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leportraitducadavre · 2 years

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Neji vs. Kidomaru

After reading and re-reading the chapters focused on the Hyüga prodigy against the archer of the Sound Four, I decided to dedicate this battle an entire post, not so much because of Kidomaru, but because of Neji who, by the age of thirteen, is both an excellent strategist and fighter. I've been reading lately a lot of mistreatment towards his character either direct or indirect (as when specific portions of the fandom downgrade/diminish his capacities to compare him to very canonically mediocre ninjas), so I wanted to give him some appreciation.

We start in Chapter 192: In there, Kidomaru trapped Shikamaru, Kiba, and Naruto's clone. Shikamaru's plan was to distract Kidomaru in order for Neji to attack him but the man traps him as well and imprisons him in a cocoon. Naruto, whose clone has been destroyed, jumps from behind Kidomaru and punches him, but he's fast enough to incapacitate the Jinchüriki.

While this is happening, Neji analyzes Kidomaru’s technique with his Byakugan and realizes that the webs are a mix of spit and chakra that keeps circulating even after he releases them. Therefore before Kidomaru could attack his teammates with Kumonenkin (x), he releases them -as the Gentle Fist’s technique specializes in cutting/stopping chakra flow (x):

The Hyuuga combine their x-ray vision with their ability to see chakra, allowing them to see the chakra pathways within the human body. This served as the foundation of their Gentle Fist as they inject their chakra into the enemy’s pathways that are entwined with their internal organs to damage them in ways they can’t defend against. Those with higher than average visual acuity – naturally or trained – can even see the 361 chakra points which release chakra from the body which can then be targeted to disrupt the enemy’s chakra flow. Viewing the chakra pathways directly means that they can literally see the enemy generate chakra, transform it into a technique and channel it through their body, allowing them to react to an attack before it is actually unleashed.

(Source)

I’ve already reiterated what the Gentle Fist’s techniques consist of, but let’s make sure we have all the information about Kidomaru’s techniques that he has displayed thus far:

Spider Web Flower (Kumo Souka) Ninjutsu, Hiden, Supplementary, Close to mid-range User(s): Kidoumaru Countless clinging nets capture his prey! A special adhesive net released from Kidoumaru’s mouth. These nets, created with chakra, stick to their prey and do not let go. The nets themselves are very small, but can be created in a split second, so raising the rate of capture by spitting out several in a row is possible. It is also useful against multiple enemies.

(Source)

Spider Web Unrolling (Kumosoukai) Ninjutsu, Hiden, Supplementary, Close to mid-range User(s): Kidoumaru A net that blossoms and covers all — enveloping its prey in one fell swoop!! A web that captures and contains all enemies attacking from the front. The sticky and elastic threads are so strong that even an elephant pulling each end would not break them. The enemy is crucified, unable to budge a muscle, let alone fight back. Once captured, their fate is in the hands of Kidoumaru.

(Source)

I've said it before, but again, Kidomaru traps Neji in his Spider Cocoon (Kumo Mayu), which is:

These are the first three techniques we see him use and the one that traps Shikamaru’s team. Neji, by analyzing Kidomaru's technique, decides to use the Gentle fist Technique to break Kidomaru’s chakra connection with his spider webs, making them fragile enough to cut, and liberates the entire team before Kidomaru attacks Naruto:

Not only was he able to discern a counter-attack to Kidomaru’s technique but he also freed himself and both Kiba and Shikamaru in the short time span Kidomaru was distracted by Naruto.

In order to understand the speed at which Neji moved, let’s look at this:

Neji is able to activate his Byakugan and intercept Kidomaru’s projectiles before they reach his teammates -Kidomaru’s technique is Kumo Souka, which as shown before can be created in a split second even against multiple targets -Neji activated his Doujutsu (without using any seals!) and intercepted the projectiles in a matter of seconds.

It's because Kidomaru understands Neji's strength and speed (he even calls him the strongest of the bunch) that he decides that the best course of action is to overwhelm him with a rapid succession of Kumo Souka (again, this technique is so fast that it allows Kidomaru to spit a huge amount of projectiles):

He successfully traps Neji and prevents him from using his arms because he knew about Hyüga's technique: He was warned. Orochimaru told him about the Gentle Fist and, in doing so, gave his pupil an advantage Neji doesn't have -as he's encountering Kidomaru's techniques for the first time.

Spider Sticky Gold (Kumo Nenkin) Ninjutsu, Hiden, Supplementary User(s): Kidoumaru Amazingly adaptable metal woven from inside his body! Peculiar and unbreakable spun gold! Kidoumaru uses this jutsu to harden the golden metal that releases like sweat. The weapons created from this process form the core of his style of fighting. This metal hardens like steel upon contact with air, so by chewing it in his mouth and changing its shape Kidoumaru can create weapons appropriate to each battle. It hardens the instant it appears! It can be easily shaped into even a sword or bow. The bizarrely shaped sticky gold becomes a devastating projectile weapon– Because it instantly hardens, direct attacks from a distance are possible.

