History Characters / TheKingOfFighters94Part1

* {{Irony}}: Dispite being treated as the lancer to Kyo, Benimaru has won more KOF tournaments than Kyo.[[note]]This includes '94, '95, '96, '97, XIII, and XIV as Team Japan with Kyo, though it's implied that Team Sacred Treasures, Kyo, Iori, and Chizuru, had won '97 as they're the ones that had taken down Orochi, and '99, XI, and XV without Kyo as a member of Team Hero/K', Team Elisabeth, and Team Hero/Shun'ei. In fact, Kyo ''only'' wins KOF tournaments as Team Japan.[[/note]]

-> [-See his character page along with the other Protagonists [[Characters/TheKingOfFightersHeroes here]].-]

[[folder:Kyo Kusanagi]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kof_xv_kyo_render.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Cleansing Fire]]
->''"Gotta bring the heat, y'know?"''

->'''Origin:''' Japan

->'''Fighting style''': Kusanagi-style ancient martial arts + Chinese boxing (Kempo)
->'''Voiced by:''' [[note]]Masahiro Nonaka (94-XIII), Creator/TomoakiMaeno (XIV-current), Andrew Roth (''Maximum Impact'' series, English), Peter von Gomm (''XII'', English), Creator/RyotaroOkiayu (''[='94=]'' Dengeki Bunko drama CD), Creator/TomokazuSugita (Japanese dub of the live-action movie)[[/note]]
->'''Portrayed by:''' [[note]]Sean Faris (live-action movie)[[/note]]


->TheProtagonist of the series and one of SNK’s poster children.\\\
Kyo begins as an OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent who enters the first tournament both to prove his strength to the world (having already won the All-Japan Martial Arts Tournament) and to find his missing father Saisyu. After defeating Rugal for the first time, he encounters Iori Yagami who proclaims himself as Kyo's eternal enemy. Kyo makes it to the finals again and fights his {{Brainwashed}} father, and then Rugal once again. He learns of his destiny to seal away Orochi from Chizuru Kagura, and in ''[='96=]'', defeats Goenitz along with Iori. In ''[='97=]'' he, along with Iori and Chizuru, battle the last remaining forces of Orochi and reseal him, but he disappears afterward, and he is found by NESTS and cloned.\\\
After having been missing for a year, he re-emerges and decides to invesitage NESTS, joining K' in combating the organization.\\\
In the ''Tales of Ash'' saga, he joins with Iori and Chizuru once again to stop a group of people trying to resurrect Orochi, but Iori and Chizuru have their powers stolen by Ash Crimson, leaving Kyo as the final target. [[spoiler: Due to Ash fully managing to unfurl his plan, however, Kyo never has his powers stolen.]]\\\
In ''XIV'', Kyo learns that a friend of Saisyu, Tung Fu Rue, is participating in the tournament with some new students. Kyo is asked to participate in order to 'show the ropes' to these newcomers, and reforms Team Japan. In ''XV'', though initially having been requested to join Team Hero after the last tournament, the presence of the newly ressurected Team Orochi was a cause of concern for Kyo, and so at the request of Chizuru, reforms Team Sacred Treasures with Iori to figure out what exactly they are up to, sending Benimaru in his place.

-> [-See his character page along with the other Protagonists [[Characters/TheKingOfFightersHeroes here]].-]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Benimaru Nikaido]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kof_xv_benimaru_render.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Shooting Star]]

->''"My reason for winning? I'm just cool. Real cool."''

->'''Origin''': Japan
->[[quoteleft:75:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/japan_4602.png]]
->'''Fighting style''': Shoot-boxing
->'''Voiced by:''' [[note]]Atsushi "Monster" Maezuka (since debut), Eric Kelso (''XII'', English), Creator/HikaruMidorikawa (''[='94=]'' Dengeki Bunko drama CD), Genki Okawa (''King of Fighters for Girls'')[[/note]]


-> Kyo's and Daimon's partner. A lightning user who's also [[TheCasanova quite the ladies' man]]. Practices an unconventional fighting style called "Shooting" (shoot boxing).
->Despite being associated with the original Team Japan, Benimaru often finds himself teaming up with other fighters, teaming up with K`, Maxima and Shingo in '99, Shingo and Seth in 2000 and Elizabeth and Duo Lon in XI. As a result, he's also the fighter who has the most KOF wins. In XV, he finds himself with yet another team, this time with the new Hero Team alongside Shun'ei and Meitenkun, at the request of Kyo.

