Anna Karenina

Let's take stock of our situation.

The ones who tricked us and escaped with the Hashirama Cell

were those lookalike shinobi, right?

Yeah.

I remember seeing those earrings.

When we met Kirisaki at the pub, they were there in disguise.

So we were being watched since then?

Probably.

They used some method to get past the tight security

got one step ahead of us and…

…killed the Lady of the Castle and stole the Hashirama Cell.

We don't even know what village they're from, right?

This is just about the only lead we have.

Tracking…tracking…

Anyway, after making it this far,

looks like we don't have to worry about guys coming after us.

Don't let down your guard!

There are shinobi from other lands

trying to get their hands on the Hashirama Cell too.

I know that!

Boruto! Sarada!

Lightning Style?!

What was that, all of a sudden?!

Who are they?

Hey, you!

What?!

Are you guys after the Hashirama Cell too?!

Are you the guys who proclaimed you were Hidden Leaf shinobi,

who murdered Sakuya, the Lady of Fushuu Castle

and escaped with the Hashirama Cell?

No way, a little kid like him?

What a surprise.

Quit looking down on me!

Hand over the Hashirama Cell.

We don't have it, ya know!

We're gonna have to verify that.

What?!

I already said we don't have it!

So, are you gonna keep this up, or are you gonna come clean?

If you don't hand it over,

you're gonna get hurt.

You wanna do this?!

Wait!

Why are you stopping me, Big Bro?!

You're Mr. Omoi from the Hidden Cloud, right?

You're—!

Is that you, Konohamaru?

Yes!

You know him?

He's a close aide to Lord Raikage of the Hidden Cloud.

And also, he's a close friend of Karui's.

A friend of Cho-Cho's mom?!

First, answer my question from before.

Did you kill Sakuya and steal the Hashirama Cell?

Like I already said, you're wrong!

Someone framed us!

The Pursuers

A rumor was going around that

the Hashirama Cell was in the Land of Silence.

Lord Raikage felt it could turn into a dangerous situation…

so, he ordered Marui, Kakui and me

to sneak into the Land of Silence and investigate.

Then all of a sudden, there was a big commotion.

That's when we heard that Leaf shinobi murdered

Sakuya, the Lady of Fushuu Castle and stole the Hashirama Cell.

The guys who framed us spread those lies!

As a result,

we're being pursued by a bunch of different groups of people.

And? Do you know who the real perpetrators are?

No, other than the fact that they are shinobi.

This is the weapon they used to kill Sakuya.

Is that poison?

I've seen the same thing before.

Huh?!

It was when a VIP from the Hidden Cloud was assassinated.

Shinobi from the Land of Haze used the same kind of poison.

So they're shinobi from the Land of Haze?!

If Haze shinobi stole the Hashirama Cell,

and it gets into the hands of evildoers…

Or some kinda mad scientist…

This could turn into something really bad!

No, not just that!

What do we do if the cell drastically starts multiplying?

Even if we retrieve it,

it could continue to multiply until finally, it explodes!

If that happens, there's no controlling it!

Oh, man.

It's starting…

Mr. Omoi's going into a frantic thought spiral…

Huh?

That was a thought spiral?

That's not what it is!

It's fact that rumors about the Hashirama Cell

are spreading like wildfire!

Hordes of shinobi from around the world might be on their way.

If that happens, this could turn into something really bad!

No, what's "really bad" is your negative thinking, Mr. Omoi.

He's such a worrywart.

He's worse than a worrywart, don't you think?

I think an explosion is a bit far-fetched.

Normally, in situations like this,

you have to think about worst-case scenarios!

So, if things escalate, you can keep calm and deal with them!

– Yeah, yeah. – Yeah, yeah.

In the first place, the Hashirama Cell

has been under the Hidden Leaf's supervision.

It hasn't been determined how other people got a hold of it,

but we have to recover it, no matter what.

If that's how it is, we'll help you.

It's safe to believe that the Haze shinobi are planning

to take the Hashirama Cell back to their land.

Which means the shortest route back home for them

is over the mountains.

About that…

Apparently, if the Hashirama Cell is stimulated in any way,

it runs the risk of going out of control.

So, I don't think they would choose the mountainous route.

I see.

Then…

it's highly probable they took that road.

No signs of the Hashirama Cell going out of control right now.

Yeah.

No sign of any pursuers either.

The Leaf shinobi probably got trapped, just like we planned.

Let's hurry while we still have the chance.

Move.

Who are you?

Are you here to steal the castle's treasures?

Sorry, but it belongs to us.

If you get it, leave now!

Just move.

What?!

Didn't you hear us?!

What a pain!

Just get 'em.

You really are fools who just can't listen, aren't you?

You should've just obediently listened to me.

Then you wouldn't have had to die.

There's no point in lingering here any longer, huh?

Here, take these!

I have no interest in things like that.

I want to ask you something,

Where's the Hashirama Cell?

You know what will happen if you don't tell me, right?

It was stolen!

By whom?

Hidden Leaf shinobi stole it along with the treasures and ran off.

And where are they now?

They're not here anymore.

Word is that they used an underground route to escape.

I see!

Be careful, Hiruga!

If the Hashirama Cell goes out of control here,

our mission is over!

I'm sorry!

At the rate we're going,

it will take a while to get to the border.

Want to switch?

Yeah, thanks, Asaka.

As long as we cross our border,

they can't come after us.

Yeah…