Neji within the last moments of his life |
The anime series Boruto: Naruto Next Generations which has been on 2017/4/5 and has been currently on an undefined hiatus since March 2023 is a really worthy sequel of the anime Naruto Classic and Naruto Shippūden. Meanwhile, there're 293 episodes of Boruto.
Yet, Neji Hyūga (日向ネジ) is still a popular character from the entire Naruto franchise and of course, it was sorrowful that he died during the 4th Ninja World War.
Hence, many people legitimately ask themselves the question: What if Neji was still alive and e.g. met Boruto? Would it had made any tremendous difference? If yes, how?
This initial question will be responded by myself on this article. Hence, in the following, I'm gonna elaborate to which extent the plot of Boruto would have been different but without referring to the events which happened in the rest of the now-finished manga Boruto: Naruto Next Generations and in the new, on-going manga Boruto: Two Blue Vortex (since August 2023). Actually, I would also elaborate the events in the manga events as well but only this time, I make an exception, out of consideration for those among you who ain't manga readers or else, didn't furtherly read the manga Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, let alone, the manga Boruto: Two Blue Vortex.
Either way, I'm gonna drill down on said initial question without being exhaustive.
Well then, without further ado, let's go:
Original draft concepts of how Neji would look like if he was still alive, by Masashi Kishimoto (岸本斉史) himself. |
In the movie The Last - Naruto the Movie, Neji would've stayed on the earth in order to hold the fold.
In the Boruto-anime, Neji would have acted as personal taijutsu trainer for Boruto Uzumaki (うずまきボルト) and Himawari Uzumaki (うずまきヒマワリ) by teaching them the Gentle Fist Art (柔拳 , Jūken), so at least Boruto would have learned all techniques of this art - even before his graduation to a Genin. Indeed, Boruto is able to use some Gentle Fist Techniques after all and moreover, he can also use a Wind Style Jutsu which works similar to that kind of technique but he would've gotten a total package by Neji, if the latter was still alive.
Of course, Neji would've been the sensei of a three-man-team but the question arises for whom. Albeit, Hinata Hyūga (日向ヒナタ), Hanabi Hyūga (日向ハナビ), Konohamaru Sarutobi (猿飛木ノ葉丸) etc. wouldn't have been able to develope themselves further.
Regardless of Hinata who is a housewife now 'cuz the last time when she fought on-screen was in Sasuke Shinden, Hanabi and Konohamaru would have turned into meaningless minor characters - and this wouldn't be magnificent at all. Let us be honest: Even the ninja academy's swing gets more screen time than the half of the entire Naruto-franchise's characters and, especially, Konohamaru wouldn't have definitely deserved it at all.
And by the way, Tenten would have been still single because Neji's survival wouldn't have made any difference concerning her relationship status, so, if anything, Neji would have married another woman.
Furthermore, there'd still be also Hinata's sister Hanabi who can also teach Boruto and Himawari as well in a private training, regardless of that sparring between Boruto and Hanabi in Episode 9 of the anime Boruto which I don't count to it. But since she leads Team 15 being composed of Sumire Kakei (筧スミレ) / Tsubaki Kurogane (鉄ツバキ), Wasabi Izuno (伊豆野ワサビ) and Namida Suzumeno (雀乃なみだ), she had her hands full but for the time being, it would be enough if she trains Boruto and Himawari sporadically only. This would be when Neji came into play as special instructor for both of them.
Neji in Naruto Classic; in Naruto Shippūden and how he
would look like if he was still alive |
Theoretically, Neji would've been able to stand a chance against the Ōtsutsuki (大筒木) as well as against Kara (殻). For instance, he could have been able to defeat Ao (青) who had become an Outer of Kara, so Mugino (ムギノ) wouldn't have needed to sacrifice his own life in order to buy time for Team 7.
Plus, Neji would've been able to deal a lot of damage to Isshiki Ōtsutsuki (大筒木イッシキ), to the extent that either Kurama wouldn't have needed to sacrifice his life or Naruto would've been able to maintain the Baryon Mode (重粒子モード , Barion Mōdo) at least long enough to actually eradicate Isshiki.
Furthermore, Neji would've have been able to help out in the Great See Battle having taken place in the Hidden Mist Village (霧隠れの里 , Kirigakure no Sato) against the Funato Clan (船戸一族, Funato ichizoku), so Kagura Karatachi (枸橘かぐら) wouldn't have fallen in battle, during the fight against Funamushi (フナムシ).
However, by no later than Kawaki's riot having already been teased in Episode 1 of Boruto, it would be really the end of the line for Neji because of the implicated, potential eradication of the shinobi. I cannot really tell to which extent Neji's death would have still been an effective plot device then, but either way, you cannot get out of letting certain characters die; nerfing them or giving them a scanty amount of screen time in order to further the plot.
Conclusion: Of course, Neji's survival could have turned the plot's table in an entirely other direction, for the better or for the worse. Oftentimes, certain characters have to be let dying in order to forward the plot, even if it's really sorrowful.
Let us be honest: Neji's sacrifire wasn't in vain because Naruto Uzumaki has become a magnificent war hero; gained more than he had before the 4th Ninja World War; become Hokage afterwards and moreover, he has two children with great potential who're indeed magnificent legacies: Boruto and Himawari.
Now, I'd be interested in your input about what if Neji was still alive. Don't hesitate writing it in the comment section below.
PS: Here you can go to my other Naruto franchise-related articles:
- Review: "Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 - Road to Boruto" - A masterpiece eclipsing all of the previous "Naruto Storm" games
- Review: The Light Novel "Kakashi Hiden" - An excellent transition within the entire "Naruto" story-line
- Review: "Naruto Shippūden Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution" - not so revolutionary as implicated?!
- Statement: Is Kakashi still overpowered? Or has he already past his best?
- Review: The Novel "The Tale of an Utterly Gutsy Shinobi"
- Review: "Boruto - Naruto the Movie" in German Dub - top or flop?
- Theory: Have Naruto Uzumaki the Jōnin-rank? Or is he only a Genin but on par with a Jōnin?
PPS: Here you can go to my other articles from the rubric "Statement":