Ryu Hayabusa (Japanese: 隼 龍 Hayabusa Ryū) is a superior shinobi, and the star of the Ninja Gaiden series. He first appeared in the original Ninja Gaiden (on NES, since the previously released Arcade game featured a nameless ninja as the protagonist) but later appeared as a consistent character in the Dead or Alive series (serving as a main protagonist in Dead or Alive 2), which sparked a renewal of the Ninja Gaiden franchise as well. A member of the Hayabusa clan’s head family, Hayabusa often takes on the leadership responsibilities of the clan and the protection of the Dragon Sword while his father Jô Hayabusa trains in the mountains. He was the winner of the second Dead or Alive Tournament.