Spoiler warning: this article discusses events from Boruto anime episodes 167 and 168.
The anime-original Hashirama cells arc ended badly for Team 7. Boruto Naruto Next Generations Episode 168 deals with the aftermath, focusing less on battles and more on the people around Boruto and Sarada.
Where Things Stood
The mission to recover Hashirama’s cells failed. Kara’s Victor and Deepa escaped with the cells, and Boruto and Sarada were left badly injured after their fight with Deepa. Mitsuki abandoned the mission to save his teammates’ lives, getting them away from danger so they could receive medical care.
Episode 168 Spoilers
- The journey home: Konohamaru and Mugino bring the unconscious Boruto and Sarada back to the Hidden Leaf, carrying them most of the way.
- Emergency treatment: because the field hospital lacked the equipment to treat them fully, Konohamaru hands them over to Sakura. Sakura and Shizune use their medical ninjutsu to stabilise both genin.
- A worried father: Naruto is shaken when he hears about his son’s condition, but he comforts Hinata and Himawari, reassuring them that Boruto will recover.
- Looking ahead: Konohamaru briefs the Hokage on what happened, raising serious concerns about Kara and its hidden members.
Why This Episode Matters
Episodes like this give the Boruto anime room to breathe. They show the emotional cost of missions, the strength of family bonds, and Naruto’s struggle to balance his duties as Hokage with being a father. They also strengthen the motivation for Boruto and Sarada to get stronger.
Release Date and Where to Watch
Episode 168 aired in Japan on Sunday, 4 October 2020, as part of the show’s weekly Sunday schedule. You can watch Boruto: Naruto Next Generations officially on Crunchyroll in many regions.
About the Series
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations is the sequel to Naruto. It follows Naruto’s son Boruto Uzumaki as he trains as a ninja and faces new threats, including the mysterious organisation Kara and the Otsutsuki clan.
