At fourteen, delinquent Yusuke Urameshi spends his days skipping class and clashing with authority. He often gets into street fights with his rival, Kazuma Kuwabara, and teases his childhood friend, Keiko Yukimura. Struggling with inner turmoil and the burden of an alcoholic mother, Yusuke suddenly jumps in front of a speeding car to save a child, sacrificing his own life in the process.
The spirit guide Botan intervenes, allowing Yusuke to see the impact of his death on those close to him, including his mother, Keiko, and even Kuwabara. Moved by their grief, Yusuke is given a second chance at life by Koenma, the son of the ruler of the Spirit World.
Koenma recruits Yusuke as a "Spirit Detective," assigning him to resolve a series of escalating supernatural incidents. Through his battles and eventual alliances with demons like the refined Kurama and the fierce Hiei, Yusuke hones his fighting abilities. As dark forces rise from the Netherworld, Yusuke unites with his companions to protect what he once took for granted.