Character Survery, Massive tl;dr
Body and Appearance
1. Describe the character's height and build. Is he heavyset, thin, short, rangy?
Roughly 5'6" and 119 lbs, Neji's average height and weight for his age, though he has a lean form when it comes to his muscular stature. A subtle strength, typical of Hyuuga.
2. How old is he?
Seventeen.
3. Describe his posture. Does he carry himself well or does he slouch?
Raised in a noble clan, Neji carries himself as such.
4. How is his health? Is he fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities?
Neji's very fit, taking to running through his katas and usually training each morning before settling down with meditation and a shower, eating and starting the day.
5. How does he move? Is he clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid?
His movements, much like his fighting style, are very fluid.
6. How attractive is this character physically? How does he perceive himself in the mirror?
With very fine features, a well-kept appearance and a lean form, Neji scores rather high on the attractive scale, though perhaps more on the 'beautiful' side rather than 'handsome' depending on perception.
7. Describe his complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred?
His complexion is rather light with a tendency to burn, and his skin has built up some scarring in places, most notably his chest and hip in which two twisted scars are left from his conflict with Kidoumaru when he was 14.
8. Describe his hair: color, texture, style.
A dark brown and relatively thick, the strands are fine and very straight, draped over his back and held together near the ends with a tie to keep it from falling in his face.
9. What color are his eyes?
Typical Hyuuga; a pale white with hints of a light lavender distinguishable in the shade denotes his young age as Hyuuga eyes tend to grow much whiter with age.
10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features?
A seal in the form of an omote manji he keeps covered on his forehead, inked in a dark green and irremovable, canonly interpreted as the symbol of a caged bird.
11. What are his chief tension centers?
Shoulders, jaw, eyebrows, and fingers actually. Other than that, his fighting style calls for a relaxed posture so his arms and legs can move fluidly but in day to day situations, that's where most of his tension can be found if you know where to look for it.
12. What is the character's wardrobe like? Casual, dressy, utilitarian? Bright colors, pastels, neutrals? Is it varied, or does he have six of the same suit?
Traditional, utilitarian, usually in a monochrome color scheme and maybe some neutral browns, greens, and blues.
13. Do his clothes fit well? Does he seem comfortable in them?
He's not the type to wear clothing that doesn't fit him on the small side, but he does tend to dress in clothing that gives him room to move while not being too big for him. It's a difficult balance, but he manages it.
14. Does he dress the same on the job as he does in his free time? If not, what are the differences?
If his job orders a uniform for it's employees, he'll take to it without complaint, and if not, he'll wear whatever most closely resembles the taste of the company he's working for. If it's casual, he'll wear the same clothes he would for daily wear, if it's more dressed up, he'll wear something a bit more tailored to that.
15. You knew it was coming: Boxers, briefs or commando?
Boxers for the sake of movement and modesty, though he never plans to lose his pants if his lengthy black sash wasn't obvious.
Speech
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse?
Despite appearances, he's actually rather obviously male when he speaks, with a relatively deep voice.
2. How does he normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does he talk easily, or does he hesitate?
Low, smooth, evenly, he can usually hold both casual and philisophical conversations rather well, though there's a tendency for some awkwardness depending on the topic at hand.
3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics?
He tends to say 'I see' a lot, and about 20% of the time it's either a lie or used to end a specific line of reasoning. Speaks a bit formally and careful with his words.
4. What language/s does he speak, and with how much fluency?
Japanese, his home language with a natural fluency, English is often integrated in games, though he still sometimes finds the language awkward or weird and may have occasional difficulties translating words or phrases from his world to English.
5. Does he switch languages or dialects in certain situations?
It's easiest to speak and write with those from his world in Japanese and tends to, using English for everyone else. It's a good way to communicate and lower the risk of being eavesdropped, and there's actually a code of writing unique to Konoha that he'll utilize for more cryptic messages if he needs to use them.
6. Is he a good impromptu speaker, or does he have to think about his words?
It depends. Casually and With lectures and discussion, he can usually speak freely, but he tends to think over his words before saying them if he percieves the situation to be delicate.
