Naruto Columns
12/27/2023
[Birthday Column] Celebrating Hinata Hyuga's Birthday on 12/27! Looking Back on the Girl Who Pursued a "Proud Failure" and His Shinobi Way, Eventually Becoming His Life Partner!
A column celebrating the birthdays and achievements of everyone's favorite ninja!
Today we'll be reminiscing about the member of the Hyuga clan whose unwavering heart leads her to a long-lasting romance: Hinata Hyuga!
Today we'll be reminiscing about the member of the Hyuga clan whose unwavering heart leads her to a long-lasting romance: Hinata Hyuga!
■Hinata Hyuga
・Birthday: December 27th (Capricorn)
・Favorite Food: Zenzai, cinnamon rolls
A Shy Girl's Guiding Light
Hinata is born to the noble Hyuga clan of the Leaf Village. Despite being expected to support the clan in the future, she is a shy girl who always seems to prefer to avoid the limelight.
Perhaps due to this, she has problems developing her shinobi skills, and it seems not a day can go by without reprimands from her father Hiashi.
In the midst of this, Hinata is enrolled in the Ninja Academy, and it is there that she ends up finding her own source of inspiration:
Naruto, who at the time is widely regarded as a failure by the villagers.
Naruto, who at the time is widely regarded as a failure by the villagers.
No matter how many times he fails, he stands back up to try again with renewed determination...
Hinata admires that strength of Naruto's. She spends many years watching his struggles and trailing behind him as they both enter the shinobi world.
Hinata admires that strength of Naruto's. She spends many years watching his struggles and trailing behind him as they both enter the shinobi world.
Mirroring Her Hero with Her Shinobi Way
Hinata successfully graduates and becomes a Genin, later participating in the Chunin Exams and making it all the way to the preliminary rounds of the third exam. There, the opponent fate chooses for her is her own cousin, Neji Hyuga.
Before the match even begins, Hinata's spirit is on the verge of being broken by Neji's words.
However, Naruto's encouragement enables her to bounce back!
However, Naruto's encouragement enables her to bounce back!
When the duel begins the two seem evenly matched, but after exchanging a few blows it becomes clear that Neji has the upper hand.
In response to Neji telling her to withdraw, Hinata asserts her shinobi way!
In response to Neji telling her to withdraw, Hinata asserts her shinobi way!
"I...N...NEVER...
...GO BACK...ON MY WORD...
BECAUSE...THAT'S...MY SHINOBI WAY, TOO...!"
Resolving to move beyond simply admiring Naruto from afar, Hinata decides to follow his same path. Surpassing her limits, she continues to fight Neji, standing up again no matter how many times she's knocked down!
"...IT'S BECAUSE NOW THE PERSON I'VE ADMIRED FOR SO LONG...
...IS FINALLY WATCHING ME, AND...
...AND IN FRONT OF HIM...
...I CAN'T BEAR TO LOOK UNCOOL!!"
The examiner and other Jonin intervene, calling the match as Neji's victory, but Hinata takes a big step towards changing herself by refusing to run away from her fears.
She even manages to be the one inspiring Naruto this time around on the day of the third exam's finals!
She even manages to be the one inspiring Naruto this time around on the day of the third exam's finals!
"EVEN IF YOU DO MESS UP...
I-IF YOU ASK ME...
YOU'RE A PROUD FAILURE...!"
Later on, she secretly sees Naruto off when he leaves for his training journey. Taking the ideal of "never going back on one's word" into her heart, she continues forwards.
Reunion with Her Role Model
Roughly three years pass while Naruto is away.
Having grown into a skilled ninja, Hinata is promoted to Chunin.
Having grown into a skilled ninja, Hinata is promoted to Chunin.
However, when reuniting with Naruto, it's as if nothing has changed...
In fact, she passes out from nerves without even being able to say a single word to him.
Later, the members of Team Eight—Hinata, Shino, and Kiba—take part in a mission to back up Naruto and the others in their fight against the Akatsuki.
Later, the members of Team Eight—Hinata, Shino, and Kiba—take part in a mission to back up Naruto and the others in their fight against the Akatsuki.
