In many ways, the '90s anime Yu Yu Hakusho is the progenitor of the modern form of shounen — its influence has been observed in shows like Bleach, Naruto, and Hunter x Hunter (the latter perhaps because Togashi created both mangas). It has a fixed narrative, flowing from one arc to another without leaving too many gaps in between, a relatable protagonist, and, best of all, it has a ton of spectacular battles.

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Speaking of, it is generally agreed that Yusuke Urameshi is the most powerful character in the show, or at least, grows into it. Nevertheless, there are several occasions in which he really shouldn't have survived at all.

10 Vs. Hiei (Sword Of Shadows)

Anime yusuke vs Hiei

As soon as he becomes a Spirit Detective, Koenma sends Yusuke on a highly dangerous mission to obtain stolen relics. He beats Goki and Kurama, recovering the Orb of Baast and the Forlorn Hope, but his toughest opponent wields the Sword of Shadows.

The demon Hiei uses this weapon to convert innocent humans into small-scale demons, including Yusuke's love interest, Keiko. Nevertheless, the Spirit Detective somehow bests the fastest entity in the universe by trickery — reflecting his energy blast against the Forlorn Hope mirror and onto the unsuspecting Hiei. Luck and common sense were his only helpers here.

9 Vs. Rando (Genkai Tournament)

Genkai is hosting a free-for-all tournament in order to select her spiritual heir to transfer her massively powerful Spirit Wave technique. Yusuke and Kuwabara join in, partially to sniff out a demon who plans to obtain Genkai's blessing, Rando. In the end, the villain reveals himself, almost crushing the Spirit Detective with his 99 techniques.

Unfortunately for him, and by total ineptitude on Rando's part, he decides to shrink an unconscious Yusuke, but the spell backfires on him. Genkai explains that any chants must necessarily be heard by the victim in order to work. The kid wins by playing dead, basically.

8 Vs. Toguro (Yukina Rescue)

Kuwabara is in love with an ice-maiden, Yukina, whom he doesn't know is Hiei's sister. Along with Yusuke, he bursts into the mansion where she is being held hostage (and tortured into producing precious stone-tears). The Toguro brothers are the main offenders in this arc, and they almost defeat the two youngsters before falling to Kuwabara's sword.

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They only find out later that Younger Toguro was faking it from the start, and that he barely used even half his full strength in their first battle. He forces Yusuke to take part in the Dark Tournament and actually prove that he can withstand his absolute power.

7 Vs. Suzaku (Maze Castle)

Although assisted by Hiei, Kuwabara, and Koenma, Team Urameshi barely manage to thrust their way into Maze Castle, which is haunted by its four terrifying guardians, the Saint Beasts. Yusuke is completely helpless against the incandescent clonal ability demonstrated by Suzaku, let alone being able to dodge his lightning blasts.

Right as Keiko is about to be murdered by a bunch of demon parasites, Yusuke opts to end the fight by sacrificing his own "life energy" in order to stop Suzaku once and for all. In terms of plain strength, though, there is no doubt that the Spirit Detective stood no chance.

6 Vs. Chuu (Dark Tournament)

Yusuke is drunk on confidence, having effortlessly dispatched a number of demons in the preliminary rounds of the Dark Tournament. However, he finds that his matches are getting tougher and tougher, and almost considers dropping out when having to face a literally drunk demon known as Chuu.

Although the conclusion proves that Yusuke's head is "harder," Chuu has the upper hand for most of their brawl. Chuu dodges and parries his opponent's attacks while simultaneously countering with a far more powerful version of the Spirit Gun itself.

5 Vs. Jin (Dark Tournament)

The Wind Master, Jin, is even more difficult to defeat than Chuu, his teammate. He keeps his body in the air, where he has the upper hand (as Yusuke can't really fly, can he?). Even the Spirit Gun has no effect, as Jin's tornado fist is an effective redirecting force.

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Finding himself with fewer and fewer options, Yusuke comprehends that he will never be able to beat the red-haired little demon without trying out something...experimental. To that end, Yusuke attacks Jin with the Spirit Wave, an ability that he has not had the time to practice properly. Since it's Yusuke, it works.

4 Vs. Toguro (Dark Tournament Finals)

Anime Yusuke Toguro Dark Tournament Yu Yu Hakusho

Nearly all shounen protagonists are given last-minute power surges in order to defeat their seemingly impossible adversaries, whoever they are. In Yusuke's case, it is an emotional quotient, specifically the (fake) murder of Kuwabara, that gets his juices really flowing.

Until now, Toguro could toss Yusuke around like a rag doll at 100% strength, but with this new river of energy flowing through the kid, the human-turned-demon was able to go even beyond — to a 100% of 100%, whatever that means. Of course, this means nothing to Yusuke, whose anger and sorrow are the real MVPs in this match.

3 Vs. Asato Kido (House Of Four Dimensions)

Genkai expects her students to remain abreast of the latest advancements in spiritual techniques, which they certainly do not do. To teach them a lesson, she requests three neighboring schoolboys, Kido, Kaito, and Yana, to teach Team Urameshi a lesson in post-deathmatch responsibility (in other words, CONSTANT VIGILANCE!).

These humans have recently acquired bizarre abilities, such as shadow-paralysis and taboo gaming. Yusuke proudly goes up to Kido and asks him if he wants to get beaten up, only to find that he cannot move because his opponent is standing on his shadow. Such recklessness would have gotten Yusuke killed in a real fight.

2 Vs. Sensui (Underground Caverns)

Yusuke fighting Sensui in Yu Yu Hakusho

Yusuke's penultimate battle with Shinobu Sensui has him taking over the first round by simply adapting to the ex-Spirit Detective's complex martial style. And then, Sensui's other personalities begin to emerge, reverting the score almost instantaneously.

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Just in case this was not already hard enough, the villain envelops himself in Sacred Energy, making him nigh-invincible, at least in the Human World. Yusuke chooses to sacrifice himself, just so his death would spark the flames of vengeance in Kurama, Hiei, and Kuwabara, who then go on to fight Sensui. Yes, the Spirit Detective is reincarnated via Mazoku blood, but he still died.

1 Vs. Car (First Episode)

The badass punk of Sarayashiki Junior High, Yusuke Urameshi cares about nothing, not even his own mother. Although this behavior is a result of poor parenting, he takes his anger and rage out on the world, performing acts that had already sentenced him to Hell.

Then, Yusuke sees a little boy running across a road to get his ball and into the path of a speeding car. Yusuke leaps in the way, shoving the child to safety but getting himself killed in the process. Conveniently for him, Koenma appreciates Yusuke's simple kindness and offers him a chance to live again (with a few caveats).

NEXT: Yu Yu Hakusho: 5 Reasons Why The Ending was Disappointing (& 5 Things It Got Right)