----

[[Characters/TheKingOfFightersHeroes Protagonists]]\\

''Characters/TheKingOfFightersTheOrochiSaga'': ''[[Characters/TheKingOfFighters95 KOF '95]]'' ([[Characters/TheKingOfFightersIoriYagami Iori Yagami]]) | ''[[Characters/TheKingOfFighters96 KOF '96]]'' | ''[[Characters/TheKingOfFighters97 KOF '97]]''\\

* AdaptationalNiceGuy: In the games and every other media he's featured in, he's always cocky, fight-happy, rebellious and really full of himself. In Destiny though, despite these aforementioned traits still being present, he's more noble, shows great respect to Master Chin, and is less of a jerk towards the others (he was never respectful to him or anyone higher than him), putting him near Terry levels of NiceGuy by comparison.
* AmplifierArtifact: Wields the {{Kusanagi}}-no-Tsurugi, which is implied to reside inside of his body.
* AnimalMotifs: Most heavily associated with cats, including literally becoming one in ''YMMV/SNKVsCapcomSVCChaos''.
* ArrogantKungFuGuy: Just because he's TheHero and really cares for his friends, it doesn't stop him from being a cocky bastard when it comes to fighting. He'll [[BadassBoast boast]] non-stop in his interactions with other fighters and can leave some scalding remarks upon winning.
-->"You're pathetic... How did I end up against someone with no fighting skills?!"
* BadassAdorable: The ''KOF: KYO'' manga shows us Kyo when he was no older than 8. He was this through and through, especially considering that he loved to train ''very'' roughly with his father and that [[BullyHunter he saved other kids from being bullied by high schoolers]].
* BadassBiker: His motorcycle is listed as one of his likes, implying this trope.
* BadassBoast: He has a lot of these, especially early on where he's even more HotBlooded.
-->"That was my fist! It's hotter than napalm!" \\
"My fist has a 1800 years of history! I can easily break you!"\\
"You were lucky! A bit longer and I would have turned you into cinder!"
* BecauseDestinySaysSo: Pretty much the underlying reason for why stuff happens to him, being the next successor of the Kusanagi clan. Several figures like Goenitz and Ash have targeted him because of his gifts, and that's to say nothing of when he was abducted and used to create pyrokinetic super soldiers. [[ScrewDestiny Kyo vehemently refuses to believe that fate plays an integral role in his life]], but will fight people like the Orochi and Those of the Past so they'll leave him and his loved ones alone.
* BerserkButton: Ash Crimson and Iori Yagami piss him off endlessly for their repeated attempts to defeat him and use him in schemes respectively. On a less serious note, being too nosy about the fact that he never graduated from high school is a sure-fire way to get smoked. (Kim is particularly good about rising his hackles in regards to this. HilarityEnsues every time they meet.)
* BigFancyHouse: In the ''KOF:KYO'' media, we see that Kyo and his parents live in a traditional Japanese complex located ''atop of a small hill from the outskirts of Osaka''.
* {{Bishonen}}: His appearance in ''XIV'' is much, much slimmer and more effeminate than he used to be. His new hairstyle only adds to it.
* BloodKnight: Nothing gets Kyo more amped up than the promise of a good fight. He takes in every moment before a fight to roast his oppoenent and express excitement for the coming battle. Even when he's knocked down in-game, he'll sound like he's having a blast.
-->(Getting knocked down in ''XIII''): "That was a good one!"
* BonusBoss: Along with Iori in ''KOF '99''. You can fight him if your end points are over 280. [[DefeatMeansPlayable Win, and he becomes playable.]]
* BootstrappedTheme: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifG376LtUiM "Esaka?"]] from ''[='96=]'' is [[AwesomeMusic/{{SNK}} so popular a song]] that it's probably ''the'' song of the series. It has seen multiple renditions over the years, whether it's being used for the original Japan Team, Kyo's clones, or even as a bridge [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BSCSmji7OE in a completely different theme for Kyo.]]
* BorrowedCatchphrase: When performing his 524 Shiki Kamukura HSDM, Kyo utters one of [[TheRival Iori's]] signature catchphrases.
--> "Asobi wa owari da!" (Play time's over!).
* BringIt: Quite prevalent in many of his selection and pre-battle quotes, and one of his favorite ways to goad his opponent.
-->"Dokkara demo kina!" (Come at me however you want!)
* BroughtDownToNormal: A huge plot point in the [[spoiler:''KOF: KYO'' manga. Kyo has had some hidden insecurities about ''why'' he's fighting for for a short while, and while fighting Billy Kane his flames suddenly die out. He spends the following days in an HeroicBSOD-induced apathy, where not even Iori really wants to fight him since he's completely NotHimself, and from then on it went FromBadToWorse.]]
* BullyHunter: According to the ''KOF: KYO'' manga, this is how he started fighting.
* TheCameo: He appears in the background of KOF Stadium in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'' and has a spirit battle based on him; the fight in question includes two fighters based on his teammates, Benimaru and Daimon.
* CatchPhrase: "Heh heh, moetaro?" [[note]]"Heh heh, you burned?" ("Burn, baby, burn..." in the [[http://kofaniv.snkplaymore.co.jp/english/history/kof94_story/index.php English translation]] of the Hero Team's ''[='94=]'' story, "Feel the burn?" in the English dub of ''MI'')[[/note]] and "Ore no... kachi da!" [[note]]"This is... my victory!" ("Victory is mine!" in the [[http://kofaniv.snkplaymore.co.jp/english/history/kof97_story/index.php English translation]] of the Hero Team's ''[='97=]'' story, "I am the champion!" in the English dub of ''MI'')[[/note]]
