Decision Time

As Boruto, Shinki, and the sealed Shukaku near the Land of Fire, Urashiki cuts them off. Shinki cannot believe the enemy broke through Gaara's seal or tracked Shukaku past the chakra-suppressing kettle, until Urashiki reveals he has been watching through his puppets and now bears a Byakugan. Boiling over Urashiki's boast about stealing Temari and Shikadai's chakra, Boruto is reined in by Shinki, who insists they stay level-headed with neither Sasuke nor Gaara around to help.

Shinki asks Boruto to stall while he readies a plan, and the two combine shadow clones, feints, and Iron Sand to trap Urashiki with a puppet seal before fleeing, leaving Third Eyes behind to track him. Because Urashiki's Byakugan makes the direct route too dangerous, they detour to Gojō, who owns a transmitter, only to find his home already attacked and the device destroyed. Studying a map, they settle on a plan to use both paths, with Boruto acting as a shadow-clone decoy carrying a fake kettle across the bridge Urashiki watches, buying time for Shinki and Shukaku to take the hidden long route.

Urashiki ambushes Boruto at the bridge, sending debris crashing into the river below, which Shinki notices from the longer path as Shukaku speaks to him about regret. In another dimension, Sasuke's chakra slowly refills, giving him just enough to attempt a return. The episode is part of the One-Tail Escort arc and pairs the opening Golden Time with the ending The Incomplete Lights.