06x269 - The Sneaking Shadow

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HOSPITAL

Come in!

Hana Sensei!

Everyone!

I'm so glad you're safe.

You're always thinking about your students.

HOSPITAL

What about you, Sensei? Are you all right?

Everyone's worried.

Sorry for making you worry!

Here, Sensei.

Osuka!

Shino Sensei's classes are so stuffy and boring.

We need you to get well as soon as possible.

I made this for you.

How beautiful!

Thank you.

How are your injuries?

I'm fine now.

Thank goodness!

It was really unfortunate you got caught up in that att*ck.

Surviving a building collapse

is definitely the result of your daily training.

That's true.

Did you see the culprit?

Because of my injuries, my memories are hazy.

I just don't remember well.

It can't be helped.

I'm really sorry for making you all worry.

It's not your fault.

But...

You're not responsible for that.

Anyway, just get better soon.

Kawaki...

Well, we'll be going now.

Rest up, Hana Sensei!

I'll bring more sweets later!

Thank you, everyone!

Be careful on your way home.

Okay!

Okay!

Later!

Let's go!

See you later!

I have to try and remember something about the incident...

I might know something about the culprit...

{\i \fad( , )\pos( , )}The Sneaking Shadow

What were you thinking?

You had a suspicion that there was an assassin,

so why didn't you report it?!

I was just late reporting it, that's all.

Late?

Do you think that excuse is adequate?

Kawaki, this is an important mission!

Being late isn't going to cut it.

Is there something you're not telling us, because you can't?

Whatever the circumstances, it doesn't excuse the fact that

you didn't report important information.

I already admitted that I messed up!

At any rate, I can't let you continue the guard mission.

We're taking you off the mission.

Okay.

That aside, how did the assassin sneak into the village?

There's a barrier placed around the village.

It's not easy to sneak in.

The Police Force is looking into it right now.

Whatever the case,

we cannot allow the princess to continue her studies abroad.

There is talk that

she should immediately return to the Land of Bamboo.

Is she going to be sent home?

It's the best for the princess.

Do you have a problem with that?!

No, not really.

I want you to stand by at home

until the Police Force questions you.

Okay.

How are the students?

I hope they're not emotionally drained

and in shock from the incident.

As to be expected of those aiming to become shinobi,

they seem to be taking this quite calmly.

I see.

Let's not tell Hana Sensei

that Kae was being targeted for the time being.

I'm sure she must feel responsible for what happened.

Understood.

I can't believe school life for her is ending with an incident.

Being a princess must be difficult.

It looks like I won't be able to go out now.

Yes?

Miss Kae, according to your father's wishes,

you must prepare for your return home.

Understood.

I wonder how everyone's doing?

For me, I was making great memories with everyone.

But for Kawaki,

it was all just part of his mission.

Sorry for keeping you here for so long.

If you remember anything about the incident,

contact me right away.

I will.

I'm sorry I couldn't be more helpful, Uncle Kotaro.

You have nothing to worry about.

Your father is doing everything he can to investigate.

Everything is okay.

Okay!

Have you found a lead on the culprit?

Sorry,

but I can't share information on the investigation with outsiders.

Mr. Kotaro...

What is it?

You have a call from the Hokage's office.

I'll be right there.

Well, see you later!

There's nothing to do...

Are you going to let it end like this?

Huh?

Are you just going to abandon Miss Kae,

even though she's in danger?

We're her friends, aren't we?

Even if it's not your mission,

you can still try to find leads on the assassin, right?

You're not wrong about that.

Let me help you out!

It's too dangerous.

I can't let you get involved.

But wasn't I helpful when we saved Miss Kae the other day?

Do whatever you want.

Okay!

Will he really work with us?

Since you were removed from your mission,

you aren't getting any information.

We have no choice but to rely on Eiki,

and he might know something.

Don't let him know that Kae was targeted.

I told him we were looking for the t*rror1st

who att*cked the Academy, so it's fine!

Sorry to keep you waiting.

SCHOOL BUILDING

ENTRANCE GATE

What's this?

I mapped out what happened on the day of the incident

during the school festival.

You're so prepared!

I was frustrated with what happened...

Not only was there a t*rror1st att*ck right before my eyes,

but the school festival was ruined.

On that day, we were getting ready around here.

And also, the Paper Bombs were planted here.

There aren't that many near the stage.

Perhaps the culprit was timing the incident

by observing the situation from near the auditorium.

Does that mean there was someone shady in the auditorium?

But I don't remember each person who came to the school festival.

Can you get any information from Kotaro?

He won't tell me anything about the investigation,

so it'll be difficult.

There's nothing we can do

if we don't know who was in the auditorium.

It would be nice if we had a photo.

Oh, yeah!

Sosha's photographs!

The culprit might be in one of her photos.

It must be difficult not being able to see your friends.

I might have been the only one who considered us friends.

Kawaki was only friendly because it was his mission, you know.

Are you sure about that?

A friend would tell me about the mission, wouldn't they?

He's a shinobi,

so he probably couldn't even tell his friends about his missions.

Is that how it is?

Yes.

However, Mr. Kawaki was removed from his mission

for failing to report the assassin.

What?!

I didn't ask why,

but I'd venture to say that,

if he did, the school festival would have been cancelled.

Was he trying to prevent that from happening?

Because I was looking forward to it?

I want to see Kawaki and ask him about the truth.

I don't want to part ways with everyone like this.

Milady, I would like to grant you your wish, but...

Like I said...

I'm just asking what you're going to use my photos for?!

Since the play was cancelled,

I just wanted a memento of the event.