* ChickMagnet:
** A somewhat muted example but he's in a relationship with Yuki, Athena (who is herself a DudeMagnet) is in love with him, and he gets a good amount of ship tease with others.
** He's apparently an out-of-universe example as well as creators note he's popular with female fans. They even designed a playable AudienceSurrogate for them named Cosplay Kyoko.
* CloningBlues: This gets done to him ''[[ExaggeratedTrope a lot]]''. There are at least half a dozen characters directly meant as duplicates as him, most of whom are clones from the NESTS saga (Kyo-1, Kyo-2, K', K9999, Nameless), but there's also Yata Mirror's duplicate (Kusanagi). (There's also Syo Kirishima, who was originally an unused prototype of Kyo until the KOF game designers decided to use him as a striker).
* CloseRangeCombatant: His '96 overhaul turns him into this, with his chain flaming punch specials that guarantees Kyo to try to get close to the opponent as much as possible.
* ClothesMakeTheLegend: Kyo is very recognizable as the schoolboy from the Orochi Saga. Most of his appearances outside of ''KOF'' have Kyo in his uniform as well. In fact, the creation of Kyo's clones were fueled by a desire among some of the developers to include Kyo's older and more iconic look. ''XIII'' also adds the outfit as one of regular Kyo's possible {{palette swap}}s, and ''XIV'' adds it as a pre-order bonus/DLC.
* ConfusionFu: His Aragami chain punches have multiple different follow-ups that could hit either mid, low or overhead, making blocking the attempt tricky.
* CostumeEvolution: He gets new garbs at the start of each saga. In the beginning, he has his trademark brown school uniform with a headband. At the start of NESTS saga, he changes it to a pair of jeans, white jacket and black inner shirt, as well as losing his headband. Come Tales of Ash, he changes his jacket to a black one with a white T-shirt. And ''XIV'' gives him a new jacket that's similar to the NESTS era one but with more pockets.
* DecoyProtagonist: Make no mistake, Kyo ''is'' the focal point character of the original few games. As the story moves between sagas, he loses focus and shifts in and out of the background, ultimately losing the protagonist spot to K', Ash, and Shun'ei. While Kyo is still an important player in the story (he's featured prominently on the cover of most of the games for a reason), he's now comfortably a SupportingProtagonist.
* DependingOnTheWriter: In ''XIII Climax'', NESTS!Kyo is portrayed to be slightly OlderAndWiser than normal!Kyo. For example, Kyo bluntly tells Leona to get out of the battlefield since "this is no place for those who can't control themselves", whereas NESTS!Kyo asks her if she's up for controlling her Orochi blood instead. [[ZigZaggingTrope Then again]], some of NESTS!Kyo's lines come across as more conceited than regular Kyo's, and thus reminiscent of his Orochi Saga self.
* [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu Did You Just Punch Out Orochi?]]: With the help of Iori and Chizuru, he takes out Orochi in The Three Sacred Treasures' ending in ''[='97=]''.
* DivergentCharacterEvolution:
** Although he's one of many examples (see Ryo/Robert, Ralf/Clark, Mature/Vice, etc.), his is perhaps the most notable. In ''[='95=]'', Kyo and Iori possessed similar movesets (this is justified in-story; their ancestors worked together to perfect their respective fighting styles together before the Kusanagi/Yasakani schism), giving them a MovesetClone relationship. In the following game, Kyo traded in his Yami Barai projectile for his now-trademark [[ElementalPunch flame-lanced chain of punches]] (this is presumably due to the CurbStompBattle he experienced at the hands of Goenitz in the interim between games). Currently (read: "up until ''XII''"), he and Iori share only ''one'' move.
** When Iori has lost his flames in ''XIII'' (and possesses a more physical moveset not unlike post-''[='95=]'' Kyo), Kyo's back to his original moveset.
* DownloadableContent: In ''XIII'', the "NESTS-style" Kyo, which is him with his more iconic Rekka-style combos. In ''XIV'', it's his classic high school garb.
* ElementalPunch: His very first one is his Oni Yaki special, a fiery uppercut move. Starting from ''96'', he gains more and more of these, the signature being "114 Shiki Aragami" (Roughly translates to "114th form: Wild Bite"), an attack with several follow-ups that defines his CloseRangeCombatant style.
* EvenTheGuysWantHim: Just watch his intro with Vega in the ''[[VideoGame/SNKVsCapcom Capcom vs. SNK]]'' games. Kyo is not honored in the slightest.
-->'''Vega''': "Hmm. Rather attractive. However you can't hold a candle to me."
-->'''Kyo''': "Shut yo' mouth! You silly narcissistic little fancy pants! I'm going to torch you to your bones!"
-->'''Vega''': "Heh, heh. Relax. You should take a break before I tear you to shreds, huh?"
-->'''Kyo''': "I've got stuff to do. I can't waste my time with freaks like you."
* EveryYearTheyFizzleOut: Although he and the original Team Japan won throughout the entire Orochi Saga (''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters94 '94]]''-''[='97=]''), with Kyo usually getting the credit [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu for single-handedly beating Orochi]], Kyo doesn't seem to have quite the same luck in either the NESTS or Tales of Ash sagas (''especially the latter''), despite being one of the most powerful fighters in TheVerse.
