The Untold Truth Of Neji Hyūga From Naruto

We first learn about the Hyuga clan, one of the most powerful ninja clans in “Naruto,” in Episode 46, when Neji and Hinata face off against each other in the preliminary matches of the Chunin Exams. As they greet one another right before the match, Hinata refers to Neji as her brother. This catches Naruto and Sakura off guard, but Kakashi and Lee are quick to clarify that the two Hyugas aren’t actually siblings. Rather, Neji and Hinata are cousins, since their fathers are twin brothers.

It’s not unheard of to refer to a close friend or family member as “sister” or “brother,” so we might initially assume that Neji and Hinata have a close sibling-like relationship. However, that definitely isn’t the case during the Chunin Exams, where Neji spends a good amount of time belittling Hinata’s capabilities as a ninja before almost killing her. So why would Hinata think of Neji like a brother?

Flashbacks in Episode 61 reveal the truth. Neji was placed under the care of Hinata’s father, and they were raised like siblings. Back then, he had a much more positive attitude toward Hinata. This only changed after Neji came to grasp the special treatment she and her father received, which stood in contrast to the consequences he and his father had to suffer. Since she continues to call him “brother,” it seems likely that Hinata never stops thinking fondly of Neji, despite the rift created by their clan’s circumstances.

We first learn about the Hyuga clan, one of the most powerful ninja clans in “Naruto,” in Episode 46, when Neji and Hinata face off against each other in the preliminary matches of the Chunin Exams. As they greet one another right before the match, Hinata refers to Neji as her brother. This catches Naruto and Sakura off guard, but Kakashi and Lee are quick to clarify that the two Hyugas aren’t actually siblings. Rather, Neji and Hinata are cousins, since their fathers are twin brothers.

It’s not unheard of to refer to a close friend or family member as “sister” or “brother,” so we might initially assume that Neji and Hinata have a close sibling-like relationship. However, that definitely isn’t the case during the Chunin Exams, where Neji spends a good amount of time belittling Hinata’s capabilities as a ninja before almost killing her. So why would Hinata think of Neji like a brother?

Flashbacks in Episode 61 reveal the truth. Neji was placed under the care of Hinata’s father, and they were raised like siblings. Back then, he had a much more positive attitude toward Hinata. This only changed after Neji came to grasp the special treatment she and her father received, which stood in contrast to the consequences he and his father had to suffer. Since she continues to call him “brother,” it seems likely that Hinata never stops thinking fondly of Neji, despite the rift created by their clan’s circumstances.