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The Byakugan…

Where did it come from?

Where does it go?

And what does this have to do with Hinata?

ORIGNS

The origins of the Byakugan in the Naruto story-line remain shrouded in mystery. According to Kakashi, the Byakugan is said to have predated the Sharingan, but there just exist too few details to give any accurate guess to the true origins of the Byakugan within Naruto.

However.

The Byakugan, conceptually, originates with the largely Chinese philosophy/religion of Taoism.

Taoism and Buddhism historically have separate origins but date back to very similar time periods (with some estimates having Taoism predate Buddhism by a few hundred years - though the Indian concept of Buddhism would not enter China for some centuries).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taoism

Taoism is not just a philosophical belief, it attempts to construct a physical model for the practical world.

EIGHT TRIGRAMS

Within Taoism, the I Ching (or “Book of Changes”) develops the concept of the Eight Trigrams (more recently depicted as the “Ba Gua”) : three-digit binary representations of the principles of reality combining different quantities of Yin and Yang. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Ching

Yin, Yang, the Eight Trigrams and Sixty-Four Tetragrams make up the crux of Taoist models of the physical universe and its behavior. Yang is the creative aspect while Yin is the receptive aspect. Using the I Ching, one attempts to gain insight into the universe through a sort of oracle sooth-saying:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divination_with_I_Ching.

HYUGA STYLE

Wu Xing is the medicinal, mechanical, or alchemical philosophy within Taoism: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_el…se_philosophy). These ‘phases’ or 'states’ of matter/being serve as the function of the material world and play a critical role in the theory behind Chinese traditional medicine.

From this principle, T'ai chi ch'uan is a martial arts style developed to embody this philosophy. By actively responding to changes in the phases/states of the world around one’s self, a balancing strategy exists. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%27ai_chi_ch%27uan

The style is noted for being defensive in nature, but having potent martial forms involving precision strikes with high lethality.

QUINTESSENTIAL HYUGA

The goal of Taoism is Wei-Wu-Wei - “action without effort.” To affect change effortlessly. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_wei

The wiki sub-section pretty much sums it up perfectly:

As one diminishes doing—here 'doing’ means those intentional actions taken to benefit us or actions taken to change the world from its natural state and evolution—one diminishes all those actions committed against the Tao, the already present natural harmony. As such one begins to cultivate Tao, one also becomes more in harmony with Tao; and, according to another great ancient Taoist philosopher Zhuangzi, attains a state of Ming, or 'clear seeing’.[citation needed] It is in the state of Ming[citation needed] that the Taoist is in full harmony with Tao, and 'having arrived at this pointless point of non-action, there is nothing that is left undone.’ It is upon achievement of this Chinese equivalent to 'enlightenment’ that a sage begins to perform wei wu wei, or 'action without action.’ Thus the sage will be able to work in harmony with Tao to accomplish what is needed, and, working in perfect harmony with the Tao, leave no trace of having done it.

An example of active non-action using wu wei, would be to teach in such a way that no course of action is dictated to a student (they are just told raw facts for use, and left to their own creative devices), so they assume that they have been taught nothing, that is, until their learnings have been integrated in their lived experience.

HINATA

Hinata, at the start of the series, is Yin incarnate:

She represents the purely passive aspects of Taoism - taking little form or shape, and having offering no resistance. This is the “purely feminine” state, as well.

But Neji also comments on something else that is quite important, her desire for harmony.

NARUTO

To say that Naruto begins the series as Yang incarnate is a bit of an understatement:

Naruto represents all that is Yang - life, energy, and strength.

But Yang lacks substance and establishment.

HINATA AND NARUTO: YIN AND YANG

Hinata is Yin - the material of existence and change with no shape or form. Naruto is Yang - the essence of energy and rigidity. In Taoism - Yin gives substance to Yang while Yang gives form to Yin to create structure and existence:

This addition of the Yang nature of Naruto -changes- Hinata, a key component within Taoism and the I Chang.

This is one of the first, but far from the only times this changing of states happens between the two:

Hinata has given substance to Naruto’s dream - to be respected and recognized. This visibly changes Naruto, and plays a role, later:

Hinata’s actions - her change - gave Naruto 'substance’ to stick to and facilitate his own change.

Keep Neji’s preaching about destiny in the back of your mind… this is important, later, (and not for the reasons you may be thinking).

A -lot- of time passes before we see strong interactions between Naruto and Hinata (though there’s a lot of story line I’m not bothering to read through page-by-page, so I could be missing a tidbit or so) - but when we do, it exemplifies yet another change (even exchange).

This is the setting. Naruto is currently challenged: “How are you to bring about peace?” - A challenge to generate substance from an idea… Naruto is accomplished by this time - but he still has no form to this more grand idea to bring about peace… and simply flailing about randomly to achieve it based on what you -don’t- want to happen is, obviously, not going to lead to the desired change.

This segment is interesting, as it shows the changes that have occurred in both. Naruto, being accepting of his responsibility to protect the village - to his own death, suggests that Hinata leave (Yin and Yang elements, respectively). Hinata refuses, and accepts being responsible for making the effort to protect Naruto - at the cost of her life (Yang and Yin, respectively).

Hinata is not purely Yin. Naruto is not purely Yang.

Fast forward another 200 chapters or so:

Compare this to where we started… Naruto has lost much of his Yang flare. He’s committed to the 'form’ of peace, and is now open to the 'energy’ to affect that change:

Hinata, being inspired and changed by Naruto’s own flare through the series, inspired him in a manner similar to how he had inspired her. She 'gave’ him the necessary energy to affect change - the reminder of the fact that his efforts had unified his friends, his village, and even other nations. It was this reminder of structure that allowed for the means ('energy’) to accomplish his goals.

This is also -extremely- important to the theme. Nagato and Naruto were both potential children of prophecy - having a “destiny.” Nagato and Naruto faced the same choice… ironically enough at the hands of the same man. Naruto’s response solidified him as the child of prophecy.

While it is often said that Neji’s whole speech about destiny played out to be seemingly true, after all… it’s appropriate to say that Nagato was no more or less destined to be the child of prophecy than Naruto (not to mention that Neji died protecting Naruto - and - Hinata). It was his response that determined his 'destiny.’ His choice.

It is this constant exchange and co-inspiration between the two that has been behind some of the most pivotal points in storyline development of Naruto. Relationship pairing or no - the two have always played an important and intrinsic role in each others’ lives that seems to be clearly designed around Taoist principles…. and likely will continue to do so through the coming story.

HINATA: ULTIMATE HYUGA?

Recall that the 'ultimate’ goal of Taoism rests in the concept of Wei Wu Wei - accomplishment without effort; or 'action through inaction’ … best described as the ability to affect change without it being glaringly obvious that it was done - without resisting the natural order.

A gentle touch here. A nod there. A splash of water - and one changes the world.

Perhaps there is no higher state of the Byakugan… and Hinata has mastered the Hyuga arts far more than anyone quite realizes - having united nations all without raising an ounce of suspicion.

Or perhaps I’m just being too much of a fanboy, there. Still - interesting to think about.