* FingerWag: His taunt. Originally, he'd only dental click while doing it ("Tsk tsk tsk"), although Kyo later says "Mou, oyasumi ka?" ("Oh, is it bedtime already?")
* FireIsRed: Supposedly. The flames of the Kusanagi clan are usually referred to as "crimson", but appear in-game as orange, similar to how the cursed blue flames of Orochi (see: Iori, Orochi Chris) are depicted as purple.
* FunWithAcronyms: His 707 Shiki: Komahofuri is alternatively known as the R.E.D ('''R'''ainbow '''E'''nergy '''D'''ynamite) Kick.
* GroundWave: His Yami Barai special (when he has it) is a flame projectile that travels along the ground.
* GuestFighter: For ''VideoGame/LostSaga'', ''VideoGame/BraveFrontier'', and more.
* HellbentForLeather: Many of his costumes incorporate some kind of leather garment to emphasize his scrappy, BloodKnight attitude. His ''XII''-''XV'' designs all give him leather jackets for example.
* TheHero: Of the Orochi Saga and the entire King of Fighters franchise.
* TheHerosIdol: Kyo attracts a passionate fanbase due to his victories in the [=KOF=] tournament, including series fighter Shingo Yabuki. Shingo goes so far as to study Kyo's family style of martial arts, training under the latter's father Saisyu. Kyo and Shingo become good friends, and Kyo even invites him to join his team on several teams.
* HighSchoolSweethearts: A BelligerentSexualTension-filled example with Yuki. Despite Yuki [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome largely disappearing from the supporting cast in later installments]], she and Kyo are going steady to this day.
* ImageSong: Several. The main ones fans request for Masahiro Nonaka to sing are [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUEgKetLS3U "Burning Devotion!"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zZSg6EKgD0 "Pieces."]] God forbid that you get him and Creator/KunihikoYasui (Iori) in the same room or less the fans will clamor that they sing their ''dual'' image song, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvEf6CbB4bw "The Sun & The Moon."]]
* IntergenerationalFriendship: With Daimon, who is roughly 8-9 years older than he is.
* IntergenerationalRivalry: With several older fighters like Terry and Ryo. He especially loves to goad Terry to get the most out of their fights.
-->'''Terry''': "Hey, what's happenin', man? Hope your precious flames haven't started gutterin' out yet!"\\
'''Kyo''': "You want to know how my flames are doing? Why don't [[BadassBoast I shove them down your throat, then?]]"\\
'''Terry''': "Wow! Someone got out of the wrong side of bed today! This is gonna be a really heated battle!"
* ItsPersonal:
** He suffers a painful defeat by Goenitz, prompting Kyo to spend time training himself and developing new techniques to eventually defeat Goenitz.
** In ''XIII'', he's determined to get back at Ash for the latter almost killing Chizuru and triggering Iori's Blood Riot which almost kills Shingo.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Kyo is cocky, fight-happy, rebellious and '''really''' full of himself, but his heart is very much in the right place and he does love his family and friends in his own way. (And in ''KOF:KYO'' he seems to have some hidden insecurities as well, [[spoiler:which leave him open to almost losing himself to the dark side]].) Lampshaded in said manga:
-->'''Yuki:''' "He's just a guy who gets flaming mad at times."
-->'''Sanae:''' "That's why everyone's afraid of him. They're just too scared to speak to him!"
* LastNameBasis: He almost always refers to Iori Yagami by his last name. It's especially notable since he doesn't address him with honorifics for that matter, not holding him in high regard either.
* LightningFireJuxtaposition: he's the fire to Benimaru's lightning.
* LivingMacGuffin: He becomes this post Orochi saga. He is used by the NESTS cartel to make clones (one of them being K'), which starts the ''[='99=]''-''2001'' arc. The Tales of Ash saga revolves around Ash seeking to steal the three Sacred Treasures, one of them being within Kyo.
* MartialArtsHeadband:
** Wore one until the start of the NESTS saga (not counting his Another Kyo striker in ''KOF '99''). He burns his headband in a few ''KOF '99'' opening poses in order to distinguish himself from his clones. He finally puts it back on for ''KOF XV''.
** He kept on wearing it (along with his "classic" school uniform) in several spin-off games until ''Neo Geo Battle Coliseum'', in which he appears with his NESTS Saga outfit, thereby ditching it for good (also because the outfit went to his alternate version, Kusanagi).
* {{Mascot}}: Not just of ''KOF'', but as one of SNK's biggest poster children along the likes of Terry and Athena. Even when he's not the lead character, Kyo's still featured prominently on promotional material for newer sagas, and is his developer's rep for ''VideoGame/SNKVsCapcom'' opposite to [[Charatcers/StreetFighterRyu Ryu]].
* MeaningfulName: The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kusanagi Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi]] is a sword that the sea and storm god Susano'o found inside of the Yamata no Orochi's body after slaying the great beast. Guess what Kyo ''Kusanagi'' does to ''Orochi'' at the climax of ''[='97=]''.
