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Hotarubi (蛍火) is a member of the Iga Tsubagakure clan who is one of the ten ninja picked by Ogen to participate in the battle against the Kōga Manjidani clan and the fiancée of fellow Iga ninja, Yashamaru.

Appearance[]

Hotarubi.full

Hotarubi's full body and facial expressions

Hotarubi is a petite and slender young woman with straight upper-back length dark-colored hair that has medium-length hair strands draping to just below her shoulders with a small part of her hair tied into a ponytail on the right side while she has square bangs hanging over her eyebrows and her eyes are a deep purple color.

She wears a long, purple kimono tied with a dark pink sash.

Hotarubi is reminiscent of the traditional Japanese beauty whereas Oboro is the large-eyed innocent, Okoi the sassy tomboy and Akeginu and Kagerō (and even Ogen during her youth) representing the concept of the sensual femme-fatale (an attractive and seductive woman, especially one who is likely to cause distress or disaster to a man who becomes involved with her).

Hotarubi Assassin

Hotarubi's Second Outfit

Later, when Hotarubi was ordered by Tenzen Yakushiji to track down the Kōga Manjidani clan, she ties all her hair back into a ponytail with a red ribbon while still keeping the small ponytail tied on the right side and she changes her outfit as she now wears a purple kosode and purple hakama where she tucks into her pink tabi socks. She also wears pink armbands and a pink sash around her waist, into which she slips her tantō.

Personality[]

Hotarubi puts on a very serious and no-nonsense front when with other members of the Iga Tsubagakure clan, but she is rather different when alone with Yashamaru, appearing to be quite innocent and slightly child-like with her jealous temper tantrums. Although she shares her clan's hatred for the Kōga Manjidani clan, Hotarubi's prime concern is for her lover Yashamaru, another member of the Iga Ten. Her devotion to him is so great that even the suggestion that he's come to harm is enough to send her into a feral rage. After learning of Yashamaru's murder, Hotarubi devotes herself to the war between Iga and Kōga completely, seeking the chance for revenge at any cost.

Although she shares her clan's hatred for the Kōga, Hotarubi's prime concern is for her lover Yashamaru, another member of the Iga ten. Her devotion to him is so great that even the suggestion that he's come to harm is enough to send her into reactions that range from a mere evil stare (like when Nenki Mino makes a bad joke about it) to a feral rage (when Shougen refuses to tell her if Yashamaru is alive or not, and she brutally stabs him to death). Like most of the Iga, Hotarubi considers Oboro to be a completely useless leader and defers to Tenzen Yakushiji's orders. In the anime, this may be tied to slight jealousy since Yashamaru once teased her for not being sweet and feminine like Oboro and a comically offended Hotarubi threw a childish tantrum at him.

Like most of the Iga, Hotarubi considers Oboro to be completely useless despite her position as the clan's next leader, and defers to Yakushiji Tenzen's orders. In the anime, this may be tied to slight jealousy, since Yashamaru once teased her for not being sweet and feminine like Oboro and Hotarubi almost threw a childish tantrum at him.

Biography[]

Before the War[]

Hotarubi is seen with Yashamaru in an anime only flashback where the pair are standing alone on a secluded mountain and when Hotarubi reminds him that he should be off performing patrol duties he replies he would much rather spend the time with her. She smiles and the two go to kiss, but oblivious to Hotarubi, Yashamaru sees her pet Viper watching him from the grass. Feeling uncomfortable, he turns away and tells her that it wasn't a good day for it, heading back to his duties. Confused, Hotarubi chases after him.

In another flashback, he is seen with the rest of the Iga Tsubagakure clan huddled in a group talking before they hear a noise from the room next door so they slide it open slightly and peer inside. The group catches sight of Ogen fixing her make-up and is so shocked they fall forward into Ogen's room, breaking the doors in the process.

Battle with Shougen[]

Iga Find Scroll

The Iga Ninjas read the Scroll

Hotarubi is first seen accompanied by Akeginu, Nenki Mino and Jingorō Amayo when they appear to escort Oboro back to Iga Tsubagakure after her day out with Gennosuke Kōga. The group is interrupted by the arrival of Jōsuke Udono, followed closely by Rōsai Azuki. Rōsai informs the Iga that the scroll Jōsuke is carrying belongs to them and tells them to take it. Gennosuke interrupts and tells Jōsuke to give it back before a fight breaks out. Jōsuke hands over the scroll and the Iga, minus Oboro, huddle round to read it in private. The group are shocked to learn Hattori Hanzo's peace treaty had been broken, but begin to laugh amongst each other after the shock wears off, having decided to trap Gennosuke and Jōsuke in Tsubagakure. When Oboro asks what the scroll says Jingorō lies and says the peace treaty is still strong. Nenki suggests Oboro should take Gennosuke to Iga to which she agrees. Jōsuke refuses at first but Akeginu manages to convince him and the group sets out for Iga. The remaining ninjas then head out to find Tenzen Yakushiji.

