Fan favorite Neji Hyuga’s death wasn’t a popular move with the Naruto fandom. Here’s which episode of Naruto: Shippuden that Neji died in.
Naruto: Shippuden is a sprawling anime series with a vast cast of characters, and here’s a recap on which episode Neji Hyuga dies in. A low-ranking member of the Hyuga clan and a prodigious shinobi talent, Neji Hyuga made his debut in the first season of Studio Pierrot’s original Naruto anime series. Early on in the show, Neji was resentful of being destined to a life of servitude to the Hyuga main house and – by extension – of his cousin Hinata Hyuga. However, with the help of Naruto Uzumaki, Neji soon came to realize he could make his own destiny. He eventually established himself as a valued member of his clan and became a Naruto fan favorite in the process.
By the time the sequel series Naruto: Shippuden rolled around, Neji’s talents had seen him promoted to jōnin – a rank awarded to the most experienced and skilled ninjas. He was an important player in the Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation arc and joined the Allied Shinobi Forces in the fight against the Akatsuki as part of the Second Division battalion alongside his cousin Hinata. During the arc, the Hyuga cousins fought valiantly to take down the Akatsuki’s White Zetsu Army and Neji faced off against a reincarnated version of his old foe Kidomaru and managed to defeat him.
As the Fourth Shinobi World War came to an end, so did Neji Hyuga’s time on Naruto: Shippuden. When Naruto entered into a battle with the Ten-Tails, Neji and the Allied Shinobi Forces were sent to assist him. After realizing Naruto was central to winning the war, Neji joined forces with Hinata and his uncle Hiashi to protect Naruto at all costs. Unfortunately, this act cost him his life, but what episode does Neji actually die in?
In episode 364 (AKA “The Ties That Bind) of Naruto: Shippuden, the Ten-Tails launched a volley of wooden spikes in Naruto’s direction which Hinata attempted to deflect by jumping in front of him. Neji selflessly shielded them from the attack and ended up impaled by several spikes but saved both Naruto and Hinata’s lives in the process. Neji’s wounds unfortunately proved fatal and the Hyuga hero died in Naruto’s arms.
As Neji Hyuga is a Naruto fan favorite, killing him off wasn’t a very popular move with the anime’s fandom. However, Neji’s death in episode 364 of Naruto: Shippuden wasn’t his last appearance in the franchise. During the Time Slip arc in the sequel series Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, Hinata and Naruto’s son Boruto went back in time and had a heart-to-heart with Neji. Neji fans can also take solace in the fact his legacy lives on through Boruto, whose name translates to “bolt” – a touching tribute to Neji (whose name means “screw”), the man who saved his parent's lives.
