Due to the powerful nature of composite energy techniques, when characters choose to specialise in illusion or physical techniques they have to be really powerful with them or else they become irrelevant in battle.
This is because composite energy allows a user to create elements that carry the physical might (more than, in fact) of any stab or kick or arrow while doing special effect damage as good as any imaginary attack, such as burning or paralysing. In fact, with these attacks having superior speed and size to physical attacks and being more real than imaginary attacks, composite energy does the job of the other two classes even better.
(Of course, mortal limitations means that this very same drawback for the classes of physical and imaginary attacks creates an opening for them . . . The more people realise the power of energy attacks, the more they adopt them and abandon the other types. This leads to a weaker defence in those areas - hence the hack-like power of the Yamanaka clan, since no one trains in consciousness combat. This in turn means that anyone who can find ways to force battles down to imaginary or physical combat has a huge advantage. This probably explains why a Kurenai who had only been Jonin for a year could line up alongside elites like Asuma and Kakashi, even against world-famous criminals like Akatsuki.)
Whether the bracketed point balances things out or not, the fact of the matter is that for the sake of world-building sensibility and continuity, any character that specialises in imaginary or physical attacks has to be made really powerful (unnaturally powerful) with them or else they become practically irrelevant. Supposing this point is correct, this is why we have Guy using the Eight Gates to become like Dragon Ball Z characters, the Uchiha clan having eyes that cast illusions without hand seals or the usage of clowns by various characters to boost their stats and keep out attacks - although the latter is perhaps a contextual failure on account of the clowns being composite energy techniques.
However, I am not sure if this was properly done for Kiba and the Inuzuka clan.
Now, before I continue, let me express my view that, in a world where from just one generational view we got to see probably 90% of all people who - until that point (the 4th War era) - had ever crossed over above jonin level of power, the idea that clan powers or specialisations should not be too powerful or else they would imbalance the world and create a separate class does not hold. This is because the nature of specialization, while implying less difficulty (correlative to utility and power) with more numbers, also implies more power with numbers and refinement (how long they have been practicing it. Indeed, we have the Yamanaka, Akimichi and Aburame clans having powers that allow single individuals to be useful against Ten Tails level opponents, even if temporarily. Then, even without such showings, we have the Hozuki clan using a technique that makes them impervious to practically all physical and elemental attacks with their water forms, the Ryuchi Cave clan of Jugo that can absorb natural energy and do energy blasts, and so on. Of course, I am only noting clans without genetic powers since those explain themselves as anomalies or special cases. The Uzumaki are also not counted since their seals (which were so feared they were destroyed for) are probably related to their strong life force which is a 'genetic' trait. Anyway, those cases show that simply being a clan-based (therefore, somewhat widespread and normal) technique should not discount or explain away why any technique is not adequately powerful. This applies especially when the context is that similar techniques are overly powerful. This has to apply in a context where specialisation is only practical when overly powerful. And since Kiba was showcased alongside other clans and his peers, this isn't simply a case of a bad exception, or should not be.
Getting on with it . . .
The first thing to note is that the Inuzuka use physical attacks but not physical skill. The difference is like that between the Gentle Fist and Ferocious Fist. Gentle Fist uses skilled, trained movements to outplay someone on the same level while Ferocious Fist uses the Eight Gates to become so physically powerful that whatever hit you do is deadly. Whatever skill Guy and Lee have is just a bonus, useful in case they find opponents who can physically keep up with them. What really matters is that they just hit harder and faster. Nonetheless, these are but two lanes on the same road - the fact remains that the Inuzuka use physical attacks and should therefore be powerful with them. So, do you think they are powerful enough with their style to 'justify' their specialisation? For comparison, we know that if a Hyuga or Ferocious Fist user ever got an opponent "in range", the fight would be over.
