However, by the time Naruto and the others returned to the Tsuchigumo village, everything had already ended. But Hotaru had not been taken away; Utakata had saved her once again.
Naruto and the others did not know that. They thought Hotaru had been captured by those coveting the Tsuchigumo Clan's forbidden technique.
From the villagers who had betrayed Hotaru, Sasuke "asked" about Hotaru's general whereabouts...
At a time like this, no one cared about rules against using Genjutsu on ordinary people. In truth, while such a rule existed, it merely prohibited ninja from using Genjutsu for evil.
Having learned what had happened, Naruto immediately followed the traces to track her down...
Meanwhile, Hotaru was sleeping while hidden within Utakata's bubbles, and Utakata had not gone far. He placed Hotaru in an open clearing and prepared to leave.
He was a wanted man himself. How could he protect someone else when he could barely look after himself? Besides, Utakata did not believe in the bond between master and disciple at all.
After all, he himself was...
"Are you leaving?" Hotaru woke up as she emerged from the bubble.
Hearing her question, Utakata stopped walking. After a long pause, he asked, "What do you plan to do from now on?"
"I want to take you as my master and learn Ninjutsu. I want to protect our Tsuchigumo Clan's forbidden technique..." A flash of joy passed through Hotaru's eyes as she hurriedly spoke.
Just as the two were talking, a thick fog suddenly rolled in. Utakata's expression changed slightly at the sight, and he quickly raised his blowpipe to produce bubbles.
But unfortunately, before the bubbles could appear, the drizzle falling from the sky completely disrupted Utakata's plans.
And that was not all... Masked Hidden Mist Anbu appeared and directly took Hotaru