WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Episode 172, "A Signature of Fear," now streaming on Crunchyroll.
In Naruto, it's hard to dispute the title character wasn't the biggest prankster and, at times, the most annoying person in Konoha. He made life a living hell for many citizens as they shunned him because of the Nine Tails Fox possessing him.
However, now that he's the Hokage, this mantle has been passed down to someone other than his son, surprisingly. And episode 172 of Boruto, this young shinobi literally has his life saved thanks to a key item from Orochimaru.
Boruto does get on people's nerves at times, but he doesn't set out to annoy them like his dad did. Now, it's Nattou, making ketchup and mustard bombs and such to spray down Team 5 -- Iwabee, Denki and Metal Lee -- as they visit Boruto following his last session with Kakashi. He's upgraded his Rasengan after losing to Deepa, but it's taken a toll on his body. But rather than find him awake, they encounter Nattou, who's someone they pretty much all want to punch.
But when a nurse reveals why he is the way he is, the ninja are sympathetic. Apparently, there's a life-altering surgery he needs to have, but doesn't want to. Instead, he's going around the hospital, pulling pranks on visitors and staff, acting out because he doesn't want to face the inevitable. Iwabee thinks he's being miserable, though, because the surgery will save his life. So Team 5 stages an intervention. The stubborn Nattou doesn't believe in resilience and thinks it's idealistic drama, instead asking them to get him an autograph for his shinobi card collection.
Specifically, he wants Orochimaru's because he thinks the Sannin is one of the best ninja ever. Beyond that, he thinks Team 5 are cowards and could learn a thing or two from the likes of Orochimaru. Little does Nattou know that he was a former villain who did terrible things. Eventually, Iwabee's ego is dented so they learn of Orochimaru's secret location and head to the lab which, as expected, is a shop of horrors.
While they're scared, Orochimaru actually treats them hospitably. Iwabee wonders if they're being buttered up to be sacrificed, but the tyrant gives them his signature. In fact, Orochimaru thinks that the card downplays his strengths, so he heads off thinking he did his job. He's just glad to know Team 5 also asked about Mitsuki's health, which means his clone is doing a good job winning over friends.
It's a chilling experience but Team 5 are glad to know they succeeded, going into the belly of the beast without pissing him off. Iwabee eventually presents the card to Nattou but, rather than gloat about how they were brave and got the job done easily, he tells him they were scared but that's what life is about. It's about facing one's fears and overcoming hurdles, whether they're painful or not, which inspires Nattou to have the procedure and save his own life.
