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 beautiful girl with long, green hair tied up in two ponytails where there are bells attached to these ponytails and pink eyes.

Her usual apparel consists of a green and pink kimono with matching boots. Her weapons are worn on her arms.

Personality
Tsugumi 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 Osafune and Michiru Saruwatari 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 Kanemaki became her "clan leader" at Daito Mine.

History
After Tsugumi's parents died, she and her older sister Tsubame Hattori 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
Tsugumi meets Musashi and Kojiro Kanemaki 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 Kosameda 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 Kanemaki 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 suggests it's 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 fulfill 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. Heading towards the Kishin, Tsugumi wonders if it was good idea to leave Musashi behind. Kojiro explains there was nothing they could do for him. Instead of making things harder for him by telling him that he one day will be able to use a Kitetsu Blade, Kojiro decided to go ahead and figure the weakness of the Kishin for when Musashi joins them. Tsugumi wonders if who Musashi really is, believing he may have inherited a special power from his family. However, Kojiro explains Musashi parents were farmers and that disappoints Tsugumi. Kojiro then explains that he was the only Bushi child in the village and everyone avoided him, but not Musashi, who go interested in the swordsmanship. Tsugumi then can't figure out why the Kitetsu Blades scorn him as he is an ordinary person.

The Bushi reach the Kishin, but see its head is missing. Tsugumi states it still must be alive as it haven't turned into Kitetsu. Kojiro searches for its horn, but as he can't find it, he guesses its likely on its missing head. Shiro Inukai shows up and confirms it, and then starts killing Bushi to get their blades. As the Bushi are no match and try to run, Kojiro realizes that Shiro is after him and turns back to let the others escape, but Tsugumi follows him back as well. Shiro defeats Kojiro and is about to kill him, but Musashi appears and Shiro lets Kojiro. As the trio reunite, they decide to fight back. Nanao joins Shiro and ends up fighting them, however, her Kitetsu Blade turns into seven flying swords and they are unable to reach her. Musashi suggests they break up her blades and Kojiro comes up with a plan.

Forming the plan, Tsugumi and Musashi run back, and thinking that Musashi is escaping, Nanao attacks him, but Tsugumi easily captures her blade using her whips. They knew she would go for either Musashi or Kojiro, so Tsugumi knew where the blade would go and it was easy for her to capture it. However, Shiro then decides to fight instead of Nanao and kills many of the Bushi. As he flips the ground and causes everyone to fall to their deaths, while falling, Obsidian Goddess takes over Musashi's body and draws energy from every Kitetsu Blade and ends Shiro's technique, saving Tsugumi and the rest. The Goddess then defeats Shiro.

The Bushi then hold a funeral for the deceased ones, and Tsugumi explains that the Kitetsu Blades are special and hold the feelings of their wielders. However, she doesn't believe its a symbol for a Bushi's life as she has her sister's sword and that's not a replacement for her. The next day, Musashi decides to retake the sword trial. He tells Tsugumi that he too isn't sure if the sword is symbol for Bushi's life, but if you cherish the belongings of the person, then that is a symbol that they once were alive. As Musashi picks the sword and passes, Kojiro wonders why everyone is so excited about it. Tsugumi explains that Kojiro's color is blue, but Musashi's red and thats rare and powerful. As the camp comes to an end, Kojiro brings provisions and a map and suggests they go east, to which the group agrees.

Awaji Island Recapture Operation Arc
The group passes through a forest, but end up attacked by Octopus Pot Oni. After Musashi saves them, they see that another person was captured by the oni, Michiru Saruwatari. As they join her to pass the forest, they learn that she is the head of Saruwatari Bushi under the Uesugi Alliance and is heading towards Harima port to slay a Kishin. They also learn about the Black Kishin, which is the first oni that came to Hinomoto and its current size is half of Hinomoto, blocking their path to east. Musashi and Kojiro check the scroll to see if the Black Kishin is mentioned and Tsugumi explains that each Bushi band have such scrolls and this one has seal of Uesugi Bushi. Realizing that Uesugi Bushi may know something about his father, Kojiro wishes to head to Harima port and the band agrees.

Musashi, Kojiro and Tsugumi arrive at Harima port. They locate the Uesugi Bushi, but Kanetatsu Naoe explains they can't meet with Tatsuomi Uesugi as he is too busy. After realizing they are outsiders, Kanetatsu wants them apprehended, and Akihiro Shimazu easily takes Musashi down. A helicopter which is Tatsuomi's Kitetsuki arrives and Naotora Takeda gets of it. Naotora acts like he doesn't know Musashi, but reveals he is joking and explains they are his subordinates. Tsugumi then tells them that Naotora is leader of the biggest Bushi band and one of the Five Grand Generals, which makes Kojiro and Musashi realize they have been underestimating him. While heading towards the Uesugi castle, Shunrai Yamamoto and Aoshi Sanada explain that they will be fighting one of the four Kishin that the Black Kishin gave birth to and its much bigger than the Kishin they know.

Reaching the castle, Musashi asks Tsugumi to lift him over the walls. However, Musashi gets caught and the three of them get send to the barracks.

Kojiro and Tsugumi are then places in a squad, which is one of the first that will step on the island and fight. They end up getting friends with other squad members and enjoy their time together.

When Musashi is suspected to be a spy, he is prepared to be executed. Kojiro and Tsugumi decide to save him and sneak and steal his sword, but the enemy attack and Musashi gets free. Later after the enemy attack, Musashi is asked to help the Uesugi and he agrees. While going with Kanetatsu, Kojiro tells them that their lives are at stake and if they want they can quit as their lives are more important than information about his father. Kanetatsu points out that Tsugumi is carrying something and guesses its Musashi's blade and Tsugumi and Kojiro explain they planned to save him. Musashi tells Kojiro that he has other reasons to fight, and its not just about his father anymore. Tsugumi decides to stay with them. They reach the mausoleum, where Kanetatsu shows them a treasure said to be able to active the goddess blood and reveals its her blood. Musashi didn't like the idea to drink it, but Kanetatsu forces him. However, as he didn't feel any change, the group then left the mausoleum.

Kojiro and Tsugumi's group get assigned to find and save Tatsuomi. After Orochi is defeated, they manage to find and save Tatsuomi. As they return, Musashi wants to save Michiru and heads down the mountain, where they find powered up Yataro who turned Michiru into a sword with powers similar to the Goddess. While Musashi fights Yataro, he ends up using the power of the Goddess and defeats Yataro.

Two weeks later, Kojiro and Tsugumi speak with Tatsuomi, who explains that the signature they have is his father's, but they don't have a record of Jisai Kanemaki bushi, and guesses it may have been a temporary alliance. However, as he seems important, the other big Bushi bands may know him and he will call for a meeting. Kojiro is surprised to hear he will do that for him, and Tatsuomi explains its because they saved his life and because its one of the two conditions under which Musashi promised to help them. Tsugumi then wonders what was Musashi's second request.

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.

Etymology

 * The name Tsugumi (つぐみ) could mean thrush (ツグミ).
 * Tsugumi's surname Hattori means "clothes/clothing, admit, obey, discharge" (服) (hat) and "part, department, category" (部) (tori).
 * Hattori (服部) is written in the same way as the famous ninja's, Hattori Hanzō's (服部 半蔵) last name.

Trivia

 * 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 Tsubame Hattori.
 * Tsugumi ranked 4th place in the manga's 1st Character Popularity Poll.

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Хаттори Цугуми