NARUTO COLUMNS
07/03/2024
[Birthday Column] Celebrating Neji's Birthday on 7/3! Looking Back on the Genius Ninja of the Hyuga Clan Who Escaped the Cage of Fate!
A column celebrating the birthdays and achievements of everyone's favorite ninja!
Today we'll be reminiscing about the ninja who, despite being sidelined at birth, became one of the most talented members of his clan: Neji Hyuga!
Today we'll be reminiscing about the ninja who, despite being sidelined at birth, became one of the most talented members of his clan: Neji Hyuga!
■Neji Hyuga
・Birthday: July 3rd (Cancer)
・Favorite Food: Nishin soba
The Destiny of the Hyuga Cadet Branch
Neji is born as the son of Hizashi Hyuga of the respected Hyuga clan's cadet branch.
Although Neji is initially a bright and happy child, his life changes forever on the day that the heiress of the main branch, Hinata, turns three years old.
He is branded by the main branch with a curse mark that will persist until the day of his death.
His very life is now dedicated to the protection of the main branch's bloodline. Furthermore, he is scarred by an incident where he can do nothing but watch as his father writhes in pain from the same curse mark he himself bears.
But there is yet another tragedy waiting in the wings—the death of his father.
Hizashi sacrifices his life as a body double in order to avoid restarting a war with the Hidden Cloud.
After that loss, Neji begins to resent being forced into the clan's cadet branch merely because of the circumstances of his birth. He grows up feeling as though he is truly a caged bird.
After that loss, Neji begins to resent being forced into the clan's cadet branch merely because of the circumstances of his birth. He grows up feeling as though he is truly a caged bird.
A Genius Caged by Fate
Neji becomes a Genin and is placed on Team Three under Might Guy.
After a year training and taking on missions, he becomes so skilled that he is widely referred to as the strongest Genin and called "the greatest genius in Hyuga clan history".
After a year training and taking on missions, he becomes so skilled that he is widely referred to as the strongest Genin and called "the greatest genius in Hyuga clan history".
His opponent in the preliminaries for the third round of the Chunin Exam is his cousin Hinata, heiress of the main branch.
Although people praise his talent, Neji himself rejects the idea of human growth and ability to change due to being imprisoned within the rules governing the Hyuga cadet branch. He believes attempting to alter one's fate is entirely futile.
Only two people in the whole Leaf Village can understand the pain this "genius" carries.
One is the very person facing him in battle, Hinata Hyuga.
Only two people in the whole Leaf Village can understand the pain this "genius" carries.
One is the very person facing him in battle, Hinata Hyuga.
The other is a boy similarly burdened by the circumstances of his birth, Naruto Uzumaki.
Whether it be by chance or by fate, Neji is set to battle against Naruto in the third round proper!
"EACH PERSON'S LIFE CONSISTS ONLY OF BEING SWEPT ALONG IN THE INESCAPABLE CURRENT OF HIS DESTINY...
ALL OF US...
...HAVE ONLY ONE THING IN COMMON...ONE SHARED FATE...
...DEATH."
Neji is able to put his talents on full display, but this seems to have no impact on the despair he feels.
His pessimistic attitude does not stop him from delivering a one-sided drubbing to Naruto, showing off his mastery of the 8 Trigrams Palms Rotation and 8 Trigrams 64 Palms techniques that should normally only be known to members of the Hyuga main branch.
Seeing how Naruto refuses to accept defeat, Neji reveals the hateful legacy of the Hyuga clan and the tragic story of his past.
Hearing Neji's tale, Naruto realizes he understands Neji to a surprising degree. He cuts right to the truth of the matter and straight to Neji's heart.
Seeing him refuse to give up in a hopeless situation, Neji asks Naruto a single question: "Why do you keep trying so hard to defy your destiny?"
Naruto's belief in his ability to win allows him to find a way forward, and in the end, Neji is defeated.
After the conclusion of the match, Neji is visited by Hiashi in the infirmary. The Hyuga clan head proceeds to reveal the truth regarding Hizashi's death.
Neji's father was not forced to die as a body double, but chose to do so in order to protect his loved ones. Despite being a cadet branch member, he chose his own fate.
