Melee!

Tosaka admits the tranquilliser that dropped the group was stolen from Jugo. As Sasami and Momo trigger their cursed seals to face Karin with Sarada and Team 15, Tosaka warns Boruto and Suigetsu that no rescue is coming, confessing the entire mission was a fabrication; he signed on only after the operatives he first dispatched were caught at the border. His real prize is Jugo's cursed seal, from which he means to forge the ultimate weapon, and he twists Boruto's own words about dreams to excuse it. Slyly liquefying an arm while Tosaka's attention drifts, Suigetsu lunges to release Jugo but is shocked down by Land of Rivers researchers first. To show off, Tosaka drives a special serum into Jugo.

Using a water clone, Sumire lures Momo out and strikes him from range, but he flings debris through her water barrier and mocks her divided focus before daring her to summon. Her Nue answers small, drained by her low chakra. Sarada cautions Karin that a single bite from Sasami implants a cursed seal, and hunts the foe with her Sharingan, while Namida lands an improved Calling on Tears strike and Wasabi piles on with Cat Covering. When Sasami still fells Sarada, Karin binds the attacker with chakra chains and urges Sarada to sink her teeth in for healing, revealing that Sakura once rescued her and asking that the debt be reported as settled. Directed to Sasami's next strike, Sarada connects fully and shatters the cursed-seal collar.

Jugo's slow change is sparked by Tosaka's serum, since he means to watch the beast reach its peak, waving off Boruto's caution that no one nearby, himself included, will be spared. Mitsuki relays this to Konohamaru, who skips regrouping and heads downriver toward the researchers' boat, hoping to find a cure. After Momo overwhelms Namida and Wasabi, Sumire shields them with another water clone and reluctantly lets Nue drain their chakra to swell back to full size; the restored beast, with Sumire's help, downs Momo and cracks his collar, though she halts it before it drains him dry. When the remaining researchers move to kill Jugo, Tosaka strikes them down with his own cursed seal. Nearing the village, Sarada spots the coming dawn and alters course, fearing the migrating geese will carry the infection. Boruto, free to move again, starts loosing Jugo's bonds; Tosaka tries to intervene, only for Suigetsu's swollen arm to block him before he tasers Suigetsu once more. Urging Boruto to run, Jugo tears loose as the transformation takes hold.