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RYUJI YAMAZAKI                                                                          
"Two Dragons beyond the Mountain"
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Birthplace:             Japan                                                                    
Birthdate:              August 8, 1964 (35 years old)
Height:                 1.92 m (6'3")                                                          
Weight:                 96 kg (209 lbs)
Blood type:             A                                                                            
Hobbies:                Collecting knives
Favorite food:          Basashi                                                                  
Favorite sport:         None
Most valuable:          Anything that financially benefits him            
Hates the most:         Labor
Fighting style:         Self-taught brawling skills

	Ryuji Yamazaki is a man with a tormented past. Ever since he was young, 
Yamazaki had no parents to look up to, so he became a dweller in the streets of 
Hong Kong, trying to survive in the harsh life of the streets, escaping from the 
dangers of crime and weather. That is, until Yamazaki met a very powerful man, 
respected in the criminal circles of Hong Kong. Seeing a spirit and 
determination in Yamazaki's eyes, this man takes the little boy with him, and 
soon, Yamazaki becomes acquainted with the criminal activities that happen in 
Hong Kong. 
	Yamazaki grew up to be the right man of this mysterious fellow. He 
certainly was not wrong about him: Yamazaki sported a cunning sense of crime, 
and was also very skilled in using his trusty knife, his eternal partner. 
Yamazaki also likes to dress with class, and have the highest priorities. This 
all changed when Yamazaki and his boss went to strike a deal with another gang. 
Yamazaki felt something was terribly wrong, but his boss discarded it as a 
simple premonition. Yamazaki was right, as the rival gang ambushed them, and the 
results were terrible. Yamazaki's boss and benefactor, who was almost like his 
father, was killed in the ambush. This turned out to be fatal for Yamazaki, who 
then became a crazy, sadistic maniac, who loves to torture and make his victimes 
suffer before they finally die. With his maniac laugh and dirty tricks, Yamazaki 
will do anything to win, even if the opponent is killed in the outcome. 
	Since then, Yamazaki has worked as an assasin for hire. He has worked for 
many powerful crime leaders, and they have been more than satisfied with 
Yamazaki's work...even more than they expect to. That is because Yamazaki takes 
pleasure in killing people and making them suffer, and his salary is not bad, 
either. One day, he was signed up by the two Jin twins (Jin Chonrei and Jin 
Chonshu), to protect them and the scrolls of inmortality. After that job, 
Yamazaki kept working upon other people's lives. However, taking some time for 
himself, Yamazaki went to a local dojo, and found a lot of competition there. He 
dedicated himself to have a good time and trash the fighters. As he was having 
some fun, Yamazaki was faced by Billy Kane, personal bodyguard of Geese Howard, 
main crime leader of Southtown. Billy offers Yamazaki to join him and 
participate in the King of Fighters tournament. Yamazaki refuses at first, but 
after terribly mauling one of the warriors, he felt a adrenaline rush through 
his blood. It was as if he was excited to meet some worthy fighters for him to 
demolish. Feeling a need to fight and kill, Yamazaki accepts Billy's offer, and 
Billy offers to Yamazaki double the amount of the prize money if he wins. 
	Yamazaki fights in the tournament, and both Billy and Blue Mary (his other 
partner) notice how Yamazaki goes more and more berserk. His thirst for blood 
becomes more and more uncontrollable. He is seemed to be lured by something, and 
when the Orochi New Face Team finally appears, they reveal that Yamazaki is of 
Orochi blood! That surely explains his violent attitude and pleasure in killing. 
However, Yamazaki refuses to obey the Orochi as he does not like to follow other 
person's orders. However, after the tournament, the Orochi blood in Yamazaki's 
veins finally awakens, and goes to Geese's office to demand his pay!
	Yamazaki is a man propense towards violence, and loves to kill his 
opponents with sadism. He even doesn't care if he takes a hit or two to make the 
opponent suffer! He loves to use dirty tricks such as wielding his sharp knife 
and kicking sand in the opponent's eyes. He also works only for those who can 
reach his price. However, far beyond the money, Yamazaki loves the smell of 
blood and the sound of broken bones!

*Fun fact = Yamazaki, after KOF '97, does not seem to adopt a Riot of Blood form 
like Iori and Leona do. Maybe it is because he is so familiar to violence that 
he has already adopted his Orochi blood as part of himself?

Appearances: The King of Fighters '97, The King of Fighters '98
Other games: Fatal Fury 3: Road to Final Victory, Real Bout: Fatal Fury, Real 
Bout: Fatal Fury Special, Real Bout: Fatal Fury 2