(Source)

Kidomaru uses this attack to kill Neji, who is trapped by his web. However, such is Neji's control of his own chakra (Hakkeshou Kaiten, Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven) that he can release it from his body's Tenketsu -immediately breaking the spider webs and dodging the attack.

He's even able to attack Kidomaru with Gentle Fist Style 8 Trigrams 64 Palms with enough speed for Kidomaru not to be able to dodge as he gets blown out through a tree:

However, Kidomaru's technique is particularly complicated for a Byakugan user as his Kumonenkin (when hard) doesn't allow chakra to go through the barrier. As I've said, he didn't have time to avoid Neji's attack, so he produced a gold shield through his sweat glands to protect his energy flow system, hence making the Gentle Fist technique useless:

Regardless, Kidomaru is aware that attacking with any close-range Jutsu or keeping using the same techniques Neji already defeated would've pointless, so not only does he activates Orochimaru's Seal -he also summons Kyodaigumo for her to prevent Neji from using the 8 Trigrams Palm Rotation technique (x)

In order to perform the task asked by her summoner, Kyodaigumo spawns a big amount of baby spiders that rain down on Neji (Amagumo) to both slow him down and distract him from the actual attack.

Yet Neji is able to see, despite the multiple attacks he's facing, Kidomaru's Kumonenkin. He even decides to defend and attack using solely Taijutsu (Gentle Fist style) against the big amount of spiders.

His reaction speed is marvelous, he's able to dodge all the kunai Kidomaru throws his way but the ones that he throws in his blind spot!

He's able to keep dodging and successfully attacking the two other waves of Rain of Spiders (x) with two more kunai in his body before ultimately defeating Kyodaigumo with six kunai on his back (x).

Can we pause a little bit and understand that Neji is fighting without pausing: 1) The baby spiders Kyodaigumo throws at him. One by one. 2) The web they produce that reduce his movements. 3) Kidomaru's Kumonenkin (gold daggers)

All the while he's exhausted and wounded.

Furthermore,

Even while Kidomaru unknowingly (he finds out eventually, and targets that specific place later on) threw those attacks on Neji's blind spot, he reacted fast enough to avoid fatal blows.

In the Second Stage of his seal, Kidomaru has 100% striking accuracy with his bow -yet Neji, while injured, is able to dodge the attack! Kidomaru's arrow covers 50 meters in an instant:

And Neji dodges it -Kidomaru didn't miss, Neji sensed it with his chakra and deflected it.

Neji's blind spot.

In order to counteract Neji's movements (as when he runs his blindspot changes positions -not in the sense of moving through his body but him moving), Kidomaru uses chakra powered cord to change the course of the arrow.

So Neji decides that he won't run (and this panel breaks me):

And this is how far the arrow travels (pointing out Kidomaru's ability with long-ranged attacks):

Neji, while dying (he's canonically agonizing), uses the remaining of his chakra to invade Kidomaru's chakra-powered cord and strike him (severing his connection to the arrow). He hasn't immobilized him, he simply hurt him.

Now, and this is the real cake:

Neji (remember, he's without chakra and he's gravely injured) cuts the wire, runs through the forest, and reaches Kidomaru before the Sound-nin even reaches the ground; he literally covered this entire distance:

while Kidomaru was falling.

The sheer amount of speed he possesses even at his worst state (he uses no fancy jutsus to jump from one place to the other, he is simply running) is incredible.

And allow me to be petty: I can't believe some people compare and elevate his cousin's abilities in order to claim them to be on the same level (lucky him there wasn't a rock around to make him trip). He's superior at this stage, and I dare to say he's still superior to her at this age even after the War Arc; she's never even mentioned to be remotely good, least of all as good as Neji, whose prodigy status persists even after the time-skip.

The Main Family in its entirety (maybe less Hiashi), pales completely in comparison to him.

Neji's explanation of his strategy and why he was able to keep fighting after Kidomaru's attack. Now that's what I call a strategist.

Chapter 198 is the chapter where Neji canonically (and finally) lets go of his hatred towards the Hyuga Main Family (x), he even states that Naruto “saved him from darkness” (x) -which is not only letting go of a negative feeling such as ire but also transforms him into an obedient tool of both his uncle and his cousins. Here, Neji’s Arc comes resolutely to an end, narratively positive, revolutionarily negative.

I wonder if the feather is supposed to symbolize Neji’s wings? As in, him becoming free of “his cage”; or is a single feather a symbol of him plucking his wings -therefore, becoming trapped inside the cage?

Neji deserved more than he got.

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