Hanzō Hattori

Hanzō Hattori (服部 半蔵, Hattori Hanzō) is known in modern times to be one of Ieyasu's famous retainers. In fictional mediums, he is commonly portrayed as the leader of the Iga ninja rather than the historically accurate general.

Gamecity's Sengoku Musou 3: Empires character popularity poll lists his Samurai Warriors counterpart as thirty-first place out of forty characters. For the Samurai Warriors 4 poll, he is forty-fourth place.

The Nobunaga no Yabou 201X poll for 4-star officers puts him in forty-fifth place.

Role in Games
"If I can't have Zhou Tai, then you're a handy replacement."
 * Sun Quan; Warriors Orochi

Samurai Warriors
Hanzō is a stoic enigma who desires for his master to rule. By Ieyasu's side at Okehazama, his master desires to leave Yoshimoto and asks Hanzō to assassinate him before Nobunaga. By taking Narumi Castle and eliminating the other Imagawa generals, Hanzō's efforts leads to Ieyasu's independence. After stopping Shingen's march at Mikatagahara, Mitsuhide threatens his lord's life and Hanzō is asked to guide Ieyasu safely through Iga. They escape yet Hideyoshi rules the land after avenging Nobunaga's death. Contending for the right and suspicious of the Sanada's support, Ieyasu asks Hanzō to secretly infiltrate Ueda Castle for information.

If he is spotted by the Sanada troops, Hanzō will fail his mission and will have to fight his way out. Seeing that their hand was played, Ieyasu is unable to prevent talks between the Toyotomi and Sanada. Forced to kill Hideyoshi at Osaka, Hanzō heads alone to finish the job. As he reaches the top, he is trapped between Yukimura and Hideyoshi. Cutting the family line short with Hideyoshi's death, Hanzō continues working for his master's rule.

Should the shinobi succeed his mission at Ueda, he steals the secret scroll between the Toyotomi-Sanada coalition before Yukimura can stop him. Placing their rivals at a disadvantage, their scheme is foiled and the attack is called off. Time passes and Hideyoshi dies of illness. His successor, Hideyori, and Yukimura continue to defy the Tokugawa reign at Ōsaka Castle. Infiltrating Sandamaru and routing the Toyotomi generals, Hanzō continues the chase for Hideyori's head inside the castle. After slaying Hideyori's doubles, Kunoichi, and several other Toyotomi loyalists, he meets Yukimura in the main keep. Yukimura informs him that Hideyori has already committed suicide yet he refuses to lay down his arms. To end the "last samurai" of the age, Hanzō kills him in combat. With his role in the turbulent age finished, Hanzō disappears.

Hanzō is described as the leader of the Iga ninja in Samurai Warriors 2. Called "Devil Hanzō", he aids his lord at Anegawa by attacking the Asakura main camp from the back road. As they returned home, they learned of Shingen's march towards the capital that endangered Mikawa. Though Ieyasu tried to drive the conqueror back, he is outmaneuvered at Mikatagahara and asked by his vassals to run for his life. During the escape, Hanzō can use the ninja path to defeat Masatoyo Naitō in the south. Following Mikatagahara, he assists the end of the Takeda by helping his lord at Nagashino. Power shifts into Hideyoshi's hands after he avenges Nobunaga years later.

During the shinobi's version of Komaki-Nagakute, Ieyasu is surrounded at the ally rampart by an enemy ambush and Nene appears to endanger Nobukatsu Oda at Kiyosu Castle. Hanzō can take the ninja path to quickly save his lord as no defensive generals appear to guard the gates. Although defeated, Hideyoshi uses his diplomatic skills to convince many of Ieyasu's allies to join him. Determined to take power by force, Ieyasu allies with the Hōjō and has Hanzō infiltrate Ōsaka Castle. Though technically on the same side for siege, Kotarō's only interest is to compete his skills against Hanzō. As he enters the main keep, Kotarō defects to fight both Nene and Hanzō at once. After defeating the ninja, Hanzō takes Hideyoshi's life for Ieyasu.

