Every story has its fair share of tearjerker moments, and Naruto isn’t divorced from the norm, now is it? The series had some of the most heartbreaking deaths, ranging from Itachi to Jiraiya. But there’s one character whose end seemed unnecessary in every way.

Yes, I’m talking about Neji Hyuga, whose death is underwhelming and trivial for many reasons. He had so much potential and capability, yet he was killed eventually to further the plot. It didn’t serve much purpose,e but what vexes me is a character whose end impacted me the most.

To be specific, Oda triggered a cryfest through his writing of Bon Clay’s character. The Baroque Works member defied the norms in every aspect but what made them so unique was the ability to stick to their beliefs. This overshadows Kishimoto’s treatment of his side characters.

Bon Clay’s impactful...