Hearing Hiashi's apology and his father's last words, tears fall from Neji's eyes. He gazes at the sky and speaks to his departed father with a look of contentment.
"FATHER...
I STILL CAN'T BE ENTIRELY CERTAIN WHETHER PEOPLE'S FATES SIMPLY COAST ALONG LIKE THE CLOUDS IN THE SKY...
...OR IF EACH PERSON CAN CHOOSE HIS OWN PATH TO FOLLOW.
I SUPPOSE THE DESTINATION MIGHT BE THE SAME EITHER WAY.
BUT WHEN YOU DECIDE TO FOLLOW YOUR OWN PATH, YOU CAN STRIVE TO ACHIEVE YOUR OWN DREAMS.
AND IN MY MATCH TODAY, I FINALLY LEARNED THAT PEOPLE WITH DREAMS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE TRULY STRONG."
"MY DREAM IS SIMPLE...
...TO BECOME STRONGER. RIGHT NOW, I WANT TO BECOME SO STRONG, I WILL NEVER LOSE TO ANYONE AGAIN.
FATHER... THERE ARE SO MANY BIRDS IN THE SKY TODAY...
...FLYING FREE."
After his battle with Naruto, Neji has finally learned what true strength is and starts to grow at an incredible rate—akin to a bird that has taken to the skies and rides the wind of its own accord!
Flying Free
Neji continues to strengthen his Byakugan and Gentle Fist techniques following the Chunin Exam.
Later on, Sasuke Uchiha defects from the Hidden Leaf Village.
Neji is one of those assigned to bring him back thanks to a recommendation from his teammate, Lee.
Neji is one of those assigned to bring him back thanks to a recommendation from his teammate, Lee.
Shikamaru is the group's captain, but Neji provides excellent support thanks to his Byakugan and combat experience.
The squad catches up to the Sound Four, but the enemy simply leaves one member behind to buy time before continuing on, forcing the ninja from Konoha to do the same.
This pattern continues, and Neji ends up in a one-on-one deathmatch with Kidomaru, who wields chakra threads.
This pattern continues, and Neji ends up in a one-on-one deathmatch with Kidomaru, who wields chakra threads.
Neji starts the battle off strong, but begins to lose the advantage once Kidomaru enters his curse mark state.
With nearly 360-degree vision, Neji has only one miniscule blind spot...and Kidomaru manages to find it.
He faces an opponent now far out of his league, who has even discovered the Byakugan's weakness...
The Neji from before, who had yet to learn what true strength is, likely would have given up at this point.
The Neji from before, who had yet to learn what true strength is, likely would have given up at this point.
But Neji has changed. The person he has become as a result of his battle with Naruto isn't about to take death lying down.
No matter how many wounds he accrues, Neji believes in his ability to win and continues strategizing.
His faith in himself and his friends gives him the power to change an outcome he once would have accepted as fate.
Prepared to die but refusing to lose, Neji launches a final attack against Kidomaru!
No matter how many wounds he accrues, Neji believes in his ability to win and continues strategizing.
His faith in himself and his friends gives him the power to change an outcome he once would have accepted as fate.
Prepared to die but refusing to lose, Neji launches a final attack against Kidomaru!
As he floods Kidomaru's thread with Gentle Fist chakra, Neji recalls Naruto's words.
Gathering the last of his strength, he pursues Kidomaru!
"I CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE...
EVEN IF MY OPPONENT IS STRONGER...
EVEN IF I WERE TO DIE...
I CANNOT LOSE.
I SIMPLY CAN'T...!"
"ONCE, NOT SO LONG AGO,
THE STRONGEST FELLOW I EVER FOUGHT SAID THIS TO ME...
''CAUSE UNLIKE ME...YOU'RE NOT A FAILURE!'"
"PEOPLE THINK I'M A GENIUS...
I CAN'T LET THEM DOWN!
TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVE FAITH IN ME...!"
"DIDN'T YOU SAY EARLIER...
...THAT MY FATE WAS TO GET TAKEN OUT BY SOME MINOR CHARACTER?
LOOK WHAT HAPPENED HERE."
"FATE...ISN'T SOMETHING FOR YOU TO DECIDE."
