Hattori Hanzou

Hattori Hanzou (服部 半蔵) is a character introduced in Toaru Majutsu no Index. A ninja from the pure line of the Hattori clan, he hid his status and went to Academy City. Initially a member of Komaba Ritoku's Skill-Out, he becomes its leader after the death of Ritoku and the abdication of Hamazura Shiage.

Etymology
was the name of a famous ninja from the Sengoku Period; the fact that Hanzou comes from a ninja family is a possible reference to that.

Appearance
Hattori Hanzou is the agile type of fighter and not very big. He usually wears black clothes decorated with white cross patterns.

Personality
Hattori Hanzou is kind of a frivolous character. According to Kuruwa, a kunoichi who is familiar with Hanzou, he is a descendant of the pure Hattori line who supposedly left when offered the place of becoming the head of the family and strike back at the Koga ninjas. His views on ninjas is that they should just hide in the flow of history, not be out in the open like Kuruwa suggests. He's seems to be pretty informed, even having knowledge of cases such as the Gemstones.

In SS2, after being caught by Yomikawa Aiho in an incident when he, Shiage, and Komaba robbed an ATM, he fell in love with her.

Battle Royale Arc
According to Shiage, Hanzou may have been trying to ATM machines again when he was around the area he found Shiage being beaten down by a thug. Hanzou calls out to him and tosses a pipe for him to fight back. As Shiage is too preoccupied with beating up the thug who attacked him, Hanzou was forced to even some more, throwing a brick at one of them who had brought out his hammer. He then proceeds to run away with Shiage afterwards. Hanzou berates Shiage for being hung up with victory over the thug to the point that he could've been killed. After checking that no one was following them, Shiage asks Hanzou why he saved him despite running out of Skill-Out. Hanzou points out that isn't something for him to say, as Skill-Out doesn't bear a grudge against him. He tells Shiage on how they don't think their fall was his fault and that no matter who was their leader at that time they would've still fallen. Shiage could not respond but Hanzou keeps on speaking, saying that though it was fun with Ritoku and him with all their little plans, it wasn't at all a nice path to make him want to cling to it. Shiage agrees that it was a terrible life they had but it was at least fun. With that, Hanzou asks what he is going to do now. Shiage says he doesn't know as he thinks that hsi situation will be the same no matter where he ends up in, even if he wents back to Skill-Out, and that there is no value in going back to it. Hearing this as Shiage started to walk away, Hanzou takes a small handgun from his pocket and tossed it to Shiage, saying that he needs it. Shiage points out that it was a lady's handgun, though Hanzou says that it doesn't matter as a weapon that's a little hard to use is perfect. Shiage then puts away the gun and leaves the alleyway they were in without looking back at Hanzou.

Hanzou was monitoring radio channels during Shiage's battle with Mugino Shizuri in a botanical ethanol fuel plant in School District 3 and meets up with him right after he defeats her. Hanzou appears and calls out to him, saying on how he heard of Shiage's victory over a Level 5 all on his own. Although Shiage is surprised on he could've known, he remembers the handgun and says to Hanzou on how it came in handy. Hanzou praises Shiage for defeating a Level 5 using the handgun as he took out two cigarettes for the both of them. Hanzou says that with that kind of accomplishment no one will reject Shiage now, despite the fact that were not many people who hated him in the first place. Hanzou then tells Shiage to come back to Skill-Out as there are people waiting for him there. Shiage however apologizes, saying with a smile on how he has something he has to do. Hanzou clicks his tongue and remarks on Shiage makes him jealous, but accepts his explanation, not pressing Shiage any further. Hanzou tells Shiage on how he'll now be consolidating Skill-Out for the moment, until Shiage decides to return to them after he is done with what he has to do. With that, they bumped fists and parted ways once again.

Freshmen Arc
Hanzou spend the majority of the volume protecting Fremea from the Freshmen alongside Shiage.

Lance of Gungnir Arc
In the "perfect world" Othinus creates to break Kamijou Touma, Shiage appears alongside Fremea, Hanzou, and Ritoku, having become part of ITEM as subordinates. Apparently late for a meeting with them due to Hanzou having them take a shortcut, their group is sighted by Touma during his little sojourn prior to his suicide attempt. Here, Kinuhata Saiai asks why they are late and why their efficiency is dropping as they gained more subordinates. Shiage blames Hanzou for the shortcut they took, but Hanzou says it is because Ritoku could not leave a vending machine with a roulette alone. Frenda Seivelun, who is alive in this reality, wonders how Fremea could be so attached to a macho man like him.

Abilities
Hattori Hanzou favors shuriken for combat, since he prefers to end fighting in the first blow. Hanzou is shown to be a very capable fighter and a good planner.

Design evolution
Hanzou's desing remains static throughout the entire series. Haimura designed his clothes to look somewhat like a modern ninja outfit.

Quotes

 * (After being captured by Aiho, from Index Volume SS2): "I think I'm in love."