Beautiful Dance of the Rose!
The Elegant Kurama

Yu Yu Hakusho episode 15
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For a detailed overview of this episode, click here.

After surviving the gate of betrayal, Yusuke's group come across the first of the Saint Beasts: Genbu.
Original Japanese broadcast date: January 23rd, 1993

Contents
1) Synopsis
2) Manga differences


Synopsis

Yusuke raises his energy enough to cover for Hiei, and tells him to go and pull the lever as he's the fastest among them. Hiei runs out but hesitates in pulling the lever, as the Eye Bat tells him to betray his friends and follow him into the castle. But Hiei uses a sword to slice the Eye Bat, which flies away. Hiei pulls the level which stops the ceiling from falling, but causes a large rock to crash down on him. But with his speed, he's able to avoid being crushed. The others get out and Yusuke thanks Hiei for saving them, but Hiei makes it clear he didn't necessarily do it to save them -he just thinks the more people they have, the easier it'll be to defeat the Four Saint Beasts.

Botan reports in that at the moment, things are fine on Earth, and she's taken down another small-time demon. But she's worried that so far she's only found and killed 15 Makichu so far. Yusuke tells her they will destroy the bug flute without a moment's delay. The group then enter a room, where Genbu, one of the Four Spirit Beasts, appears. Kurama decides to take him on, but Genbu reveals that his rock body can merge with the room, which is made out of stone. Kurama has to leap around to avoid being hit, as Genbu is able to pop out of the floor and other places without notice.

Kurama takes out a rose, and uses a technique called bara toge muchi ha (rose thorn whip blade) to create a whip covered with thorns, which can slice through steel. He uses a technique called kagon retsuzan shi (luster severe rending slash limb) to slice Genbu to pieces, but Genbu is able to pull himself back together. Genbu uses a technique called exploding boulder bomb, which lets him fire bits of his entire body as projectiles. But in doing so, Kurama notices there is a glowing red rock. As Genbu forms himself back together, he finds that various body parts are in the wrong places. Kurama reveals he took the red rock, believing it to be the command pylon which returns Genbu's dismembered body back to normal.

Kurama destroys the rock, which causes Genbu to explode. Whilst Kurama is injured, he's able to walk, and the group head off further into the castle. Elsewhere, Byakko, another one of the Saint Beasts, finds the group interesting, and decides to take them on next -he's going to be their next opponent!

Manga differences

-Botan doesn't take down another small-time demon in the manga, nor does she use the "Spirit Realm pesticide".

-In the manga, Kurama explains how he knew where Genbu was as Genbu dives out of the ceiling. The anime changed it so he tells him after he cuts him up.

-The episode's final scene with Byakko wasn't in the manga.