The Best Episodes Directed By Akiyuki Shinbo

The Spirit World forgot an important question -- does anyone want Yusuke back? Koenma sends an Investigator to find out, and Yusuke's friends answer quickly when a fire threatens to char his earthly body. But will Yusuke give up the Spirit Beast, his one chance for revival, to rescue his friends?

Team Urameshi prepares to depart Hanging Neck Island the victor of the sinister Dark Tournament to return to the world of the living leaving their fallen mentor and friend behind. But somewhere far away a chance encounter between two former allies seems to hint at what is to come as the most unlikely of people reveals a most shocking secret.

The oafish demon Gouki is using the stolen Orb of Baast to capture children's souls. If Yusuke doesn't track down and defeat this monster quickly, those souls will become the monster's next meal. But Gouki isn't the only one Yusuke has to worry about when the second thief suddenly appears. His name is Kurama, and to great surprise, he asks Yusuke for a favor...

Homura challenges Walpurgisnacht alone and is seriously wounded. She despairs because she can't win no matter how many times she tries. Her actions are making Madoka suffer even more, and she becomes despondent. Her Soul Gem begins to turn black.

With both Ura Urashima and the newly transformed Yoko Kurama trapped in the ring, the true battle begins. Yoko finally shows himself, and unleashes an attack known as the Death Tree. Yoko Kurama demands that Ura Urashima tell him the secret of the Idunn Box. Ura says he doesn't know, and that he only joined Team Uratogi because Shishiwakamaru promised him riches. Yoko knows he's lying, and threatens to kill him. Ura finally starts telling the truth. He says that he's not even Ura Urashima,and both Kuro Momotaro and Makintaro weren't who they seemed either. That they were together when Shishi and Onji showed up, and he's about to say something else when a sword flies into the ring, and hits Ura, changing into a wolf-like creature. As the smoke clears, we see that it was Shishi that threw the sword. Juri then declares Kurama the winner. Shortly after the smoke clears, Kurama turns back into his regular form.

Fifty years ago, Genkai and Toguro were actually teammates who fought and won their own Dark Tournament, before becoming violently estranged. Yusuke Urameshi arrived just in time to see his teacher slain, and assaulted Toguro in a rage, only to be knocked away by one devastating blow. With the final round of the tournament soon to begin against Toguro, Yusuke must find a way to keep that from happening again.

Hiei unleashes his most powerful attack, the Dragon of the Darkness Flame! But Bui is able to turn the Dragon against his master. Will Hiei be swallowed and destroyed by his own power?

Yusuke, Kuwabara, and young Shorin are the only fighters still standing in the Genkai Tournament. Yet Rando has not been found. Could this mean that Shorin is actually Rando? Or is the demon lurking somewhere in the shadows? The truth will soon be known, as Kuwabara faces Shorin on the haunted field of battle.

One of Yusuke's teammates has been badly injured, and Kuwabara insists on fighting the next enemy all by himself -— revealing his amazingly improved Spirit Sword! Before the bickering group can disagree, a ferocious roar slices through the castle. Byakko, the second Saint Beast, is waiting!

Struggling their way to the front gates of Tarukane's stronghold, Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Botan now face a much greater challenge: three notorious demon fighters known throughout Spirit World as the Triad! Can the Spirit Detective team fight three outlandish opponents on after another, and save the tortured Yukina?

Hiei takes on Rokuyukai’s leader, Zeru, whose explosive fire attacks ravage the stadium. Hiei must resort to an unbelievable technique, one that could take his life as well: he must summon the power of a dragon.

After Yusuke and the others make it to the third round, Hiei and the masked fighter get tricked and trapped inside a force field.

Suzaku releases another lightning fist attack, but Yusuke was up to the task as he himself unleashes his full power and he blasts Suzaku with his devastating spirit shotgun!

Yusuke Urameshi suffers from a recurring nightmare that he just can't shake. Is this a mere inconvenience? Or are there deeper meanings hidden behind the bizarre occurrences? Genkai sends Yusuke to the home of a former Spirit Detective. But what he doesn't know is that someone knows his destination... and more about his past than he ever thought possible!

Searching Mushiyori City, Yusuke's team was quickly steered to the hospital, where a trap awaited. There they encounter the Doctor, a human with immense psychic powers, super strength, feels no pain, and has infected the entire hospital with a deadly virus. To save his friends, will Yusuke be forced to destroy the wretched creature?

In the next match of the tournament, Hiei steps into the ring of battle against his former ally, Mukuro. But Mukuro has already explored the horrors of Hiei's past and knows his thirst for revenge. Will this give the bizarre, shackled fighter the advantage? As a last result Hiei prepares his ultimate weapon: the Dragon of the Darkness Flame!

This episode starts with Jin in the air with his Double Tornado Fist ready for the kill. All of a sudden Yusuke says, ""Time for something stupid."" His body becomes surrounded with spirit energy. Everyone is surprised-Botan, Kuwabara, Kayko, Koenma. Then Jin attacks with the first tornado fist. Yusuke somehow catches the fist. Jin exclaims, ""No one can catch a tornado!"" Yusuke throws the fist, rendering it useless. When Jin attacks with the second fist, Yusuke catches it with his foot. He also makes the Tornado Fist useless. He yells, ""SPIRIT WAVE"" and a punch full of blue energy nails Jin right in the stomach. Jin goes flying in the air. The Masked Fighter explains that the Spirit Wave is like Yusuke's shotgun attack and that he must have learned it from Genkai. In the stands, Kayko is shocked, but Shizuru says, ""Let's move."" All of a sudden, a sparkle is seen in the sky and Jin's body comes crashing down in the stands. Koto makes a ten count, and Yusuke is the winner.

Yusuke is still in the midst of Genkai's Spirit Wave Orb absorbtion test. After a while, Genkai realizes that this is too much for Yusuke. She tries to take the orb back, but Yusuke takes it back. He wants to finish the test. Back in the ring, Shishiwakamuru rolls the dice. It lands on Kuro Momotaro and a free space for team Urameshi. Hiei volunteers to fight. Both fighters step in, and Kuro asks for Hiei's katana. Kuro licks the blade and cuts himself with it. The fight begins. Kuro pulls something called a steaming sphere out of his belt and squeezes it. Kuro inhales the fumes from the sphere and hair starts to grow from his body. This is the first beast armor, the Armor of the Ape. Hiei tries to attack with his sword, but it breaks in three pieces. Kuro gives him a few punchs and sends him into the wall. Kuro explains once his body is hit with an attack it memorizes the pain and steaming spheres are a catalyst to make his body immune to the attack.

Yusuke's team has won the first round, but they'll need to win three more to defeat the Game Master and move on to Sensui's lair. The hole to the Demon World is rapidly expanding. Can they make it there in time to prevent the end of the world?