Kotori

Kotori's mother was an herbalist whose lover left her once he learned of her pregnancy. Despite growing up without a father, Kotori and her mother lived peacefully on their own and were quite content with their simple lives. Her mother taught her everything she knew about different medicinal and poisonous plants, hoping she would use these skills to survive one day. Kotori often assisted her mother with her work and loved being able to help others by creating different balms and other medicines. She was, however, a very curious child and liked experimenting with different ingredients. She was eventually able to create not only salves, balms and tonics but small bombs and highly potent poisons as well.

Their peaceful days were shattered when bandits attacked and captured them along with the other women in the village. She was separated from her mother and was hauled off to an auction house. However, Kotori, along with a handful of children, were saved when Lord Matsuda's men attacked the caravan on their way there. They were taken back and were given the chance to serve the Matsuda Household. The young Lord Matsuda learned of Kotori's knowledge in herbalism and had her trained to be a shinobi together with the few children who showed potential.