Uncovering Hattori Hanzo: The Shocking Truth Behind Assassin’s Creed Shadows!

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This article contains SPOILERS for Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

The Assassin’s Creed series, while not striving for historical accuracy, often incorporates real historical figures and events into its storylines. For instance, Ezio’s Hidden Blade would have been broken if not for Leonardo da Vinci, Edward Kenway might not have achieved his pirate success without Mary Read, and the Frye twins wouldn’t have uncovered the Templars’ London bombing plot without Queen Victoria. Assassin’s Creed: Shadows also maintains these ties to history.

In the late Sengoku era of Japanese history, the video game “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” brings together numerous authentic historical figures and occurrences, frequently intertwining them with the game’s central narrative and key characters. One such historical figure, Hattori Hanzo, plays a significant role in the climax of the storyline presented in “Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

The Real-World History of Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Hattori Hanzo Explained

In the mid-16th century, Hattori Hanzo was born into a family of samurai and ninjas. At 15, he participated in his first battle. Around the age of 20, Hanzo became a loyal samurai under Tokugawa Ieyasu, a powerful daimyo who had strong ties with Oda Nobunaga. For several years following, Hanzo executed various secretive missions for Ieyasu, such as saving Ieyasu’s family from the Imagawa clan and quelling an uprising in Mikawa.

In the 1570s, Hanzo remained a dedicated warrior for the Tokugawa clan, gaining notoriety with his relentless strategic acumen and unwavering spirit that earned him the moniker “Hanzo the Demon.” When Oda Nobunaga mysteriously perished at the hands of his general, Akechi Mitsuhide in 1582, Tokugawa Ieyasu, along with his loyal samurai Hattori Hanzo, escaped from Sakai.

Despite encountering heavy losses at the hands of rogue samurai called Ochimusha-gari during their journey, the Tokugawa clan and Hanzo eventually reached the welcoming Iga Province. Hanzo remained steadfastly loyal to the Tokugawa until his demise in 1597 due to sickness, having fought many battles as one of the future shogun’s revered generals.

Or, more concisely:

Despite facing heavy casualties from outlaw samurai called Ochimusha-gari, the Tokugawa clan and Hanzo eventually reached friendly Iga Province. Loyal to Tokugawa until his death in 1597, Hanzo fought numerous battles as one of the future shogun’s revered generals.

Hattori Hanzo’s Role in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

In the world of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, I didn’t get a good look at Hattori Hanzo until the closing chapters. Initially, he was just a name dropped here and there at the start, but as the main story unfolded, it became clear that he had been Momochi Sandayu’s apprentice. Furthermore, I discovered that he was part of the Kakushiba ikki, a Japanese offshoot of the Assassins, founded by Alvaro Catarribera and his protege, Tsuyu.

In my enthusiasm, I can’t hide the fact that it was I who played a part in the fall of the Kakushiba ikki, my fellow Assassins. Overwhelmed by a pang of jealousy after Tsuyu chose Nagato over me, I made a regrettable decision – one that I now regret deeply. In a moment of weakness, I betrayed them, selling out our secrets to Ashikaga Yoshiaki.

In the finale of “Assassin’s Creed Shadows”, Hanzo reveals his deception to Naoe, prompting her to counterattack against the seasoned samurai and ninja. Despite gaining an advantage, Naoe halts her offensive, choosing instead to forgive Hanzo. In Naoe’s conclusion, they decide to join forces in search of Naoe’s mother, Tsuyu, whom Hanzo suspects may still be alive.

Shadows Isn’t Hattori Hanzo’s First Assassin’s Creed Appearance

In the year 2014, Ubisoft introduced a mobile game called Assassin’s Creed: Memories. This game featured Hattori Hanzo, who was deeply immersed in game lore. According to the storyline of Memories, Hanzo retrieved the Sword of Eden during the 1570s, eliminated the Japanese Templar Mochizuki Chiyome in the 1590s, and met his end at the hands of rival Fumo Kotaro in 1596. Whether these events are still considered part of the main story is uncertain, but since Assassin’s Creed Shadows takes place around the early 1580s, it leaves room for these incidents to potentially occur within that timeframe.

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2025-03-27 14:24