After parting ways with Team Kakashi, Hotaru returns to her village, only to find it under threat by the Magaki Troops. Utakata, despite his reluctance to be called a "master" due to his own dark past, steps in to protect her.
In a moment of vulnerability, Hotaru reveals a shocking secret: her grandfather literally into her body, leaving a visible seal or scarring on her back. Utakata is horrified by this treatment, further fueling his resentment toward the master-student dynamic. The Conflict with Hidden Mist Hunter-Nin
The situation escalates when Hidden Mist hunter-nin arrive, led by a character bearing a striking resemblance to Haku. They reveal that who allegedly murdered his own master. Using a specialized mist technique to neutralize Utakata’s bubble ninjutsu, they take Hotaru hostage and force him to surrender. Key Plot Points
: Just as Utakata is restrained and Hotaru is in peril, Naruto arrives with a powerful Rasengan , joined by Yamato and Sai to turn the tide of the battle.
In , titled "The Successor's Wish," the story centers on the deepening bond between the rogue ninja Utakata and his persistent "student," Hotaru, as they are hunted for a dangerous forbidden jutsu. The Secret of the Forbidden Jutsu