** His [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVI1M1VlhS8 Neo MAX]] in ''XIII'' is named the Ura 121 Shiki Ame-no-Murakumo, the "Ame no Murakumo" being the former name of the Kusanagi sword.
** The NESTS incarnation of him in the same game has [[https://youtu.be/a_bWgBOypY8?t=1068 a different Neo MAX]] named "Saishuu Kessen Hiougi: Totsuka", which is the sword Susano'o used to slay Orochi.
** His [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMmb9ivtD50 Climax Super]] in ''XIV'' is named Ura 1127 Shiki Yaegaki. Yaegaki Shrine is the place where Kushinada hid from the Yamata-no-Orochi.
* MegatonPunch: Gains one from ''[='99=]'' onwards in the form of his 182 Shiki. This is presumably a ContinuityNod to the killing blow Kyo landed on Orochi.
** The end of his Mu Shiki DM (not the SDM version, though) ends with one also. since they're also [[PunchedAcrossTheRoom sent flying]].
** ''XIII'' gives him (to be exact, NESTS!Kyo) another one as his Neo MAX named Totsuka, a punch so powerful it causes a screen-filling fiery explosion.
* MovesetClone: With Iori, but only in '95. Justified as the Kusanagi and Yasakani clans built their fighting styles together. In the games after that, Kyo starts to differentiate by using his trademark chain punches.
* MundaneWish: According to one of the endings of ''XIII'' his great TragicDream is to... graduate from high school.
* NeckLift: Kyo's Crescent Moon Flash/Crescent Slash (212 Shiki Kototsuki Yo) has him charging the opponent with a running elbow to the stomach, followed by Kyo hoisting them up by the neck and, finally, [[StuffBlowingUp lighting them up like a Christmas tree]].
-->'''Kyo''': "'''MOERO!'''" [[note]]"Burn!"[[/note]]
* NonIndicativeName: Halfway there. NESTS-Style Kyo may wear the threads from his ''[='99=]''-''2002'' days, but his playstyle is primarily based on that of ''[='98=]''!Kyo.
* NotSoDifferentRemark:
** Although semi-canon at best, other media adaptations (most notably the ''[='98=]'' drama CD, ''KOF: Kyo'', and the Hong Kong manhua) insinuate that should the Kusanagi [[BrainwashedAndCrazy lose themselves]] [[EnemyWithin to their darker side]], they'll end up just like the followers of Orochi.
** He and Joe quip with each other about how similar their desire to fight is.
->Kyo: "So... uh... Are you sure that leaving the Muay Thai ring was such a good idea? You could've been an undefeated champ if you'd just kept fighting in the Muay Thai ring..."\\
Joe: "And you'd be undefeated if you just sat around protecting your ancient rituals. You're here for the same reason as I am. We both need to test ourselves against the best of the best!"\\
Kyo: "I hate to admit it, but you're probably right!"
* OhCrap: A big one dawns on him at the end of his ''Maximum Impact'' story. Why? He forgot to call Yuki.
* OldShame: InUniverse. He doesn't like being reminded of never having graduated high school. Some supplementary art pokes fun at the fact by having him daydreaming of finally graduating.
-->'''Chin''': "I'm just saying, you shouldn't worry about repeating a school year five or ten times. You'll get it eventually. Everything in its own time."\\
'''Kyo''': "Why you! I hate when you act like you're going to say something wise, but it's really just a wisecrack! Bring it on, gramps!"
* TheOnlyOneAllowedToKillYou: ''XIII'' in a nutshell. Kyo is ''very'' fervent about making sure that he's the one who'll give Ash his just desserts, leading to him butting heads with several other competitors, including Athena (who calls him out on trying to shoulder all of the burden when he has friends who are willing to help), Kensou (who both wants to use his new powers and thinks similarly to Athena), and Elisabeth (who has the same mindset when it comes to dealing with Ash).
* PillarOfLight: More like Pillar of Fire, but still, his Mu Shiki DM has him start doing this before doing multiple punches. His Neo MAX in XIII, Ama-no-Murakumo, has him create multiple flame pillars.
* PlayingWithFire: Comes from his HeroicLineage. He incorporates his flames in various martial arts moves like his flame "rekka", Oniyaki, and Crescent Moon Flash. He can also simply fire a massive blast of flame as a super move.
* PowerEchoes: Most versions of his Mu Shiki DM have an echo effect. Canonically, the Mu Shiki is believed to be Kyo's strongest skill (Clone Zero even used its data for the Zero Cannon).
* PrettyBoy: Naturally, with his looks. Several characters taunt him in-game using this as an insult.
* PungeonMaster: Quite fond of making all sorts of quips pertaining to his natural element.
* SchoolUniformsAreTheNewBlack: He's entered several tournaments while in uniform. When Kyo stopped wearing his school clothes in ''[='99=]'', his ''clones'' picked up the slack.
* ScrewDestiny: While Kyo does go on to defeat {{Orochi}} [[YouCantFightFate just as]] [[HistoryRepeats his ancestor did]], Kyo himself refuses to believe that his feud with Iori is influenced by the [[KillEmAll ancient war]] [[FeudingFamilies between the Kusanagi and Yasakani]]. Basically, he wants to just live his life as a fighter, but if others seek him out and/or harm someone who's at least mildly close to him (like Saisyu in ''[='95=]'', Yuki in ''[='97=]'' or [[spoiler:Chizuru]] in ''2003''), he just will fight back so they'll leave him and his loved ones alone.
* SendInTheClones: Used as SelfDeprecation in regards to the NESTS Chronicles. ''XI'' has Kyo making a jab at the ludicrous number of clones he's picked up over the years, almost to a OnceDoneNeverForgotten degree.
-->'''Kyo''': "Another clone? There's enough of me to start a baseball team!"
* {{Shoryuken}}: His Oniyaki special, a spinning fist attack that sets his opponent ablaze.
