Hakkesshu

The Hakkesshu (八傑集 or 八傑衆, Haketsushu), also spelled as "Hakkeshu" or "Haketsu", is the name of the followers of Orochi in The King of Fighters series of fighting games. They are also sometimes called "Yamata no Orochi".

Story
In ancient times, there was a divine being calling itself "Gaia's Will", Orochi. Gathering worthy servants to its cause, Orochi's clan continued to protect earth for centuries. The clan's eight strongest followers were called the Hakkesshu and the four wielding exceptional powers were known as Heavenly Kings. As civilizations grew, nature began to suffer and the natural balance in the world began to collapse due to humanity's hand.

1800 years ago, Orochi could no longer tolerate the destruction and wanted to completely wipe humanity from existence. The Orochi clan and the human race waged war until the Kusanagi, Yata, and the Yasakani defeated him with three mystical treasures. The Hakkeshu and Orochi were defeated and sealed.

660 years later, their master's seal began to weaken. The three clans decided to move its vessel into another location. The Hakkesshu, who were sealed separately, used this chance to free themselves. While the three clans were creating a new seal, one of the Hakkesshu sowed discord between them by killing the Yasakani leader's wife. Under a disguise, the murderer then approached the Yasakani head and reported that the Kusanagi clan was responsible, saying that it was "atonement" for letting the seal weaken. To add more fuel to the fire, the corpse of his wife was found in the Kusanagi homeland. Angered by the revelation, the Yasakani made a blood pact with Orochi to gain the necessary means for revenge. Gaining the forbidden technique, Maiden Masher, the Yasakani renamed themselves as the Yagami clan.

Since Orochi continues to feel hatred for mankind years later, with constant intent to punish and destroy humans in spite of being from divine origins, the Hakkesshu is generally considered to be a force of antagonism. Their mission to someday resurrect their lord continues in the King of Fighters series.

The Hakkeshu has a western counterpart, in the embodiment of Those from the Past, having identical interest in Orochi.

Members

 * The Eight Heads of Orochi - The eight strongest warriors with exceptionally strong spiritual powers. Each one was assigned with one of Orochi's powers. They are repeatedly reincarnated throughout the ages in different parts of the world, always in search of Orochi's seal.
 * Leopold Goenitz - Wind: can control the currents of the wind. (Presumed defeated and dead as of KOF96)
 * Yashiro Nanakase - Earth: has power over the earth (Sacrificed himself in KOF97)
 * Shermie - Lightning: can use electric currents (Sacrificed herself in KOF97)
 * Chris - Flame: can control blue tinted flames (Sacrificed himself in KOF97)
 * Mature - Light: heighten raw instinct (Killed by Iori in KOF96, can manifest a solid form using shadows)
 * Vice - Death: unmatched physical strength (Killed by Iori in KOF96, can manifest a solid form using shadows)
 * Ryuji Yamazaki - Darkness: increased brutality with unknown results (it should be noted that Yamazaki has no interest in resurrecting Orochi. Normally, Orochi bloodline members of this mindset are eliminated, like Gaidel, but Yamazaki is too strong for any of the other members to take on. He is something of a "Wild Card". The only pure Hakkesshu alive currently.)
 * Gaidel - Claw: slashing energy (Killed by his own daughter Leona under Goenitz's influence)
 * Nothingness / Matter - Assigned to no one, Orochi uses this power to appear in the physical realm. Rugal tried to claim this power for his own but couldn't contain it.


 * The Four Heavenly Kings of Orochi (四天王, Shiten Ou) - The four strongest warriors in the Hakkesshu among The Eight Heads. They control elements of nature, posses some of Orochi's original abilities, and can activate the Riot of the Blood in people who are susceptible to it. Orochi can probably incarnate in them, as he did with Chris.
 * Leopold Goenitz
 * Yashiro Nanakase
 * Shermie
 * Chris