Episode 10

## Episode 10 Screenshots

**Kuwabara's Spirit Sword** (暗闇の死闘! 桑原·霊気の剣, *Kurayami no Shitō! Kuwabara Reiki no Ken*?, lit. **Death Battle in the Dark! Kuwabara's Reiki Sword**) is the tenth episode of the Yu Yu Hakusho anime and the Spirit Detective Saga.

## Summary

The candidates for Genkai’s apprenticeship have been narrowed to eight. Among them: Yusuke, Kuwabara, and the disguised demon Rando! Genkai announces the final test will be a tournament, fought in total darkness. And Kuwabara’s first opponent is swinging a supernatural sword!

## Plot Details

Down to the final eight competitors, Genkai announces her final test will be a fighting tournament. She brings them inside a pitch-black room and tells them they'll have to fight away from the only light, using their spiritual awareness to fight one another. Kuwabara notices that there is an ominous presence in the air and Yusuke surmises that Rando must be among them, but neither of the two can tell which of the other six could be him.

Genkai has everyone introduce themselves and then decide the order for the bracket. Koenma watches the action from his office, completely ignoring piles of paperwork around him. The contract killer Kuroda faces off with the ninja Kazemaru in the first matchup. Before they begin, Kuroda asks Genkai is there will be any moral ramifications if he turns out to be a cold-hearted killer who murders all his opponent's. Genkai replies that it isn't a problem and Yusuke is worried that he has to become her student no matter what.

The first battle ends with Kazemaru as the victor. He defeats the hitman using a mass of spirit energy fired from his palm. Yusuke compares this to the spirit gun and then Botan's voice in his head says it's not exactly the same. Yusuke goes outside and finds Botan with Kuwabara in tow.

Kuwabara and Botan are introduced for the first time but the former is only concerned with Yusuke possibly cheating on Keiko. Yusuke clears up the situation and reveals his status as a Spirit Detective to Kuwabara and explains his mission to him. The situation appears to go completely over Kuwabara's head and he attempts to propose to Botan. They're interrupted by Genkai who tells the boys to get back inside. The old woman realizes that Yusuke is working for Koenma.

The second battle sees Shorin make short work of the traveler Chinpo. Kuwabara squares off with Musashi in the next bout. Despite his high Spiritual Awareness, Kuwabara can't detect Musashi in the dark due to his own ability to mask his presence. At a disadvantage, Kuwabara is on the receiving end of several blows coming from someone used to fighting in the dark.

Kuwabara appears to be able to withstand Musashi's punches and kicks. His body has become more durable after fighting Yusuke for so long. Musashi becomes more intense and uses his wooded sword to pummel Kuwabara. He barrages Kuwabara with sword strikes using his Shibatto Shining Sword, a style that charges his wooded sword with Spirit Energy. Musashi knocks Kuwabara to the ground and appears to defeat him at the cost of breaking his sword on the younger boy's body. He begins to leave and admits he's impressed by Kuwabara's spirit energy.

However, Kuwabara gets back up and uses the broken piece of Musashi's sword to defend himself. Musashi is surprised Kuwabara survived his shining sword attack and decides to use it again to finish him off. Kuwabara detects Musashi attacking from behind and instinctively materializes his spirit energy into the form of a sword using the broken wood as a handle. Kuwabara not only defends himself from the assault but defeats Musashi in a single swing using his new Spirit Sword.

Yusuke faces off with Kibano in the final match of the first round. He's confident as first because he believes they're on equal footing due to the darkness. However, Kibano uses a mask of his own creation that drowns out his other senses and focuses them on detecting his target's spirit energy.

Yusuke is at the mercy of his opponent in the dark and can't mount a successful offense relying only on his hearing. Yusuke's attempts at counterattacking are ineffective due to Kibano's helmet and his enemy easily slips back into the shadows. After charging his muscles with Spirit Energy, Kibano strikes Yusuke with a signature technique and appears to put him down for the count.

## Credits

* Cast
* Staff