"Our Fathers' Example" (父の背中, Chichi no Senaka) is episode 178 of the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations anime.
Synopsis[]
In the Nara household, Shikadai is surprised to see his father home. His parents remind him that today is a day of remembrance for those who died in the Fourth Shinobi World War. Many Konoha citizens gather at the cemetery, where Tsunade acts as speaker. She stresses how the peace they have today is due to those who lost their lives in the war, and that while the new generations don't know war, they should be told of what those who do learned from it. Ao goes to Katasuke's lab to ask for maintenance of his prosthetic arm, but Katasuke isn't in today. Mugino sees Ao and approaches him. Tsunade continues to address the crowd, who take turns offering flowers to the deceased. Ino and Shikamaru think back and talk about the last transmission they got from their fathers during the war, their last words. They wonder if some day they'll have to set the example and entrust the next generation to carry on. Later, Mugino takes Ao to the cemetery, and learns about his relationship to Katasuke. At Mugino's suggestion, Ao honours the deceased, and recalls his own survival. He spent years in a coma, and upon waking up, he learned of the deaths of so many friends, and went through arduous rehabilitation with Katasuke. He laments the fact he isn't as strong as he used to be before his injuries, and has retired from being a shinobi. He thanks Mugino for bringing him there to grieve. Shikamaru and Ino recognise and approach Ao, greeting him. Mugino is surprised to learn specifically who Ao is. Shikamaru asks Ao if his father truly believed his strategy to stop the Ten-Tails would work. Ao confesses he had doubts, and asked Shikaku and Inoichi the same. They said they were proud of their children and had faith in them. Shikamaru and Ino are moved. Ao leaves. At Temari's behest, Shikadai goes looking for his father. Shikamaru decides to take Shikadai to eat out, like they used to after training. He wonders if Shikadai is learning from looking at him as well. At night, Ao catches a leaf blowing in the wind with his prosthetic hand.
Credits[]
| Role | Seiyū | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Japanese | Rōmaji | |
| Shikamaru Nara | Shotaro Morikubo | 森久保 祥太郎 | Morikubo Shōtarō |
| Shikadai Nara | Kensho Ono | 小野 賢章 | Ono Kenshō |
| Temari Nara | Romi Park | 朴 璐美 | Paku Romi |
| Shikaku Nara | Hiroshi Yanaka | 家中 宏 | Yanaka Hiroshi |
| Ino Yamanaka | Ryoka Yuzuki | 柚木 涼香 | Yuzuki Ryōka |
| Inoichi Yamanaka | Daiki Nakamura | 中村 大樹 | Nakamura Daiki |
| Ao | Tadahisa Saizen | 西前 忠久 | Saizen Tadahisa |
| Mugino | Jun Kasama | 笠間 淳 | Kasama Jun |
| Tsunade | Masako Katsuki | 勝生 真沙子 | Katsuki Masako |
