Episode 88 marks the first major anime-original (filler- canon hybrid) fight involving an Otsutsuki outside the Momoshiki arc, bridging the manga’s Kāma lore with the anime’s expanded storyline. The English dub retains the intense battle soundtrack and emotional weight of Boruto’s growing burden.
In the English sub, Boruto’s journey from prodigy to underdog is clear. In the dub, Miller captures the nuance of a boy who realizes that natural talent isn’t enough. Episode 88 is where Boruto starts fighting like a real ninja—using strategy and sacrifice rather than cheating devices (like his old Scientific Ninja Tool).
If you enjoyed the intensity of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations - Dub - Episode 88, you are in for a treat. The next few dubbed episodes (89, 90, and the famous Episode 91) feature the climax of the Deepa fight and the introduction of Kashin Koji—a Kara member with ties to Jiraiya. Boruto- Naruto Next Generations -Dub- Episode 88
The dub continues to improve, with the voice actors settling into their roles. By Episode 98 (Sub: 178), the arc concludes with a major spoiler that will change Team 7 forever.
Warning: Mild spoilers for Episode 88 below. Episode 88 marks the first major anime-original (filler-
The English dub of Episode 88: "Clash of the Vessels" opens with the members of Team 7 recuperating in a remote hideout. The voice acting here is notably somber. Amanda C. Miller (Boruto) delivers a raw, defeated performance that contrasts sharply with the character’s usual cockiness. You can hear the frustration in Boruto’s voice as he realizes that his Rasengan, which once defeated a god (Momoshiki), is useless against Deepa’s carbon armor.
Meanwhile, Cherami Leigh (Sarada) and Robbie Daymond (Mitsuki) provide grounded, tactical support. Sarada, using her Sharingan, analyzes the previous fight and concludes that their attacks lack the necessary piercing power. Mitsuki, ever the quiet observer, suggests a dangerous solution: Boruto must create a new, more concentrated form of the Rasengan. In the dub, Miller captures the nuance of
This episode (and the arc in general) does a great job of keeping the Scientific Ninja Tools relevant without making them feel like an automatic "I Win" button. Boruto is forced to use his tool, but he has to be clever about it. It creates a balance between the modern tech of the Boruto era and the traditional jutsu we know and love, making the fight feel earned rather than manufactured.