"THERE IS SOMEONE...
...WHO CAN FIND AND RESCUE SASUKE FROM THE DARKNESS!"
"...NARUTO...YOU..."
"...SAVED ME FROM THE DARKNESS!"
Having defeated Kidomaru and fulfilled his duty to the team, Neji leaves the rest of the mission to Naruto and the others.
Even though they fail to retrieve Sasuke, all five members of the team led by Shikamaru return alive.
Neji's injuries are serious, but thanks to the treatment he receives from the Leaf's medical corps he survives to fight another day.
Even though they fail to retrieve Sasuke, all five members of the team led by Shikamaru return alive.
Neji's injuries are serious, but thanks to the treatment he receives from the Leaf's medical corps he survives to fight another day.
After his recovery, Neji continues training diligently at the residence of the Hyuga clan's main branch, having sworn to soar to even greater heights.
Roughly 3 years pass, and Naruto returns from his training to discover...
Neji has outstripped his peers, rising all the way to Jonin!
Neji has outstripped his peers, rising all the way to Jonin!
On top of honing his Byakugan and other skills, Neji has also learned a new jutsu: 8 Trigrams Air Palm!
This has shored up his mid-range combat abilities, leaving him with no weak spots!
This has shored up his mid-range combat abilities, leaving him with no weak spots!
Having broken free of his cage and taken to the skies, Neji continues to aim high as one of the Jonin who support the Hidden Leaf!
A Final Flight, a Lasting Legacy
The Fourth Great Ninja War begins, enveloping the entire shinobi world.
Neji provides invaluable assistance to the Allied Shinobi Forces by using his Byakugan to analyze their enemies.
As the war enters its final stage, they must face the Ten Tails, an amalgamation of all the Tailed Beasts.
Neji works together with Hiashi and others to protect their comrades from the monster's attacks.
Neji provides invaluable assistance to the Allied Shinobi Forces by using his Byakugan to analyze their enemies.
As the war enters its final stage, they must face the Ten Tails, an amalgamation of all the Tailed Beasts.
Neji works together with Hiashi and others to protect their comrades from the monster's attacks.
However, the Ten Tails launches countless spikes at the allied ninja.
Naruto—whose presence is vital to the army's survival—is put in danger, and Hinata rushes in to cover him.
Naruto—whose presence is vital to the army's survival—is put in danger, and Hinata rushes in to cover him.
Neji uses his own body to shield the two of them and suffers fatal wounds.
As he lies dying, he speaks his last words to Naruto, the one who first showed him the light.
As he lies dying, he speaks his last words to Naruto, the one who first showed him the light.
"NARUTO... LADY HINATA...
...IS WILLING...TO DIE FOR YOU.
SO, REMEMBER... YOU HOLD MORE...
...THAN ONE LIFE...IN YOUR HANDS...
AND IT SEEMS...THAT MY LIFE TOO...
...MAY...HAVE BEEN...ONE OF THEM..."
"THOSE WORDS OF YOURS, LONG AGO, THAT FREED ME FROM THE SHACKLES OF FATE..."
"BECAUSE YOU...
...CALLED ME...A GENIUS."
"FATHER... I FINALLY UNDERSTAND...
...THE FEELING OF FREEDOM YOU FELT...
...CHOOSING TO DIE IN ORDER TO PROTECT YOUR COMRADES..."
Not because of the curse mark on his forehead or his status as a member of the Hyuga's cadet branch...Neji freely chooses to give up his life protecting those important to him.
As his soul leaves his body, it flies heavenward—free as a bird.
But his conviction remains, spreading like wildfire from Hinata to Naruto, and from Naruto to the rest of the Allied Shinobi Forces!
As his soul leaves his body, it flies heavenward—free as a bird.
But his conviction remains, spreading like wildfire from Hinata to Naruto, and from Naruto to the rest of the Allied Shinobi Forces!
Neji's legacy burns bright, freeing his comrades from the cage of despair and guiding them to victory in the form of a great bird of fire taking flight.
Article and Composition: Yuichi Ohba (Caramel mama)
That's all for Neji's birthday column!
Take this opportunity to reread the manga and look back on the peerless talent and unbending will of Neji Hyuga!
