Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Episode 62

All hell breaks loose in the Hidden Leaf as the Chunin exams come to an abrupt and destructive halt. No sooner does Boruto have time to process his disqualification than the Otsutsukis arrive on the scene and proceed to level the entire stadium. As Momoshiki reveals, the trio wishes to extract Naruto's immensely powerful chakra and use it to replant the Divine Tree. After Mitsuki fails to take down Urashiki, Gaara and Chojuro take on the franchise's newest villain and are able to prompt a temporary retreat. Meanwhile, Naruto, Sasuke, Boruto, and Sarada face off against Momoshiki and Kinshiki. As a parallel to Boruto's use of the Shinobi Gauntlet, it's revealed that the Otsutsukis simply steal techniques from opponents and convert them into pills. (A practice Naruto compares to doping.) Ready to bring the fight to an end, Momoshiki launches a massive projectile at the group, prompting Naruto to call forth Kurama's aura. Realizing that destroying the projectile would decimate the surrounding area, the Seventh elects to bear the brunt of the attack. Confronted with the very real possibility of losing his dad, Boruto can do nothing but reflect on all the good times they've shared as he watches the chaos unfold.

Like this arc's earlier installments, episode 62 adeptly blends footage from the preceding feature film with original material. As an added bonus, this week's additions help smooth out some of the film's rough edges. For example, the television version provides an explanation as to why Gaara and Chojuro didn't rush in to assist Naruto and Sasuke—they were busy fighting Urashiki, who didn't exist in the movie. Supporting characters like Denki, Iwabe, and Metal are given something to do this time around—helping spectators escape the rampant destruction. (However, with so many heroes leading audience members to safety, it's strange that Naruto has to protect a small crowd of stragglers later in the episode.)

Although it's still fairly easy to discern which sequences are lifted from the movie compared to the TV-original material, the action sequences are all well-done this week, with only the slightest bit of choppiness to be found. The characters are also more expressive than usual, especially Boruto, who comes to gain a whole new perspective on his father. The look on the boy's face when he sees his dad's true power in action is particularly poignant and conveys a wealth of emotions—it's like all the history books he'd never quite believed had come to life. The man he could only see as an absentee workaholic suddenly turned into the hero of legend. It's likely a turning point in their relationship—one that's punctuated by Naruto's apparent sacrifice.

As another edge-of-your seat chapter in the Chunin exam saga, this week's Boruto begins the battle against the Otsutsukis in earnest, and the good guys are already at a clear disadvantage. With Boruto facing the potential loss of a parent and the Otsutsukis looking to restart Kaguya's legacy, things are bound to get worse before they get better for our heroes.

Rating: A

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

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Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Episode 61

The Chunin exams conclude on a somber note as the story heads into its climax. With only three examinees remaining, Boruto, Sarada, and Shinki face off in an action-packed battle royale. Realizing the threat posed by Shinki, the remaining two-thirds of Team 7 decide to temporarily join forces against their common enemy. However, Gaara's adoptive son proves too strong for their best efforts, and Boruto must once again use Katasuke's device in order to eke out a victory. Unfortunately for the young shinobi, he overplays his hand this time. Watching his son defeat Shinki with Kakashi's signature Purple Lightning confirms Naruto's suspicions about Boruto's performance, prompting him to expose Boruto's trickery in front of the entire audience, disqualify him from the exams, and bar him from being a ninja. Before Boruto and his friends have time to fully process this, Momoshiki and Kinshiki arrive on the scene as Momoshiki declares that he's finally found Naruto.

Although only one fight is covered this week, the proceedings never drag and the characters' emotions are more palpable than ever. A force to be reckoned with, Shinki refuses to give his opponents an inch as he effortlessly counters everything they throw at him. Much like his father at that age, the young Sand ninja is brutal and direct, though he appears to have more restraint and a better understanding of his power. As has become customary, Boruto holds off on using the Shinobi Gauntlet until the eleventh hour, and as usual, he clearly has some reservations about relying on it. (Admittedly, his post-exam endgame is unclear. Did he think he'd keep secretly using it forever or that no one would ask him to reproduce those advanced techniques outside of the test?) His friends' reactions to his cheating are particularly poignant, especially Shikadai's, as he was the one friend whom Boruto used the tool against. If things are ever to return to normal, Boruto will have to make some serious amends for his actions throughout this arc.

Naruto disqualifying his own son from the exams and barring him from ever becoming a ninja is harsh, and Leaf residents and fellow Kage would be hard-pressed to accuse the Seventh of nepotism. Boruto is clearly in the wrong and ought to have known better, but he's still a child demanding his father's attention, and Naruto's lack of presence at home certainly isn't helping matters. Of course, before the father-son duo can continue their very public disagreement, the Otsutsukis show up at the perfect time, finally bringing their role in this story to a head—although the TV-original Urashiki is nowhere to be seen.

The Chunin exam arc continues to be one of the highlights of the series, and this week's Boruto/Sarada/Shinki brawl serves as another welcome expansion of the film's narrative. With the exam over, Boruto's long con revealed, and the Otsutskis finally revealing themselves, the ninja world's first joint Chunin exam is about to get a whole lot stickier.

Rating: B+

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

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