When Tenzen reads the scroll, he is quick to realizes Shōgen Kazamachi will be carrying a similar scroll back to Kōga Manjidani. Concerned, Hotarubi asks Tenzen about Yashamaru and he tells her that he should return to Tsubagakure by that night or the next day at the latest, although Hotarubi still looks worried. Tenzen sends Jingorō back to Iga before heading out after Shougen. Hotarubi follows along with Nenki, Rōsai and Koshirō Chikuma, trying to put her worries to the back of her mind. Soon after departing, the group comes across a palanquin and Koshirō kills the carriers when Tenzen notices that it belongs to a Kōga ninja. The group surround the palanquin and remove the top, discovering Jūbei Jimushi inside. The group are stunned by his appearance and Hotarubi gulps anxiously, but Tenzen decides he will kill Jimushi alone and sends the other Iga on ahead.

Hotarubi Butterfly

Hotarubi summons her Butterflies

Later that night, the group finds Shōgen and leap down on him from the trees, completely surrounding him. Surprised, Shōgen jumps on to a tree, confused about how the Iga had learned about the war so quickly. The Iga rush to attack him, but he begins spraying out long streams of sticky saliva. Hotarubi manages to avoid it all, despite falling in the process, but is shocked to find the other three trapped within a web when she looks up. As Shōgen begins to threaten Rōsai, Hotarubi summons her butterflies which then swarm around Shōgen. With Shōgen distracted, she throws Koshirō's dropped sickle to Nenki who uses his hair to stab it into Shōgen's forehead. As he falls, Shōgen throws the scroll into the bushes where Jimushi catches it and speeds away with the other three ninjas giving chase. Left alone with Shōgen, Hotarubi pulls a knife to his throat and demands to know if Yashamaru is safe. Shōgen doesn't answer and instead spits on Hotarubi's face, which sends her into a rage as she stabs him over and over again while screaming at him to answer her question, blood splashing onto her cheek.

Having calmed down, Hotarubi catches up with the other three who have been joined by Tenzen. As Hotarubi approaches the group Tenzen, standing next to Jimushi's body, asks what happened with Shōgen, to which Hotarubi replies 'I have disposed of him.' The group then burn the Kouga's scroll, believing there to be no need in having an identical scroll, before deciding to anbush the Kōga in Manjidani.

Attack on the Kouga[]

Hotarubi Snake

Hotarubi fights the Kōga Ninjas

The next day, the Iga Tsubagakure group arrives at Kōga Manjidani, looking down at the village from the surrounding mountains. Hotarubi notices how quiet it is and voices her fears, but Tenzen Yakushiji tells her not to worry as they have the excuse of being messengers for Gennosuke Kōga. They head into the village and discuss the possibility of being able to kill the remaining ninja on the scroll. Suddenly, Koshirō Chikuma senses a presence and Rōsai Azuki is dragged to the wall. The group look on, puzzled, as Rōsai tries to free himself from the wall. When he does he says the wall spoke and told him that the walls have ears. Suddenly, they realize that they are surrounded by hundreds of ninjas, so Tenzen tries to explain they are messengers for Gennosuke. The voice from the wall calls him a liar, explaining that they had come from the North and that what they had said to each other earlier was suspicious. Tenzen realizes he has been caught out and tells the others to attack. In the manga Hotarubi summons a swarm of butterflies to attack upon Tenzen's request while in the anime she uses her speed and grace, which enabled her to quickly kill several enemy ninja while her snake fatally bit any who managed to counter her attack.

Hyōma Muroga then appears with Kagerō, Saemon Kisaragi and Gyōbu Kasumi, who had emerged from the wall. Hyōma describes the scene as madness and demands to know why the Iga attacked. Tenzen shows him a shuriken embedded in his sword and says that they had only acted in self-defense. He then throws the shuriken at Hyōma, but it is blocked by Kagerō. Tenzen warns them not to try and get revenge as they will kill Gennosuke if that happens. Hotarubi then summons a large swarm of butterflies, to which the five ninjas disappear.

