Naruto Vol. 12

Naruto begins his match against Neji with repeated shadow-clone attacks, but Neji’s Byakugan and Gentle Fist allow him to distinguish Naruto’s tactics and repel every assault. Neji explains the Hyūga branch family’s enslavement to the main household and reveals the circumstances surrounding his father’s death, arguing that neither lineage nor destiny can be changed. Naruto rejects his conclusions and continues fighting even after the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms closes his chakra points.

By drawing upon the Nine-Tailed Fox’s chakra, Naruto restores his ability to fight and clashes directly with Neji. After apparently being defeated, he emerges from a tunnel dug beneath the arena and lands a decisive uppercut. Naruto’s victory forces Neji to reconsider his fatalism, while Hiashi Hyūga later reveals that Neji’s father chose his own sacrifice rather than being compelled to die.

With Sasuke Uchiha still absent, the tournament advances to Shikamaru’s match against Temari. Although initially reluctant to fight, Shikamaru constructs a complex strategy using the arena’s terrain, Naruto’s tunnel, and the changing length of his shadow. He successfully traps Temari but unexpectedly forfeits after concluding that he lacks enough chakra to continue through later rounds.