Kyo Kusanagi (草薙くさなぎ 京きょう) is the titular protagonist in SNK's The King of Fighters series. He was first introduced in The King of Fighters '94 as the leader of the Japan Team. He is the rival of Iori Yagami.

Kyo is a cocky delinquent high school student who is the heir of the Kusanagi Clan, one of the three clans that sealed the legendary snake entity, Orochi, 1800 years ago. His clan wields pyrokinetic powers, an inherited power that few members obtain. They, along with the Yasakani and Yata 