Episode 46 - Byakugan Battle: Hinata Grows Bold!

We open to Naruto using Hinata's rapid-healing salve, but Kakashi it's not so much that it's that fast, Naruto's just got a Nine-Tail healing factor. As the Ninja Paramedics carry the dog and his Ninja out, Hinata meekly offers Kiba some of the same medicine, but Kiba is at once kind of a jerk and kind of cool. He tells Hinata to worry about herself instead of others, and if Kiba had any kind of tact that would've come off much better. Kiba also tells her if she draws Gaara, to concede right then. And then possibly flee the country and live the rest of her life under an assumed name. Then he also says the same about Neji. Huh. The Billboard of Fate spits out, yup, Hinata vs. Neji (which I still think is miles better than getting Gaara - and I really hope poor big-boned Choji doesn't draw the dead-eyed little sand bastard). Is this going to be a very short episode?

Nope! Hinata at least has to concede first, I guess. I notice both Hyugas wear the same footwear. Neji calls Hinata 'Lady' and Hinata calls her 'brother.' Naruto asks if they're siblings, but Kakashi says that they're both descended from a distinguished Hidden Leaf family - Ninja blue-bloods, if you will. Hinata comes from the head family, and Neji comes from one of its branches. Sakura thinks that could make the fight awkward, and Lee says it will, but not for the reasons she's probably thinking of. Like any family, the Hyuga has had their feuds. The branch family doesn't like the head family for reasons that go into how the Hyuga teach their funky sight Jutsu. Neji tells Hinata to withdraw, and he's just cruel to the poor kid. Her passivity and lack of confidence wouldn't make her a good Shinobi, and there's nothing there I can argue with right away. You do want to beat up Neji for picking on Hinata, though. Hinata says she wanted to improve, no matter what Neji says, and the spectators think the elder Hyuga is a class-A jerk.

Flashback to Kurenai and Hinata's father, with Hinata's younger sister Hanabi looking about ready to pass out on the floor. Kurenai says she'll teach up Hinata to be a proper Shinobi, but Hinata's dad's already thinks she's useless, having been outstripped by Hanabi. We join the present with Neji being a prick, who doesn't think people can change and that means once a failure, always a failure for Hinata. What the hell, bro? Neji's seen it all through the Byakugan, and this is first the kids've heard of that technique. Kakashi recounts that it's a Visual Jutsu that goes way back in their family, and it's even where the Uchiha picked up the Sharingan from - but it outclasses even that. Neji fires it up, and Hinata looks panicked beyond belief, complete with her eyes starting to loll back and forth. That's a trick of the Byakugan, though, which seems to mean that you can use it read what your opponent's actually thinking, rather than the Sharingan's mimicry. It all boils down to Hinata's picturing herself losing, and she gets even more and frightened by this literal invasion of her privacy.

It's very harsh. Hinata starts to hyperventilate as Neji continues his tirade, before Naruto gratefully interrupts things by yelling down at Hinata to stop listening to her goony older cousin and kick his ass. It's certainly a good thing they allow spectators at this thing. Naruto once again speaks for the audience, yelling to give it back as good as she's been getting. Taiko drums bring us a new Hinata, who meets Neji's eyes and who is tired of running away. She turns on her own Byakugan and drops into Neji's own stance from earlier. The Hyuga style is the strongest Taijutsu in the Hidden Leaf Village, and Lee reminds us he did tell us that Neji was the toughest Shinobi on his squad. They go right at, lots of blocking and dodging, neither of them able to land a good shot. Hinata moves in for a palm strike, which looks like it missed - but Lee says that's just as good as regular strike. Where as Lee and Guy's Taijutsu (Furious Fist! Awesome!) is all external, the Hyuga messes you and your Chakra up on the inside (Gentle Fist). It's very subtle, but it's hard to make your internal organs buff, so it's very effective. The Hyugas go at it again, and I think Shino and Kurenai are impressed, but it's hard to tell with those two. Naruto has to have Chakra explained to him again. Heh. Lee's so focused on the fight, he misses Sakura defending him to Naruto. Kakashi explains that's what Byakugan let's you see - the opponent's Chakra line. Both Hyugas connect solid with each, and it looks like somebody's heart just stopped. Whoa.

Next Episode: Hinata is love.