In his dream mode, Hanzō participates in the first siege of Ueda Castle. Unlike the normal version of the stage, he spots the spy unit early and can prevent the water attack from happening. Kotarō threatens Ieyasu's safety with his doubles so Hanzō is given the task of hunting him down.

In Samurai Warriors: Katana, Hanzō first appears during the Swordsman scenario as an assassin sent to kill Hideyori inside Ōsaka Castle. He is forced to abandon his mission when the protagonist defeats him in battle. The ninja becomes a persistent adversary in the Stealth scenario after the Fūma clan arbitrarily invade Mikawa. Hanzō's failure to impede the player with poison gas forces him to take a more direct approach; their duel results in the shinobi's death.

Samurai Warriors 3 has him start by saving his master at Iga and being assisted in his covert operations by Nene. He additionally rescues Nene from Kotarō and opens the path for his lord by defeating Motochika. Unwilling to let his prey escape, Kotarō and his doubles appear a second time on the field. After they escape, tensions between Hideyoshi and Ieyasu eventually rise at Komaki-Nagakute. Hanzō is asked during the battle to open the path forward from his position in the east and rout Kiyomasa. As Nene appears to threaten Ieyasu's march, she notes that suddenly being enemies with him is a sad state of affairs, even though they are both working to see a beautiful world of peace. Hanzō dismisses her claims for valuing anything beyond her duty, but she promises that he'll one day see the truth behind her words. Winning the conflict, Ieyasu agrees to realize his vision together with Hideyoshi.

After breaking through the Sanada's defenses at Ueda Castle with his abilities, Hideyoshi orders the siege of Odawara Castle. Once again allies, he saves Nene from Kotarō during her failed night infiltration. While on the field of battle, Hanzō sneaks into the eastern path and opens the gates for the army. Kotarō challenges their invasion with his doubles and Hanzō is given the task of stopping them. Nene cheers him on so that the end of the wars can be realized. After Hideyoshi dies of illness, however, Ieyasu rises to power and establishes his shogunate. The remaining Toyotomi loyalists gather at Osaka Castle with Nene acting as the figure leader of the conflict. Ieyasu, regretfully knowing that she will fight for Hideyoshi's vision until her end, states that she needs to be dealt with for the new era of peace. Seeing her precious "children" fall to the Tokugawa army, a dispirited Nene faces Hanzō to join them and her husband. Playing a flute to calm her last moments, Hanzō lives his days in the peace that Nene had wanted him to see.

Ieyasu's story route in Sengoku Musou 3: Empires has Hanzō aid his lord's renewed ambition by gathering information to neutralize the Toyotomi loyalists. He also thwarts Sakon's assassination attempt on Ieyasu and is later present in the scenario's ending where the Tokugawa set off fireworks to celebrate their new reign.

Hanzō continues to serve Ieyasu in Samurai Warriors 4, swearing with Tadakatsu to always support their lord through any adversity. He assists the Tokugawa forces at Okehazama, Kakegawa Castle, Tōtōmi, Anegawa, Mikatagahara, Nagashino, Komaki-Nagakute, and Ueda Castle. During these battles, Hanzō tries to hide his failing health and fools everyone except for Munenori. His experiences with the Takeda forces taught him that Yukimura is a valid threat to Ieyasu's future success. In spite of his lord's order to spare the youth, Hanzō prefers for his death. Therefore, he privately seeks to assassinate Yukimura during his exile in Kudoyama. When Hanzō is mere striking distance of his unsuspecting target, the shinobi suddenly succumbs to his mortal illness and perishes unnoticed.

The 4-II Clash of Wills story has Hanzō act as the interpreter for Naomasa and Tadakatsu's exchanges to a baffled Ina. He remarks that their banter shouldn't raise cause for concern. He assists Takatora in the first downloadable scenario and Kotarō in the third. Hanzō personally seeks to free Ieyasu and Tadakatsu from the spell's control during the latter. As he chases his lord to restore him to his senses, Hanzō is clearly surprised by Ieyasu's unexpected swiftness. Hanzō acts like a dog when he is placed under the same spell after the battle.