After that is the matter of style. Technically, the Inuzuka style is only complete with their dogs. Calling them weak without their dogs would be like calling Kisame without his sword or Hyuga without their Byakugan weak. The criticism still holds, though. See, in order to properly wield his sword, Kisame has to be physically strong, stronger and faster than normal opponents because the sword is heavy. Likewise, training in Gentle Fist requires the Hyuga to be so fast they can land 128 hits faster than an opponent can simply flicker away or land a kunai stab, so they are still fast without Byakugan. The same applies with Ferocious Fist and physical fitness, the Akimichi and weight and cloak users with durability (else the cloaks would burn their own skin). So, do the Inuzuka get worthwhile physical benefits from their style, such that even without a full setup they could physically dominate most opponents? In terms of where their advantage should lie, the method of their style matters. The Inuzuka use fully physical transformations - as the name "man-beast" implies - to achieve beastly levels of physical might. "Beastly" leads on to heightened senses, improved fighting instincts and the specific physical advantages of the associated beast. With dogs, that should be durability (fur coats and thicker skin), attack speed and endurance. Oh, and claws of course. In his fight with Naruto, Kiba was noted to be stronger, but with Naruto being a chump back then we cannot be sure how much of a boost Kiba had. That Naruto had already experienced a transformed state with Kurama (the cloak against Haku) means he would have improved from his academy time growth path, but it is difficult to say how much. I am not sure it was enough to be able to stock a clear advantage against a normal person in close combat. Even their claws, which could be a powerful tool (as we saw Yugito use against Killer B) are hardly focussed on. Their complete style itself focusses on many hits instead of lethal ones. Do you think these advantages in endurance and instincts are good enough for a specialist? Suppose Kiba had to fight an opponent alone, without Akamaru, could his physical advantages from a basic transformation either guarantee him a win if the fight is close range or allow him a chance to call back up if the fight is longer ranged?
The biggest factor to note is the full power of the complete style, since that is the intended state of it. There are two sides to look at it from. The first is overall power or advantage under good circumstances. For reference, a random Hyuga genin was considered such a massive threat in close combat that a Kidomaru who could casually beat Anbu fled for the trees due to the power of Gentle Fist in close combat. (Kidomaru didn't know Neji, he only knew the Hyuga). Again, Madara considered a random user of the Ferocious Fist worthy of his attention when he was a Ten Tails Host. (Madara did not know Guy, only his style). Likewise, Choza - maybe without the Butterfly Mode transformation - was considered the greatest war potential of the Leaf when the likes of Minato with FTG, Fugaku with MS, Hiruzen, Danzo and the Sannin were still active. Does the complete style of the Inuzuka, with dog and all, grant any such overwhelming advantage in any area that they would be guaranteed to win fights if it came down to that area of combat? Could they force opponents many levels above them to give them full attention or flee? From what we saw, no opponent has opted to go for equal exchanges once the transformed setup is complete for Fang Over Fang and its variations. They all opted for defence alone. So there is something to it. The second side is that of style style. That is to say, is the style complete? That is to say, does it offer options for all scenarios in combat? Not just practical/expected scenarios, since one does not dedicate themselves completely to one thing for just usual/normal scenarios. For reference, a Hyuga uses their eyes to search out opponents and traps, Air Palms to attack from distance, Rotations for defence and 64 Palms for finishing at close range. Likewise, a Ferocious Fist user uses fitness and sharpness for detecting opponents, the high intensity energy expulsion to block out energy attacks and their speed to close distance and finish things off. Again, an Aburame uses their size to render attacks too small to hurt, their power to destroy the battlefield against long range opponents or the same size to throw boulders at opponents and their weapons of size to finish off opponents. Between their early detection system of smell, physical boosts and rush attacks, do the Inuzuka have a style that covers all their needs. Perhaps something can be said for Akamaru being able to smell enemy power levels being life saving, but that could be his special talent instead of a normal dog skill. Even if, it is rather useless in situations of forced confrontation.
Well, perhaps there is a little fault in how the Inuzuka clan is being viewed. Technically, they do not really specialise in physical combat. They simply specialise in animal-based combinations. Since dogs, their animal choice, have strong physicality, they happen to get that benefit as well. Even so, their style (and theme) is to work in tandem with them. Besides combat, we must remember that shinobi are more than just fighters. In fact, most shinobi work aims to avoid combat. In that case, the sensory abilities of the Inuzuka are noteworthy. Simply put, while the Hyuga are unbeatable in close-quarters and the Uchiha are can cast illusions instantly, the Inuzuka are practically immune to single-person ambushes against the clan. Their nose-based sensing is a technique that is always on and does not need to be activated, at least while their dogs are around. In a series that views major events from a direct combat line, it is easy to look weak when your best powers are in tactical and preparatory combat.
