Couldn't they have done better than poor neji?

[Hyuga Prodigy]

Significant roles apply to only a handful of characters.

If he died to Kidomaru he would have died not understanding his father. Everyone was shafted in Naruto except for a handful of characters. Anything that made them unique or useful was often shafted.

Took 500+ chapters for Ino. In fact, she's one of the few that actually had something about her that Naruto and others didn't overshadow. Her mind link. But that's another discussion entirely.

The point im trying to make is him dying to Kidomaru would have probably made a bigger impact back then as a k11 would have died and made us realize anyone could die. But ultimately it would have been a meaningless death for neji and the readers.

Everyone was shafted but atleast they have some opportunity to grow and discover new thing in Boruto. I mean look how much they put emphasis on Shino character development. He has more screen time than he ever had in both P1&2. Neji did not get a chance to receive that opportunity and now he never will.

Neji already died to the most atrocious way by some simple toothpicks so going by your logic, he wouldn't understand his father regardless.
However, Hiashi already told neji the truth about Hizashi after the chuunin exam so what's better way to die by Kidomaru like a true boss rather then getting shafted for over 500+ chapters only to die as a fodder.

 

[lndra]

no respect for the Hyuuga T^T

 

[HyuugaHeir]

Neji's death was the big Hyuuga development we were promised. If someone were to replace him dying, I'd say Tsunade. Killer Bee also seems a good candidate. But srsly, Neji had the right amount of relevance, impact and timeliness that he had to die in that perfect moment. Although we could have been given more content, Hyuuga-wise before his boot.

 

[SumireKakei]

Neji's death was the big Hyuuga development we were promised. If someone were to replace him dying, I'd say Tsunade. Killer Bee also seems a good candidate. But srsly, Neji had the right amount of relevance, impact and timeliness that he had to die in that perfect moment. Although we could have been given more content, Hyuuga-wise before his boot.

Tsunade would just heal. She even survived being bisected. Bee could be an impact but if it was Iruka...

 

[HyuugaHeir]

Tsunade would just heal. She even survived being bisected. Bee could be an impact but if it was Iruka...

I meant Tsunade's death would make for a big impact. Of course she would require different circumstances than what Neji had.
I agree Iruka is more than legit, but no offense to his character, I doubt he'll never last the war. But if he could survive on the frontlines, he might as well play the sacrificial figure to advance Naruto's moral, Jiraiya-esque moment.