Board Thread:Versus Debates/@comment-34752936-20180312081824/@comment-30985916-20180319223801

Let's take how this battle could unfold step by step: Step 1: Neji and Sasuke start the match by slowly analyzing their opponents. Both of them graduated at the top of their classes and they know how to use their head. Step 2: Sasuke initiates combat by throwing shurikens, which are meant to test how Neji reacts. Neji can respond either with rotation instantly, or just react naturally (The latter being more likely, as Neji trained with Tenten, a weapons specialist). Step 3: Sasuke, being more offensive of the two, gets on the offensive. A Hyuga has more of a defensive capabilities, with Byakugan to assist with their taijutsu and relies on counterattacks, while an Uchiha's prowess in ninjutsu and genjutsu, more often attacks and has their Sharingan to assist with ninjutsu and taijutsu as well. Sasuke starts with taijutsu to put some simple pressure to Neji. Neji, who has trained with Lee many times, can react extremely well to taijutsu, and blocks the attacks. Step 4: Sasuke then opts to ninjutsu, which inclines to use Fire Style: Fireball jutsu. Now, more of a necessity than a option, Neji uses rotation to deflect the fireball, which spikes Sasuke's interest, if it didn't before (see earlier alternate scenario where Neji uses rotation). Sasuke now activates his sharingan and try to follow rotation. Neji, who sees the activated sharingan, might activate Byakugan to get ready for more defense and possible counterattacks, or continue to reserve chakra.(The former is more likely, because Neji knows what Sasuke is capable of with Sharinagan; he was able to basically copy Front Lotus after seeing it once.) Step 5: Now the fight's more intense, Sasuke goes on a barrage of shuriken, fireballs, and taijutsu, which Neji is mostly able to repel, but is more becomes more strained as the intensity increases. Sasuke almost catches Neji off-guard with a Lion's Barrage, but Step 6: This is more the end of the fight, as both Sasuke and Neji are both fatigued, from attacking and defending respectively. Sasuke prepares his Chidori, and Neji, who notices this in advance thanks to his Byakugan, get ready for a strong rotation. (Now, this would be the most controversal topic of the fight: Does Chidori pierce through rotation? Well, my answer would be no. Although Sasuke was able to pierce through Gaara's sand, his ultimate defense, this can be due to a number of things. One, Chidori is a lightning style move, while Gaara's sand is infused with Gaara's wind chakra, which gives Chidori an elemental advantage, something it wouldn't have against rotation. Secondly, Sasuke's Chidori only made a small hole in the sand, implying that even though all of the force was focused on that one spot, it just barely made it through. Tenten also noted that rotation to be a superior defense than Gaara's sand. Although, Tenten isn't your first person to consult for info, Misashi Kishimoto did write her to say that, which leads me to believe so. With these reasons, I think it's fair to assume that Chidori won't be able to pierce through rotation.) After being repelled, Sasuke is wide open, leaving Neji a chance for 64 palms, which can basically end the match. So in my opinion, I believe that Neji will win. Maybe not easily, but with a dominent fashion. If the curse mark was included, this fight will go a whole another way, but without it, Neji remains as the victor. (Few notes: Neji knows his opponent is a threat, ans therefore will on a higher guard fighting Sasuke, which led to his initial reactions of inferiority and didn't take Naruto seriously during most of their fight. If Sasuke tries genjutsu with his Sharingan, which is unlikely, but possible, Neji's Byakugan can make him be aware that he is within one, and therefore be rather ineffective to Neji. Since Sasuke arrived late for the very last match, every other match would have to occur first, which includes Naruto vs. Gaara, which, in my opinion, could've ended differently for a good reason, but that's not important now.)

Edit: Sorry for the squished post, I clearly have it spaced editing it, but it doesn't when I post it. Doesn't change much, but makes reading a real pain.