7. Is he eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change?
In general, he's pretty eloquent with a somewhat formal manner of speech, but in situations requiring more immediate communication, he's likely to say whatever needs to be communicated without his normal restrictions. He's only really inarticulate when he's drunk, with a tendency to remain silent in distress.
Mental and Emotional
1. How intelligent is this character? Is he book-smart or street-smart?
The databook gives him a slightly above average intelligence level of 3/5.
Book-smart or street-smart, he's kind of both in that he can fully understand theory and how to apply it, but he's not about to summon a conclusion from very little supporting evidence or think 200 steps ahead of everyone else. He'll be doing good if he manages to think more than 2 steps ahead and his 'genius' title only really applies to his talent with Hyuuga's bloodline limit and techniques.
That said, he's primarily perceptive and his ability to observe and percieve a situation definitely helps in the logic of how to handle a situation; his judgements based mostly on attaining his objectives on a mission and the rest on what would be best to aid a situation.
2. Does he think on his feet, or does he need time to deliberate?
He'll think on his feet when he has to in a combat situation, but given time he's far more likely to view the situation from a few different angles before giving definitive orders.
3. Describe the character's thought process. Is he more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical?
As I mentioned he has a rather objective outlook on most things, he will try to take the logical, practical steps toward them.
4. What kind of education has the character had?
Pretty much the same education every other shinobi in their village has with the added advanced training that suits a Jounin and Hyuuga.
5. What are his areas of expertise? What, if anything, is he interested in learning more about?
He specializes in reconnaisance and chakra manipulation in conjunction with his clan's natural abilities and has an invested interest in learning about the different types of energies and abilities in games and how they work.
6. Is he an introvert or an extrovert?
Introvert with a tendency to internalize most everything.
7. Describe the character's temperament. Is he even-tempered or does he have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven?
Pretty even tempered and slow to anger, he's a very driven character with a few chips on his shoulder, prone to reflection more than melancholy.
8. How does he respond to new people or situations? Is he suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic?
He's almost always initially wary of those situations until he's had time to assess it and form impressions that mirror his comfort and tolerance levels.
9. Is he more likely to act, or to react?
Definitely react, as a lot of what he does or says is based on his perceptions of others.
10. Which is his default: fight or flight?
Flight is generally his default, though occasionally his pride will get in the way and he'll stay rooted, unmoving. Usually however, the Fight option has gained him little ground where it's mattered.
11. Describe the character's sense of humor. Does he appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks?
Neji... doesn't really have much of a sense of humor. He'll find things amusing at another's expense and has a weird sense of irony, but usually he'll blink in the face of humor from others. Yeah not the best person to go to if you want to lighten up and he's painfully aware of it at points too.
12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does he deal with them?
Learned helplessness behaviour to a point. He hasn't felt in control of his life for pretty much as long as he's been alive and though he wants to see it changed, he doesn't believe anything he does himself would change it because of his position in the clan.
Coming into games though, he often begins to realize that although he's dreamt of his freedom, he has no idea what to do with it and continues to behave pretty much as he always has out of sheer habit.
Slowly though, he begins to take a few steps forward at a time and take his life and decisions into his own hands.
13. What moments in this character's life have defined him as a person?
Being branded and losing his father at the age of four both left him with long-lasting impressions. That is, he's caged and subject to the whims of the Head Family at any given time with little he can do about it. That pessism drove him to his 14 year-old self's hatred and bitterness toward his own family.
In his fight with Naruto, he determined that the boy's fate was decided when they became opponents. Becuase Neji was naturally more talented and skilled, that someone like Naruto (or Lee, Hinata)- a failure or 'drop out'- would never win against him. But he did and that in conjunction with finding out that his father volunteered to be sacrificed in place of his brother rather than not having any choice in the matter, helped him to view his situation in a bit more of a positive light, determined to see out his own 'destiny' rather than the one he feels he was given.
This is confirmed in his battle with Kidoumaru where he's placed on the opposing side of his own beliefs and his strength and determination shine through, resolving his own inner conflict that he could change just like Lee, Hinata, and Naruto were trying to, and that his fate wasn't decided by anyone else.
