"The Legend of the Monster Cat" (化け猫伝説, Bakeneko Densetsu) is episode 224 of the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations anime.
Synopsis[]
Iwabee fires himself up, feeling that becoming a chūnin will take him closer to becoming Hokage. His team-mates support him. Wasabi isn't as boisterous, which her team-mates notice and comment on. Wasabi's parents arrive, already celebrating her promotion, flustering her. Wasabi's grandmother joins them, expressing pride in Wasabi representing their clan. She believes that Wasabi becoming chūnin at her age, a first for their clan, will be a great accomplishment, Wasabi's parents echoing her and confident that Wasabi can become Hokage. Wasabi's grandmother hands her a scroll she left at home, a jutsu passed down their clan that channels a monster cat. Wasabi points out her match is about to begin, and asks them to return to their seats. Wasabi is exasperated after they leave, thinking that the jutsu is something her grandmother dreamed up. She explains that only a few of her clansmen became chūnin, only after becoming adults themselves, and adds she's never met a jōnin from her clan. Tsubaki is surprised to hear it, but Namida relates to her. Wasabi wants to make her clan proud, but their expectations weight on her. The match begins, Iwabee noticing her low energy, and her finding he can't understand how she feels. Iwabee strikes first, attempting to crush her, but she dodges him, activates her jutsu, and counterattacks. Sarada and Chōchō are joined in the stands by Shinki, Araya, and Yodo, who were told by Gaara to come watch. They confirm they've been chūnin for a while, and comment the Konoha genin are taking their time in doing the same. Shinki notices Kawaki yawning at the stands. Iwabee notices Wasabi's parents cheering on her, which embarrasses her, and she confesses that while she wants to be a great shinobi, becoming Hokage isn't her goal, just something her family assumed and expects of her. That angers Iwabee, who holds the Hokage in the highest regard. Wasabi tells him that for ordinary shinobi like them, becoming Hokage is an unrealistic fantasy. She realises she's yelling and that her family heard her, her mother covering her grandmother's ears. Iwabee notices she dropped a scroll, and she explains the supposed jutsu, though she doubts it's legitimate. She recalls her grandmother telling her about the jutsu, each time aggrandising it. She believes that if such a jutsu existed, she could never use it because of the limits of what she can do. Iwabee agrees with her, find her so afraid of other's expectations she doesn't dare to dream big. He asks if she'll dream big if she sees a cat as big as a mountain, like her grandmother told her, and uses his Earth Release to create one. He tells her she can't do it because she already believes it's impossible. He collapses from using too much chakra, and the head of the cat he created breaks off, threatening to crush him. Wasabi successfully uses her clan's jutsu to destroy the cat head and protect Iwabee. Her family is moved by her use of the jutsu. Konohamaru declares to match over, pointing out Iwabee can no longer stand. Wasabi wants a proper victory, but Iwabee himself says he can no longer fight. Naruto comments on how unusual the match was, and Shikamaru comments it reminds him of Naruto and Kiba. Wasabi's family cries of joy. Boruto and Mitsuki discover where Amado and his captors are. Konohamaru draws the names for the next match, Sarada and Chōchō, both shocked by it.
Credits[]
| Role | Seiyū | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Japanese | Rōmaji | |
| Wasabi Izuno | Natsumi Yamada | 山田 奈都美 | Yamada Natsumi |
| Iwabee Yuino | Shinya Hamazoe | 浜添 伸也 | Hamazoe Shin'ya |
| Namida Suzumeno | Sara Matsumoto | 松本 沙羅 | Matsumoto Sara |
| Tsubaki Kurogane | Juri Nagatsuma | 長妻 樹里 | Nagatsuma Juri |
| Denki Kaminarimon | Chihiro Ikki | 一木 千洋 | Ikki Chihiro |
| Metal Lee | Ryo Nishitani | 西谷 亮 | Nishitani Ryō |
| Naruto Uzumaki | Junko Takeuchi | 竹内 順子 | Takeuchi Junko |
| Shikamaru Nara | Shotaro Morikubo | 森久保 祥太郎 | Morikubo Shōtarō |
| Konohamaru Sarutobi | Hidenori Takahashi | 高橋 英則 | Takahashi Hidenori |
| Amagi Izuno | Rikako Aikawa | 愛河 里花子 | Aikawa Rikako |
| Daruma Izuno | Taketora | 武虎 | Taketora |
| Mazuma Izuno | Risako Murai | 村井 理沙子 | Murai Risako |
| 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 |
| Chōchō Akimichi | Ryoko Shiraishi | 白石 涼子 | Shiraishi Ryōko |
| Shinki | Yuto Uemura | 上村 祐翔 | Uemura Yūto |
| Yodo | Aoi Inase | いなせ あおい | Inase Aoi |
| Araya | Junji Iki | 井木 順二 | Iki Junji |
