"Hit it or Quit it: The Final Rounds Get Complicated!" (失格!?キケン!前倒し!波乱含みの大本選!, Shikkaku!? Kiken! Maedaoshi! Haranbukumi no Daihonsen!) is episode 63 of the original Naruto anime.
Synopsis[]
Genma announces that Naruto is the winner. Sakura resolves to get stronger too because she envies Naruto and his strength. Asuma, Kurenai, and the Third Hokage are all surprised to see that Naruto was able to control the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox's chakra on command. After some medical-nin take Neji into a room to treat his injuries, Hiashi Hyūga comes, asking for some time alone. He hands Neji a scroll, who realises it’s in his father's handwriting. The scroll described the truth that took place during the Hyūga Affair many years ago. Despite the elders wanting Hizashi to die in Hiashi's place in order to protect the Byakugan, he states that he wants to do this of his own free will. Not to protect the Head Family, but to protect his brother and their village.
Hiashi then bows his head to Neji, begging for his forgiveness. Asking him to raise his head, Neji proclaims his goal now is to become stronger. After many complaints that Sasuke was late against his match with Gaara, the Third Hokage decides to disqualify Sasuke. However, "The Fourth Kazekage" tells him that many of the other village's leaders and daimyō have come to Konoha for the sole purpose of watching the sole surviving Uchiha face off against Suna's very own Gaara. Hearing this, he decides to postpone Sasuke's match. Kankurō's match is thus moved up, but he forfeits his match with Shino Aburame, not wanting to reveal Karasu's inner workings to Konoha, thus allowing Shino to win by default. With Kankurō's withdrawal, the next match is set to begin, between Temari and Shikamaru Nara.
Trivia[]
- At the very beginning of the episode, in a shot of Naruto, the characteristic whisker marks on his face are gone.
- Also in a shot of Kurenai Yūhi, the rose thorn pattern on her outfit is white instead of black.
- In the manga, Hiashi begged Neji for forgiveness. In the anime, Hiashi handed a scroll to Neji which had Hizashi's handwriting on it, then later begged Neji to forgive him and the main family.
- In the English dub of the previous episode, Naruto tells Neji that he's fighting because everyone called him a failure, and that he'll prove them wrong. In this episode, while Neji is lying in the hospital bed remembering his fight, Naruto's words are changed; Naruto now says that he is fighting because Neji called him a loser and that he'll prove him wrong.
