Tools

Sheltered in a derelict building, Sarada treats Konohamaru's wounds with healing foam as he credits Katasuke's invention. Mitsuki judges that Ao has broken off pursuit for now, and Sarada wants to withdraw the moment Konohamaru can move. Still shaken by Mugino's death, Boruto is reassured by Konohamaru about the man's resolve, and the group weighs why someone like Ao would throw in with Kara and just how lethal he is. Since Ao means to silence them for probing the empty container, Konohamaru puts delivering the intel to Konoha first and offers to act as a decoy, over the genin's objections that he is spent. Katasuke volunteers in his place, confessing that under genjutsu he gave up details on the scientific ninja tools and feels answerable for every misuse, Mugino's murder included.

Boruto admits he once believed such tools should never exist, but watching their good in his lab changed his thinking, and he wants to stop Ao's abuse so others will not condemn the technology out of ignorance. He talks Konohamaru out of the decoy plan. At Kara's base, Code and Delta trade barbs as each accuses the other of being the traitor Jigen suspects among the Inners, until Amado breaks in to lay out his search; the two note that Boro and Koji both skipped maintenance and wonder where Koji has gone. Koji, in fact, is pressing Ao on his loyalty, which Ao affirms. The Leaf shinobi plot to exploit the jutsu absorption arm Ao stole, luring him to absorb their attacks and open a blind spot now that he lacks a Byakugan. Boruto powers up a chakra blade but faints from the drain; when he comes to, Katasuke has retooled their spare absorption arm for him, and they set out to beat Ao with the tools used properly.

Episode 185 of the Boruto anime belongs to the Ao Arc and adapts chapters 20 and 21. It aired in Japan on February 7, 2021, and in English on September 6, 2022, with the opening "BAKU" and the ending "Answers."