Isn't it kind of strange to want a memento,

considering what happened?

Y-You think so?

I... well... you know... that.

What's "that"?

Spit it out!

The fact that you're working together

must mean something's going on, right?

Is it something that you can't tell anyone?

I-It's my fault!

I saw a girl in the auditorium and instantly fell in love with her.

They're helping me find her!

Love at first sight?!

What's this?

Eiki, I thought you were going after Miss Kae!

Y-You have it all wrong.

You should have told me sooner.

Even I would never do something insensitive

to stand in the way of love!

Here you go!

Thank you!

I'm rooting for you, Eiki!

Aww! What have I done?!

Why did I lie like that?!

Thanks to you, we're good!

There's no way Sosha will stay quiet!

Thank you, Eiki!

Since it's come to this, we definitely have to find a lead!

Hey, Mr. Batora didn't come to the school festival, right?

Yeah, he had some business to take care of.

I'm sure about that because Kae was disappointed.

What does this mean?

Why did he lie?

He's completely loyal to Kae...

I can't believe someone like him lying to her.

Do you think something happened?

We need to look into it.

Someone suspicious, someone suspicious...

There's no one that fits that description!

How are you doing over there?

Huh?

What? I'm the only one here?

There's no need to hurry!

What if Batora has something to do with this incident?

Huh?

Kae is with Batora right now!

No way!

Let's hurry!

At the very least,

I'd like to write a letter to everyone.

An outage?

No way, is it the assassin?!

What?! The lights went out!

Let's go, Himawari!

Yeah!

What is happening?

I'm worried about Miss Kae!

We need to hurry!

Batora!

Not good!

Kawaki!

Batora's—!

What's going on?!

Himawari! Look after Kae!

Okay!

Did I get them?

A clone?

Gotcha!

You're gonna tell me who's behind this!

EXPLODE

What a terrible state...

We'll quickly confirm their identity at headquarters.

Search the premises for any evidence linked to the culprit.

Yes, sir!

I can't believe they'd blow themselves up.

It's probably to destroy any proof of their identity

before they were caught.

You were removed from the mission. What are you doing here?

Am I not allowed to visit a friend?

I see.

I understand what you're saying,

but I'll have to report this to the Hokage's office.

Do whatever you want.

Kawaki!

Are you all right?

Yes.

But Batora was seriously injured trying to protect me.

There's no need to worry about me.

Why were you at the school festival?

What do you mean?

I'd been investigating the possibility

that one of Miss Kae's enemies had snuck into the village.

So, that's what it was.

That day, I followed someone that seemed suspicious.

So, that's what you had to attend to...

However, I lost sight of them near the Academy.

That's probably when my photo was taken.

Who did you lose sight of?

Perhaps it was the masked shinobi you took down earlier.

I'm very sorry.

I thought that if I told you the truth,

you would worry, so I lied.

Don't apologize.

You were injured protecting me.

Your father, the king, took me in...

and gave me this life.

That was a long time ago.

No, when I think about my debt to him,

this injury is nothing.

Batora...

Lord Kawaki, I thank you for protecting Miss Kae.

I just happened to be here at the right time.

You should have told me about your mission.

Why didn't you report in about the assassin?

That's none of your business.

But you were removed from the mission because of that!

Did you take that risk

so that Miss Kae could experience the school festival?

Was that really the reason?

You came here, even though you were removed from the mission.

That tells me how much you care about Miss Kae.

Kawaki!

You can't ignore a friend in danger, can you?

I never said anything like that!

Thank you!

You're the worst!

You left me behind!

Sorry, we were in a rush.

Tell me what happened, okay?

S-Sure.

Extra, extra!

This is the Exposé Newspaper!

HAS MAKE-OUT PARADISE TURNED EIKI INTO A PLAYBOY?

A NEW LOVE INTEREST APPEARS

"Has Make-Out Paradise turned Eiki into a playboy?"

"A new love interest appears? In this issue!"

Don't read that!

Eiki, I hear you're searching for a girl you like.

You like someone other than Miss Kae?!

You're crazy!

No, there's a reason for this!

There's no need to be embarrassed about love!

No, no! It's not like that!

Regarding your recent failure to obey an order,

we took into account that this led to you protecting the princess,

so we're overlooking this as a special case.

Also, the Land of Bamboo has withdrawn the guard mission,

so the mission itself no longer exists.

What do you mean?

The mastermind of the assassination plot

has apparently been arrested in the Land of Bamboo.

Are you sure about that?

After analyzing the intel that Kae's butler Batora gathered,

they found evidence of communications

between the assassin and the mastermind.

The mastermind is a minister

and the guardian of the princess's younger stepbrother.

As a result of their investigation,

they found all the proof they needed.

So, the assassin was working for the minister?

The features of the corpse match those that were on record.

They've also confirmed that they were the only accessory.

They apparently snuck in when the princess came to our nation.

Does this mean we've dealt with the mastermind and the culprit?

That seems to be the case.

The Land of Bamboo says they want to take control of this matter.

Once we hand over our intel on the investigation,

we can't get involved anymore.

The Land of Bamboo probably doesn't want other nations

to learn about their infighting.

The assassin d*ed...

and the mastermind was arrested, huh?

This incident got wrapped up quickly and neatly.

It's too easy and it makes me nauseous.

Also, I was near Kae all that time

and I didn't even pick up on the assassin.

Kawaki, are you okay?

I'm going to go to the Academy.

Wait, Himawari...

What is it?

I'm going to the Academy too, remember?

Next time on Boruto: Naruto Next Generations:

"Two Sides of the Same Coin."

TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN