This article contains SPOILERS forAssassin’s Creed Shadows.
TheAssassin’s Creedfranchise is far from being historically accurate, nor has it ever pretended to be. But that’s not to say that historical figures and events haven’t frequently played prominent roles in the series' narratives. Ezio would still have a broken Hidden Blade if it weren’t for Leonardo da Vinci. Edward Kenway wouldn’t have made it nearly as far as a pirate if it wasn’t for Mary Read. Andthe Frye twinswouldn’t have known about the Templars' plot to bomb London if it wasn’t for Queen Victoria.Assassin’s Creed Shadowshas plenty of its own connections to history.
Set in the late Sengoku period of Japan’s history,Assassin’s Creed Shadowsfeatures a plethora of real-world figures and events, often connecting them directly to the game’s main story and key characters. Hattori Hanzo is one such real-world figure, and he makes a major appearance during the final moments ofAssassin’s Creed Shadows' story.
The Real-World History of Assassin’s Creed Shadows' Hattori Hanzo Explained
Born in the early 1540s, Hattori Hanzo was the son of a samurai and part of a ninja clan, and he saw his first battle at the age of 15. At around 20-years-old, Hattori Hanzo served as a samurai under Tokugawa Ieyasu, a daimyo who allied himself closely with Oda Nobunaga. For the next few years, Hanzo carried out a series of covert missions forTokugawa Ieyasu, including rescuing Ieyasu’s family from the Imagawa clan and silencing a rebellion in Mikawa.
Hanzo continued to fight for the Tokugawa clan throughout the 1570s, where his fierce tactical knowledge and determination earned him the nickname “Hanzo the Demon.” UponOda Nobunaga’s sudden death in 1582at the hands of his own general, Akechi Mitsuhide, Tokugawa Ieyasu fled Sakai alongside his trusted samurai Hattori Hanzo.
Though they suffered severe casualties along the way from samurai-hunting outlaws known as Ochimusha-gari, the Tokugawa clan and Hanzo made it to the friendly Iga Province. Hanzo remained loyal to Tokugawa until his death in 1597 from illness, fighting countless battles as one of the future shogun’s “divine” generals.
Hattori Hanzo’s Role in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Though his name is mentioned once or twice at the start of the game, Hattori Hanzo doesn’t have a proper presence untilthe end ofAssassin’s Creed Shadows' main story. Players eventually learn that Hattori Hanzo trained as Momochi Sandayu’s apprentice, and that he joined the Kakushiba ikki (a Japanese splinter group of Assassins) established by the Spanish Assassin Alvaro Catarribera and his protégé, Tsuyu.
It’s also revealed that Hattori Hanzo is directly responsible for the downfall of the Kakushiba ikki. In a moment of jealousy following Tsuyu’s decision to marry Nagato and not him, Hanzo betrays his fellow Assassins, selling them out to Ashikaga Yoshiaki.
Thecanon ending ofAssassin’s Creed Shadowssees Hanzo confessing his betrayal to Naoe, who replies by attacking the veteran samurai and shinobi. After gaining the upper hand, Naoe stops her assault, and she forgives Hanzo. Naoe’s ending sees the two agreeing to work together to find Naoe’s mother, Tsuyu, who Hanzo believes might still be alive.
Shadows Isn’t Hattori Hanzo’s First Assassin’s Creed Appearance
Back in 2014, Ubisoft released a mobile card battler titledAssassin’s Creed: Memories. Hattori Hanzo made an appearance in the game, alongside plenty of lore. According toMemories, Hanzo reclaimed the Sword of Eden in the 1570s, assassinated the Japanese Templar, Mochizuki Chiyome, in the 1590s, and died at the hands of his rival Fumo Kotaro in 1596. It’s unclear whether any of this is still considered canon, but withAssassin’s Creed Shadowstaking place in the early 1580s, it’s possible these events could still take place around it.
