*Pulls up a chair* So, you wish for me to go on eh? I've had thoughts myself regarding the options

I want to start off with the fact that I don’t think Hizashi’s death was entirely necessary considering the situation at hand. The only reason that came about was to supposedly avoid a war from possibly igniting over the death of the land of lightning’s ambassador and violation of a newly signed treaty. But realistically, I find the idea that Hizashi Hyuga even had to choose doing this ridiculous. I mean you’re gonna sit here and tell me that the Hokage was really okay with putting all the pressure of avoiding a war with another village upon a single clan because a failed kidnapping of a child resulted in someone dying? You’re gonna tell me the Hokage seriously couldn’t find any other ways? I find that ridiculous! I seriously have a hard time seeing how such a situation escalated the way that it did unless the Hokage purposely didn’t push for further compromise or just didn’t get himself too involved with the whole ordeal. The whole ordeal was a political mess that I feel that the hokage didn’t engage in enough, ultimately adding to the cost of Hizashi’s life that day. IDK I find that whole situation infuriating because surely if more involvement and further investigation was done, they would’ve been able to prove the Land of Lightning was at fault and had violated the treaty first while also proving what Hiashi did was justifiable.

I think his death also played tremendously on his twin and Neji. With Neji it’s a little more obvious to us the viewers/readers: he becomes a traumatized, angry, bitter child who clings to this idea of fate and destiny to cope with his father’s death and the position he has in his life. He openly despises the main household for who they are and what the clan represents: masters who chain down the “servants” like birds to cages. I remember seeing this really cool in-depth look into Neji’s character by the @everyneji blog and I *seriously* recommend checking it out, I think it better explains how he’s been shaped due to his father’s demise.

Now in Hiashi’s case I feel it’s a bit different to see, but I think Hizashi’s death has played a huge part into the man we see him as, especially in OG Naruto. We see the guilt he has for the indirect part he played that led to his brother’s death, but I don’t think it’s just the guilt that came. I think he became as jaded and harsh as he is because of his demise. We get to see that around episode 480ish (pls don’t quote me because I don’t remember the exact episode) but we see that Hiashi here isn’t as…shitty as what he is now. Yeah he’s the head of the clan and YES he still does use the curse mark against his brother, personality wise he isn’t as stoic or demeaning as he is. So in my own opinion I feel he was at least a lot more tolerable when his brother was alive, and him dying resulted in Hiashi being this jaded hardass we the viewers first see in OG Naruto. Now don’t get me wrong this is *not* to defend him and his shitty attitude + actions, this bitch needs to fr be pushed down a flight of stairs. And no I don’t think he was correct to wait as long as he did before telling Hizashi’s LITERAL SON the truth about his dad, that was so stupid. He needs a boot to the head.

Now back to Hizashi and him not being dead:

I don’t necessarily believe him still being alive in the story would’ve changed too many aspects of what we’ve seen in the show. I mean Neji and Hiashi certainly would’ve had adjustments to how they are. But, I still think Neji would still have been angry and resentful for different reasons. Hizashi was easily a good father; he could see Neji for the potential he had and had ultimately blamed his own birth for Neji’s position in life. I mean mans literally wanted what he felt Neji was deserving of. But he also seems like the man that would’ve taken on his kid’s punishment if it meant Neji never had to feel the pain that comes with the curse mark. And even if he couldn’t do that, I think Neji would’ve still resented the main family as much as he did for the abuse he and/or his father would have to endure as branch members. I mean kid Neji adored his father, I have no doubt seeing his father punished by his uncle and the main household would be enough reason to spite them AND still somewhat cling to the idea of fate, just maybe not as tightly.

So while I think several aspects of the story could’ve remained if Hizashi could’ve lived, I still think it would be better to bring him back because it would mean Neji would have him in his life. I mean, Neji was a 4 year old child who had to lay his eyes upon his father’s corpse, that shit’s messed up! I’m sure before team guy entered his life he was a lonely kid; he didn’t have anyone in the clan that was nearly as close to him as he was with his father. I mean at least if Hizashi was alive Neji wouldn’t have been suffering with his pain completely alone for several years. He would’ve been at least a happier character with his dad, he deserves that man in his life. And Hinata + Hanabi deserved someone they could go to if their father was being too much for them, he would’ve been a cool ass uncle who isn’t as bitchy as his twin lmao.

IDK Hizashi was a good man and a good father, Neji deserved to have him in his life entirely. Neji would’ve had someone beside Hinata in the clan who he could turn to for anything. I feel his death was one of those that could’ve been real avoided but wasn’t because of outside forces (also Kishimoto didn’t want a good dad existing in Naruto). Also, if I chose to kill Hiashi that would mean Hizashi would have to see him in the afterlife and imo Hizashi does NOT need to deal with that man in his death, he needs his peace LMAO