Kishimoto’s Biggest Mistake: Why Sasuke vs. Neji Was the Fight We Deserved!

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This post contains spoilers for Naruto.

Summary

  • Sasuke Vs. Neji would have been the best Chunin Exams fight.
  • Neji would have defeated Sasuke during the Chunin Exams due to his Byakugan.
  • Neji’s role should have been more significant, but was overshadowed by Naruto and Sasuke.

In the Naruto series, Sasuke Uchiha serves as a key secondary character. He made an early appearance and swiftly captured the hearts of many viewers. Known for his prodigious intelligence, Sasuke demonstrated rapid growth and learning, which garnered him respect and admiration from his peers.

During Sasuke’s travels, he encountered numerous formidable opponents that stretched him to his utmost potential, ultimately aiding the Uchiha in self-improvement. The abundance of characters presented Kishimoto with a challenge in determining which combatants would square off against each other. At times, Kishimoto’s decisions seemed peculiar, and they may have denied fans some truly epic battles.

Sasuke Vs. Neji Would Have Been The Best Fight Of The Chunin Exams

Before the Chunin Exams, Sasuke and Neji had already crossed paths. Prior to this encounter, it appeared that Team 7 surpassed everyone else in terms of strength. However, as the competition unfolded, it became evident that they were not the only powerhouses. Rock Lee was the one who initially brought Team 7 back down to earth with his extraordinary taijutsu abilities.

As the competition advanced, those who made it past round two found themselves squaring off against one another in the preliminaries. In the initial bout, I watched as Sasuke faced Yoroi Akadō from Otogakure. Contrary to what seemed like a potential struggle for him, the fight turned out to be rather straightforward, with Sasuke ultimately coming out victorious. Simultaneously, Neji was up against Hinata in the preliminaries. From the beginning, it appeared that he had the upper hand, and he even managed to embarrass her in the process.

After their triumph, Sasuke and Neji were selected as finalists. Instead of having two prodigious individuals compete against one another, Kishimoto opted for Sasuke to battle Gaara. Conversely, Neji was assigned to face off against Naruto. During the initial rounds, there was a dispute between Neji and Naruto due to the former’s past mistreatment of Hinata. Naruto intervened and reproached Neji’s methods. Given this history and the fact that only Naruto could penetrate the Gentle Fist’s defenses, it seemed fitting for them to engage in combat. Another reason Kishimoto chose to have Neji fight Naruto was because of their past altercations and the unique dynamic their encounter would create.

Who Would Win Between Neji And Sasuke?

Neji Would Have Obliterated Sasuke In Part One

  • Neji had better control over his dojutsu
  • Neji was stronger physically

In a fight between Neji and Sasuke during the Chunin Exams, Neji would have easily dominated due to his superior mastery over the Byakugan compared to Sasuke’s Sharingan at that time. Additionally, Neji had the ability to use Gentle Fist, which could disrupt the flow of chakra in another person, effectively neutralizing their offensive capabilities. If Neji had managed to land a few attacks on Sasuke, his vital points (tenketsu) would have been blocked, leaving him with no chance of survival.

All this time I’ve been called a genius, so I cannot lose. —Neji Hyuuga

Previously mentioned, Naruto was chosen by Kishimoto as he was the sole character capable of overcoming the influence with Kurama’s assistance.

The skirmish between Neji and Sasuke at the outset of Part 2 would have been quite intriguing. In that phase, Sasuke had mastered numerous new abilities, and he surpassed Naruto in strength. Nonetheless, Neji wouldn’t have lagged significantly behind him. This is because he was the sole member of the Konoha 11 to attain the rank of Jonin.

Neji’s Role Should Have Been Bigger

Over the course of the narrative, Kishimoto tended to overlook several characters and relegate them to minor roles. These characters were seldom featured, and their appearances were sparse, often requiring fans to endure multiple chapters before catching a glimpse. One such character who could have been utilized more effectively was Neji. In the initial phase of the story, Neji was highly esteemed for his prodigious intellect, capable of matching the most formidable characters. However, in the second half of the tale, Neji’s role underwent a significant shift.

In contrast to being the sole Jonin from Konoha 11, Neji scarcely received significant story moments due to Kishimoto’s profound fascination with Naruto and Sasuke. As events unfolded, Neji’s situation only worsened when he was chosen for a sacrifice during the Fourth Great Ninja War, ultimately leading to his untimely death in an unusual manner and for a disappointingly weak reason. It is regrettable that Kishimoto did not delve deeper into Neji’s storyline. Had Neji survived, he would have made an excellent mentor for Boruto; alas, this opportunity will never materialize.

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2025-05-19 21:14