Today’s quote: 

“Father, is a person’s destiny a thing like a cloud flowing with an inescapable flow? Or can a person choose the flow he wishes? I still don’t know the answer to this. Either way, the destination may be the same in the end. However, by choosing to live like the latter, a person can live and strive towards a goal. And in this match, I have finally understood those who do that are truly strong.” – Neji Hyuga

---

For anyone who has not seen Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden, this is your notice for spoilers coming up in the next paragraph. Skip to the brain teaser and feel free to read the paragraph above it.

---

In Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden, creator Masashi Kishimoto contrasts two characters – Rock Lee and Neji Hyuga, from left to right pictured above – and introduces the classic debate on the degree of influence we have over doom, destiny, and fate. Neji was born with innate abilities that allow him to use his chakra to perform ninjutsu with relative ease and minimal training. Rock Lee, on the other hand, was born without the ability to use his chakra for ninjutsu or genjutsu.

While Neji and Rock Lee are both able to practice taijutsu (because this form of jutsu does not solely rely on the use of one’s chakra), it is Rock Lee who dedicates his life to becoming a skilled taijutsu user.

Early in the anime, Neji explains that he is cursed to one purpose in life – he must protect the main branch of the Hyuga family, and if he fails, he will be killed. All Neji’s training is done with his fate in mind. Despite Naruto’s positive influence and relentless efforts to show Neji different life trajectories, Neji indeed gives his life to protect Hinata, a family member of the main branch of the Hyuga clan.

Neji and Rock Lee are teammates, training as gennin under the same assigned jonin. When Rock Lee sees that Neji is naturally one of the most gifted students of their entire age group, he decides to make Neji his rival. Neji often harps on the fact that he’s stronger than Lee, rubbing it in his face and reminding him that he’ll never be on his level.

Hours and hours of ruthless training leads Rock Lee to unleash the power of youth and surpass Neji in terms of overall skill. While Neji was born with his talents (nature), Rock Lee trained harder (nurture). Does this mean nurtured skills are more valuable than innate skills?

---

In modern research, it is undeniably evident that aspects of both nature and nurture impact everyone. While genetics may define hair color, who’s to say for sure whether to thank biological factors, environmental factors, or both for one’s character traits?

---

Brain teaser:

In the following code, each symbol stands for one of five letters. 

; stands for N, O, L, U, or T

( stands for K, B, M, E, or Y

3 stands for H, E, P, C, or W

* stands for F, A, J, E, or R

The four-letter code word 3;*( can be translated into two English words that are opposites. What are the two words?

---

A+