Batou serves as the second-in-command of the elite Public Security Section 9, holding the rank of Sergeant and operating directly under Major Motoko Kusanagi. He is a battle-hardened cyborg with a long and distinguished military career, having previously served in a special forces unit within the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force, where he earned a Ranger qualification. His body is almost entirely prosthetic, a result of his extensive combat history, yet his most distinctive features are his large, gray, artificial eyes, which are standard-issue equipment for special forces operatives.

Batou's personality is a complex blend of traits that varies notably between different adaptations of the story. In the original manga and the Stand Alone Complex television series, he is characterized as an outgoing jokester with a quick temper and a warm heart. He frequently acts as the team's comic relief, joking with his colleagues and showing a deep, almost paternal affection for the sentient Tachikoma tanks, whose artificial intelligence evolves partly due to the care he shows them. Despite his imposing and brusque exterior, he is known for his sense of humor, his love for animals, and a strong sense of justice that often makes him openly express anger at cruelty and injustice. In contrast, his portrayal in director Mamoru Oshii's films, particularly in Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, is much more stoic, subdued, and distant, with his emotions largely expressed through his interactions with his pet basset hound, Gabriel.

His primary motivation stems from a deep-seated sense of loyalty and a personal code of justice. He is fiercely protective of his colleagues, especially the Major, and is driven to solve cases and neutralize threats, sometimes with a personal vendetta, as seen when he avenges a murdered trainee. In the storyline of Innocence, his motivation shifts to coping with the Major's disappearance, investigating a series of gynoid malfunctions that forces him to confront philosophical questions about the nature of humanity and soul. His actions are consistently guided by a desire to protect the weak and uphold a sense of order, even when it means disregarding direct orders or protocol.

Batou's central role in the narrative is that of the Major's most trusted ally and the team's primary pointman for close-quarters combat. He often acts as a foil to Kusanagi, being more emotionally driven and grounded, which allows her to confide in him in ways she cannot with others. He is the central protagonist of Innocence, taking the lead when Kusanagi is absent. In the Stand Alone Complex series, he is the de facto field leader and the favorite superior of the Tachikomas, often being the one to operate directly alongside them in the field.

The most significant relationship in Batou's life is with Major Motoko Kusanagi. Across all versions of the story, they share an exceptionally close bond, both professionally and personally. He is often the only person she trusts with her doubts, and there is a persistent, if undefined, romantic tension between them. He is deeply affected by her apparent death at the end of the first film, and his search for meaning in her absence defines the plot of Innocence. In the Solid State Society film, their complex relationship is further explored, ending on an ambiguous but intimate note. He also shares a strong professional bond with his other teammates, like the technologically-focused Ishikawa and the more skeptical Togusa, with whom he has a friendly rivalry. His bond with the Tachikomas is unique, as he treats them as individuals, which is instrumental in their development of a sense of self.

Batou undergoes subtle but significant development throughout his appearances. In the films, he transitions from a stoic and capable support soldier to a lonely, more introspective figure grappling with loss and his own humanity. In the television series, his character is more static but deepens through his unwavering loyalty and his protective instincts, which at times put him at odds with the Major's more distant, analytical approach. A key moment of development is his confrontation with Hideo Kuze in 2nd GIG, where his defeat forces him to acknowledge the limitations of his purely physical motivation compared to a deeper ideological drive. His relationship with the Major matures over time, moving from simple camaraderie to a more profound and acknowledged, though never fully realized, emotional dependence.

As an operative, Batou is exceptionally skilled. He is widely regarded as the second-best melee fighter in Section 9, second only to the Major herself. He maintains a rigorous physical training routine, including jogging and weightlifting, despite the negligible benefit to his prosthetic limbs, suggesting a deep-seated desire to retain his humanity. He is an expert marksman, often preferring a customized FN Browning BDA9 pistol over standard Section 9 sidearms. In the films, he is depicted as having superhuman durability, surviving the blast of two live grenades and carrying a hidden shotgun within a prosthetic arm. His prosthetic eyes provide enhanced vision but are noted to have a "blind spot," forcing him to turn his head to see his periphery. Outside of combat, he is known for his love of classic cars, particularly a yellow Lancia Stratos coupe, which he is famously protective of.