Boruto: Naruto Next Generations 1×236 Review – “Cut and Run”

Boruto anime episode 236, titled ‘Cut and Run’, had the current cast divide into a bunch of groups to handle different situations created by the Funato Clan. Also, yes to Salad using Genjutsu!

With the Funato Clan continuing to cause trouble in the Land of Water, I’m quite interested in seeing how the climax will pan out. Isari, Araumi, and Tenma (who was introduced in this episode) do look like formidable villains. Not only do all three appear strong, but, as far as I can tell, they are also smart. The plan they came up with to seize power in the Land of Water did prove to be quite effective.

Of course, our young heroes will stop the Funato Clan in the upcoming episodes, but until then, I’m enjoying seeing the stakes being raised. Fingers crossed that we get some well-choreographed fight sequences when our young ninjas confront Araumi and his two sons.

‘Cut and Run’ jumped around a lot. After meeting up with Denki’s team, Salad and Mitsuki worked together to save the hostages on Dotou island. Denki, Iwabe, and Metal Lee went to the harbor to take control of a Funato Clan’s transport ship to help the hostages get off the island. While Boruto, Kawaki, and Buntan infiltrated Tenma’s gigantic water fortress.

Now, one would think that a single episode trying to handle three plotlines would have pacing issues. However, in my opinion, the writers took care of everything quite well. Every plotline was given a suitable amount of screen time.

Talking about Salad and Mitsuki, I liked seeing the two working together without Boruto. And the way Salad used Genjutsu to defeat the head of the pirate group on Dotou island made me smile. I love it when Salad uses Genjutsu on her opponents. I want her to use more of it instead of always deciding to punch her enemies.

My only gripe about Salad and Mitsuki’s rescue mission would be how the two didn’t tie up their opponents after knocking them out. These young ninjas were in a life-or-death situation. The least they could have done was quickly tie up their defeated opponents if they weren’t willing to kill them. I guess we could chalk that up to plot convenience because the head of the pirate group had to lead his small army to the transport ship later on? Hmmm.

Coming to the transport ship, I liked how excited (and a bit worried) Denki’s team was about handling a possible S-rank mission for the first time. Denki really came through near the end of the episode while trying to override the ship’s controls. Running out of time made him change his approach. And while he got hurt in the process, at least he was able to help the hostages.

I do feel that their victory will be short-lived, though. The transport ship’s quite massive and other members of the Funato Clan should catch up to it soon enough. Not to mention, the Funato Clan also had a powerful scientific ninja weapon that could be used to blow up the ship from a distance.

With Denki steering the ship toward the rendezvous point to meet up with Kagura, I think it will fall on Boruto, Kawaki, and Buntan to do something about the weapon, inside the fortress, before it’s used to harm the ship.

Boruto’s dynamic with Buntan was handled well, too. Boruto clearly didn’t trust her, but he had no choice but to work with her because that’s what Kagura wanted. Kawaki being the one to relate to Buntan’s personality made sense. Similar to Kawaki, Buntan had also grown up in a world where weakness wasn’t an option.

However, she was trying to change herself. She was also trying to do the right thing by helping Kagura in return for her sentence to be shortened (think Suicide Squad). The least Boruto could do was cut her some slack.

As for Tenma being introduced in ‘Cut and Run’, I think he made for an interesting villain. He’s supposed it be quite strong (show, don’t tell, Boruto anime!). Also, I liked how the writers made him different from the type of villains we usually get when Clan dynamics are involved. Instead of having Tenma be someone who wants to overthrow his father Araumi and sideline his brother Isari to gain control of the Funato Clan, he’s loyal to them.

The danger’s far from over for our heroes. I’m looking forward to seeing what will happen next!

What did you think of ‘Cut and Run’?

Let us know.

Author: Farid-ul-Haq

Farid has a Double Masters in Psychology and Biotechnology as well as an M.Phil in Molecular Genetics. He is the author of numerous books including Missing in Somerville, and The Game Master of Somerville. He gives us insight into comics, books, TV shows, anime/manga, video games, and movies.

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