"A Binding Force" (繋ぐ力, Tsunagu Chikara) is episode 196 of the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations anime.
Synopsis[]
Delta is frustrated by Koji's ability to infiltrate Konoha without triggering a response, as that puts him out of her oversight. At the Uzumaki household, Kawaki stares at the glue tube Boruto gave him. Sarada and Mitsuki visit Boruto, also wishing to get a look on Kawaki. Sarada asks Boruto how Kawaki is, recalling his outbursts when she spent time with him and Naruto. Naruto arrives and offers to postpone his sparring with Boruto over the visitors. Boruto says it's no problem, and Naruto invites Kawaki to watch. Boruto and Naruto begin to spar, Kawaki recognising when Boruto uses shadow clones. He tells Boruto to just use the Kāma already, activating his so Boruto's activates in response, as Boruto still can't activate it at will. Sparring resumes, Naruto and the spectators both noticing the increase in Boruto's performance. Boruto's Lightning Release is even strong enough to dispel one of Naruto's shadow clones. Boruto manages to trick Naruto with a shadow clone, but ends up defeated. He's unsatisfied with his performance, but Naruto credits him on fighting smarter. The two perform the Seal of Reconciliation, which Sarada and Himawari explain to Kawaki. Talking to Mitsuki later, Sarada feels inadequate thinking about Boruto's progress, and decides to train with her father to learn a jutsu only she can perform. Mitsuki is concerned about the risks associated with these powers. Kawaki recalls Boruto and Naruto's sparring and compares it to his own abusive training with Jigen. Kawaki asks Naruto about his training with Boruto, and Naruto invites him to join next time. Kawaki says he can't wield chakra, and is no shinobi, so Naruto explains the nature of chakra to him. Kawaki asks about shadow clones, believing using them to beat himself up to be an appropriate form of dealing with frustrations. Naruto advises against it, having done so himself in the past, and suggests having a rival. Boruto overhears them, and decides against complaining about the vase again. At the Uchiha household, Sarada and Sasuke compliment Sakura's cooking, and Sarada asks her father to train her to learn the Chidori. The next day, Kawaki collects the broken vase and prepares to glue it back together. He is spotted by Koji, who spies on him through the eyes of one of his toads.
Credits[]
| Role | Seiyū | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Japanese | Rōmaji | |
| Boruto Uzumaki | Yuko Sanpei | 三瓶 由布子 | Sanpei Yūko |
| Naruto Uzumaki | Junko Takeuchi | 竹内 順子 | Takeuchi Junko |
| Hinata Uzumaki | Nana Mizuki | 水樹 奈々 | Mizuki Nana |
| Himawari Uzumaki | Saori Hayami | 早見 沙織 | Hayami Saori |
| Kawaki | Yuma Uchida | 内田 雄馬 | Uchida Yūma |
| Sarada Uchiha | Kokoro Kikuchi | 菊池 こころ | Kikuchi Kokoro |
| Sasuke Uchiha | Noriaki Sugiyama | 杉山 紀彰 | Sugiyama Noriaki |
| Sakura Uchiha | Chie Nakamura | 中村 千絵 | Nakamura Chie |
| Mitsuki | Ryuichi Kijima | 木島 隆一 | Kijima Ryūichi |
| Koji Kashin | Yuichi Nakamura | 中村 悠一 | Nakamura Yūichi |
| Delta | Hoko Kuwashima | 桑島 法子 | Kuwashima Hōko |
| Jigen | Kenjiro Tsuda | 津田 健次郎 | Tsuda Kenjirō |
