I Fix Team Gaiās Endings:
CAN I GET SOME LITERARY PAYOFF PLEASE?
Gai fails to defeat Madara despite having the ābest chanceā as a Taijutsu master.Ā
Gai narrowly escapes death and his leg is shattered, disabling him for life.
One of his precious students is dead.Ā
Heās forced to retire from the career heās spent his whole life attempting to build.Ā
Well, be does get to spend his time with Kakashi (who is also in retirement), so he does have some silver lining.
What SHOULD have happened:
Gai defeats Madara, cementing his reputation as the legendary Taijutsu Master and gaining respect for Taijutsu users worldwide OR
Gai narrowly fails to defeat Madara, but Rock Lee avenges Gai by surpassing him (Possibly inventing a new level of Taijutsu that surpasses the 8 Gates).
Even if Gai is disabled, he gets the fame he deserves by being the most renowned Sensei in history. He becomes the model for all future Jounin instructors, and his training methods and philosophies (and by extension, Duyās) become ingrained in Konohaās teachings.
Might Duy receives the honor he deserves post-mortem because of Might Gaiās heroism.
People from all over come to battle Might Guy in his dojo, who still manages to defeat all of his challengers despite the lack of mobility in his leg. He accepts students who show particular grit, and itās considered a badge of honor to receive tutelage from Gai.
Gai still spends retirement with Kakashi, going on trips and leaving his dojo to Lee and Tenten when heās gone.
Rock Lee is an Average Dad
Despite being a romantic, his wife is nowhere in sight. He was never shown with a happy marriage with someone who loves him for who he is.
He has no particular fame or renown for his part in the war, and he has no major fights in the final war arc.
Lee doesnāt get a rematch with Neji OR Naruto.
We find out in the final war arc that Lee has aā¦CLAN? And then itās never mentioned again.
What SHOULD have happened:
Lee needed way more screentime during the war. This would cement him as someone important and give us a chance to finally see Taijutsu at itās most advancedāand I donāt mean just the gates. Iām talking sheer technique and will of the human body that simply decimates.
Lee would either team up with Gai in the final fight (or attack) against Madara. If Gai gets defeated, itās Lee who steps up to the plate, delivering this badass monologue: āYou all thought Taijutsu had its limits. You all thought I had my limits. Well, let me say this now: I, Rock Lee, have finally pushed Taijutsu beyond what you thought impossible. And how did I do it? Simple. You decide your limits from the beginningā¦ and I reach them.ā
Lee, to the witness of the entire world, defeats Madara. No one is sure what to make of it at first, but itās clear: heās unlike any other Shinobi in history. Heās created something theyāve never seen before and itās strong. And now, they believe in him like never before.
In the post-war, Naruto is approached with an offer about about a path to becoming Hokage. At the same time, he learns that the village is banishing Sasuke for the time being until they can sort out what to do. Naruto realizes political corruption exists so our precious war hero chooses going/being with Sasuke/his team. Itās unintendedly a major political statement that has the elders clutching pearls and clamoring to pardon Sasuke. In his sendoff amid the uproar about him leaving, Naruto loudly nominates Lee in front of all the other Kage and drops the mic.
When finally confirmed after much drama, Lee makes for a FAR better Hokage. His arc goes from disadvantaged, talentless youth to the most impressive Ninja in existence by sheer hard work, the guiding theme of the series. No one worked as hard or stayed as humble as Lee, and Naruto recognized that.
Naruto can be his āWar-Heroā right hand when he returns. The āHand of the Hokage.ā He still gets theĀ āheroicā validation he REALLY wanted without the responsibility of governing.
Shikamaru is nervous about working with Lee since heās the opposite style in terms of, ahem, āactually working,ā but after a few early riffs and some honest communication, the two actually learn to balance each other out: Lee teaches Shikamaru be more diligent, Shikamaru teaches Lee to pace himself.
This also frees Naruto and Sakura up to actually accompany Sasuke on his redemption journey, be more present in the series, have relationships develop naturally, and explore the political repercussions of the war and everything that led up to it. Itās a point of humility for Naruto to admit he wanted love and confidence over the real responsibility of governing, and letās just say the most effective ruler is always the one who never asked for the job. Naruto is better suited having his own squad as a jounin.