What say you?
This is because composite energy allows a user to create elements that carry the physical might (more than, in fact) of any stab or kick or arrow while doing special effect damage as good as any imaginary attack, such as burning or paralysing. In fact, with these attacks having superior speed and size to physical attacks and being more real than imaginary attacks, composite energy does the job of the other two classes even better.
(Of course, mortal limitations means that this very same drawback for the classes of physical and imaginary attacks creates an opening for them . . . The more people realise the power of energy attacks, the more they adopt them and abandon the other types. This leads to a weaker defence in those areas - hence the hack-like power of the Yamanaka clan, since no one trains in consciousness combat. This in turn means that anyone who can find ways to force battles down to imaginary or physical combat has a huge advantage. This probably explains why a Kurenai who had only been Jonin for a year could line up alongside elites like Asuma and Kakashi, even against world-famous criminals like Akatsuki.)
Whether the bracketed point balances things out or not, the fact of the matter is that for the sake of world-building sensibility and continuity, any character that specialises in imaginary or physical attacks has to be made really powerful (unnaturally powerful) with them or else they become practically irrelevant. Supposing this point is correct, this is why we have Guy using the Eight Gates to become like Dragon Ball Z characters, the Uchiha clan having eyes that cast illusions without hand seals or the usage of clowns by various characters to boost their stats and keep out attacks - although the latter is perhaps a contextual failure on account of the clowns being composite energy techniques.
However, I am not sure if this was properly done for Kiba and the Inuzuka clan.
Now, before I continue, let me express my view that, in a world where from just one generational view we got to see probably 90% of all people who - until that point (the 4th War era) - had ever crossed over above jonin level of power, the idea that clan powers or specialisations should not be too powerful or else they would imbalance the world and create a separate class does not hold. This is because the nature of specialization, while implying less difficulty (correlative to utility and power) with more numbers, also implies more power with numbers and refinement (how long they have been practicing it. Indeed, we have the Yamanaka, Akimichi and Aburame clans having powers that allow single individuals to be useful against Ten Tails level opponents, even if temporarily. Then, even without such showings, we have the Hozuki clan using a technique that makes them impervious to practically all physical and elemental attacks with their water forms, the Ryuchi Cave clan of Jugo that can absorb natural energy and do energy blasts, and so on. Of course, I am only noting clans without genetic powers since those explain themselves as anomalies or special cases. The Uzumaki are also not counted since their seals (which were so feared they were destroyed for) are probably related to their strong life force which is a 'genetic' trait. Anyway, those cases show that simply being a clan-based (therefore, somewhat widespread and normal) technique should not discount or explain away why any technique is not adequately powerful. This applies especially when the context is that similar techniques are overly powerful. This has to apply in a context where specialisation is only practical when overly powerful. And since Kiba was showcased alongside other clans and his peers, this isn't simply a case of a bad exception, or should not be.
Getting on with it . . .
The first thing to note is that the Inuzuka use physical attacks but not physical skill. The difference is like that between the Gentle Fist and Ferocious Fist. Gentle Fist uses skilled, trained movements to outplay someone on the same level while Ferocious Fist uses the Eight Gates to become so physically powerful that whatever hit you do is deadly. Whatever skill Guy and Lee have is just a bonus, useful in case they find opponents who can physically keep up with them. What really matters is that they just hit harder and faster. Nonetheless, these are but two lanes on the same road - the fact remains that the Inuzuka use physical attacks and should therefore be powerful with them. So, do you think they are powerful enough with their style to 'justify' their specialisation? For comparison, we know that if a Hyuga or Ferocious Fist user ever got an opponent "in range", the fight would be over.
