In the final days of the Hotaka Empire, Kaito was sealed into a temple that resided in modern-day Uzushiogakure. The kingdom has reached its farthest ever but this also became its downfall. Between outside invasion of smaller civilizations, poor communication between city-states, and civil unrest, the Hotaka Empire could do nothing but crumble from the inside. This made its borders recede, leaving all city-states outside of them to any fate that befell them. The modern-day Land of Whirlpools began to be colonized by the once great Uzumaki Clan. The village they built prospered and enjoyed many years of great stability.