Quote Originally Posted by Tyreal
Simple. Neji was using his Byakyugan to look ahead and see what was coming up. So he saw Boss toad up ahead before Gai did. Simply put, Neji saw it first.
it wasn't bothering me that Neji spotted the toad, what felt weird is that he immediately recognized it as Jiraya's frog, rather than saying "big frog summoned creature", or "naruto's frog". the first would imply he's surprised to see a summon in the village, and the later would imply that he knows Naruto can summon frogs.
it's simply that I can't recall any reason that Neji should have prior relationship with Jiraya that would allow him to say that frog's are Jiraya's summon, and a much more reasonable response for him would be to associate the frog with Naruto.

it's nothing serious though, maybe in the anime Neji worked once with Jiraya and Naruto, hell if I know.


as for Hinata: I don't think she's dead. I think it's a manga non-written rule never to show bodies up close (I.E the face). In fact, I doubt it that Payne really stabbed her. more likely that he stabbed himself just to agitate Naruto. I'm still hoping that he wants to make Naruto realize the errors of his ways and come willingly with him in order to end the cycle of violence (that's, by far, an impossible outcome).

also, why did that random ninja shout and warn Payne (also, who was that Idiot?) about Hinata, even Naruto was smart enough to keep silence and not reveal her upcoming attack to Payne, and that idiot just gave away her presence and ruined a good chance for her to deliver a decent free attack on Payne.

lastly, predictions for the next chapters. Payne and Naruto fight around for a while, with Naruto dishing out pain and Payne saying his pain is far greater. during that time. the leaf ninjas get closer to the ninja radio station (all ninja, all the time). and then comes Neji, revealing that Hinata is still alive. and that revelation is followed by Payne taking Hinata with him, and telling Naruto that he'll be waiting for him in his ninja dungeon.

(it's been a while since we had a 'chase someone who's been kidnapped\run away' arc, and it's always in the end of those arc that we get to see naruto and Sasuke confront each other)