In Spirit of Sanada, Hanzo plays a larger importance in the game acting as a mentor to Sasuke Sarutobi throughout the story. His first chronological appearance would be as a persistent enemy during the Mikawa campaign. In the battle of Mikatagahara, he and some ninjas try to ambush Shingen from the east flank but are fought off by Kunoichi and some Sanada ninjas. He then appears much later in the game at Iga, where he tells Sasuke of the importance to loyalty before the battle and he and Sasuke then spirit Ieyasu to safety from the Saika army, along with peasant militia and Akechi officers as well.

He then appears in the struggle at Tensho-Jingo and Komaki-Nagakute, acting as a shield for his lord. However, after the Kai province conflicts, Hanzo sends Sasuke to the Sanada as a double agent, in order to weaken their grip on the province. Thanks to Sasuke's advice, the province nearly falls but Masayuki Sanada and Yukimura manage to repel Ieyasu's forces in a desperate stand at Ueda Castle and other Sanada strongholds.

After the Toyotomi forces the Tokugawa and Sanada to make peace, they are both forced to join thd multiple campaigns on several Hojo castles including Shimoda and Oshi. The Tokugawa are entrusted to take a castle of the Hojo which Hanzo, along with other loyal retainers such as Naomasa and Tadakatsu take part in, and Hanzo also assists Sasuke and the Sanada in a siege led by Toshiie Maeda as well. After these campaigns, Hideyoshi's death leads the land into turmoil again and starts the Sekigahara campaign.

During the buildup to these events, Hidetada Tokugawa plans a second siege of Ueda and Hanzo recalls Sasuke to join the Tokugawa. However, Kunoichi catches him discreetly in the middle of the night, and despite his fraud being revealed, Sasuke is forgiven and decides to fight loyally for the Sanada during the second campaign at Ueda. In these campaigns, he declares his loyalty and Hanzo's lessons citing that a shinobi must have loyalty, which angers Hanzo, who now retorts that Sasuke means nothing to him and Hanzo fights as a general of the Eastern Army.

After the battle, Hanzo is not seen again in the Tokugawa hierachy presumably having passed away. However, at the Winter Osaka campaign, Hanzo appears to launch a night raid at Sasuke and other Toyotomi loyalists imploring him to stand down and return to the Tokugawa. He then appears again in the summer campaign before Tennoji, acting independently, after the Tokugawa army have scattered to duel Sasuke and ultimately ends up killing him, causing him to shed tears afterwards and mourn his protege's death. He vanishes and is not seen again.

Warriors Orochi
During Orochi's scenario, Hanzō is one of Ieyasu's defenders at Edo Castle. He implements a ninja ambush within the castle halls and serves as one of the final guards for his lord against the Orochi army. When they suffer defeat, Hanzō follows his lord into the serpent king's service.

He continues to stay beside his lord in both games of the series. In Warriors Orochi, he helps Sun Ce later in the Wu story by covertly sabotaging Sun Jian and Sun Quan's public execution by the Orochi Army. During Warriors Orochi 2, Hanzō assists Wei Yan's fire attack and the two find respect in each other. During the course of the series, his devotion earns Sun Quan's trust.

Hanzō shares his dream stage with two other men who are close to their lords, Xu Zhu and Huang Gai. They work together to rescue Gracia from a large army. When the young maiden returns with reinforcements, Ieyasu praises his vassal's hard work. In Musou OROCHI Z, he additionally teams up with Kotarō and Nene to rescue his lord from Edo Castle.