14. What does he fear?
Spiders to the degree that they make him uncomfortable.
He's afraid of having kids with bright green seals on their foreheads, afraid of anything that could give someone else control over him or make them feel like they have control over him, and naturally, afraid of losing the control he does have.
Further than that, he's afraid of finding out if he does have a set fate and actively dismisses the idea and anything related to the concept. (horoscopes, etc)
15. What are his hopes or aspirations?
He hopes one day he'll see Hyuuga changed for the better in his lifetime, and aspires for strength and influence.
16. What is something he doesn't want anyone to find out about him?
The darker aspects of himself; that it's not that he didn't think of leaving the village when he was younger, just that he couldn't. He also considered suicide before the age of 14 just to feel in control of his fate and the main reason he didn't was because of his father's parting words a few short hours before he died, willing him to live.
Relationships
1. Describe this character's relationship with his parents.
Neji loved and admired and his father like any son would, and cherished his mother and Hizashi was proud of his son. So proud, in fact, that he was bitter that Neji's fate was to be ever subservient to the Head Family when he possessed talent on par and surpassing the Head Family's child, Hinata.
To that end, Neji adopted the attitude from his father's living self and mirrored his views as he got older.
2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like?
Neji has two biological half-sisters: Hinata and Hanabi Hyuuga. At best, their relationship with one another is described as 'distant.' He is Hinata's assigned protector and his relationship with her mostly reflects that aspect of it. Though he tried to kill her when he was 14, he regrets that and tries to apologize by keeping close and actively trying to protect and help her, though he can't bring himself to actually apologize.
Hanabi is fledging under Hiashi's watchful eye, being groomed as the next heir of Hyuuga and following in the footsteps of her father. Regardless, Neji's prone to acting more like an older brother to her than he is to Hinata since the added complications of their relationship aren't present.
3. Are there other blood relatives to whom he is close? Are there ones he can't stand?
Hiashi is Neji's uncle, brother and identical twin to his father and while he initially couldn't stand him, Neji's come to accept him a little more. Their relationship remains strained however because Hiashi is the mirror image of his deceased father, wearing the same face he should have been if he was still alive. While in reverse, Neji is Hizashi's son, and it's difficult for Hiashi not to compare and relate the two when hes near. In short, they both see the ghost of Hizashi in each other and it causes an odd tension in their relationship that prevents it from going much further than an acknowledged tolerance.
4. Are there other, unrelated people whom he considers part of his family? What are his relationships with them?
His team is pretty much his adoptive family. They were far from close at first, but over the years they've worked, trained, and grown up together, becoming really close. Neji is incredibly fond of his teammates and Gai is his mentor. He may have wished to change it a few years ago, but wouldn't for anything now.
5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet?
Rock Lee and Tenten are Neji's best friends, their meeting caused from being placed in same team under Maito Gai.
6. Does he have other close friends?
Not really. He doesn't easily attach himself to others. Naruto is a friend, but he doesn't feel like they're close.
7. Does he make friends easily, or does he have trouble getting along with people?
He doesn't have many issues getting along with pretty much anyone for short periods of time, but he's very selective when it comes to accepting people are friends. Friends are people he'd willingly spend a significant amount of time with, the rest he'll tolerate to some extent.
8. Which does he consider more important: family or friends?
It's a choice and distinction he never wants to have to make. His duty binds him to his family more than any sense of personal loyalty, but they are his family, his clan and he's proud to be Hyuuga and considers it a very important part of himself. At the same time however, he loves his team and he'd be heartbroken if he had to lose them in favor of his family.
If there were no outside influences for a decision however, he'd choose his friends.
9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has he been married more than once?
Never married, he doesn't intend to until the clan is changed. May take a lover, however.
10. Is he currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse?
Not at the moment.
11. Who was his first crush? Who is his latest?
Crush? Well there was this one girl in Earth Country... shut up nothing happened, god.
12. What does he look for in a romantic partner?
Sensibility- they won't have much to talk about if s/he's not sensible
Compatibility- And they won't get along well for long if they can't communicate, understand and work with each other.
Capability- He has to admire something about them and given their line of work, it's probably going to be skills on the battlefield.