After that is the matter of style. Technically, the Inuzuka style is only complete with their dogs. Calling them weak without their dogs would be like calling Kisame without his sword or Hyuga without their Byakugan weak. The criticism still holds, though. See, in order to properly wield his sword, Kisame has to be physically strong, stronger and faster than normal opponents because the sword is heavy. Likewise, training in Gentle Fist requires the Hyuga to be so fast they can land 128 hits faster than an opponent can simply flicker away or land a kunai stab, so they are still fast without Byakugan. The same applies with Ferocious Fist and physical fitness, the Akimichi and weight and cloak users with durability (else the cloaks would burn their own skin). So, do the Inuzuka get worthwhile physical benefits from their style, such that even without a full setup they could physically dominate most opponents? In terms of where their advantage should lie, the method of their style matters. The Inuzuka use fully physical transformations - as the name "man-beast" implies - to achieve beastly levels of physical might. "Beastly" leads on to heightened senses, improved fighting instincts and the specific physical advantages of the associated beast. With dogs, that should be durability (fur coats and thicker skin), attack speed and endurance. Oh, and claws of course. In his fight with Naruto, Kiba was noted to be stronger, but with Naruto being a chump back then we cannot be sure how much of a boost Kiba had. That Naruto had already experienced a transformed state with Kurama (the cloak against Haku) means he would have improved from his academy time growth path, but it is difficult to say how much. I am not sure it was enough to be able to stock a clear advantage against a normal person in close combat. Even their claws, which could be a powerful tool (as we saw Yugito use against Killer B) are hardly focussed on. Their complete style itself focusses on many hits instead of lethal ones. Do you think these advantages in endurance and instincts are good enough for a specialist? Suppose Kiba had to fight an opponent alone, without Akamaru, could his physical advantages from a basic transformation either guarantee him a win if the fight is close range or allow him a chance to call back up if the fight is longer ranged?
The biggest factor to note is the full power of the complete style, since that is the intended state of it. There are two sides to look at it from. The first is overall power or advantage under good circumstances. For reference, a random Hyuga genin was considered such a massive threat in close combat that a Kidomaru who could casually beat Anbu fled for the trees due to the power of Gentle Fist in close combat. (Kidomaru didn't know Neji, he only knew the Hyuga). Again, Madara considered a random user of the Ferocious Fist worthy of his attention when he was a Ten Tails Host. (Madara did not know Guy, only his style). Likewise, Choza - maybe without the Butterfly Mode transformation - was considered the greatest war potential of the Leaf when the likes of Minato with FTG, Fugaku with MS, Hiruzen, Danzo and the Sannin were still active. Does the complete style of the Inuzuka, with dog and all, grant any such overwhelming advantage in any area that they would be guaranteed to win fights if it came down to that area of combat? Could they force opponents many levels above them to give them full attention or flee? From what we saw, no opponent has opted to go for equal exchanges once the transformed setup is complete for Fang Over Fang and its variations. They all opted for defence alone. So there is something to it. The second side is that of style style. That is to say, is the style complete? That is to say, does it offer options for all scenarios in combat? Not just practical/expected scenarios, since one does not dedicate themselves completely to one thing for just usual/normal scenarios. For reference, a Hyuga uses their eyes to search out opponents and traps, Air Palms to attack from distance, Rotations for defence and 64 Palms for finishing at close range. Likewise, a Ferocious Fist user uses fitness and sharpness for detecting opponents, the high intensity energy expulsion to block out energy attacks and their speed to close distance and finish things off. Again, an Aburame uses their size to render attacks too small to hurt, their power to destroy the battlefield against long range opponents or the same size to throw boulders at opponents and their weapons of size to finish off opponents. Between their early detection system of smell, physical boosts and rush attacks, do the Inuzuka have a style that covers all their needs. Perhaps something can be said for Akamaru being able to smell enemy power levels being life saving, but that could be his special talent instead of a normal dog skill. Even if, it is rather useless in situations of forced confrontation.
Well, perhaps there is a little fault in how the Inuzuka clan is being viewed. Technically, they do not really specialise in physical combat. They simply specialise in animal-based combinations. Since dogs, their animal choice, have strong physicality, they happen to get that benefit as well. Even so, their style (and theme) is to work in tandem with them. Besides combat, we must remember that shinobi are more than just fighters. In fact, most shinobi work aims to avoid combat. In that case, the sensory abilities of the Inuzuka are noteworthy. Simply put, while the Hyuga are unbeatable in close-quarters and the Uchiha are can cast illusions instantly, the Inuzuka are practically immune to single-person ambushes against the clan. Their nose-based sensing is a technique that is always on and does not need to be activated, at least while their dogs are around. In a series that views major events from a direct combat line, it is easy to look weak when your best powers are in tactical and preparatory combat.
What say you?
