Tsugumi Hattori

Tsugumi Hattori ( つぐみ, Hattori Tsugumi) is the friend of Musashi and Kojiro Kanemaki and part of the Kanemaki Bushi alongside them. She aims to become a kind Bushi who protects those who are weak, just like her sister wished to do.

Appearance
Tsugumi is a beautful girl with long, green hair tied up in two ponytails. Attached to these ponytails are bells. Her usual apparel consists of a green and pink kimono with matching boots. Her weapons are worn on her arms.

Personality
Hattori is a sweet girl who is quick to forgive. It is, however, shown that she has a fear of letting toxic people go, and she is only able to do it when her friends helped her. She is still a powerful fighter on her own, however. She can be manipulative, as she flashes for boys to distract them in order to finish them off. It is entirely possible that she harbors a certain degree of attraction towards Musashi by taking into consideration how annoyed she was when he blushed before Mitsuru and Michiru respectively.

An interesting aspect of her personality is a combination of protecting others just like her older sister did in the past, and a need to follow orders under a "Lord" to keep her damaged self-esteem in check. The latter was initially exploited by Lord Kosameda until she broke her ties with him and it only returned, although on a comical manner, when Kojiro became her "clan leader" at Daito Mine.

History
After Tsugumi's parents died, she and her older sister Tsubame were taken in by Hideo Kosameda to live with the Kosameda Bushi. Although Tsubame was a powerful Bushi, she was belittled and abused by Hideo. After Tsubame and her comrades' death, Tsugumi became the object of Hideo's abuse.

Kosameda Bushi Arc
She meets Musashi and Kojiro in a desert oasis, where she attempted to rob them both. She succeeds somewhat in her goal, as she stole Kojiro's Kitetsuki (Oni Iron Horse). However, she ended up leading them to the Kosameda Bushi's Castle. Being threatened by Kosameda, she was forced to choose between either leaving the castle or rounding up every villager to force them into a battle against the oncoming wave of oni. Ever since meeting Musashi and Kojiro, they were able to help her and save the village from the oni attack. Tsugumi fought Kosameda and, after winning, left the castle with the blessing of her peers.

The villagers asks Musashi and Kojiro to take Tsugumi with them. Initially Tsugumi refuses, but fearing that Hideo may end up controlling her again and ordering to hurt them, she decides to leave. They leave on an adventure to slay oni.

Daito Mine Arc
Tsugumi acts weird, causing Musashi and Kojiro to wonder what to do, but she then reveals she wanted to be friends and didn't know how to do that. They understand her and clear the situation, stating they are already friends. Later an oni steals Kojiro's blade and Musashi retrieves it, using a Kitetsu Blade. Not knowing what that is, Tsugumi reveals is a weapon made of Kitetsu and that its the only way to cut an oni's horn. Musashi and Kojiro believe its hard to obtain, but Tsugumi tells them there are merchants that sell and leads them to the merchants.

As they still haven't decided on a band name, Tsugumi tells them they need to choose a captain as well. Musashi then sugets its Kojiro as all the band names are based on the family name of the captain and Musashi doesn't have a family name. Kojiro is surprised, but Musashi only wishes to be together and fulfil their dream.

The auction for the Kitetsu Blades. Musashi and Kojiro end up choosing their swords. Kojiro passes the trial, but Musashi fails. Soon after, a Kishin appears and his lesser oni attack. After defeating them, the Bushi, along with Kojiro and Tsugumi, head out towards the Kishin, leaving Musashi behind.

Kitetsuto

 * Hien Soryuken (飛燕 双流剣, Flying Swallow Twin Swords, Twin Soaring Swallows in anime sub): Tsugumi's weapon that she wears on her forearms. It looks similar to a tonfa, but with blades. The weapon used to belong to her older sister.

Abilities
Tsugumi is shown to be a capable fighter in terms of martial arts and acrobatics. She was taught by Hideo Kosameda.

Green Sword Soul: Green souls are often associated with defensive abilities such as ropes that bind or barriers. Tsugumi often uses it to bind people with ropes made of Touki.

Trivia

 * Tsugumi's last name Hattori (服部) is written in the same way as the famous ninja's, Hattori Hanzō's (服部 半蔵) last name. Tsugumi's first name つぐみ could mean thrush (ツグミ)
 * Tsugumi's habit is to strip when she finds herself in serious trouble, or when she wants to get along with somebody. It was actually advice given to her by her sister.
 * Tsugumi ranked 4th place in the manga's 1st Character Popularity Poll.

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Хаттори Цугуми