Prior to the events of the Tsuchigumo Kinjutsu Arc, Utakata promised himself to never use the Six-Tails' power and trained with his master Harusame. Eventually, Utakata would come to claim that Harusame betrayed him, almost taking his life, for the tailed beast's power. According to a member of Kirigakure's ANBU, his master did not, in fact, betray him, but was actually trying to extract the Six-Tails from Utakata. The process didn't go as planned, and instead of removing the tailed beast, Harusame forced Utakata's transformation into the Six-Tails and was killed by it. With only fragmented memories of the incident and the impression of betrayal, Utakata grew disillusioned and skeptical of the relationship between a master and student. He became a wanderer, constantly fighting off people who were after him, particularly the Hunter-nin sent from Kirigakure to retrieve him.
One day, he was attacked again. A girl named Hotaru, who happened to be there, assumed the assailants were after her. Utakata managed to fend of his attackers, but was injured in the process. Believing that Utakata had saved her, Hotaru took him to her family's fort for treatment. After he recovered, Hotaru begged him to train her in his ninjutsu, but Utakata adamantly refused, not wanting to become anyone's master.
Personality Edit
Kishimoto described Utakata as "charming". In the anime's Tsuchigumo Kinjutsu Arc, Utakata's character is given a bit more depth. Utakata is usually depicted with a stoic, emotionless look, though more carefree than cold. Preferring solitude, he is not particularly talkative. Although, if the sensitive subject of student-master relationships is brought up, it typically manages to rouse his annoyance and anger. Hotaru is often on the receiving end of Utakata's ire on this matter as she constantly nags him to be her "master" (師匠, shishō). As a result of his complicated relationship with his late master, he utterly despises the word, having remarked that he isn't foolish enough to ever take on the title.
In one instance, he said, "I told you not to call me master", to Hotaru as he floated away in a bubble jutsu. Hotaru's unyielding attachment and reverence to Utakata flusters him. Despite Utakata's genuine protective feelings for Hotaru, they are hard for him to acknowledge and express due to his nomadic nature and scarring past, though he acts on them if ever Hotaru is in danger. Utakata also has a strong sense of honour, often determined to repay his debts to others (like his assuming a guardian role to Hotaru since she and Tonbee saved him). Like Naruto, Utakata has resolved not to rely on his tailed beast for power, aware of the destruction it may cause, an indicator of his maturity. Tonbee has also commented that Utakata lacked "greed".
Appearance Edit
Utakata during his time in Kirigakure.
Utakata is a tall, thin, young man with pale golden eyes and dark brown hair that reaches the base of his neck. His side partition lets a large portion of his bangs cover the left side of his face. He wears a long, light blue kimono adorned with a small emblem of three bubbles on the back below the collar, and an orange sash. He carries a bamboo jug, filled with a soap solution, and a pipe.
During his time at Kirigakure, Utakata was dressed as a typical Kirigakure ninja, similar to that of Zabuza Momochi. He wore his forehead protector on his forehead and his all grey ninja uniform included the distinctive grey flak jacket of Kirigakure ninja, with the variation of having a zipper and a pouch on the upper right chest.
