Boruto - 122

Boruto Episode 122 , titled , is a pivotal entry in the One Tails Escort Mission Arc . The episode focuses on the escalating conflict between the young shinobi and the Otsutsuki puppets as they attempt to transport Shukaku to Konoha. Episode Summary

On paper, he is a Sasori-lite. In execution, however, the episode cleverly avoids the trap of imitation. Kankitsu’s puppets aren’t humanoid masterpieces; they are rugged, utilitarian, and animalistic (a scorpion tail, a spider-like trap). The choreography is rough, scrappy, and refreshingly low-tier. Unlike Sasori’s hundred puppets or the later Otsutsuki dimensional warping, this fight feels like a ninja fight again. Boruto can’t spam Rasengan or vanishing tricks; he has to think, dodge, and use wire strings of his own.

The heart of the episode takes place inside a classroom where Shikadai Nara is protecting Kakeru. Kakeru, terrified and overwhelmed by the guilt of potentially causing a war between nations, begins to waver on his decision to defect. He considers giving himself up to the assassins to save others the trouble.

The episode’s true strength lies in its protagonist. Modern Boruto (the manga/anime) often struggles to balance the character’s privilege with his growth. Here, Boruto faces a foe who is essentially a mirror: a talented young shinobi who lost his mentor and blames the entire system. boruto 122

Shikadai, true to his nature as a pragmatic yet deeply loyal shinobi, refuses to let Kakeru take the easy way out. He uses his Shadow Possession Jutsu not to fight enemies, but to restrain Kakeru, forcing him to listen. Shikadai delivers the episode's core message: a decision made out of fear is not a decision at all.

The episode is not flawless. The premise—a stolen scroll containing a “forbidden puppet technique”—is a MacGuffin so generic it hurts. Tanigakure’s worldbuilding consists of exactly one cliff and one house. And Konohamaru, the team’s jonin leader, does absolutely nothing except look worried, continuing the series’ unfortunate trend of sidelining interesting adult characters.

In the sprawling, high-stakes world of Boruto , where gods and cyborgs now dictate the power ceiling, Episode 122, “The Puppet Battle,” is a curious anomaly. On its surface, it is a filler-lite detour: Team 7 (minus Sarada) arrives in the hidden village of Tanigakure—the "Village of the Meteor Hammer"—to retrieve a stolen scroll and encounters a rogue puppet user named Kankitsu. Boruto Episode 122 , titled , is a

were mixed, with some praising the tactical elements of puppet combat and others finding the pacing of the escort mission arc a bit slow. Boruto Anime Review - Episode 122

Following the previous episode's setup, Kankuro stays behind to fend off Urashiki Otsutsuki’s puppets, allowing Boruto, Shinki, and Shukaku to continue their mission.

In a franchise increasingly obsessed with scale, “The Puppet Battle” is a humble reminder that the best ninja stories are often the smallest ones. It’s not about saving the world. It’s about knowing when to cut the strings. In execution, however, the episode cleverly avoids the

Episode 122 serves as the emotional climax to the short "One-Time Mission" arc. The episode centers on , a young ninja from the Land of Silence who has fled to the Hidden Leaf Village to seek asylum. He is being pursued by deadly assassins from his homeland who intend to silence him before he can defect.

Kankuro, a seasoned puppet master, faces off against high-level Otsutsuki puppets. Despite his skill, he is eventually overwhelmed by their numbers and power. In a desperate final move, Kankuro triggers a massive explosion by self-destructing his own puppets to take out the enemy, seemingly sacrificing himself in the process.

As of , fans are eagerly anticipating the return of the anime, which has been on hiatus since episode 293. Speculation points to a potential return between late 2026 and early 2027 to adapt the Two Blue Vortex storyline.