Naruto: The greatest Chunin Fight that never happened would've broken the fandom

As someone who grew up watching Naruto, I’ve often found myself lost in the “what-ifs” of the series. Even after all these years since the show ended, I still wholeheartedly believe there were so many missed opportunities, unresolved arcs, and hypothetical matchups that could’ve shattered the internet.

But among them all, there is one fight that should have taken place during the initial stage of the story, a battle that had the potential to eclipse even the legendary Rock Lee vs. Gaara bout.

I am talking about Sasuke Uchiha vs. Neji Hyuga during the Chunin Exams. Because think about it, they were the most arrogant, brooding, prodigious, and frankly overpowered genin of their generation, going head-to-head at the peak of their teenage angst. Furthermore, I think that to witness Byakugan vs. Sharingan would’ve changed how fans talk about Naruto’s best moments.

In this article, I will cover all the points why this fight would’ve broken the fandom. But before I dive into what could’ve been, let’s give props to the match that did happen and raised the bar for what we expected from the Chunin Exams. When Rock Lee took off his weights and gave his 100% against Gaara, my adolescent brain could hardly keep up.

Their fight was a narrative in motion. But here’s the thing, I feel that Neji vs. Sasuke could’ve gone deeper. Imagine for a second, Sasuke standing across from Neji in the arena. Neji, the genius of the Hyuga clan, was cold and calculative. He believed in fate, in a pre-determined path where the weak stay weak and the strong are destined for greatness.

On the other hand, there’s Sasuke, the last surviving Uchiha heir. Burdened with vengeance, pride, and a need to prove himself at any cost. He was different from Neji because Sasuke wanted to break free from the cycle of fate and destiny. Their battle would have transcended just based on skills. This showdown would have made them and us question opposing ideologies.

While Neji did fight Naruto, that battle served an important narrative purpose. It was Naruto proving that destiny wasn’t set in stone. Naruto didn’t push Neji the way Sasuke would have. Neji didn’t need to adapt to unpredictable Sharingan feints.

He didn’t face a chakra-infused jutsu that could rip through walls. Sasuke would’ve brought out a darker, more desperate side of Neji. A side we didn’t see until the war arc.

What could’ve happened if this fight had taken place in Naruto?

If I dare to imagine it, the first step would be to break down the fight into three parts. Before the fight would even officially begin, both of these boys would enter the arena with the determination not to lose. As they had high egos, it would not be surprising if they made snarky remarks about their past.

Then the second part of the showdown would begin, and both of them would get serious. Neji doesn’t aim to damage muscles or bones, he would try to neutralize Sasuke. Furthermore, his signature technique, the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, is practically a death sentence in close quarters.

But even Sasuke is not the kind to back down. By the time of the Chunin Exams, he’d already held his own against Orochimaru in the Forest of Death and was improving rapidly under Kakashi’s guidance. Therefore, I feel that alone would force Neji to up his game.

Finally, even writing about this makes me get the chills to the point that I cannot even imagine the end. It could end in a tie or mutual knockout, leaving the crowd speechless.

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In conclusion, as a fan of this series, in my opinion, sometimes, the greatest fights in anime aren’t the ones we see, they’re the ones we almost got. And this hypothetical fight between Sasuke and Neji is the ultimate example of that in Naruto. But there’s a certain beauty in imagining what could have been.

We’re left speculating a fight where the Sharingan and Byakugan would’ve collided in a dazzling, philosophical showdown of power, pride, and pain. A fight that could’ve redefined the Chunin Exams and sent shockwaves through the fandom.

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