Anna Karenina

Yagura the Fourth Mizukage

used fear to rule this village in the past.

I am Yagura's grandchild.

The blood of a mass murderer courses through my veins.

I could never succeed him

as one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and lead this village.

I'll be satisfied with being Chojuro's aide.

At least, that's what I thought…

until I met…

Boruto Uzumaki.

About the candidacy test for the Great Twin Swords Hiramekarei…

I'd like to take it.

Declaration of War

Declaration of War About the candidacy test for

Declaration of War the Great Twin Sword Hiramekarei…

I'd like to take it.

You would? I'm glad to hear it.

Before you were born,

there was a great conflict known as the Fourth Great Ninja War.

During that war, over a fifth of the men and women

fighting for the Allied Shinobi Forces were lost.

I have the greatest respect for you and all my predecessors

who helped to end it.

It was possible

due to the sacrifice of many skilled and experienced shinobi.

And they all believed in the future.

A future in which every village had a stake.

And that is why I want to pass on the Hiramekarei

to a young shinobi who can carry the torch.

I'm sure those who went before us would agree.

I accept with great honor.

Great Twin Sword Hiramekarei.

Pretty sweet sword.

Why'd you call me out so late?

Sorry.

I wanted to show you before anyone else.

The one entrusted with this sword will forge the future of the village.

Boruto, thanks to you, I was able to make up my mind.

Aw, I didn't do anything.

No, you spoke the truth.

Blood ties don't matter.

I'm the one who decides how I live.

Good for you, Kagura!

If you're gonna be the leader,

the village will be in good hands.

I hope I'm up to it…

I guarantee it!

You'll be fine!

It's strange. Hearing you say it, somehow I believe it.

I'm a good judge of people, ya know.

Yikes!

We meet again, Kagura.

You…!

What're you doing?!

Mr. Shizuma!

Hey Kagura…

And Boruto Uzumaki!

You were at the harbor!

The name is Shizuma Hoshigaki.

It seems my errand boys caused some trouble yesterday.

Sorry about that.

So the guys who kidnapped Denki were yours?

Well, we beat them at their own game.

The younger ones are riled up

because of this senseless reconciliation policy.

So whaddya want?

Your entrance just now wasn't too funny.

Mr. Shizuma…

You're still supposed to be under penitence

because of your actions in the last mission.

Yet you—

Penitence is something one places on themself.

I can sorta agree with that!

Besides, fairly soon now

we won't have to take orders from the current Mizukage.

What does that mean?

What else?

The time has come for a war to reclaim our dignity.

Mr. Shizuma…

Come off it!

You're either crazy or half-asleep!

My eyes are wide open and I'm perfectly sane.

Kagura, you now have the Great Twin Sword.

It is time.

We kill the Hokage's son, then declare war.

What're you saying?

There won't be any war!

He's right, Mr. Shizuma.

The world has just started down the path to peace.

I'm going to put this sword to use for that purpose.

Peace?

Mei Terumi and Chojuro are just toying with you.

Lord Chojuro is a noble man.

He's doing all he can

to keep the peace in this village once ensnared in chaos.

It's all for show!

Chojuro plans to get rid of everyone who doesn't agree with his methods.

Impossible…

Countless villagers still suffer from the scars left by war.

Don't tell me you're unaware.

I know…

Kagura, you have suffered more than anyone in the village.

Y-You got—

Stop, Kagura.

That's enough…

Kagura, what're you doing?!

Sh-Shizuma…! I…

It's Yagura's blood.

He's the grandson of that mass murderer…

How could Lord Chojuro admit a guy like that into the Academy?

When he wields a sword, he goes berserk.

Even if he has the skills, we can't endorse a shinobi like him…

I… I…

You're the way you should be.

Fighting to kill is the way of the Blood Mist shinobi.

There's nothing wrong with you… Kagura Karatachi.

Mr. Shizuma…

The age to come is going to need warriors like you.

Kagura, I will protect you.

Mr. Shizuma, I'm grateful to you for defending me all these years.

But I cannot go along with you anymore.

If you continue to incite trouble, I will be ordered to punish you.

Punish?

The one who must be punished is Chojuro.

Chojuro is using assassins to get rid of insurgents.

Kagura, what's wrong?!

It doesn't make sense, does it?

There's no way reform can proceed smoothly

in the Blood Mist Village.

He seems calm and upright,

but behind the scenes, he's ruthless.

The fact that my family's name no longer appears on the memorials

is undeniable proof.

The current regime wants to erase

every vestige of those who were a nuisance.

The same goes for your family.

We will fight

so that those whose very existence was erased can rest in peace!

Now come, Kagura!

Remember this?

This is the scar you gave me.

Ever since that day, I've looked out for you.

No matter how you try to change, you belong with me.

Kagura, what's the matter?!

Hey, mister!

Sorry. I may not look it, but I'm still 18.

Don't go tempting my friend with your nonsense!

Nonsense?

You think it so only because you've been pampered your whole life.

Shut up!

What is it? Has something upset you?

Shadow Clone Jutsu!

Time to give it a try…

Hmm?

Like those? You can't deflect them with a sword.

That's more like it.

It's not worth killing you otherwise.

Shizuma!

Address me as "Mr. Shizuma"!

Address these!

Buntan.

Wha—?!