed the evildoers and protected Lord Sixth…and Mr. Guy, too!"
Hey, Kakashi, this breeze sure is nice, isn't it?
Yeah, I'm so glad the weather turned out so nice.
How come there's no tension in the air?!
Besides, what's with all that luggage for just a 2 to 3-day long trip?
Isn't that too much?
Has he forgotten that he's a shinobi?
Mirai…
Yes, Mr. Guy!
Have you forgotten… that you're a shinobi?
What?!
We're supposed to be ordinary citizens.
We can't make it so obvious that we're shinobi.
Oh, pardon me.
Mirai, blending into the masses
YOUTH is also a shinobi technique. Hup!
I don't think ordinary citizens walk on their hands, though…
Guy, don't you think you're sticking out a little too much?
Way to go, Lord Sixth! Such a wise observation!
I guess I stick out whatever I do.
A bull-headed shrike, huh?
Bring back memories.
About what?
Remember when you decided to do one-handed push-ups
over a large post driven into the ground?
That time, your hand slipped and you fell, belly first, onto the post,
and ended up vomiting.
Since then, every time I see a bull-headed shrike,
I remember you, all bent over that post.
Would you please forget about that?
W-What kind of a conversation is this?
I mean, seriously,
how can they take this upcoming S-rank mission so lightly?
No, no!
This is the superior technique of blending into the masses!
I must hand it to Lord Sixth!
He makes himself look so absent-minded…
masking his true stature as the previous Hokage!
He must be continually dodging evil left and right!
Right! Carelessness is a shinobi's worst enemy!
Like this knapsack…
I have to keep my hands free at all times,
so that I can use my kunai or shuriken at any moment.
Well… There are exceptions,
but anyone carrying a large knapsack…
should be viewed with suspicion as a possible shinobi.
That cane!
Is it actually a hidden sword?!
What's the matter?
You have such a scary look on your face.
Huh? Oh, it's nothing!
Don't tell me you suspected that old man just now
of being a shinobi?
As if!
I was just checking that grassy area over there
to make sure no enemies leap out at us!
The grassy area, huh?
I don't think that happens, usually…
Y-You're right!
Your ears are red!
They're burning!
They are not!
Calm down!
This journey is just beginning.
If I wear myself out now,
I won't be any good on this S-rank mission!
You do know where the hallowed ground is, don't you?
Yeah, I checked.
Hallowed ground?
Hallowed ground…
In other words, a place that's sacred!
See! I knew there was something!
Is it a secret code?
This is starting to smell like an S-rank mission!
Is that it?
Yeah…
Here we go! Hallowed ground!
Here we go!
A draw again?!
Okay, once more!
That's about all we'll get with a rubber kunai.
Well, that was a nice challenge between friends!
All right! We'll try again at the next shop!
Yeah!
Huh? You're going to do it again?
Shouldn't we head for the sacred place?
Hold on…
My arm!
They're always around in touristy places like this.
A pickpocket?
Sorry, but can you go call a security guard?
– There you go! – Oh…!
Oh… Damn it!
So dumb!
Hold it!
Hey, wait!
Tree Bind Death!
What the hell is this?!
Let me go!
Stop!
I've gotten old.
When I was young, I could punch 100, no, 200 pickpockets
before they could even grab my wallet.
You shouldn't punch someone before they even do anything wrong.
Well, that's true.
Will you two cut it out?!
How can you be so careless!
It's my fault for allowing a pickpocket to get near you.
But the two of you have to be more aware of danger!
In the first place, just grabbing his arm is not enough!
You should've at least broken his arm!
I wouldn't do that out of nowhere!
I'm not Guy.
I wouldn't go that far either.
But, Lord Sixth!
Listen up, Mirai.
We're supposed to be disguised, so don't call me that…
Calling him Lord Sixth is like announcing to the world
that he's the Hokage.
I-I'm sorry, Mr. Kakashi!
And Mr. Guy, too…
Here. Open it.
TOO BAD. LET'S NOT DO BAD THINGS, SHALL WE?
That's my spare wallet.
Spare…wallet?
To be well prepared means no worries.
Being earnest is a good thing.
But there are other ways besides power to settle things.
Anyway, that's how it is!
I see… I guess I went a little overboard.
You're right!
A petty thief is nothing compared to
a mission that's even higher than S-rank!
Right, Mr. Kakashi?!
Mr. Kakashi?
There it is…
There's no mistake.
There "it" is?
That's "the tree in question."
We finally found…
the hallowed ground!
This is the hallowed ground?
Yeah, it seems so.
Since it's hallowed ground, it must be very important, correct?
That's what they say about hallowed ground.
Guy!
Oh!
Mirai!
Yes, sir!
I'm standing right on it!
On the hallowed ground that is Make-Out Paradise!
Make-Out…?
Make-Out Paradise!
Kakashi's favorite book, ever since he was young!
This is the location where the movie adaptation was filmed!
Huh…? What?
This is bad… I don't follow at all…
MAKE-OUT PARADISE My long-cherished dream has been realized!
