As perhaps one of the most famous Shounen animes of the 90s, Yu Yu Hakusho was a pull-no-punches fighting anime that weaved complex character arcs and comedy through its vicious (and often gory) four-season run. It followed Spirit Detective Yusuke Urameshi as he attempted to protect the Human Realm from supernatural forces. In his travels, Urameshi formed a team with fellow human Kazuma Kuwabara and the demons Hiei and Kurama.

RELATED: Yu Yu Hakusho: 10 Beatdowns Yusuke Should Have Never Survived

An ancient fox-demon, Kurama hid his soul in the unborn child Shuichi Minamino after he fled to the Human Realm. The two more or less became one being, the red-headed Kurama featured most predominately in the series. He was quickly established as the most tactical fighter of Yusuke's allies - and arguably the entire series. Able to manipulate plant life using his demonic energy, Kurama's techniques were beautiful, deadly, and sometimes horrifying.

10 Okunenju Roots - Memory Recall Tree

Throughout the entirety of the series, Kurama's abilities are certainly impressive, but his manipulation of the Okunenju was definitely his greatest feat of power. Planted by his demon form, Yoko Kurama, the Okunenju took centuries to grow and required an immense amount of energy to utilize.

As part of The Three Kings Saga, Kurama entered the Demon World Tournament to fight for the throne. He found himself pitted against Shigure, a master warrior and surgeon who'd been responsible for implanting the Jagan eye on Hiei. In the anime only, Kurama eventually rejects his demonic form, which resulted in him taking several hits during the fight. Fortunately for the fox-demon, however, their battleground was right on top of the Okunenju he'd planted, and using his remaining energy, secured the win.

9 Death Tree

Still of Youko Kurama wielding the Death Tree on his arm

While it was only used once, Kurama's Death Tree is among his most deadly techniques, its spit capable of melting flesh and bone in a matter of seconds. Used during the Dark Tournament, the plant also marked the first appearance of Kurama's demon form.

Kurama's opponent, Ura Urashima, unleashed a specialized smoke that manipulated time, which was meant to revert Kurama to infancy. However, because of his several century-old demonic counterpart, Kurama was able to fight through his fox-demon form, making Ura quickly regret his decision.

8 Petals & Thorns

Rose petals swirling around Kurama as Karasu advances

Though Kurama's greatest displays of strength included the ability to shift terrain, he doesn't need large amounts of preparation or vast forests to work his magic. Even single blades of grass would be enough for Kurama to turn the tides of battle, able to manipulate his demonic energy through any plant he can get his hands on.

Notably, Kurama could even use the singular petals of his rose whips to attack his opponents. The petals would become razor-sharp, swirling around Kurama in a beautiful and deadly display capable of shredding unassuming enemies to bits.

7 Ojigi Plant - Demon Realm Bowing Grass

Following his fight with Urashima, Kurama became determined to understand exactly how he could unlock his demon form again, as he'd reverted to his human form once the smoke cleared. With help from Suzuki - who'd created the smoke for Urashima - Kurama obtains the Fruit of Previous Life Potion. Unsure if how potent it'd be, Kurama drank it minutes before the finals commenced.

RELATED: Yu Yu Hakusho: 10 Most Powerful Characters, Ranked

Though the potion took a bit to take effect, Yoko Kurama eventually emerged and was able to keep even with his opponent, Karasu. Quickly growing the Ojigi Plant, Yoko began to dominate the match. The plant responds very heavily to movement, aggressively lashing out at Karasu and constricting him in its choking petals.

6 Rose Whip Hair

One of Kurama's many opponents in the Dark Tournament was Gama, a demonic Shinobi with an affinity for makeup. Gama adorned himself with markings to increase his power, quickly striking at Kurama to prevent him from forming a plan. Furthermore, Gama immobilized Kurama's limbs with his specialized paint markings and prepared himself to kill the fox-demon.

Ever the strategist, Kurama manipulated his Rose Whip with his hair and slashed Gama to the point of near-death. It served as a reminder to both Kurama's foes and readers/viewers that he's always one step ahead no matter what.

5 Blood Drinking Weed

Despite the Ojigi Plant's strength, Karasu eventually escaped its confinement, albeit by releasing the full extent of his power. Suzuki's potion wore off soon after, and Kurama was once again at the mercy of the quest class demon.

In a last-ditch effort, Kurama accumulates the remainder of his energy to summon the plant and shoot it forward, impaling Karasu's chest and draining him of every last drop of blood before blossoming into a glittering rose.

4 Seed Of The Death Plant - Death Inviting Grass

Aside from Kurama's signature Rose Whip, his Death Plant seed was his most utilized weapon throughout the series. With either a distraction or enough brute force, Kurama can place the Death Plant inside his opponents' chest and subsequently manipulate the plant within using his demon energy.

RELATED: Yu Yu Hakusho: 10 Moments From The Series That Changed Everything

Kurama used it to kill Roto in the first round of the tournament and unsuccessfully tried to use it against Karasu. Additionally, Kurama planted the seed within his own bloodstream via an open wound so his energy could be released (having been sealed by Gama), using the plant as a makeshift blade to stab Toya.

3 Demonic Transformation

Yoko Kurama from Yu Yu Hakusho split image: First and Final battle in the Dark Tournament.

Long before the series's events, Kurama was a notorious criminal known as "The King Of Thieves" in both the Demon Realm and Spirit World. Living for hundreds of years, he was eventually injured by a warrior from the Spirit World during a heist and fled to the human world, losing much of his power.

At first, Kurama could not regain his demon form, even after the ten years he initially took to build back his strength. Even after the events of the Dark Tournament, it seemed that transforming completely into Yoko Kurama was impossible. At the end of the Chapter Black Saga, Kurama could fully transform for the first time on his own, albeit due to extreme stress and anger.

2 Sinning Tree

Elder Toguro in the snares of Kurama's Sinning Tree in Yu Yu Hakusho.

Throughout the series, Kurama is mocked by other demons for his sympathy towards humans, believing that his attachments made him weak. This proved to be the downfall of many of Kurama's foes, as the fox-demon never hesitated to just how ruthless he could be. Kurama's fight against Elder Toguro during the Chapter Black Saga was probably the most notable example.

Toguro had seemingly perished during the Dark Tournament, but he survived his extensive injuries thanks to his regenerative abilities. He was reencountered hiding in the body of a human named Gourmet - who'd eaten Toguro to gain his powers. Overtaking Gourmet's body, Toguro's regenerative abilities had grown so strong he could regenerate through any wound, even if his brain and heart were both destroyed. Using this to his advantage, Kurama planted the seed of the Sinning Tree, which quickly grew and ensnared Toguro in its grip. Feeding him illusions, the Tree would continue to sap Toguro's energy for all eternity.

1 Rose Whip Lash

A cyclone of rose petals surrounding Kurama and his whip

When Yusuke first witnessed Kurama in combat, he was a little unsure about Kurama's abilities. Granted, in human form, Kurama does look rather harmless, his rather soft features making him stand out among the other male protagonists who have more visibly defined muscles and faces. When Kurama pulls a single rose from his hair, Yusuke's skepticism only grew.

However, Hiei waved Yusuke's concerns aside, revealing he'd partnered with Kurama so the fox-demon wouldn't become his enemy. Fighting against the Saint Beast Genbu, Kurama demonstrated his Rose Whip Lash for the first of many times throughout the series, becoming his go-to move. Embued with demonic energy, the whip was able to cut through nearly every substance it encountered.

NEXT: Yu Yu Hakusho: 5 Mysteries Surrounding The Series It Took Years To Uncover (& 5 We Never Did)