* {{Shotoclone}}: Somewhat, during his first appearances (and by proxy, in ''XII'' and ''XIII''). With Yami Barai as the projectile move, Oni Yaki as the uppercut move, and Oboroguruma as a (sort of) flying kick move.
* SignatureMove: His Oni Yaki, 75 Shiki Kai and Orochinagi are the only moves of his that he retains in all games.
* TheSlacker: Never graduated from high school. "Effort" is even listed as his dislike in his bio. Lampshaded more than once in the games. [[RunningGag He gets pissed off every time this is brought up.]]
* SNKBoss: Along with Iori in ''KOF '99'', Kyo is more difficult than Krizalid and Iori himself because the artificial intelligence is improved, compared to the other editions, responding better to each advance of the player and using his SDM when he has the best opportunity[[note]]Stun[[/note]].
* SolarAndLunar: Represents the sun, in contrast to Iori's moon-related imagery.
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: His first name is written as "Kyo", "Kyō" or "Kyou".
* TeenGenius: He's said to have properly dominated his pyrokinetic powers ''and'' surpassed his father's own skills when he was 15 years old (which is also the time when [[spoiler:Souji almost lost himself to his darker side and thus asked Kyo to replace him as the family leader]]). He became the winner of the All-Japan Martial Arts Tournament at age 18, and the Team Japan leader at age 19. The rest is history. [[RunningGag About his school life, though...]]
* TeethClenchedTeamwork: It's not exactly easy to fight alongside a guy who unreasonably hates your guts, but if the Orochi is involved, it's time to throw the feud aside and help Chizuru out.
* ThemeNaming:
** More often than not, his theme song will have the word "Esaka" in it. This is also symbolic to fans of the series, as Esaka refers to the locale of the old SNK headquarters.
** Also, his special moves more often than not starts with "(number) Shiki".
* ThreeStrikeCombo: His "flame punch rekka" specials are typically 3 strikes, except for the Dokugami chain which has 4 strikes. His HK version of Oboroguruma also has him do 3 kicks instead of 1 (the LK version).
* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Broiled fish. Lampshaded in ''XIII'' when he taunts K's via theorizing that [[PerpetualFrowner he's always grumpy]] because [[RealMenEatMeat he eats too much red meat]] and telling him to eat fish instead; K' is obviously not amused.
* UnusualEuphemism: ''2002'' has Kyo prattling on about "the pepper" in his win quote. The Japanese equivalent is more along the lines of his trademark "Moetaro" ("You [got] burned") line.
* VitriolicBestBuds: With Benimaru. The two clearly care for each other, but also love to goad one another with fihgting words.
-->Benimaru: "Are you sure you're okay, Kyo?"\\
'''Kyo''': "Hm? What are you talking about?"\\
'''Benimaru''': "Your wounds. You escaped from the hospital before they treated you, am I right?"\\
'''Kyo''': "What, you don't trust me? I'm telling you not to worry. I'll be fine."\\
'''Benimaru''': "Well, I'm not exactly worried, per se... I just don't want you making excuses if you cause us to lose. It makes us all look bad."\\
'''Kyo''': "Oh, so you're a comedian, are you? Well, why don't you take me on, huh!?"\\
'''Benimaru''': "Don't mind if I do! Show me perfection, Kyo!"\\
-Team Japan's intro in ''XIII''
%%** Also with Kensou in ''KOF: KYO'', to a smaller degree.
* VocalEvolution: Kyo sounds more laid-back and relaxed in later games (as compared to his almost HotBlooded characterization at the beginning of the Orochi Saga) and his voice has grown somewhat deeper to match this, perhaps to show [[CharacterDevelopment his maturity over the years]]. Nonaka has said he feels slightly detached and disappointed by this, as he saw his younger days in Kyo's more cocksure personality.
* WarriorPoet: Literally. Poetry is a hobby of Kyo's. [[RunningGag Though he's not too good at it]], and it may explain his moveset naming since ''[='96=]'' [[RuleOfCool via his own tastes]].
* WolverinePublicity: As the face of ''KOF'', Creator/{{SNK}} has pushed him to the forefront of many of their biggest products. Not only is he in every mainlines ''KOF'' title, but also most crossovers and [[GuestFighter promotional tie-ins]]. This is even {{Lampshade}}d in his battle with Terry in ''XIII''.
-->'''Kyo''': "Man, you are here every single time, aren't you? Are you going for a perfect attendance record or something?"\\
'''Terry''': "Not really. [[SpiritedCompetitor It's just that when I hear lots of strong people are getting together, I really have to join!]]"\\
'''Kyo''': "You're a sick individual, Terry... And I don't think there's a cure."\\
'''Terry''': "[[HypocriticalHumor Don't act like you're any different!]] I keep running into you here every time too!"
* WreathedInFlames: His SDM version of Orochinagi (except in ''XIII'' and ''XIV'') has him being covered in his own fire; the opponent who tries to attack him while he charges the move may get damaged by his burning body before he unleashes it. Also done in his Mu Shiki DM.
* YouDontLookLikeYou: His design in ''XIV'' is so different from usual that some assumed he was a brand new character at first, what with ditching his trademark NinetiesHair for something described as akin to a K-pop idol's, going from muscular to [[{{Bishonen}} slender and feminine-looking]], and for a time even changing his hair color completely. Oddly enough, the concept art for him still has him resembling his usual self even with the hair change.

