Naruto Series: Neji Hyuga (INTJ)

Ni:

Most people like to call Neji a textbook ISTJ, but hear us out. There are countless example of Neji using Ni throughout the series. For starters, he speaks in metaphors and heavily use words like destiny and fate. The signs of his Ni are clear from even a very young age.

“Father, is a person’s destiny a thing like a cloud flowing with an inescapable flow? Or can a person choose the flow he wishes… I still don’t know the answer to this. Either way the destination may be the same in the end. However by choosing to live like the latter, a person can live and strive towards a goal. And in this match I have finally understood those who have that are truly strong. Father, I have but one goal, I want to become stronger… Enough not to lose to anyone… That’s how I feel. Father, the birds are flying freely today… They look so happy.”

Everything about this screams Ni, from the abstract metaphor, to the topic of destiny. On top of that, he has already chosen a single goal, which is specific yet open-ended, not fixed unlike many of the goals spouted by other characters. (“I will kill Itachi Uchiha” = fixed. “I will become Hokage” = fixed. “I will become the strongest person alive” = open-ended) One could call the goal unreachable, intangible, and almost idealistic, because even if Neji reaches the goal, he is only ever one battle away from falling short of it and failing. These are all very clear Ni traits. Similar statements come out of his mouth throughout the series.

“People share only one common fate… Death.”
“The curse represents a mark of the bird in a cage… It is… the symbol of being tied down to an inescapable destiny.”
“No one can determine another’s destiny”

He constantly talks about fate and destiny, and he likens his curse mark to a symbol. When dealing with an Si dom, you will not frequently hear references to destiny, the big picture, abstractions, metaphors, or fate. In addition, Neji is constantly trying to change his destiny even though he feels like he is trapped and cannot.

Later in the show, when in the village is being rebuilt, three Genin ask him for a story about Naruto for the Leaf newspaper. He proceeds to tell them a story about how Hinata had gotten kidnapped during the final round of the Chunin exams, and how he, Kiba, and Tenten had to save her. They were confused because Naruto wasn’t in the story at all. Neji explained that if Naruto hadn’t changed his perspective on life and destiny, he would have never agreed to go help save Hinata. This is a clear example of abstract Ni seeing meaning and drawing connections where they are not readily apparent.

Te:

“These eyes of mine show me many things. One thing they’ve shown me…people’s limitations are set, fixed, and unchangeable. Only a fool wastes his time trying to become something he can never be.”
“Do you understand now? You have no way of beating me!”
“Once a failure, always a failure. You can’t change that.”
“Even if my enemy is far stronger, Even if my body should fail me, I cannot lose..”

It’s not hard to see Neji’s auxiliary Te. His character is very rigid, structured and disciplined. His statements come out blunt, and matter-of-fact, not paying mind to other people’s feelings. He typically does not express much emotion himself beyond anger or frustration, which are common Te temperaments. He is incredibly disciplined in his training, which allows him to master techniques at a young age that even the most skilled in his clan struggled with.

Fi:

“People are judged by their true nature. It is the way of the world. That is why we have an elite, and that is why we have outcasts. We can change our physical appearance and improve our skills with training and study, but ultimately, we are judged by what we cannot change. What can’t be changed must be endured. We are who we are, and we must live with it.”

Neji focuses on personal identity, and one’s ‘true nature’, and keeps his emotions to himself. Neji recognizes not only the cold, hard reality (Te), but who he is within it. He forces himself to recognize his identity and status, even when he hates it and complains bitterly about it. In the quote above, he is speaking to Hinata, emphasizing the need for her to accept herself for who she is. Neji also has incredibly high standards for himself, and this is partially reflected in his goal to become the strongest person alive. Neji strives for perfection, which gives him the determination to fight to become the best he can possibly be.

Se:

Inferior Se shows up as bad impulse behavior. Several times throughout the show, young Neji lashes out in anger, losing sight of what is right and fair. In one specific instance, Neji attempts to kill Hinata in a sparring match. Hinata’s father activates Neji’s curse mark to stop him. This a clear example of Se shortsightedness.