Inojin vs Houki (いのじん対ホウキ, Inojin tai Houki) is the 223rd episode of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.
Summary[]
Boruto and Mitsuki sit together reaffirming themselves becoming Chunin when they're approached by a concerned Himawari. Konohamaru, Shikamaru, and Sai discuss the set up for the Chunin Exam and praise each other for their contributions to setting up the event. Himawari tells Boruto that Ehou Norimaki and Yuina pursued a group of suspicious men when they were training earlier and she herself returned to find help. Boruto and Mitsuki follow Himawari to the Ehou and Yuina's location, and see the men shoving Amado into a train that immediately departs. They jump onto the train, telling the kids not to pursue.
At the Chunin Exam arena, all contestants are waiting for the first match's participants to be announced. Sarada is concerned that Boruto and Mitsuki have not arrived yet, worried that they will forfeit their match and lose their chance to become Chunin. The first match's participants are revealed: Inojin Yamanka and Hōki Taketori. The participants prepare for their match with their respective teammates and remark on each other's connections to Sai Yamanaka: Inojin being Sai's son, and Houki being under Sai's command in Anbu. Meanwhile, Boruto and Mitsuki continue to proceed up to the train's first car.
Inojin and Houki begin their match. Inojin immediately attacks with his Super Beast Scroll, creating several small drawing to bombard Houki and distract him while a larger drawing prepares to hit him from above. Houki counters with an Earth style jutsu, that spans the entire arena with tall rock pillars and obscures both opponents fields of view. While Inojin struggles to locate Houki, Houki begins covering the ground of the entire maze-like arena in order to memorize each nook and cranny. Then, he begins to close in on Inojin. He fires several kunai at Inojin, some of which he's able to evade, but is hit and injured his leg and shoulder. Having no ability to locate Houki and fight on the ground, Inojin creates a bird and flies upward. A move that Houki predicts, Houki destroys the bird with an Earth style pillar, causing Inojin to fall out of the sky. While falling, Inojin creates several small birds as he did at the beginning of the match to attack Houki, and takes the opportunity to hide.
Low on chakra, Inojin deduces that his only option left is to use the Mind Transfer Jutsu to force Houki into conceding, but laments that he needs to be right in front of Houki to use it. Houki tries to goad Inojin into forfeiting, citing his low chakra: the goad doesn't work. Houki continues running around the area until he spots a stray paint mark, and Inojin's shadow nearby. He attacks from above, but Inojin is able to trap him with the Mind Transfer Jutsu. Transporting himself into Houki's subconscious, he explains he predicted how Houki would move and tells him he'll win as soon as he takes over Houki's mind. Houki's subconscious manifestation starts to turn into a grotesque giant slimy monster, eating Inojin and pushing Inojin out of his mind. Houki is able to gain the upper hand on Inojin and wins the match. Sai, Team 10, and Team 25 join Inojin and Houki in the area and Sai reveals what jutsu Houki used: an Anbu jutsu meant to repel mental invasions. Team 25 had been pushed to their limits under Sai's leadership, learning advanced techniques.
After clearing all of the rocks out of the area, the next match's competitors are announced: Iwabee Yuino and Wasabi Izuno. Boruto and Mitsuki have still yet to show up. They finally made their way up the train, but upon breaking into the car, find no one inside. The train continues to drive through a forested area, away from any nearby station.