Like other titles in the series, Hanzō is a steadfast vassal for Ieyasu in Warriors Orochi 3. He defends Yangping Gate in the past and, after hearing Guan Yu's explanation, joins the coalition. He later helps defend Ieyasu at Chengdu and uses his intelligence to locate and rescue Pang Tong at Komaki-Nagakute. During the path leading to the good ending, Hanzō joins the assault against Susano'o's army and infiltrates the main camp, attacking Susano'o personally and delaying him long enough allowing players to reach his camp, which is an impressive feat considering that Susano'o has quickly routed the likes of Keiji Maeda.

Hanzō appears in the downloadable stage, "Ninjas United", where he joins Yoshitsune's ninja army and fights the demon army.

Pokémon Conquest
Hanzō acts as a silent retainer for Viperia in Pokémon Conquest. His reasons for joining Nene are not explained within the main story, nor his whereabouts after their defeat to the protagonist.

In his special episode, Hanzō is forced into a competition between himself, Nene, Kunoichi, and Kotarō. While he derides the contest as a waste of time, as a ninja's sole duty is to protect his lord, he does not pass up the opportunity to teach the other three a lesson.

Kessen
Although he is dead in the first Kessen (as the focus takes place after his death), his legacy continues in a young kunoichi named Okatsu. In the third game, he is a recruitable unit for Nobunaga's army if he is beaten at Ikeda. He is still a ninja and isn't affiliated with the Tokugawa clan. He leads the best ninja unit in the game.

Nobunaga's Ambition
Nobunyaga no Yabou has Hanzō act as one of the main stars in the Ninja no Gunzo scenario. He is one of Sandayu Momochi's disciples and one of Goemon's childhood friends. Early within the narrative, Momochi orders his students to leave Iga and challenge famous ninja hidden throughout the land. Hanzō decides to head towards the southeastern regions so as to stay near Ieyasu. He spies on the Hōjō until Kotarō discovers him. The discovery of his infiltration jeopardizes his lord's alliance with the east. Hanzō is officially pardoned due to Ujiyasu's timely death so his service to Ieyasu remains unabated.

Nobunaga no Yabou 201X has him appear in the Tensho Iga War event. To protect Motoyasu's position within the Oda, Hanzō acts as the bridge for the Oda-Iga alliance. He convinces his Iga chief to trust Nobunaga and regularly reports events to the Oda lord. He assists the final charge against the UMA horde at Heiraku Temple.

Mōri Motonari: Chikai no Sanshi
Compared to his other Koei appearances, Hanzō is actually quite vocal about the sadistic pleasures he feels from his profession in this title. A heinous shinobi who has an abstruse fascination with death, he is prone to several fits of evil laughter. Although seen as a reliable figure for Ieyasu, his loyalty to his master isn't stressed and it appears as though Hanzō only joined for his personal enjoyment.

During the planning stages with his master's battle with Terumoto, Hanzō secretly fights back Hotaru, the Mōri kunoichi spying on them for her master. He remarks having dealt a deep wound to the woman and looks forward to fighting her again. He fights during Ieyasu's three battles against the Mōri, desiring to kill Terumoto to save face from his previous failures. Mortally wounded in the final conflict, Hanzō finds his death comforting and swears to someday haunt Terumoto again from the shadows.

Development
Since the creators were making the unconventional ninja archetype with Kunoichi, Hanzō was added to be the more familiar ninja type. His addition was considered to be one of more the essential characters for the cast. His charm point for both of his costumes in the first two Samurai Warriors was his masked visage and the scar that ran over one of his eyes. These concepts were kept for his redesign in the sequel but was altered slightly to give a greater visual impact. The designer comments that he hasn't particularly changed much.

His design in the fourth title was made by his illustrator, Hayaken. Hanzō's look is meant to contrast Kotarō's brawny figure by being slimmer and unrevealing as if "fostering a hidden agenda". Hayaken added a wolf motif with his drawings which was approved for post production.

