Hanzo is a recurring character who first appeared in The Legend of the Ninja Hero! He is the village elder and is often seen next to Shinobu.
Prior to his debut appearance, Hanzo criticized Kagetomo due to his excessive thirst of power and self-assertion, following which the latter trained rigorously in exile to seek revenge.

Hanzo first appears welcoming Sanpei, Ash, Serena, Clemont and Bonnie to the Ninja Village. He is later seen flirting with Shinobu and reveals her age to Clemont and Bonnie when Bonnie proposes Shinobu for her brother. He watches the battle between Nihei and Sanpei and advises the latter following his defeat. He is then seen shining a shuriken accessory, to be presented to Ippei upon his declaration as the new village chief. When the attack of Kagetomo and his army begins, he is kidnapped by the former so that he could force the residents of the Ninja Village to obey him as the new chief, instead of Ippei.

In the next episode, an abducted Hanzo questions Kagetomo's intentions, only to learn that he wished to be the new village chief. He then watches the battle between Ippei and Kagetomo, praising both the trainers for their strength, but insisting that Ippei had something in him which Kagetomo lacked. Upon Kagetomo's defeat, he reveals it to be devotion, love and trust in his Pokémon and a will to fight for the villagers and their Pokémon. In the village festival held later that night, he presents Ippei with the shuriken emblem, thus embarking him as the new chief of the village and then witnesses Kagetomo and Heidayu leave on their journey to be strong for the right reason.

With the festival ceremonies over, he discusses the change in Ash's Greninja's appearance with Shinobu, Saizo, Ippei and Nihei, excitedly remarking that the Ninja Village was saved by another remarkably different Greninja.
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