Benimaru is a member of the KOF "Hero Team" and one of the original protagonists of the King of Fighters series. He is born of half-Japanese and American descent, and wears a waist-length sleeveless top with matching jeans/pants.
Benimaru Nikaido (二階堂 紅丸) debuted as one of the members of the "Japan Team" in The King of Fighters '94 (also composed with Kyo Kusanagi and Goro Daimon). This Team was renamed "Hero Team" the next year and kept that name through the whole Orochi Saga.
Benimaru is a young son of a multi-millionaire family. He is a professional fighter and part-time professional modeler who is very confident in his abilities. When Japan held a tournament for their country's representative team in the King of Fighters, Benimaru entered and made it to the finals. Despite his experience, he lost to newcomer Kyo Kusanagi and earned second place.[1] He and Kyo enter the 1994 KoF tournament with the third place contestant, Goro Daimon. Eventually, they reach the finals and defeat Rugal, who self destructs the carrier and is presumed dead. He and his team were invited to the KOF 95' tournament hosted by Rugal whom they thought died during KOF 94'. Once they reach the finals Rugal defeats them with ease, but the Orochi power he possessed weakened him and Iori killed Rugal. Sometime after the 95' tournament he and Kyo were ambushed by Goenitz, leaving them injured severely. In the KOF 96' tournament they cross paths with Goenitz once again but this time they defeated him. After Goenitz's suicide Benimaru decides to re-enter KOF one last time, or so he thought. In the 97' tournament Benimaru participated in the first 8 matches but when Kyo had to team up with Iori and Chizuru, he and Daimon abandoned the tournament. After the tournament and Kyo's disappearance Benimaru and Goro go in their separate ways.