Ryu's Gang

Ryu's Gang (竜軍団) is a group of delinquents led by Umemiya Ryunosuke at the beginning of the series.

About
Ryu's Gang consists of people without jobs. They are always on the lookout for the Best Place.

Meeting Yoh
The gang first appears at the cemetery, which is their best place during that time. Ryu destroys the tombstone of Amidamaru because he thinks that there is no curse. Oyamada Manta eavesdrops on the gang's meeting, but gets caught by them and they beat him up because they think that he is the brat that is trespassing on their territory. The next day, Yoh comes to the cemetery to avenge Manta. Ryu sends Apache and Space Shot to attack him, but Yoh uses Hyoi-Gattai with Amidamaru to defeat them. Ryu attacks Yoh but is defeated by him.

Meeting with Tokageroh
After trying to "woo" Kyōyama Anna, Ryu, and his gang go to their new Best Place which is the abandoned Funbari Bowling ally, where he cries and believes the "Headphones Kid", is always ruining his life. later on, Ryu gets possessed by Tokageroh who offers him a chance to get revenge and get payback on Yoh. At the same time, Tokageroh wants revenge on Amidamaru. The possessed Ryu breaks into the museum, and steals the Harusame, at the same time he kidnaps Oyamada Manta.

He confronts Yoh and Amidamaru, and orders Amidamaru to integrate with his master so they can fight. He tricks Amidamaru into attacking the Harusame and fights back with a technique called "Tokage-Kenpo" (Lizard Style). Tokageroh mocks Amidamaru saying that the same sword that was supposed to save him will take his life instead this time. After remembering how much Harusame was important, Amidamaru breaks the Harusame and Tokageroh is surprised. Yoh says that Tokageroh had already lost, because of Amidamaru's long-life commitment to his friend Mosuke. He tells him that he should rest in peace and move on. Tokageroh refuses and says he'll die and Amidamaru with him. Ryu's gang then attack him and say that they don't want Ryu to become a scumbag, and they'll always be friends with Ryu no matter what happens.

Soon after, Tokageroh pulls out a knife and tries to kill Ryu, but the painful stress of two souls in one body makes him unable to control Ryu's body, he later discovers that if he doesn't leave Ryu's body than Ryu will die, but Tokageroh comfortable with that. Having no other option. Yoh offers Tokageroh to possess him, which he does. After saying it was foolish, Tokageroh tries to kill Yoh, but realities that he can't do that and he is being lectured again on how important trust is and being alone was painful for him, and after receiving trust from Yoh he doesn't need to take revenge, because he realized that revenge wasn't something he needed in the first place.

Shaman Fights in Tokyo
The next morning after the encounter with Tokageroh, Ryu repays his debt by becoming the Funbari Inn's chef. His gang members help clean the rooms and mow the lawn. They claim that this is their Best Place ever.

Sometime after Yoh's fight with Johann Faust VIII, Manta bumps into Ryu. Ryu reveals that his dream is to go to America and to be an apprentice at a sushi bar. He disbands his gang and they end up getting jobs. Ryu and Manta go to Izumo to find Yoh. Before Ryu goes to America, his old gang members write him a farewell card wishing him good luck on his journey as a shaman.

Anime/Manga Difference
The manga has a lot of members while in the anime, there are only ten members (including Ryu). Some of the members use knives in the manga. However, in the anime series, they use their fists.

Trivia

 * All of the members' nicknames are given by Ryu