Personality
Hanzō is a taciturn and composed individual who is thoroughly concerned with fulfilling his missions. A capable and perceptive individual of his profession, he is willing to follow any of his master's orders. His personal reasons for being loyal to Ieyasu are never fully explained in the series, but his devotion is unquestionable. Although he tries to appear as an emotionless spirit, Hanzō occasionally lets his feelings emerge through subtle gestures and quips to his enemies, revealing shreds of self-confidence and cockiness. His newer incarnation has him worry to a slight degree, as he asks Ieyasu to take care of himself and even shares some words of concern with his foes. Seeing little value in his own life, he often calls himself and others like him "shadows". He never uses pronouns for himself in the Japanese script, but this trait is sometimes broken in English.

Known as one of the most skilled shinobi in the land, he has several ninja rivals who want to compete with him. He rarely takes them seriously unless they endanger Ieyasu. To him, they are usually rough upstarts who need to be more serious about their profession. He wants to execute Goemon for deserting the clan and is depicted as being slightly irritated with Kotarō and Nene. He does admit to recognize their abilities and strengths, especially in the Warriors Orochi series when he works together with them. In the third title, he has a closer relationship with Nene, as she comes to treasure him as one of her "children" rather than a rival. Her kindness towards him, even as she dies, has Hanzō react with the humanity he tries to keep in check.

Character Symbolism
He's symbolized by the character for "sever" (断), the character for "exterminate" (滅), and green bamboo leaves in the Samurai Warriors series.

Hanzō's titles in Samurai Warriors 2 are "Iga Ninja", "Ninja Leader", "Dark Assassin", "The Unseen", "Silent Death", "Lord of Shadow", and "Hell's Envoy" (in the Xtreme Legends expansion).

His third weapon and Normal types are named after a flying dragon's seizing claw. Hanzō's Power types embodies the same for a mighty tiger while his Speed types do the same for wolves.

Hanzō's fifth weapon in the first game, fourth chain and sickle in the second, and Unique armament in the third are named after Yomi-no-kuni, the land of the departed within Japanese mythology. Most people refer to it as a version of Hell though another description for it is closer to the Underworld mentioned within Greek mythology. If a newly departed happens to eat food offered within Yomi-no-kuni upon their arrival, they will be forever bound to live within the new spiritual plane. Spirits who drift here will find it hard to leave, especially if they encounter the various monstrosities and evil spirits seeking to drag them back. Hanzō's weapon embodies a dark fang from the land of the dead, implying that Yomi-no-kuni is seeking another permanent resident. His fifth weapon in the sequel is literally named "Hell Hole".

Marishiten is a deity who appears as the namesake for his sixth weapon. Named after the sun and moon, Marishiten is a solar god without a definite shape. The god cannot be burned, drenched, or damaged since the god has a disembodied state. Within Japan, the deity is always high in the horizon and considered an entity of limitless power. Various warriors, including Toshiie and Motonari, worshiped Marishiten with the belief that the invulnerable entity could make them invincible. As opposed to other gods granting a sense of victory, Marishiten was seen as the god who could grant victory without injury. While Marishiten is originally an Indian goddess, Marishiten has been depicted as a male, female, or a boar within Japan.

Voice Actors

 * Kim Strauss - Samurai Warriors (English-uncredited)
 * Claus Brockmeyer - Samurai Warriors (German-uncredited)
 * Shi Yeong-joon - Samurai Warriors (Korean-uncredited)
 * David Walpole - Samurai Warriors 2 (English)
 * Troy Baker - Samurai Warriors 3 (English-uncredited)
 * Takaya Kuroda - Samurai Warriors and Warriors Orochi series (Japanese)
 * Toshiyuki Morikawa - Nioh

Live Action Performers

 * Minoru - Sengoku Bushou Matsuri
 * Taizō Shiina - as Nyattori Hanzō in Butai Nobunyaga no Yabou Nyan
 * Sogo Nippei - Butai Nobunyaga no Yabou Yukimura to Gorin no Ken
 * Tomonori Itou, Ryo Oguri - Butai Nobunyaga no Yabou ~ Neko Gungi 2

