Episode 19

Suzaku, Leader of the Beasts
Kanji	最後の四聖獣·朱雀!
Rōmaji	Saigo no Shiseijū Suzaku (The Last of the Four Holy Beasts, Suzaku!)
Japan Air Date	February 20, 1993
English Air Date	July 6, 2002
Episode	19
Manga	Chapters 40 (second half)-41
Saga	Spirit Detective Saga
Opening Song	Smile Bomb
Ending Song	Homework Never Ends
Previous Episode	←Seiryu, the Blue Dragon
Next Episode	Seven Ways to Die→

Suzaku, Leader of the Beasts is the nineteenth episode of season 1 of YuYu Hakusho. It aired on February 20, 1993 in Japan and July 6, 2002 in the United States.

Short Summary

Yusuke fights with the last of the Saint Beasts, Suzaku, who controls the Makai Insects. Despite his determination to win, Yusuke has difficulty in dealing with Suzaku's lightning abilities. Elsewhere, the Makai Insect-infected humans begin closing in on Keiko.

Detailed Summary

Yusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama and Hiei rush into the next part of the castle as they reach the final chamber where Suzaku awaits. Unknown to them, Suzaku's master plan is already in motion - to capture Keiko. Meanwhile, in the Human World Keiko runs for her life as she is being chased by humans possessed by the mind-controlling insects. She runs into a corner and someone pulls her beneath. It was Botan. Botan calls Yusuke and tells him about the situation and Suzaku's plan to capture Keiko. But their conversation is rudely interrupted by the possessed people and together they run to an exit. On the other hand, Yusuke and the gang are stopped by hundreds of zombies, but then Hiei thinks of a plan, and Kuwabara, Kurama and Hiei worked together and formed a bridge for Yusuke to jump into the nearby entrance to the final chamber. They successfully accomplish the job, and Yusuke runs off to face Suzaku one-on-one as the three finish off the zombies.

Yusuke confronts the leader of the sacred demons - Suzaku, who is playing the flute of mind control. Just then Yusuke sees in a wide screen Botan and Keiko being chased by possessed people. With this scene, Yusuke becomes enraged and decides to take back the flute by brute force, and he starts to attack with a barrage of punches. However, Suzaku blocks every punch with only one hand, while the other continues to hold the flute which he plays. So Yusuke decides to finish things quickly and unleashes a devastating rei gun. However, Suzaku is prepared for the situation. He quickly deflects the rei gun off and destroys part of the chamber. Yusuke gets shocked at how powerful Suzaku is, because even after his intense training with Genkai, Suzaku was able to swat his rei gun aside. Then Suzaku decides to go on the offense, and he raises his hand as a lighting bolt strikes him - then his power as a lightning-demon arises and he attacks Yusuke with an enormous lighting fist. Yusuke was able to dodge it, but the force of the fist was so powerful it electrified him and knocked him down.

Meanwhile, Keiko and Botan get trapped by those chasing them, and Botan decides to fight them off to survive. Keiko uses herself as bait as Botan grabs a fire extinguisher and showers it over the possessed people. However behind her, another possessed person appears and tries to choke her out.

Yusuke takes off his shoes and puts them in his fists and prepares for another lighting fist by Suzaku. As Suzaku attacks, Yusuke uses his shoes to avoid being electrocuted, but the force is too strong as it destroys the shoes. However, Yusuke's plan was just getting started, as he uses the shoes to cover his power-up and unleashes a mighty right hand that hits Suzaku hard, and at the same time Keiko prevents Botan from being choked to death as she nails the possessed person with a mighty slap. It seems like things are now going Yusuke's way.

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