Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Episode 231 -

: Some viewers noted the irony of Wasabi leading the team as a Chūnin while Tsubaki, who clearly possessed superior combat skills and the resolve to finish a life-or-death fight, remained a Genin. Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Episode 231 - Anime Review

With encouragement from her teammates, particularly her captain Wasabi, Tsubaki regains her resolve. She realizes she does not have to carry her guilt alone and successfully utilizes her to defeat and ultimately kill Sazanka. Key Characters and Voice Cast Japanese Voice Actor (Seiyū) English Voice Actor Tsubaki Kurogane Juri Nagatsuma Erica Mendez Wasabi Izuno Natsumi Yamada Cassandra Lee Morris Namida Suzumeno Sara Matsumoto Tara Sands Sazanka Chado Horii Ryan Colt Levy Mifune Katsumi Cho Sources: Reception and Analysis Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Episode 231

Team 15 sets a trap to lure the bandits. When they finally confront Sazanka, Tsubaki suffers a mental breakdown, her hands shaking as she struggles to draw her sword against the man she once respected. Sazanka taunts her, claiming he has grown stronger by soaking his blade in blood. : Some viewers noted the irony of Wasabi

The episode begins with Team 15—composed of , Namida Suzumeno , and Tsubaki Kurogane —being tasked to investigate a series of violent robberies targeting traveling merchants. At a hospital, a traumatized victim reacts with fear to the sound of Tsubaki's sword, suggesting the attacker was a samurai. Key Characters and Voice Cast Japanese Voice Actor

Upon investigating the crime scene, Tsubaki discovers precisely cut bamboo, a signature style she recognizes as belonging to , her former senior and rival from the Land of Iron. Sazanka was once a prodigious samurai who abandoned his path after losing to Tsubaki in a tournament where the prize was rumored to be Mifune's legendary sword, Kurosawa . Devastated by the loss, Sazanka attempted to steal the blade, killing several fellow students before fleeing to live as a rogue. The Climactic Battle

: Critics praised the episode for exploring samurai lore and providing Tsubaki with much-needed depth beyond her usual "fish out of water" trope in the Hidden Leaf.