Quotes

 * See also: Hanzō Hattori/Quotes


 * "All of Japan will dissolve within my grasp. My dark ambition shall never cease."
 * "The war in the shadows is about to begin..."
 * "Return to darkness."
 * "A ninja knows when to seize his opportunities."
 * "Death cannot hold me..."
 * "There is no place a shadow cannot go..."
 * "Silent as the forest, indeed."
 * "Iga is a land of shadows I will spirit you through."
 * "A ninja is a creature of stealth, neither seen nor heard."
 * "I will not let Japan fall into your blood-stained hands!"
 * "Worry not. I do not want it for myself."
 * Mitsunari and Hanzō; Samurai Warriors 2


 * "Rest assured, Hanzō, that my spear will protect those dear to me... From your stained blade of darkness."
 * "Attempt to stop me if you wish. You will fail."
 * Yukimura and Hanzō; Samurai Warriors 2: Empires


 * "How is it that you are still alive, Hanzō? Is it through sheer force of will - the will to see your master's dream come to fruition?"
 * "May my master's enemies feed this land with their blood."
 * "Very well. I will face your will, and see which breaks first."
 * Motochika and Hanzō; Samurai Warriors 2: Xtreme Legends


 * "Heel, dog of the Tokugawa."
 * "Die, servant of chaos."
 * Kotarō and Hanzō; Samurai Warriors 3


 * "Oh, this feels so good. Having a hot springs like this nearby is absolutely fabulous. Be sure to show no mercy and to take the lives of anyone who comes near. Understand, Hanzō?"
 * "Yes..."
 * "(chuckles) Turn around, and I'll devour you, heart and soul."
 * Nō and ‎Hanzō; Sengoku Musou 3: Empires


 * "Naomasa is an interesting fellow. There's few who can speak to Tadakatsu like that."
 * "Lord Hanzō! This is no laughing matter. Why does Lord Naomasa always fight with my father like that?"
 * "Naomasa acts so aggressively because of the standing of his clan. They remain on the outside. He has seen everything his mother has been through. That's why he always works so hard to impress our lord. What's more, Naomasa has a strong connection to our lord. There are some of higher standing who do not take kindly to their relationship. Tadakatsu among them."
 * "I see. But my father is a grown man. Why does he have to be so unwelcoming?"
 * "Isn't that how Tadakatsu shows his affection?"
 * "Y-You're probably right. I'm sure he's still having a tough time, though. All Lord Naomasa does is charge recklessly into battle!"
 * "Actually, I think he's quite accustomed to dealing with people of that disposition."
 * ‎Hanzō and Ina; Samurai Warriors 4-II


 * "Who dares approach?"
 * "Hmph, beautiful form as always. As to be expected of my finest creation."
 * "Master... What brings you?"
 * "I thought perhaps you were being exposed to impurities, so I came to inspect you myself. Associating yourself with the filthy foolishness of life and compassion for so long could have perhaps mesmerized your heart to be attracted to them. I dreaded the thought of you succumbing to these vices."
 * "What do you wish to say?"
 * "Listen well. A shadow is nothing more than a shadow. A heartless husk. It is moved only by the bonds of loyalty for its master. It does not wish for the warmth of light. It is most beautiful within blizzards, within the coldest of snow. It dares not approach the spring's embrace, for it will polluted by its ugliness."
 * "A shadow is a shadow. Does this answer satisfy you?"
 * "It does. Superficial as it may be."
 * Hanzō Hattori and Sandayū Momochi; 100man-nin no Sengoku Musou


 * "You look suspicious!"
 * "...Prattle."
 * Xiao Qiao and Hanzō; Warriors Orochi


 * "You're in for a special treat. You get to fight me!"
 * "Even the strongest warrior cannot keep up with the shadow."
 * "Well you're a slippery monkey, aren't you?"
 * Sun Wukong and Hanzō; Warriors Orochi 2


 * "Ah, it's you. This is the first time we've had the chance to talk like this, no?"
 * "Indeed..."
 * "Good grief, talk about the strong silent type..."
 * Pang Tong and Hanzō; Warriors Orochi 3

Gameplay

 * See also: Hanzō Hattori/Movesets‎‎

Samurai Warriors 4
Mighty strike is the same as Deadlock Attack. Moveset type is altered to Hyper type. Majority of his old attacks return but they are altered to some degree.