You've always said
you've wanted to come here for a long, long time, Kakashi!
For a grown man to get so emotional,
it must be one magnificent book!
Um… What's the book, "Make-Out Paradise," about?
What is it about?
It's about…
Can't say! I can't say!
If it's that famous, I'd like to read it too.
It's too soon for you!
You saying that makes me even more curious!
Then read this book!
I supervised the compilation of
"Leap Out Youth! 24 Hours of Hot-Blooded Exercises"!
There's an accompanying video
and you can exercise along with me for 24 hours too!
Twenty-four hours? That's just not possible!
No need to be shy!
Okay, let's take a commemorative photo together!
Make-out Paradise!
I thought the "hallowed ground" was related to our mission.
Can we re-focus and get back to our mission?
Why don't we spend the night in this town?
It's getting late.
You're right!
A nice, hot soak will wash away our fatigue.
We're on vacation, after all.
Huh? Vacation?
You have it rough, though.
Unless it's some kind of mission on paper,
you can't leave the village like this.
So, the purpose… of this trip…
was really…just to take a vacation?
So, the mission that was supposed to surpass S-rank…
There's nothing like that.
I thought it was strange…
You were so pumped up about things.
What?!
Guard duty. Nothing unusual.
It's so cold!
It may be a holiday for them, but a mission is still a mission.
I'll do this! Of course! But…
Tempura, huh? Must be nice…
Hey, he stole one!
C'mon! Acting like a kid, at his age?!
And Mr. Kakashi didn't even notice!
Huh?
Huh? Mr. Kakashi?
You're gonna catch a cold!
I can't enjoy my meal while you're out here doing this.
B-But you didn't even notice when your tempura got stolen.
Tempura? Oh! I've never been a fan of it.
Guy always eats it for me.
Even though, at his age,
he's always complaining about indigestion.
He's nice, isn't he?
Is that so?
Why don't you quit chomping on Food Pills, and come join us?
No thank you!
I'm just an attendant!!
Wow, I'm just like a kid, acting so proud.
I'm terrible.
Besides, if I don't eat Food Pills and act like I'm on a mission…
I wouldn't know what I'm doing here.
Then at least go warm up in the hot springs!
Aren't you cold out here?
This is part of my mission, so…
Watching you reminds me of Asuma when he was young.
That awkwardness is so like him.
Haven't people told you?
Many people have told me about my father,
but to be honest, it hasn't hit home.
He's my father,
yet everyone else knows much more about him…
Am I like him?
You're exactly like him.
The way you put on a tough front, your stubborn sharpness…
Was he sharp?
He had the eyes of a carnivorous beast going after its prey.
He sure didn't look like someone on a vacation.
I see…
Not getting any prizes at the target-practice game,
and all of that…
Was that just part of the plan to fool ordinary people?
No, that was for real.
Huh?
Guy thought that if we won you a prize,
you'd loosen up a little.
But that Kuraa-ma toy was just too hard to get!
I see.
You're just too much for me.
But I've been thinking lately,
that my generation can't ever be like yours, Mr. Kakashi.
What do you mean?
The types that we encounter daily are armed bandits
or at most, degenerate shinobi.
There's no way catching petty bad guys like that
will let us surpass the previous generation
who put their lives on the line and fought.
Hmm?
I know being at peace is a good thing!
But in an age of peace like this,
I wonder what purpose continuing to be a shinobi serves?
So that's why you were so enthusiastic this afternoon?
You wanted to leave your mark, and win some recognition?
That sounds about right.
I'm sure my father never stressed over something trivial like this.
Asuma would be very happy to see you now.
Thank you for that, even if you're just trying to console me.
I'm going to take a long, hot soak, and complete this mission!
Sounds like a great idea!
But now, I'm starting to regret that
this will all be over in two days.
Um…well…
I believe I told them the mission was going to take 20 days.
Huh?!
Maybe you misheard "20" as "2" days?
I got it wrong!
I thought so!
N-No, actually… the "2" kept sticking in my mind.
With running around packing and praying at my dad's altar…
20 days turned into 2 days!
What do I do? I only brought two days' worth of clothes!
What do I do?
I wondered why your backpack was so small.
A bath! For the time being, I'm just going to take a bath!
NOW CLOSED
You're…quite an airhead, aren't you?
It's just now! Only just now!
Anyway, we'll be crossing the national border tomorrow
and entering the Land of Steam.
Just bear with it until then, okay?
Well, good night.
The Land of Steam…
The land where my father's killer was born…
The people of this hot springs district
are all wearing dog or cat masks…
I wonder what's going on?
It's the Dog and Cat festival… or the Cat and Dog Festival.
It's the day when dog lovers and cat lovers fight it out!
What?! Mr. Kiba's here!
Next time on Boruto: Naruto Next Generations:
"The Steam Ninja Scrolls: The Dog and Cat War!"
Kiba and his girlfriend are fighting!
THE STEAM NINJA SCROLLS: THE DOG AND CAT WAR