Anna Karenina

EARTH

Stop!

Master…

My dear father…

The test subject is ready.

We await your order.

Old Man Ohnoki…

No way!

Ohnoki's Justice

What's going on, Old Man?!

Old Man!

Damn it! Say something!

Watch your language, kid.

Boruto!

I'm sorry.

That old man isn't on our side?

Seems like we were wrong.

Hey! Don't hurt them!

Stay out of this, Akatsuchi.

This is for your sake.

This is all for the sake of peace.

EARTH

Hello?

FIRE

FIRE Is this Kontsuchi?

It is.

Can I speak to Kurotsuchi?

I'm afraid Lady Tsuchikage hasn't returned

from her trip to the border lands.

She's not back yet?

Have you learned anything since we last spoke?

No, nothing that requires immediate action.

I see.

I will contact you the moment Lady Tsuchikage returns.

Yes, I'd appreciate that.

But just so you know, that might not be for a while.

I understand.

All right, if you will please excuse me.

That's right… Good boy.

Not there?

No. I'd like to think they're doing something on their end, but…

We'll just have to wait to hear from Konohamaru.

Yeah…

You're right.

Damn you!

Where's Mitsuki?

Give Mitsuki back!

Keep still.

They told me.

The abduction of the Hidden Leaf genin

and the attacks on these kids who came looking for him…

Was that all your doing?

And…who the hell are they?

On top of that, Kurotsuchi's been absent all this time.

What's going on?

Why won't you say anything?!

Silence, Akatsuchi!

Answer him!

Release him, Ku.

Yes.

What do you mean for the sake of peace?

Explain yourself!

It's to avoid repeating another tragedy.

A tragedy?

Five years ago, our village was attacked by Rogue Ninja.

Many young shinobi lost their lives.

After that incident, it became very clear to me…

I have to protect the young lives that are our future.

Like us, you've been attacked, haven't you?

By the Otsutsuki before?

There's no predicting when

another frightening enemy like them will appear.

When it happens, we mustn't let them take the lives of our youth!

In order to save them,

we need something to fight in the place of our youth.

You mean these guys?

Yes.

What does that have to do with taking Mitsuki away from us?

Mitsuki will be helping me with my plan.

What?!

Mitsuki decided to, by his own free will…of course.

Mitsuki!

There you are!

You were looking for me?

Uh-huh.

Lord Ku instructed me to take you to him.

Take me to him? Or more like keep an eye on me?

Well, yeah.

Lord Ku's never met you, so he doesn't know much about you.

When you do meet, I think you'll get along.

I hope so.

This will be your room.

Do you like it?

Uh-huh.

If it lacks something,

or if there's anything you need, let me know.

All right.

Now then, let's move on…

This is how Akuta are created.

But, Akuta are not like us.

We have our own will.

Will…

I've mentioned it before, right?

Lord Ku will explain the secret behind our will.

When will I be able to meet him?

Soon.

I look forward to it.

There are so many…

Yeah, you're right.

Soon, we'll have more than all the shinobi in the Hidden Stone Village.

Hmm…

But Master says we still need more.

We need more to protect the young people of the village.

So what you're saying is that they and those like you

will die in their place?

Die in their place?

Hey!

Here you are.

You shouldn't wander around too much.

Lord Ku asked me to show him around.

Let's go. I'll show you my room.

How long are we going to let him live?

We should just cut him up already.

If you'd like, I'd be happy to do it.

Wait for Lord Ku's orders.

What do you mean, Mitsuki is helping?!

Maybe you shouldn't upset them, Sarada?

I know that.

But…

Take us to Mitsuki!

That won't be possible.

Why?!

The plan is entering its final stages.

I need Mitsuki's help to make it work.

Hold on!

If it becomes known that you harmed

the men from our village who went after Mitsuki, or us,

Lord Seventh is going to take action!

Yes, I'm well aware of that.

The plan was to do everything in secret.

I wasn't thinking I'd have to deal with you Leaf Shinobi.

However…

I have no alternative in order to proceed with my plans.

Take us to Mitsuki.

I want to speak with him once more!

I have to speak with him!

Please!

Please!