Charge Moveset

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Hyper Moveset

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 * Dashing :
 * , : Like all nimble, ninja type characters, he can double jump.
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 * Finisher changes to four left-and-right slashes from his sickle. Black feathers appear when he is done.
 * (Ultimate/Kaidan):
 * Rage Attack/Musou Gokui effect: Activates Ultimate/Kaidan Musou if is used. Performs ending pose for previous  if the effect ends without activating Ultimate/Kaidan Musou.
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 * Awakened Skill effect (4-II only):
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Mounted Moveset

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Fighting Style
Being a chain sickle, his weapon allows him to match both close-quarters combat with range and unpredictability. This can make him a devastating character when handled correctly. However, his unique animations mean that he can be very tricky to use effectively and his defense is lower than more robust fighters. Hanzō's 4-II skill, splitting into three separate forms, allows him to create traps and catch attackers off-guard. His awakening skill allows all fighters to adopt this splitting technique, which is great during Golden Time or for increasing combos.

Weapons

 * See also: Hanzō Hattori/Weapons

Rare Weapon Acquisition

 * Stage: Incident at Honnōji - The Crossing of Iga

Historical Information
Hattori Hanzō Masanari was the fifth son of Hattori Hanzō Yasunaga, born in the year 1542. He became the leader of Iga's Hattori family. He was actually a samurai general but is often associated as being a ninja since he was often seen commanding them in battle. He was the third born of four other brothers and he fathered three sons.

Like his father before him, Masanari was loyal to the Matsudaira family's heir, Matsudaira Motoyasu (later known as Tokugawa Ieyasu). He distinguished himself in several campaigns, some of which include the battles at Kakegawa Castle, Anegawa, and Mikatagahara. His first battle was when he was 16 and he fought during the siege of Udo Castle. At the time, he commanded seventy Iga ninja. He eventually earned the nickname "Demon Hanzō" (鬼半蔵) for his fierce fighting style. Although it is a popular story, the event occurred in the dubious Kansei Chōshushokafu so its authenticity is debatable.

In 1579, Ieyasu's eldest son, Matsudaira Nobuyasu, was convicted of treason against Oda Nobunaga and ordered to commit seppuku. Masanari was ordered to be his second in the ritual (where he would mercifully decapitate the one cutting his stomach). However, once he was brought to the appointed site at Futamata Castle, Masanari burst into tears and cried, "I cannot turn my blade against my lord's own blood!" Once Ieyasu learned that Masanari was unable to bring his sword down on his son, he exclaimed, "Even Demon Hanzō is unable to strike the head of his master's child!"

After Akechi Mitsuhide slew Nobunaga at Honnoji in 1582, he set his sights on Ieyasu. At the time, Ieyasu was at a port in Osaka and was surrounded by only ten subordinates. He was forced to flee to his homeland but had to pass through Iga, which was known for its treacherous terrain. Masanari was principle for serving as Ieyasu's guide and commanded 300 ninja guards to ensure his lord's safe passage to Mikawa. Masanari continued to serve his lord at Komaki-Nagakute with 100 men under his command.

He served during the siege of Odawara and was awarded 8,000 koku. By the time Ieyasu entered Kantō, he was awarded an additional 8,000 koku and had 30 yoriki and 200 public officials for his services. Ieyasu was said to have also began to employ more Iga ninja with Masanari as their leader.

He died on December 23, 1596 due to natural causes and was succeeded by his son, Masanari. He was buried near the Shinjiku Ward in Tokyo. Hanzō-mon in Tokyo is said to have been named after his family and they once prospered there.

Trivia

 * In Sengoku Angelique, Catis acts as the Hanzō of the cast. His full name is "Hattori Catis Hanzō".

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