"Inojin vs. Hōki" (いのじん対ホウキ, Inojin tai Hōki) is episode 223 of the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations anime.
Synopsis[]
On the day of the final round of the Chūnin Exams, Boruto and Mitsuki discuss becoming chūnin. Himawari calls her brother. At the arena, Konohamaru and Shikamaru discuss its repair since Momoshiki's attack, and the broadcasting of the finals, since each village held its own exam separately. Himawari tells Boruto that she's been practising being shinobi with her friends Ehō and Yuina, and they came across some suspicious individuals. Ehō and Yuina kept tracking them, but she was worried about it. Boruto agrees to check it, having time before the finals begin. Naruto invites Kawaki to watch the finals with him and cheer on Boruto, but he's not interested, so Naruto points out that as a round featuring battles, Kawaki might get to see all sorts of ninjutsu. Konohamaru explains the rules and win conditions of the fights. Sarada is concerned by Boruto's and Mitsuki's absence, but they won't be disqualified if they arrive before their names are drawn for a fight. Inojin Yamanaka and Hōki Taketori are the first sorted to fight.
Himawari takes Boruto and Mitsuki to meet Ehō and Yuina. The people they're tracking are talking to Amado, and put him on a train, which begins to leave. Boruto and Mitsuki hop on it. Shikadai and Chōchō discuss Hōki with Inojin. Likewise, Hōki reviews Inojin's jutsu with Renga and Hako. Boruto and Mitsuki board the train. The first match begins with Inojin attacking with his drawings. Hōki counterattacks with an Earth Release, raising columns all over the arena. Iwabee is impressed by it. Inojin is disoriented by the pillars acting like a maze, and Sai explains to Naruto that Hōki is going all around it memorising its layout. It allows him to strike from blindspots. Hōki recalls Sai explaining that the secretive nature of their missions means they're rarely acknowledged, but that Kakashi was able to become Hokage despite being former Anbu. Inojin decides to fly above the maze, but that allows Hōki to strike him with a pillar. As he falls, Inojin sends some birds Hōki's way as a distraction to allow him to hide. He's concerned by his earlier chakra expenditure. Inojin decides to use his Mind Body Switch Technique. Hōki tries provoking him by suggesting he concede the fight. Inojin doesn't respond, and recalling his previous fights, Hōki knows Inojin will try taking him over. Inojin leaves an ink trail to make Hōki attack him from a known position, and uses his jutsu. Inside Hōki's mind, Inojin is attacked by a construct and is forced out. Hōki holds him at kunai point, and Konohamaru declares him the winner. Renga and Hako celebrate. Chōchō and Shikadai check on Inojin, who wonders what that was. Sai explains it's defensive jutsu against mind-reading, the kind taught to Anbu members in the event they're captured by enemies, to safeguard information. Shikadai and Chōchō comment on how difficult and dangerous those are, and Renga and Hako arrive, saying that dangerous assignments are commonplace for them. Hōki thanks Sai for his training, and helps Inojin up, thanking him for pushing him to give his all. Everyone watching celebrates the good match. After the arena is cleared, the names for the second match are drawn, Iwabee Yuino and Wasabi Izuno. Sarada is concerned by her team-mates still being absent. Boruto and Mitsuki are unable to find Amado and his captors in the train.
Trivia[]
- Despite voicing Ehō Norimaki and Yuina Itomaki, Ryōko Shiraishi and Kokoro Kikuchi are not credited for these roles in this episode.
Credits[]
| Role | Seiyū | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Japanese | Rōmaji | |
| Inojin Yamanaka | Atsushi Abe | 阿部 敦 | Abe Atsushi |
| Hōki Taketori | Katsunori Okai | 岡井 カツノリ | Okai Katsunori |
| Shikadai Nara | Kensho Ono | 小野 賢章 | Ono Kenshō |
| Chōchō Akimichi | Ryoko Shiraishi | 白石 涼子 | Shiraishi Ryōko |
| Hako Kuroi | Aoi Inase | いなせ あおい | Inase Aoi |
| Renga Kokubō | Yo Tokinaga | 時永 洋 | Tokinaga Yō |
| Naruto Uzumaki | Junko Takeuchi | 竹内 順子 | Takeuchi Junko |
| Sai Yamanaka | Satoshi Hino | 日野 聡 | Hino Satoshi |
| Ino Yamanaka | Ryoka Yuzuki | 柚木 涼香 | Yuzuki Ryōka |
| Shikamaru Nara | Shotaro Morikubo | 森久保 祥太郎 | Morikubo Shōtarō |
| Konohamaru Sarutobi | Hidenori Takahashi | 高橋 英則 | Takahashi Hidenori |
| Himawari Uzumaki | Saori Hayami | 早見 沙織 | Hayami Saori |
| Boruto Uzumaki | Yuko Sanpei | 三瓶 由布子 | Sanpei Yūko |
| Mitsuki | Ryuichi Kijima | 木島 隆一 | Kijima Ryūichi |
| Sarada Uchiha | Kokoro Kikuchi | 菊池 こころ | Kikuchi Kokoro |
| Kawaki | Yuma Uchida | 内田 雄馬 | Uchida Yūma |
| Iwabee Yuino | Shinya Hamazoe | 浜添 伸也 | Hamazoe Shin'ya |
| Denki Kaminarimon | Chihiro Ikki | 一木 千洋 | Ikki Chihiro |
| Wasabi Izuno | Natsumi Yamada | 山田 奈都美 | Yamada Natsumi |
| Tsubaki Kurogane | Juri Nagatsuma | 長妻 樹里 | Nagatsuma Juri |