Dedication- He's tied to Hyuuga and doesn't want to drag anyone into that mess, so if she wants any sort of longstanding relationship with him, s/he's going to have to realize and be willing to dive into everything that comes with him.
And lots of bonus points for being attractive. He likes his girls pretty, preferably with long hair. As for guys, well, that's complicated.
13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does he relate to them? If no, does he want any?
No, he doesn't have children, but yes, he wants them. Unfortunately, he's dead-set on not having kids until the clan is changed, refusing to put any of his potential children in circumstances similar to his own.
14. Does he have any rivals or enemies?
His best friend and teammate Rock Lee is also his rival. He considers Lightning Country collectively as a sort-of enemy along with a handful of members of his own clan. Other enemies include anyone in conflict with Konoha.
15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does he fall on the Kinsey scale?
On the scale, he falls at a 1; predominantly heterosexual with a very slight chance for homosexuality.
16. How does he feel about sex? How important is it to him?
TBA
17. What are his turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?
TBA
Beliefs
1. Do you know your character's astrological (zodiac of choice) sign? How well does he fit type?
Western: Cancer
Eastern: Ox*
They fit him pretty well based on the descriptions of the signs I've read and my own interpretations of his character but of course, not everything is accurate.
*guesstimated based on the year of Naruto's series release and his age at the time
2. Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in his life?
Hyuuga as a whole is based on Taoism, so I tend to play him incorporating some of those ideas and philosophies though I don't think he ICly recognizes that's what it is, the aspects remain important to his nature and outlook on life.
3. Does this character have a personal code of morals or ethics? If so, how did that begin? What would it take to compromise it?
His morals and ethics are heavily steeped in Konoha's own regulations in regards to it's shinobi. That is, that they don't have much for morals or ethics on the field.
4. How does he regard beliefs that differ from his? Is he tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent?
Gods and ghosts are things he firmly doesn't believe in, if only because he hasn't see them.
5. What prejudices does he hold? Are they irrational or does he have a good reason for them?
He'll judge people based on his initial impressions and perceptions of them and isn't particularly fond of Lightning Country shinobi in general, but further than that I can't think of anything more specific.
Daily Life
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is he rich, poor, comfortable, in debt?
He's comfortable. He makes enough to afford their residence, food, supplies, the occasional splurge for holidays.
2. What is his social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected him?
In canon, his social status is on par with 'lesser noble' as a branch family Hyuuga.
3. Where does he live? House, apartment, trailer? Is his home his castle or just a place to crash? What condition is it in? Does he share it with others?
A nice little pad- condo really. Three bedrooms, shared with his Weapon, Lain, and his little cousin, Hanabi.
4. Besides the basic necessities, what does he spend his money on?
Other than rent and food, he buys gifts for people, things for the house and sometimes if he takes a liking to something in particular, for himself. The rest is stowed away in bank accounts and saved.
5. What does he do for a living? Is he good at it? Does he enjoy it, or would he rather be doing something else?
In canon, he's a shinobi assigned missions varying in risk and he doesn't mind it at all. In fact, if he's working alongside his team, he almost enjoys it.
6. What are his interests or hobbies? How does he spend his free time?
He enjoys training, meditating, and relaxing at home or going out to spend time with his team or any of his few friends. Other than that, he's not very interesting.
7. What are his eating habits? Does he skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods?
On his own he's very minimalist when it comes to his eating habits; salads, soups, and whatever else he needs in a good, healthy diet to keep in shape. But Lain cooks for him now and he'll eat just about anything she makes unless it's spicy or pumpkin flavored. Doesn't drink alcohol, his favorite food is herring soba.
Associations
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is his favorite:
1. Color? Black and white, gray, and earthly tones
2. Smell? The sharp scent of winter
3. Time of day? Morning
4. Season? Fall
5. Proverb? 'Still water runs deep' - Unknown
6. Music? Nephilim~ Abingdon Boy's School
7. Place? High vantage points
8. Substance? Water of a deep lake
9. Fruit? Coconut
10. Animal? Osprey
END
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A note this is written for general canon with some bits of added headcanon as necessary.