Return to Iga[]

The group then begins to make their way back to Iga Tsubagakure, but Tenzen Yakushiji suddenly stops before ordering the others to hide. The group hides in the bushes and watches as a girl appears and stops at the river. Hotarubi identifies her as Okoi and the group decides to take her to Iga with them. The group surrounds her and Tenzen tells her that they had just came from Kōga Manjidani and that they had been attacked there while trying to deliver the message that Gennosuke Kōga was at Tsubagakure. He tries to convince Okoi to go with him and see Gennosuke, but she refuses and leaps into the trees, saying that she wants to find out what really happened in Manjidani. Nenki Mino gives chase and manages to knock her unconscious as Hotarubi watches from a tree branch and they then take the unconscious Okoi to Iga.

Hotarubi Search

Hotarubi waits for Yashamaru

When they return that night, Tenzen, Koshirō Chikuma, Nenki and Rōsai Azuki go to meet Jingorō Amayo and Akeginu to discuss what has happened in the time since they parted. Hotarubi doesn't attend this meeting and instead stands on a clifftop in the rain, sending out her butterflies to look for Yashamaru. Soon enough, a single butterfly returns to her, and before touching it, Yashamaru appears where he grasps her hand and pulls her forward and the two gaze at each other as they hold hands. Just before Hotarubi leans into the embrace, Yashamaru vanishes and Hotarubi falls to the muddy ground. Confused and concerned, Hotarubi holds herself brokenly in the rain.

Hotarubi Hug

Hotarubi hugs Yashamaru upon his return

Some time later, she notices someone sneaking up on her and she attacks, throwing three kunais at the intruder. He avoids and as he does so Hotarubi realizes it's Yashamaru. She quickly runs over and hugs him, telling how glad she is he's safe. As she hugs him her viper attacks, biting Yashamaru on the finger. Reacting quickly, she grabs the viper and throws it against a tree before sucking the poison out of his finger. He asks why she had attacked him and she explained it was the short hair that confused her before angrily blaming it on Danjō Kōga or Shōgen Kazamachi. She then laughs and tells him that Danjō is dead and that she had killed Shōgen with her bare hands. She then tells him about the girl they captured and looks annoyed when he asks to see her, but he quickly explains that it's just to ask her a few questions. Hotarubi agrees and leads him down to the salt shed where Okoi was being kept.

Hotarubi Scream

Hotarubi realizes that Saemon is disguised as Yashamaru

When Hotarubi arrives with Yashamaru, they find Okoi dead with a naked Nenki sitting nearby. When Nenki hears that Hotarubi's snake had bitten Yashamaru, he calls her scary, which seems to annoy Hotarubi. He then asks if it was because she had 'made herself a girl', which earned him an angry glare. Yashamaru then asks to speak with Oboro, but Hotarubi tells him that she is speaking with Tenzen. She comforts Yashamaru while Nenki rants about Tenzen and then finds Rōsai's body in the corner. She calls over Nenki and they both look at Rōsai's body while Yashamru walks towards the door with the scroll. They are then interrupted by the arrival of Oboro who looks directly at Yashamaru when she enters the room. Suddenly, Yashamaru doubles over in pain and Hotarubi runs to comfort him, but screams in horror when he looks up, seeing that it is really Saemon Kisaragi in disguise. Nenki goes to attack Saemon with his hair, but Saemon knocks salt in his eye, causing him to fall back and becomes entangled with Hotarubi. When Hotarubi gets back up, she demands to know the whereabouts of Saemon and chases after the recently-appeared Gyōbu Kasumi with the others. When Gyōbu disappears, the group quickly heads to Gennosuke's room, but finds him holding the scroll while surrounded by Saemon and Gyōbu. Hotarubi watches as Gennosuke uses his skill to force the ninjas who attack him to commit suicide and steps aside when he tries to leave. Koshirō then attempts to stop him but, due to Oboro using her eyes on him instead of Gennosuke, he has his technique used upon himself, destroying both of his eyes in the process.

After Gennosuke has left, the Iga meet in a room to hear about Koshirō. Akeginu enters and announces to them all that Koshirō will live, but he will be permanently blinded. Tenzen then begins to shout at Oboro for her actions and when he says Yashamaru, along with Ogen and Rōsai, is probably dead and Hotarubi seems to struggle to hold back tears. Oboro then blinds herself with the "Seven Days of Darkness" medicine, much to the disgust of Hotarubi and the others. A messenger then arrives to drop off a box, which contains the scroll inside and a letter from Gennosuke where it says that Gennosuke and the others shall be travelling to Sunpu and that if the Iga have the guts, they should rush after them to have a fair fight. Tenzen then sends Hotarubi and Nenki after them to find their location and to report back immediately, warning them not to act rashly.

