Way out at the back of Tsuchigumo Village, its clan long ever since been freed from the Magaki Group's mind control, literally standing her black shinobi toeless-boots upon a body of water is the lovely Hotaru. Granddaughter of the Tsuchigumo Clan's very own former leader himself, En no Gyōja! First thing this morning, especially upon the village's chief and inhabitants welcoming her back with open arms, the kunoichi figured to pass the time honing her Water Release jutsu by many hand seal gestures. Her personal preference of chakra control and techniques out of the five nature transformations, anyway...

Just mainly, a place came from Hotaru's duty to remain not just making her late grandfather proud, but also honor none other than Utakata. Kirigakura's missing-nin and the jinchūriki of the Six-Tails that, to his hesitance, guided Hotaru through everything he knew. Someone whom the Tsuchigumo Clan's kunoichi remains to miss day after day once he had left to seek Tsurugi and his men. Only to so mysteriously not return back to her ever since, despite his promise vowed.