Neji Hyūga

"I can't wait to see the look on your face of despair when you realize your foolish vow is impossible to keep."

- Neji before fighting Naruto

Neji Hyūga is a former antagonist and main supporting character of the Anime/Manga series, Naruto. He is a member of the Hyuga Clan and Team Guy, along with Rock Lee and Ten-Ten. In the Chunin Exam Arc, Neji played as a villain/anti-hero who displayed great resentment towards his team-mate Rock Lee and his cousin Hinata, and caused them a lot of psychical pain. His hate towards the main branch also accurred after the death of his father.

Background
Neji was born into the Branch House of the Hyūga clan to Hizashi, the twin brother of the clan's current head Hiashi Hyūga. When Hinata, the heiress apparent, turned three years old, as customary Neji's previously unmarked forehead was branded with the Hyūga main family's Juinjutsu by his uncle Hiashi. All branch house members carry this cursed seal and Neji believed it to be a symbol that one lives only to serve, and protect the main house.

Neji's father, was well aware of Neji's natural talent, and he was frustrated that despite Neji's tremendous skill, he still carried the fate of a servant. Often times when contemplating this fate, Hizashi's anger would subconsciously turn outwards; consequently, he was punished through Hiashi's activation of his curse seal who noted that he would no longer tolerate such animosity. Around this time, the Konoha and Kumogakure had signed an alliance treaty. However, the treaty only served as a means into Konoha and a way to lower the village's guard so the Head Ninja of Kumogakure could abduct Hinata and steal the secrets of the Byakugan. This attempt failed, however, as Hiashi intervened and killed the man within moments.

When word of the murder reached Kumogakure, they demanded Hiashi's body as compensation as per the agreement in the treaty (as his body would hold the Byakugan as well). Konoha wasn't prepared to comply to this request until Hizashi stepped in and offered to give himself up instead. Due to him being bound by the Hyūga main family's Juinjutsu when he died, the Byakugan would be sealed away, thus protecting its secrets. Hizashi made this sacrifice willingly in order to protect his brother, family, and village. However, Neji came to believe that the main branch had forced him to do so. This misconception became the primary basis of his nine year grudge against the main branch and of his concrete view on one's unalterable fate.