%% Don't add Expy here. It's already in the ShoutOut page.

* {{Mascot}}: Not just of ''KOF'', but as one of SNK's biggest poster children along the likes of Terry and Athena. Even when he's not the lead of character, Kyo's still featured prominently on promotional material for newer sagas, and is his developer's rep for ''VideoGame/SNKVsCapcom'' opposite to [[Charatcers/StreetFighterRyu Ryu]].

* {{Mascot}}: Not just of ''KOF'', but as one of SNK's biggest poster children along the likes of Terry and Athena. Even when he's not the lead of character, Kyo's still featured prominently on promotional material for newer sagas, and is his developer's rep for ''VideoGame/SNKVsCapcom'' opposite to [[Charatcers/StreetFighterRyu]].

''Characters/TheKingOfFightersXIV''\\

In ''XIV'', Kyo learns that a friend of Saisyu, Tung Fu Rue, is participating in the tournament with some new students. Kyo is asked to participate in order to 'show the ropes' to these newcomers, and reforms Team Japan. In XV, though initially having been requested to join Team Hero after the last tournament, the presence of the newly ressurected Team Orochi was a cause of concern for Kyo, and so at the request of Chizuru, reforms Team Sacred Treasures with Iori to figure out what exactly they are up to, sending Benimaru in his place.

