Hazama

""Although fighting's not my specialty~.""

Hazama (ハザマ), also known under the alias Corporal Honoka (ホノカ伍長), was a Captain of the Novus Orbis Librarium. He was the former vessel of Yuuki Terumi, created by Relius Clover, and a former wielder of the Nox Nyctores - Geminus Anguium: Ouroboros. Hazama is a Blue Grimoire who seeks nothing but pain as it is something he cannot truly feel.

Appearance
Hazama is a tall, thin man similar in terms of physical appearance to Yuuki Terumi's human form. He has narrow eyes which appear as if they are permanently shut, and short green hair which he wears in a bowl cut. He is almost universally seen with a suspicious smile on his face. Hazama's clothing consists of a dress suit with two brown belts and a wallet chain, a long black coat with two large golden buckles on it, and a matching black fedora. He also wears steel-toed shoes (in which he hides his butterfly knives) and a pair of brown fingerless gloves.

When Terumi takes full control of his body (paired with removing his hat and tie), Hazama's hair spikes up to match Terumi's human form, and his eyes open to reveal a snakelike appearance. Hazama is still able to take on this appearance even after he becomes a separate person from Terumi in Central Fiction.

Due to his nature as an artificial human, Hazama's body is hollow on the inside, as seen through the hole that Platinum the Trinity made in his chest. Despite this, he is capable of performing normal human functions such as breathing and eating food.

Personality
"At first glance, the man looks like a reserved and weak-willed young man. He is constantly smiling and is well-mannered to almost everyone, but in reality, he could care less about anything that doesn't involve his mission."

Initially, Hazama appears as a courteous man who is solely focused on his mission and manners. He addresses everyone with the appropriate honorifics, has a sense of humor, and maintains a professional courtesy at all times. His facade, however, belies the personality of a sadistic monster. Every word that comes from his mouth drips with poison designed to turn friends against each other, and he seemingly takes joy in mocking his opponents and even allies at every turn. Subtlety is his strong suit, and he relishes in making others experience pain.

In some instances, it appears that Hazama is rather weak-willed; he will follow the orders of his superiors with little whim, using his blades and Ouroboros in their service. To others, however, Hazama will use every trick at his disposal to manipulate someone, always grinning even as he issues orders for those under his command to murder their friends. He has no qualms about murdering hundreds of people, especially those who trust him, and the exact toll of those he has killed under his command is unknown. Even though he wields a Nox Nyctores, Hazama has not been suffering from any adverse mental side-effects.

Hazama does not understand pain or other human emotions, and it is his wish as one of the chosen to inflict pain across the population as well as truly experience it himself. The sheer thrill from being hurt is enough to send him into throes of joy. In his desperate attempts to understand others, Hazama has tortured others, not discriminating between targets. Unlike Terumi, Hazama is rarely vulgar and rarer still allows his mask of an NOL captain to slip, but the times when he does are the most terrifying.

In his own time, Hazama enjoys eating whole boiled eggs and collecting silver accessories. He is deathly allergic to cats, cat-beastkin, and the Kaka, and does his best to avoid them for his own health. He seemingly does not enjoy cold weather or temperatures, and engages in rather reptilian heat-seeking behavior, such as taking long baths, and basking under the kotatsu (a type of Japanese heated table, popular in winter).

Powers & Techniques
Despite his appearance being that of a slender and delicate man, Hazama is far stronger than what his physical appearance suggests. He wields two balisong with a deadly precision, keeping both of them hidden from opponents until they are close enough for him to strike. He also has various throwing knives, smoke bombs, and shoe knives hidden in his heels. Like Terumi, Hazama appears to also be capable of creating green energy to fight. Throughout a battle, Hazama toys with his opponents, moving in a manner similar to dancing.

As he wields the Geminus Anguium: Ouroboros, Hazama has the ability to use its chains in battle. He can quickly swing himself across the battlefield using the chains, becoming a difficult target to hit. This is reflected in gameplay, where his Drive is , and by throwing out the Nox, he can use it propel himself across the screen to fight, being a highly agile and difficult to hit opponent. Hazama also uses Ouroboros to ensnare opponents, constricting them and being able to lift them far above the ground with minimal effort. He can summon it at any time he desires, and is also capable of employing strong Ars Magus in battle. Ouroboros' snare is so strong that not even Iron Tager can break free from its grasp and the Nox has the ability to stir the emotions and memories of those in its grip.

Hazama is unique as he is a living Grimoire, specifically a Blue Grimoire. He is able to directly access the Boundary similar to a cauldron and the Azure Grimoire, and employ seithr to directly strengthen himself, his Ars Magus, and Ouroboros. Hazama is also able to fuse with a Boundary Interface Prime Field Device and become a Kusanagi or a Black Beast, but neither has happened. He can also unleash the power of his Azure Grimoire, which will grant him a life-absorbing green ring around him that will drain the life of the opponent should they remain close to him and is represented as his Unlimited mode gameplay-wise, as well as nullifying other Azure Grimoire present, such as Ragna's. He can also surround himself with that green ring temporarily with his  Overdrive, however.

Owing to his nature as a master manipulator, Hazama is a cunning tactician and, despite all his strengths, does not like fighting, often leaving others to do it in his stead. While he was sharing his body with Terumi, the two could switch at a moment's notice, changing tactics and fighting styles. As his whole body is a Grimoire, whenever he is around Celica A. Mercury, he will experience severe side effects, such as weakness.

