Yu Yu Hakusho is one of the more underrated Shonen animes. It follows Yusuke Uremishi who, after losing his life when saving a young boy, is offered the chance to be resurrected as the new Spirit Detective. His role would be to investigate crimes in the Human World that involve demons and the supernatural.
Like Goku's Kamehameha, Yusuke's main attack is his Spirit Gun. The ability allows Yusuke to build up spirit energy in his index finger and release it at his enemies. This attack has many forms and iterations throughout the anime, always seeming to be just what he needs to defeat his opponents. Without further ado, here are 10 impactful times Yusuke Uremishi fired his Spirit Gun in Yu Yu Hakusho.
10 The First Shot (Episode 6)
We've all had a teacher that we couldn't stand and though Yusuke was overall a pretty detached student there was no teacher who had it out for him more than Mr. Iwamoto. In episode six, he frames Yusuke for stealing a pen. While proving his innocence, Koenma appears and tells Yusuke about his new ability as a Spirit Detective called the spirit gun. Yusuke of course fires his spirit energy through his pointer finger at Mr. Iwamoto causing him to fall flat on his face. What student wouldn't use their new superpowers to get back at a teacher while three demons were on the loose?
9 Watch Your Back Hiei (Episode 8)
Hiei, who was first introduced as a villain, teamed up with Gouki and Kurama to steal three artifacts from Spirit World. After defeating both Gouki and Kurama, Yusuke went up against his toughest opponent yet, Hiei. In full demon form with several eyes across his green body, Hiei seems to have the upper hand when suddenly Yusuke shoots his spirit gun.
The shot misses the demon but soon a flash hits Hiei, revealing that Yusuke actually bounced his spirit gun off a mirror only to take out his enemy on the way back. What Yusuke lacks in power he makes up for in street smarts.
8 Shotgun Against Suzaku (Episode 21)
In Yusuke's third mission as a spirit detective, he teamed up with Kuwabara, Hiei, and Kurama to fight the Four Saint Beasts. Yusuke took on their leader, Suzaku, who was able to easily fend off Yusuke with his six clones. Yusuke revealed his new spirit gun, this time calling it his shotgun. This new ability allowed Yusuke to shoot his gun in six different directions hitting all of the clones at once.
7 Helping Kuwabara Against Toguro (Episode 25)
Yusuke's most famous nemesis is easily Toguro who forced Yusuke and his team to fight in the Dark Tournament Saga. But before the tournament, Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Botan go on a mission to save Yukina, a young ice demon girl who had been kidnapped. In the final fight against both Toguro and his brother, Yusuke fires a shot with his spirit gun to launch Kuwabara, impaling Toguro with his spirit sword.
6 Double Shot Against Chū (Episode 31)
In the first round of the Dark Tournament, Team Urimeshi finds itself tied with Team Rokuyukai. It's at that point that Yusuke finally wakes up only to fight the team's leader Chū. A drunk fighter with a blue mohawk comes stumbling onto the arena but quickly proves to be a formidable foe. Later in the fight, Chū shoots a big fiery ball of energy at Yusuke with such a large radius, Yusuke is unable to dodge. In an attempt to break through the blast, Yusuke fires a spirit gun double-shot which breaks through the blast, causing both fighters to get hit simultaneously.
5 In Memory of Genkai (Episode 53)
Genkai is Yusuke's strong-willed master whom he insultingly refers to as "Grandma". During the Dark Tournament Arc, it is revealed that Toguro and Genkai used to be friends and actually won the Dark Tournament together, years before. Afterward, the two had a falling out as Toguro wanted eternal life and Genkai refused.
This led to a final confrontation between both fighters with Genkai being killed by her old friend. Yusuke shows up too late but is able to hold his master in her final moments. While grieving, Yusuke, now with Genkai's inherited power, shoots his most intense spirit gun yet into the sky in order to send one last farewell to his deceased teacher.
4 Toguro Finally Falls (Episode 65)
In his journey for the ultimate power, Toguro orchestrates much of the plot to ensure Yusuke participates in the Dark Tournament. Before he killed his old friend Genkai, she transferred her 70 years of power into Yusuke. The final match of the tournament lasts four and a half episodes and reveals both character's full power. Unfortunately, Yusuke is no match for Toguro, and the demon is forced to kill Kuwabara in order to awaken Yusuke's true inner strength. At 100% power, Toguro takes a huge spirit gun blast from Yusuke and is able to hold it off. But the power cracks his demon exoskeleton, ultimately shattering it and revealing Toguro's rotting human body.
3 Take Off the Doctors Arm (Episode 73)
In the Chapter Black Saga, Sensui aligns himself with six team members including Minoru Kamiya, a.k.a. "The Doctor". Minoru uses the makai insects to infect the people in the hospital, forcing Yusuke and his team to inspect. In their fight, Yusuke was horrified at the acts of 'The Doctor' and ended up almost killing him. Instead, Yusuke fired a spirit gun blast, taking off 'The Doctor's' left arm.
2 Spirit Detective Vs. Spirit Detective (Episode 93)
The conclusion of the Chapter Black Saga saw a resurrected Yusuke fighting the previous spirit detective, Sensui. Yusuke found himself losing as Sensui used his sacred energy to not only take on Kuwabara, Kurama, and Hiei at the same time but to hold back Yusuke's immense power.
It was then that Yusuke's hair grew longer and tattoo's covered his body causing Yusuke to grow in strength and brutality. His final hit on Sensui Yusuke launches a huge spirit gun, taking down Sensui and a forest of trees along with him. It is later revealed that Yusuke was possessed by his demon ancestor and leaving Yusuke to feel cheated out of the win.
1 Demon & Spirit Energy (Episode 110)
After a year of training in the Demon World, Yusuke hosted the Demon World Tournament. The winner would become the new ruler of Demon World until the next tournament three to four years later. Many familiar fighters including Kurama, Hiei, and Chū fought in the tournament. In the second round, Yusuke faces Yomi, one of the original three kings of Demon World. Yomi uses his impenetrable shield to deflect all of Yusuke's demon energy only to be surprised when Yusuke breaks through. Koenma reveals that Yusuke is mixing in his spirit energy with his demon energy. The two fighters fall after a final blow, with Yomi ultimately wining after rising to his feet.
Yusuke awakens after the tournament ends and says farewell to the Demon World. The series ends with Yusuke surprising Keiko, Kuwabara, and his friends on the beach near Genkai's house. In a happy nod to Yusuke's famous attach, he splashes Kuwabra with some water and points his finger at his old friend in this emotional conclusion.