Kyo Kusanagi
Chizuru Kagura, the sub-boss in the previous game, takes Kasumis place in the Women Fighters Team, while Geese Howard's underling Billy Kane, who previously participated in "The King of Fighters '95" tournament, returns to join forces with female agent Blue Mary and wanted felon Ryuji Yamazaki (both from "Fatal Fury 3") to form the unlikely "'97 Special Team". Iori returns as a Team Edit character along with Shingo Yabuki, a high school student who patterns his fighting style after his idol and reluctant mentor Kyo Kusanagi. An alternative version of Kyo with his pre-"KOF '96" moveset also appears as a hidden character.