‘Boruto Naruto Next Generations’ episode 3 review: Shikadai demonstrates strategising abilities against Metal

“Boruto Naruto Next Generation” episode 3 has introduced new characters in the series. The episode reveals Metal Lee, son of Rock Lee, and an unknown female Shinobi, through a shuriken training exercise in the Ninja Academy.

Spoiler Alert! Shikadai Nara and Inojin Yamanaka first show off their accuracy by perfectly throwing their shuriken and hitting the center target. Metal goes next and assumes a dragon pose before throwing two shuriken. Both hit the mark. Shikadai and Inojin acknowledge him, but it appears Metal is not used to getting much attention.

Metal throws a third shuriken. It does not hit the target, revealing that he cannot perform while people are watching him. Boruto Uzumaki then appears with the Demon Wind Shuriken he took from Iwabe Yuino’s locker, then throws it toward the wooden target.

Metal is in front of the said target so he plans to use Leaf Hurricane to deflect the Demon Wind Shuriken. He becomes nervous as everyone’s eyes are on him. He misses the giant shuriken and gets his feet stuck in the huge hole in the middle. It sends him flying with the shuriken, hitting the wooden target.

Shino Aburame then assigns Boruto with class representative Sumire Kakehi, Metal, Shikadai, Inojin and Iwabe to fix the face of Naruto at the Hokage Rock. This, one might remember, was the one that Boruto destroyed in the first episode.

In the middle of fixing Naruto’s face, Metal gets nervous after Shikadai tells him that his part is the only one unfinished. Metal accidentally destroys the face, leaving more work for them to do the next day. Shikadai then tells Metal some harsh words that affect him.

The next day, Shikadai plans to apologize to Metal. Before he does, Boruto and Inojin approach him, with Boruto’s unique eye technique activated and seeing the same dark aura emitting from Denki.

Metal then jumps to the other side of the Academy gate where he first attacked Shikadai, who follows first then eventually challenges all three students. Shikadai, Boruto and Inojin first run from Metal, and upon reaching the training yard, Shikadai comes up with a strategy that prevents Metal from truly going wild.

'Boruto Naruto Next Generations:' Shikada's intelligence, Denki's absence and Boruto's eye

The episode not only introduced Metal, who inherited the taijutsu skills of his father, but also Shikadai’s knowledge and his ability to come up with great strategies. It appears that Shikadai inherited both the intelligence of his parents. Unlike Shikamaru, it appears that he possesses the will of his mother.

One noticeable thing in “Boruto Naruto Next Generation” episode 3 is the absence of Denki. The episode does not explain why he was not present at all during the shuriken training exercise, considering he was introduced in episode one. This also hints that Boruto’s eye technique might have something to do with Byakugan.