BlazBlue: Continuum Shift Official Site Profile
''A soldier of the Novus Orbis Librarium belonging to the Intelligence Department. His rank is Captain. Hiding his "true self" behind a gentle demeanor, he returns to the region of Ikaruga for certain purposes of his own. As of yet, there are none who notice his secretive actions or his true plan. ''

BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma Official Site Profile
''Hazama attempted to use the Godslaying Sword "Kusanagi" to destroy the Master Unit, but Ragna stopped him. However, using that timing, he was able to succeed in seizing Takamagahara, which had been tied up. He travels to the Ikagura region having restarted his plans to destroy the Master Unit. ''

BlazBlue: Central Fiction Official Site Profile
''A soldier of the Novus Orbis Librarium belonging to the Intelligence Department. His rank is Captain. Having sworn loyalty to the Novus Orbis Librarium, he performs espionage to maintain its rule.  At first glance, the man looks like a reserved and weak-willed young man. He is constantly smiling and is well-mannered to almost everyone, but in reality, he couldn't care less about anything that doesn't involve his mission. ''
 * Story
 * Personality

BlazBlue: Central Fiction Library Entry
''A Captain in the NOL's Intelligence Department, codenamed Hazama.
 * Hazama

''His constant gentle expression makes it difficult to grasp his true intentions. He avoids confrontation, always bowing and giving way to whomever he speaks, but that does not mean he's a pushover. It would not be an understatement to say his schemes have schemes of their own, and seldom will his plans fail.

''His true identity is in fact one of the Six Heroes who defeated the Black Beast, Yuuki Terumi. Terumi is a violent, inhumane character, who finds pleasure in watching others suffer.

''The current vessel, ‘Hazama' is Relius's creation during the Dark War.

''He plotted to use the Sword of the Godslayer, Kusanagi to destroy the Master Unit in Kagutsuchi, but is stopped by Ragna. Finding the silver lining in his mission's failure, however, he seizes the Takamagahara that once controlled him.

''Once again, he plots to bring the Master Unit down to earth, and destroy it, so he heads for Ikaruga. Together with Relius, he operates in the shadows, under the Imperator's watchful eye and guidance.

''While he succeeds in bringing down v-No.13- to the mortal realm, Trinity Glassfille sacrifices herself to impede his progress. He falls into a lake in the Ruins of Ibukido, and is henceforth never heard from again.

BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle Official Site Profile
''A captain of the NOL's Intelligence Department. Normally wearing a meek expression while floating around aimlessly, he leaves no openings to be caught.''

''By throwing out chains he can make confined movements around the screen, and is a tricky character. Once he gets in close, chain into a combo to settle it! ''

BlazBlue 10th Anniversary Official Site Profile
''A soldier belonging to the NOL's Intelligence Department. He normally wears a meek expression and is hard to grasp. Perhaps because of that personality, he dislikes trouble and conflict, and puts the highest priority on the completion of his mission.''

BlazBlue Alternative: Dark War Official Profiles
''A soldier belonging to the Intelligence Department of the NOL. He speaks in a friendly, polite manner, with a gentle smile always lighting up his face. However, beneath that mask, lies a person who delights in the misery and suffering of others. Not a single soul has been able to see through that charming smile of his.'' ''An eccentric man who claims to remember nothing save for his name. He's rather unapproachable and aloof despite the delicate smile and tender expressions that light up his face. He claims to hate conflict and trouble, but nobody can tell where the truth ends and the lies begin.''
 * Website Profile
 * Character Introduction (BBLab Ep.6)

Appearances in other Media

 * The mobile game Mabinogi Duel stars Hazama as a playable card.
 * The MMO Action Game Lost Saga stars Hazama as a playable character.
 * The action-RPG Fallen Legion Revenants features a DLC in which the Exemplar Orion receives an outfit based on Hazama. This collaboration was likely made possible due to Arc System Works publishing the Japanese version.

Trivia

 * In the BlazBlue 10th Anniversary Character Poll, Hazama placed 2nd out of the 84 candidates. He scored one place lower than Ragna the Bloodedge, and one place above Hibiki Kohaku. He had 4,974 votes.
 * Hazama's birthday is Greenery Day, likely a reference to his green hair.
 * Most of Hazama's movelist has references to snakes and poison.
 * While his official character design works do not include them, he is sometimes depicted with snake-like fangs within other official art and staff extras.
 * In Alter Memory Hazama is shown to have an Ars that can summon his fedora from thin air.
 * Before BlazBlue: Continuum Shift II was released in the EU, the official BlazBlue website by Zen United promoted the game. A hyperlink called "Ultimate BlazBlue News" would send users to a Youtube video of the Internet meme "Troll Face" with Hazama's hat over it as it taunts the viewer. The video, named "TrolololHazama" still remains and was uploaded by user "TrololHazama"
 * Creator Mori Toshimichi considers Hazama to be the fifth main character of the series.
 * Hazama is allergic to cats, including beastkin like Jubei and even the Kaka. His allergies are so severe that it forced him to retreat after being near Taokaka too long.
 * When Hazama and Terumi inhabited the same body, it was implied that Hazama's Unlimited Form was when Terumi took over. Certain attacks would have Hazama's hair spike up, another indicator that Terumi is in control. As of Central Fiction, Hazama will no longer have his hair spike up, signalling their separation.
 * However, in Jubei's Astral Heat, Terumi's spirit form can still be seen when used on Hazama.
 * In BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle, Hazama's hair will still spike up during certain moves.
 * Hazama also originally had the Six Heroes VS theme in Chrono Phantasma, but this was cut in Central Fiction. However, he still retains this theme in Cross Tag Battle.
 * When hit by Amane Nishiki's Astral, Hazama will turn into Kazuma Kval. It is confirmed, however, that they are not the same person.
 * Hazama is illustrated in the following Grimoires for BlazBlue Alternative: Dark War:
 * キラー・キラー (Killer Killer).
 * 諜報部 (Intelligence Department).
 * 事象干渉 (Phenomenon Intervention).
 * 碧翼の鎖 (Chains of Azure Wings).