Shikamaru gets exasperated by the shenanigans Lee sometimes pulls in the office to train while doing paperwork. Lee often overworks himself too much and Shikamaru feels bad on his behalf, eventually encouraging him to delegate work. He has a much easier time guilting Lee into going home, though, because Lee would never choose to miss time with his family when it comes down to it.
Lee Clan? Donāt know her.
Lee surpasses Might Gai to become the most renowned taijutsu user in existence, paves the way for taijutsu specialists in shinobi culture.
Lee happily lives with his wife and Metal, who were definitely introduced either in a stand-alone novel or earlier in the series. They are the quirkiest, but most loving family in Konoha.
Their love story is meant to be cute and has the theme ofĀ āloving someone for exactly who they are.ā I would love it if his wife was also disabled but excelled in her own field and Lee admired her for it.Ā
Lee invents a new style of Taijutsu techniques that he uses to defeat Madara. These techniques are on-par with some of the most legendary jutsu in existence.
Lee finally defeats Neji in a match, completing the arc we started in season 1. Itās a legendary fight thatās still talked about to this day.
Leeās condition is finally explained as being from a sickness he had as an infant that almost took his life. Gai had the same illness, but not as bad.Ā
He spends his adulthood looking for information on this sickness. He doesnāt want a cure for himself, but he has research done so it can save the lives of other children.
Lee does a training routine every morning. Academy students who idolize their Hokage eventually join in and try to keep up. Itās also endearing to the village that their Hokage makes time for the kids.Ā
Even if they canāt finish the routine (and none of them can) Lee congratulates them every morning on doing their personal best.Ā
Often, Lee teaches valuable life lessons at the end of his morning training sessionsājust like Gai.
Tenten sets out to become a Legendary Kunoichi, but only manages to be legendary because she wields/owns all the Sage Weapons.
Tenten is never given a thorough backstory.
Tenten ISNāT the head of Konoha weapons research.
Tenten finally accepts that she isnāt like other girls and doesnāt want to have relationships or get married, her friends support her.
Tenten embraces her goofy side, becomes more like Gai and Lee and is heavily involved in their lives.
What SHOULD have happened:
Tenten originally sets out to be like Tsunadeāthe woman who could heal an entire army. She isnāt great at medical jutsu, but later discovers that her abilities mirror the Fourth Hokage.
Tenten vows to be legendary like the Fifth, powerful like the Fourth.
Tenten rediscovers and revives the Uzumakiās sealing jutsu. This, coupled with her mastery of Minatoās jutsu, make her untouchable.
Tenten acquires all Sage weapons, gains fame for using them in battle to turn the tide of the war. Minato meets her and recognizes her as his successor. He gives her his blessing to revive the Uzumaki techniques as her own.
Tenten instead becomes the āLegendary One-Woman Armyā In the war arc, she can teleport entire platoons of shinobi in an instant. She rains destruction down on the Zetsu army.Ā
Tsunade comments that herĀ āstrength of a hundredā³ seal would have been wasted on Tenten; Tenten has the strengthĀ āof a thousand.ā
Tentenās mastery of seals lets her identify and rig the reincarnation seal; All deceased Shinobi that were forced to fight have their free will restored. Tenten has your army now.
Post-War, Tenten, at Hinataās command, finds the way to remove the Caged Bird seal from the Hyuga clan.
Instead, a new seal is given to EVERY member (starting with Hinata) that functions to protect the Byakugan after death but has no other effect. It effectively halts all attempts by outside forces to steal the Byakugan.
Tenten keeps her weapons shop only because it suits her and her down-to-earth personality. She also likes the freedom to travel as she pleases, exploring the world and discovering more about the Uzumaki.
Tenten is famous for being Konohaās #1 desirable single, but she will never settle down. Itās not what she wants.
Tenten deflects suitors with sharp objects as a gag. Everyone, though they may not understand, supports Tenten being exactly who she is, and they protect that. It remains a quietly apparent choice her character has made, and doesnāt act as a challenge for the plot to fix.
