The Hand

Code, idling on his own, calls Delta, and the two trade jabs about recovering the vessel until Amado shows up to reveal that Victor betrayed them and has died. Meanwhile, Katasuke leads Team 7 to a research facility run by one of his juniors. They find Nue loose on the grounds, but Akita Inuzuka pins the creature using the Shadow Imitation Technique channeled through a Shinobi Gauntlet. Team 7 are startled to see both Nue and Sumire there, and Sumire describes her work learning to coexist with Nue as part of the research team. Despite Katasuke stressing that intent governs how the tools are used, Boruto stays skeptical of scientific ninja tools.

The mission has Team 7 trial various tools, and Boruto even enjoys some of them. While Sumire treats an injury he picks up testing one device, she shares her goal of building something to keep Nue under control so she can serve the village, and reveals she will move back to Konoha to become Katasuke's assistant. Boruto reads a plaque bearing Katasuke's creed that science should support others, and befriends Akita's ninken Chamaru, noticing its prosthetic leg. Katasuke demonstrates a prototype chakra blade, but its heavy chakra cost quickly drains Boruto, who concedes the tools have a place in aiding the village.

At Kara's headquarters, Amado services Delta and Code as they keep bickering, and the group suspects Boro may have taken the vessel before he reports in. Naruto tells Boruto that contact has been lost with Konohamaru and Mugino and sends his nearby team to check on them, troubled that two capable jōnin have gone silent and wondering whether Kara is involved. Sai and Shikamaru share the concern. Amado presents Jigen with scans of the other Inners to root out the traitor, while Code watches them in secret.

The episode is part of the Ao arc and adapts material from chapter 18 of the manga. It advances both the mystery of the missing jōnin and the internal treachery brewing among Kara's Inners.