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Biodata
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Neji Hyuga (宁次) 3 |
| Species/Race | Human; Hyuga Clan branch family 137 |
| Gender | Male 3 |
| Affiliation | Konohagakure; Hyuga Clan. Later cooperates with Shinji's Akatsuki faction 3 391 1499 |
| Occupation/Role | Ninja Academy student; later one of Shinji's subordinates 3 481 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 3 3 |
Power Progression
| Stage / Realm / Level | Chapter | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Academy taijutsu prodigy | 3 | Already practices sharp Gentle Fist at age eight and has repeatedly defeated Shinji's original self in sparring 3. |
| Revolving Heaven | 135 | Successfully uses the Hyuga defensive technique for the first time while trapped in a dangerous kunai-training exercise; exhaustion prevents him from sustaining it 135. |
| Tenseigan chakra exposure | 418 | His Byakugan resonates with the Giant Tenseigan, which fills him with more chakra than he can contain 417 418. |
| Biological exoskeleton enhancement | 718 | Releases Shinji's exoskeleton, codenamed “H,” to raise his physical capabilities enough to hold off Shinnō in his seventh-gate state 718 719. |
| Forehead Tenseigan | 755 | A Tenseigan on his forehead enters a dormant adaptation period; bearing its power is difficult even for him 755. |
| Tenseigan lost | 1336 | Losing the eye significantly weakens him 1336. |
| Six Paths-level combat | 1478 | Identified among fighters adjusting to which abilities remain effective after reaching the Six Paths level; the means of this later advancement is not specified 1478. |
Background and History
Neji belongs to the Hyuga branch family. The “Caged Bird” seal and his father's death shape his resentment toward the main family. At the Academy, Shinji's original self considers him a rival, while Neji's Gentle Fist makes him one of the strongest students in taijutsu 3 137 155.
After Shinji defeats him in his specialty, Neji trains to exhaustion. Shinji rescues him from a kunai exercise while disguised, tells him about the Tenseigan, and draws him into a search for clues about the Moon. Neji finds a relevant scroll in the Hyuga main family's estate and subsequently travels to the Moon with Shinji 108 135 155 158 159.
Neji admits to Hiashi that he has cooperated with Akatsuki, but denies being a member. Learning of the lunar Otsutsuki branch family's threat to the Ninja World also eases his resentment toward the Hyuga main family. Hiashi later begins training him personally 315 391.
Personality
Neji is reserved and fiercely committed to training. Losing to Shinji in taijutsu wounds his pride, and even defeat by Otsutsuki Toneri drives him to train harder rather than abandon the Tenseigan pursuit 108 417.
His loyalty to Hiashi becomes personal rather than simply an obligation of branch-family status. When Shinnō attacks, Neji insists he is protecting Hiashi because Hiashi is his uncle—his father's brother 718.
Abilities & Skills
Byakugan and Gentle Fist
Neji uses his Byakugan to study opponents' movements and pairs it with the Hyuga Clan's pressure-point-based Gentle Fist 107 831.
- His Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms is intended to disable an opponent by striking and sealing pressure points with chakra 831.
- Revolving Heaven deflects attacks from multiple directions, but its stamina cost prevented Neji from maintaining it when he first succeeded in using it 135.
- Ranmaru's Nether Release neutralized the chakra Neji delivered through Sixty-Four Palms, allowing Ranmaru to withstand an attack Neji expected to end the fight 831.
Biological exoskeleton
- Shinji's exoskeleton “H” covers Neji's body when released and carries an enhanced pure Byakugan 718 740.
- Its physical boost lets Neji keep pace with Shinnō's attacks well enough to apply his dōjutsu and taijutsu, though he still cannot match Shinnō's seventh-gate strength 719.
Tenseigan
- Neji's Byakugan resonates with the Giant Tenseigan on the Moon, allowing him to receive its chakra 417 418.
- A Tenseigan later develops on his forehead, but enters a dormant adaptation period. He subsequently loses it 755 1336.
Relationships
- Shinji Uchiha — Academy rival who defeats Neji in taijutsu; later rescues, recruits, and guides him in the Tenseigan plan 3 108 135 155 417.
- Hiashi Hyuga — Neji's uncle and clan head. Hiashi personally trains him, and Neji protects him during Shinnō's attack 315 718.
- Rock Lee and Tenten — Neji's Academy teammates. They train alongside him and worry when his kunai exercise becomes dangerous 95 135.
- Kimimaro — Fellow participant in Shinji's Tenseigan plan; the two fight Shinnō together and later bear Tenseigan on their foreheads 481 724 755.
Notable Quotes
“I'm protecting you not because you're from the main family and I'm from the branch family! It's because you're my uncle, my father's brother!” 718