She eventually becomes the sensei of Metal (and Nejiās child too, if he has one.) She pulls pranks on her team to both train them and remind them of whoās in charge.
She still is involved in the lives of Gai, Lee, and Neji.
He begins his arc by cursing the fact that heās going to die for the main branch and thenā¦dies for the main branch. (And Naruto, I guess.)
Neji does not see his clan unified.
Hiashiās throwaway comment during the war meant nothing. Neji and other branch members still had their seals. The Hyuga clan still went into the war withĀ āheadā andĀ ābranchā families.Ā
Neji does not get a rematch with Lee.
Neji doesn'tĀ speak to his father during the war.
What SHOULD have happened:
Hiashi dies for Neji, proving beyond a reasonable doubt that familial love comes before the hierarchy and reversing the old narrative.
Hiashi declares Hinata the new leader of the Hyuga with his dying breath, and tells her she knows what to do. He cryptically hints that Neji will lead the Hyuga to a brighter future.Ā Hiashi knows the elders wouldnāt accept Neji as head right off the bat, but he knows his daughter will stop at nothing to fight for her family.
This is also Hiashiās redemption, finally repaying his brotherās sacrifice.
Neji gets to speak to his father during the war. Itās one of the most heart-wrenching scenes in the whole anime.
Post-War, Hinata stands before the elders and abolishes the status of head and branch families. She also has Tenten abolish the seal, as well as create an entirely new seal that goes on every member to completely protect the Byakugan from thieves but serves no other purpose.
Neji is the first to have his seal removed, Hinata is the first to have the new seal.Ā
Hinata then declares Neji the new head of the Hyuga while she finally gets the quiet, peaceful life sheās always wanted.Ā If the opportunity did present itself, however, she may have her own squad with a similarly shy kunoichi. She comes to Neji often for advice on how to best train them.
Neji leads the Hyuga through major reform, abolishing harmful training methods and teaching the younger generation about the importance of family.
Neji is rightfully respected and hailed as the greatest Hyuga as he single-handedly creates new techniques that we see used in the next generation.
The Hyuga clan now selects their future leader from the most capable in the family. Hanabi is fine with this because she āknows sheāll be the best anyway.ā Neji teases her by saying he āisnāt so sureā, which pushes Hanabi to work harder.
The Hyuga are one of the most fiercely loyal and loving clans. Any affront against a single member will bring the wrath of the others. Itās like one giant, close-knit family. Make fun of a Hyuga kid and now youāre getting drop-kicked by their third cousin.
Neji loses to Lee in a rematch, but warmly acknowledges his growth from when they were children. Neji is the first to officially support Lee becoming Hokage and is the one who gives him āthe talkā that convinces him to accept Narutoās nomination of him to the council. Neji becomes Leeās confidant and closest advisor.
Neji is an amazing uncle who is sometimes out of his element when it comes to dealing with his energetic niece and nephew. Itās all fluff.
When no one is looking, Himawari will stare intently (threateningly) at her uncle, who will slowly grimace and hand her a piece of candy from inside his sleeve, glancing around to make sure no one sees him complete the exchange. No one knows where Himawari gets her spontaneous candy and stash from. Itās a mystery as to what he seems to be paying her off for, but itād probably be a delicious secret to find out..
Nejiās relationship with his niece is heartwarming. He constantly threatens Naruto to be a good husband and father to his niece and nephewĀ OR ELSE.
Neji trains Boruto and Himawari. Heās strict, but as kind as he is firm.
Neji teaches Boruto to have a closer relationship with Himawari, mirroring the relationship he had with Hinata. If he has children, theyāre the ācool older cousinsā to the siblings and have their dadās clout for sure.
Neji might get married or have children. If he does, itāll be the subject of a Gaiden novel. Perhaps also a quick throwaway scene in the epilogue post-war where he meets someone that catches his eye. His child(ren) will be on the same team as Metal,Ā where they will also be rivals.
He might have twin boys if we really want to go hard with literary parallels, but itās not necessary. Heād name his kids after his father first.
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