-> In ''XIV'', he and his teammates heard rumors about a fake Kyokugenryu school. To clear the legitimacy of the Kyokugenryu school, Ryo entered the King of Fighters tournament.

In ''XIV'', Kyo learns that a friend of Saisyu, Tung Fu Rue, is participating in the tournament with some new students. Kyo is asked to participate in order to 'show the ropes' to these newcomers.

* AdaptationalNiceGuy: In the games and every other media he's featured in, he's always cocky, fight-happy, rebellious and really full of himself. In Destiny though, despite these afformentioned traits still being present, he's more noble, shows great respect to Master Chin, and is less of a jerk towards the others (he was never respectful to him or anyone higher than him), putting him near Terry levels of NiceGuy by comparison.

->Despite being associated with the original Team Japan, Benimaru often finds himself teaming up with other fighters, teaming up with K`, Maxima and Shingo in '99, Shingo and Seth in 2000 and Elizabeth and Duo Lon in XI. As a result, he's also the fighter who has the most KOF wins. In XV, he finds himself with yet another team, this time with the new Hero Team alongside Shun'ei and Meitenkun.

* LastNameBasis: He almost never call Iori by his given name, instead using his surname (Yagami) to refer to him.

* LivingMacGuffin: He becomes this post Orochi saga. He is used by the NESTS cartel to make clones (one of them being K'), which starts the ''[='99=]''-''[=2001=]'' arc. The Tales of Ash saga revolves around Ash seeking to steal the three Sacred Treasures, one of them being within Kyo.

** You could also argue that the end of his Mu Shiki DM (not the SDM version, though) ends with one also. At the very least, [[PunchedAcrossTheRoom they're sent flying]].

* LastNameBasis: He and Iori almost never call each other by their given names, instead using to surnames to refer to each other.

* OutOfFocus: Goro's involvement in the story typically comes down to rather Kyo reforms "Team Japan" or not. In the games he does (''99'', ''2000'', ''XI, and ''XV'') Benimaru will join a new team while Goro stays out of the story. In the case of ''2000'', he was only brought in as an AssistCharacter.

* FingerlessGloves: Always a part of his outfits.

* FingerlessGloves: Not unlike Kyo. He sports them beginning from the ''NESTS Saga''.

''Characters/TheKingOfFightersTheTalesOfAsh'': ''[[Characters/TheKingOfFighters2003 KOF 2003]]'' ([[Characters/TheKingOfFightersAshCrimson Ash Crimson]]) | ''[[Characters/TheKingOfFightersXI KOF XI]]''\\

''Characters/TheKingOfFightersTheTalesOfAsh'': ''[[Characters/TheKingOfFighters2003 KOF 2003]]'' | ''[[Characters/TheKingOfFightersXI KOF XI]]''\\

''Characters/TheKingOfFightersTheTalesOfAsh''\\

''Characters/TheKingOfFightersTheNESTSChronicles'': ''[[Characters/TheKingOfFighters99 KOF '99]]'' | ''[[Characters/TheKingOfFighters2000 KOF 2000]]''\\

''Characters/TheKingOfFightersTheNESTSChronicles'': ''[[Characters/TheKingOfFighters99 KOF '99]]''\\

* AbsenteeActor: He's completely absent in ''KOF XI''.

* CreepyCoolCrosses: His outfit during the NESTS saga had a black shirt with two pairs of perpendicular white lines forming a cross on his chest.

* GuestFighter: In ''VideoGame/XuanDouZhiWang'' alongside Terry.

->'''Fighting Style''': Kusanagi-style ancient martial arts + Chinese boxing (Kempo)

->'''Fighting Style''': Shoot-boxing

->'''Fighting Style''': Judo

->'''Fighting Style''': "Martial arts" (based on his father's and Tung's, later self-taught)

->'''Fighting Style''': Koppo + Ninjutsu (Shiranui-style)

->'''Fighting Style''': Muay Thai

->'''Fighting Style''': Kyokugen-style Karate

->'''Fighting Style''': Kyokugen-style Karate

->'''Fighting Style''': Kyokugen-style Karate