Assassination on Gennosuke[]

Hotarubi and Nenki Mino, now wearing a different ninja outfit, are seen running through the rain to catch up with Gennosuke Kōga and the others. The pair eventually reach the Tokaido Route and spot an inn where they know that the Kōga are staying in. They climb up onto the roof of the building opposite and scout out Gennosuke's room, preparing for their plan. Hotarubi places a capsule of the "Seven Days of Darkness" medicine inside her viper and sends it into Gennosuke's room. The snake pounces on Gennosuke while he is talking with Kagerō, but he reacts quickly and manages to cut the viper's head off. However, as it dies, it spits the medicine into Gennosuke's eyes, sealing them shut for seven days.

Hotarubi and her swarm of butterflies

Hotarubi summons her butterflies

Back on the roof, Nenki praises Hotarubi where he is glad that the viper she controlled had done the job. However, he notices that Gyōbu Kasumi was missing from the inn and fears he has gone to ambush Oboro. He sends Hotarubi back to warn them and tells her he can handle it when she asks if he'll be OK. He asks Hotarubi to release a swarm of butterflies as she leaves, hoping to distract those protecting Gennosuke. Hotarubi agrees to the idea and runs off along the rooftops with a trail off butterflies following, luring both Saemon and Kagerō away from Gennosuke. However, as she runs away, Saemon throws a kunai that stabs directly into her left thigh. As Saemon follows onto the roof, Hotarubi sends an army of butterflies into his face, distracting him while she turns back. However, she kept her butterflies going in the same direction, luring Saemon and Kagerō away from her.

Hotarubi injured

Hotarubi struggles to make it back to her clan

Despite using a strip of cloth torn from her ninja uniform as a makeshift bandage, the pain and blood loss from Hotarubi's wound severely weakens her as she attempts to make her way back to the other Iga; revenge for Yashamaru being the only thing keeping her going until she comes across a canyon with a broken bridge. As Hotarubi ponders how to cross, Nenki appears out of the dark and tells her that he has successfully killed all the Kouga except for Saemon. But when he reveals that Saemon was the one who killed Yashamaru, Hotarubi furiously admonishes him for his failure, but ultimately decides that it was preferable as fate has granted her the chance to seek revenge for her lover's death.

Hotarubi's illusion of Yashamaru

Hotarubi's illusion of Yashamaru

As Hotarubi swears she'll find and kill Saemon no matter what appearance he takes, she notices a bandage wrapped around Nenki's finger and remembers how she had sucked the poison from Saemon when her snake bit him during his infiltration of Tsubagakure disguised as Yashamaru. Hotarubi looks up and her face in shock and horror as Nenki slowly begins to turn into Saemon before lunging for her. Hotarubi leaps back to avoid his reach and spin kicks him away as she attempts to summon another butterfly swarm, but fails as her hands suddenly comes flying off her forearms; Saemon had seized her tantō during their scuffle and amputated her forearms with her own weapon before plunging the blade into her chest. Hotarubi leans against a rock and silently curses Saemon for all he has done to her and Yashamaru. And then suddenly, an image of her dead lover appears before her and Hotarubi reaches for Yashamaru's apparent ghost, pitifully calling his name again and again in the hope he will take her with him into the afterlife. As Saemon realizes she is hallucinating himself as Yashamaru, he silently nods as a relieved and smiling Hotarubi falls over the cliff and into the canyon below.

Two butterflies fluttering into the sky together

Two of Hotarubi's butterflies parting into the sky together

At the moment of her death, thousands of glowing pink butterflies rise out of the canyon before Saemon's eyes illuminate the night sky until only two are left; a male and female that dance and flutter around each other as they ascended into the clouds together. This is likely meant to symbolize the spirits of Yashamaru and Hotarubi together in death.

Abilities[]

In combat, Hotarubi summons swarms of glowing pink butterflies that can overwhelm and distract her opponents, allowing her to either strike a lethal blow through their dropped defenses with her tantō or escape to safety. She also maintains a spiritual link with her pet viper who acts as her bodyguard and scout. In the anime, Hotarubi summons and controls her butterflies through a barely audible chant that varies depending on the situation.

Spirit Viper: Hotarubi possesses a spiritual link with her pet viper, reminiscent of Ogen and her relationship with her hawk. The viper is nearly always by Hotarubi's side and acts as her bodyguard and scout, constantly watching over her. It often coils itself round Hotarubi's neck or hides in her sleeve and has the ability to see through Saemon Kisaragi's disguises. It is killed by Gennosuke Kōga when it is sent to seal his eyes closed.