Hinata protects her comrades by using her Byakugan to look out for threats and monitor their surroundings!
Protecting Her Beloved with Her Life
Naruto engages the leader of the Akatsuki, Pain, in one-on-one combat when he attacks the village. Pain traps Naruto in a hopeless situation, but Hinata leaps in to protect him.
Even knowing she is impossibly outmatched, she stands unflinchingly before the foe.
"I'M HERE BECAUSE I WANT TO BE.
...I USED TO BE SUCH A CRYBABY, ALWAYS GIVING UP BEFORE EVEN STARTING...
...I TOOK THE WRONG PATH SO MANY TIMES..."
"BUT YOU...YOU HELPED ME FIND MY WAY AND TAKE THE CORRECT PATH, NARUTO...
I ALWAYS CHASED AFTER YOU...WANTING TO CATCH UP...
...WANTING TO WALK TOGETHER WITH YOU FOREVER...
I WANT TO BE AT YOUR SIDE, ALWAYS..."
"YOU CHANGED ME, NARUTO!
YOUR SMILING FACE SAVED ME!
AND THAT'S WHY I'M NOT AFRAID TO DIE, DEFENDING YOU!!"
"BECAUSE...
...I LOVE YOU..."
Naruto, saved by Hinata's actions, goes on to defeat the Six Paths of Pain and their true body, Nagato, becoming the hero of Konoha.
Some time after that, the Fourth Great Ninja War begins.
Some time after that, the Fourth Great Ninja War begins.
As a member of the Allied Shinobi Forces, Hinata once more throws herself into battle for Naruto's sake.
No Longer Following, But Standing Alongside
The Fourth Great Ninja War reaches its climax, and the Ten Tails—an amalgamation of all the Tailed Beasts—appears before the allied shinobi.
Amidst the fierce fighting, Neji sacrifices his own life to protect Hinata and Naruto.
The loss of not only his dear friend but many other comrades fills Naruto with despair, but just as it seems he is about to stray from his shinobi way, Hinata is there to pull him back onto it.
"I WILL NEVER LET MY COMRADES DIE.
NEITHER THOSE WORDS NOR THE CONVICTION BEHIND THEM ARE LIES!"
"IT'S NOT JUST YOU, NARUTO...
WE ALL HOLD THOSE WORDS AND FEELINGS WITHIN OUR HEARTS.
THEY'RE WHAT BIND OUR LIVES TOGETHER.
AND MAKE US COMRADES."
"...STAND UP TOGETHER WITH ME, NARUTO.
BECAUSE NEVER GOING BACK ON ONE'S WORD...
...IS MY SHINOBI WAY TOO!"
Her words give him the strength to stand up once more and push forward, staying true to his shinobi way as he faces the final battles of the war!
Hinata transitions from just following as Naruto leads the way to walking beside him as an equal.
Her former timidness is nowhere to be seen, and she has changed to such a degree that she can stand at the head of an army and inspire them to victory.
Her former timidness is nowhere to be seen, and she has changed to such a degree that she can stand at the head of an army and inspire them to victory.
She even gains the strength and unyielding spirit needed to surpass her previous limits!
"NARUTO IS ALWAYS STRIVING TO GET AHEAD.
AND I...WANT TO KEEP STANDING NEXT TO NARUTO FOREVER!!
THUS, I MUST CONTINUOUSLY...MOVE FORWARD AS WELL!!"
To stay with the person she loves and looks up to forever...
This dream born from Hinata's earnest and unwavering feelings finally comes true.
This dream born from Hinata's earnest and unwavering feelings finally comes true.
As a wife who supports the Seventh Hokage, and a mother to the next generation of ninja, Hinata continues to stand at Naruto's side and look to the future with him.
Article and Composition: Yuichi Ohba (Caramel mama)
That's all for Hinata's birthday column!
Take this opportunity to reread the manga and look back on the struggles and tenacity of Hinata Hyuga!
Take this opportunity to reread the manga and look back on the struggles and tenacity of Hinata Hyuga!
