The Four Saint Beasts in the Labyrinthine Castle!
A Challenge to the Spirit Realm

Yu Yu Hakusho episode 14
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For a detailed overview of this episode, click here.

The Four Saint Beasts make their move, just as Yusuke returns from his training.
Original Japanese broadcast date: January 16th, 1993

Contents

1) Synopsis
2) Manga differences
3) Notes


Synopsis

Keiko visits Atsuko to try and find out any updates on Yusuke's whereabouts, but Yusuke then comes back, having been away training for a month. They meet with Kuwabara, and as Keiko is getting chocolate milkshakes, Yusuke reveals his training was hellish -but he did pick up some new moves. The three are going to head off to see a movie, but Yusuke senses someone. He has Keiko go and save them some seats, whilst he and Kuwabara head off. They get followed by a gang, who pull out knives and attack them. But Yusuke uses a technique known as the shotgun, which send multiple spirit energy blasts everywhere, easily defeating the gang.



Kuwabara then sees a shady guy nearby, so they chase after him, but the guy gets taken out by Botan. The guy is a demon in disguise, and Botan says he's part of the group who are waiting for Yusuke on his next assignment. She reveals that the Four Saint Beasts of Demon City have issued demands to Koenma, and want to be allowed to move into the Human Realm. They've already made a move by releasing thousand of Makaichu (Demon Realm bugs), which can take over a host's mind, and make them perform violent and destructive acts. Only by destroying the bug flute can they be truly stopped forever, and the flute is in Demon City. Kuwabara decides to go with Yusuke, and the two enter a portal which Botan reveals for them. However nearly as soon as they enter the city, they are attached by several small demons, who want to eat them.



Thankfully Hiei and Kurama show up, and scare the demons away. After some introductions (and Hiei making it clear he's here because he wants to take any treasures the Four Saint Beasts stole -as well as getting revenge on Yusuke later), the group head into Labyrinthine Castle. However, they are met by an Eye Bat, who activates a trap called the gate of betrayal. This causes the ceiling to come down, and they have to hold it up. The Eye Bat says if they stay there trying to hold it up, they will eventually all be crushed when their power gives out, but one of them may betray the others, to save themselves and let the others die. Whoever does that will be allowed to enter. With little time left, Yusuke wonders what they should do...



Manga differences

-In the manga, Keiko isn't present when Yusuke talks to Kuwabara about his training. The anime changed this by having her present and wanting to go and see a movie, only for her to be left behind.

-Yusuke is wearing casual clothes in the manga, but wears his school uniform in the anime (in the manga, he has his school uniform when he enters Demon City).

-The manga does not have the brief chase sequence the anime has, where Yusuke and Kuwabara run after the disguised demon.

-Botan wears a different outfit in the manga.

-The scene with Koenma is something which is only mentioned in the manga, and not actually shown.

-The manga has Yusuke and Kuwabara get to the Demon City without showing it. The anime added a scene where Botan leads them to where the portal is, and shows them jumping into it.

-The demons don't burst out of the ground in the manga, they simply just suddenly appear.

-Hiei and Kurama disguise themselves as starving demons, and fight a few in the manga, The anime changed this so the two first appear as balls of light, which scares the smaller demons away.

-The starving demons also don't immediately retreat in the manga. Only when they learn that Hiei and Kurama are working with humans do they decide to retreat.

-The manga does not show Suzaku's outline when he speaks near the end, like the anime does.



Notes

-Usually new episode of the series aired once a week, but there was a two week gap between this episode and the previous one.

-The Eye Bat is the creature that appears in the series' eye catcher segments.

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