Butterfly Summoning: Hotarubi is able to summon a large swarm of butterflies by making a specific hand seal and using a barely audible chant (only in the anime). The glowing pink butterflies overwhelms and distract her opponents, allowing her to either strike a lethal blow through their dropped defenses with her tantō or escape to safety before they can react.

Tantōjutsu: Hotarubi's main offensive weapon is her small tantō, which she keeps concealed within her kimono. She is able to wield it with deadly skill and precision, shown when she slices through many of the Kōga Manjidani ninjas that ambush her and the others.

Relationships[]

Yashamaru[]

Hotarubi is engaged to Yashamaru and cares for him deeply, putting thoughts of his safety above all else. The two are very close and Hotarubi tends to act different when around him. When she thinks he may be in danger, she snaps and is capable of resorting to extreme violence.

Upon hearing of his death, she completely devotes herself to getting revenge.

Saemon Kisaragi[]

Hotarubi first meets Saemon when he disguises himself as Yashamaru and infiltrates Iga Tsubagakure. Upon realizing he had tricked her, Hotarubi develops a large hatred for Saemon, which grows when she learns it was him who killed Yashamaru.

Oboro[]

Like most of the Iga Tsubagakure people, Hotarubi considers Oboro to be completely useless despite her position as the clan's next leader and defers to Tenzen Yakushiji's orders.

In the anime, this may be tied to slight jealousy since Yashamaru once teased her for not being sweet and feminine like Oboro and Hotarubi almost threw a childish tantrum at him.

Nenki Mino[]

Although Hotarubi respects Nenki greatly, always referring to him as Nenki-dono (-dono is a Japanese suffix indicating high regard), she doesn't take his jokes with a good sense of humor. When he suggests that Yashamaru was fooling around with another woman that temporarily shocks her, she threatens him with an unpleasant glare, even to the point she pulls out a knife and has it at the cleft of his chin.

Appearance in other Media[]

Hotarubi Movie

Erika Sawajiri as Hotarubi

Hotarubi appears in the 2005 film Shinobi: Heart Under Blade, which is based on the same source material as Basilisk. Played by Erika Sawajiri, Hotarubi appeared in the live action movie with some differences, such as not being romantically involved with Yashamaru and lacking her viper. While still able to summon her butterflies she did so via a yellow powder which she spread on her fingers and the butterflies themselves were changed to being orange in color. As she played a role similar to the one Akeginu had in the original manga and anime, Hotarubi was overly protective of her leader Oboro whom she stated was the most precious thing to her, even going so far as sacrificing her own life by acting as a human shield when the Kouga Koshirou ambushed them.

Differences Between the Manga, Anime, and Novel Versions[]

  • In the manga, Hotarubi's butterfly swarms don't glow and appear to be comprised of several different species. She's also capable of summoning other types of insects as proved by the trail she left following her and Nenki Mino's sneak attack at the inn where the remaining Kōga Ten were staying.
  • Within the novel, Hotarubi's abilities far outshine those in the manga and anime as she is able to commune with any insects and reptiles surrounding her. Additionally, her snake rests on top of her head rather than coiling around her neck. Also, when Saemon Kisaragi infiltrates Iga Tsubagakure, their small meeting never happens so the snake bite never occurred. Upon seeing Okoi near death in the salt shed, Saemon yawns and sits down for a bit, claiming that he was tired from his run from Sunpu while he comforts his sister in her final moments. When he is again disguised, this time as Nenki, Hotarubi is able to see through his disguise because, unlike Nenki, Saemon's arms weren't hairy.

Quotes[]

  • (To Saemon Kisaragi, disguised as Yashamaru) "It really is you. I knew it....I knew you'd be alive...I never gave up hope...you came back to me...you're alive."
  • (To Saemon, disguised as Yashamaru) "And as for Shougen, I think you'll be proud of me. I killed him myself; no mercy spared. I killed him...for you my love.
  • (To Saemon) "Who are you to give me orders, you disgusting, filthy Kouga?"
  • (Directed towards the Kōga Manjidani ninjas) "I will never forgive them."
  • (Upon her death) "Let me go...go with you...Yashamaru-dono."

Etymology[]

  • The name Hotarubi means "fireworks, light of a firefly/firefly light" (蛍火), which reflects the fact that her Animal Motifs is Butterflies.

Trivia[]

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