Hyou

Hyo (ヒョウ) is Kenshiro's biological elder brother and a descendant of the Hokuto ancestry bloodline. Even when Kenshiro was an infant, Hyo knew his brother would be the star of the Hokuto Shinken style. He therefore entrusted his brother to a younger Raoh and Toki, promising to one day teach Kenshiro the secrets of the Hokuto ancestors by learning the Hokuto Ryuseiken at Shura. During his training under Jyukei, his mentor deemed Hyo's kindness to be an inhibition to his true potential. He therefore erased Hyo's memories with his techniques.

Serving under Kaioh as his second in command, Hyo is known as a ruthless warrior. Jyukei, who regretted his actions of the past, confronts Hyo in an attempt to restore his memories. He presses the pressure point, but it fails to take full effect. Confused by the fragments of his past, Kaioh desires to restore his hatred by murdering Hyo's lover, Sayaka. Kaioh lies that Kenshiro is responsible, causing Hyo to be overcome with rage. Kaioh is pleased since the brothers' death match means the death of the Hokuto ancestry line, the greatest threat against him.

As an enraged Hyo fights against Kenshiro, Shachi eventually finishes what Jyukei failed to do and Hyo's memories are restored. Reuniting with his younger brother, Hyo tells Kenshiro their ancestor's holy resting place which would entrust their art's greatest technique to him. Seeking to redeem himself, he then join forces with Bat to rescue Rin and oppose Kaioh. In the climax of Kenshiro's fight with Kaioh, Hyo tackles Kaioh into a pool of lava. He apologizes for his weaknesses to Kenshiro, his corpse fossilizing into a rock statue with Kaioh.

Fighting Style
Hokuto Ryuken is a centuries old assassination technique that was devised during the Three Kingdoms era. It was originally made to protect Liu Bei, whereas the Hokuto Shinken once protected Cao Cao. Throughout the centuries, the martial art was led astray into the arts of darkness. The users of the art can distort their fighting aura to oppress their competition, even capable of manipulating their opponent's movements. Non-fighters feel helpless against it, unable to move or even breathe against it. If needed the aura can be projected to form a nigh impenetrable barrier around the fighter to defy his opponent's attacks.

In the game, Hyo is essentially an expy of Kenshiro in both fighting style and appearance like the original comic. Hisashi Koinuma remarked that it was troubling to devise attacks to differentiate them.