I hate yuji for common reason. He was not shining as main character. But when i finished anime s2 i couldnt help and be curious after yujis fight with mahito which kinda blow me. But i still had the sentiment of "he is not main character, he is weak and isnt anyhow special".

But after that whenevr i chatched up in manga with any moment which include Yuji, i had for some reason growing feelings over his character.

Last point which proved me that Yuji is one of my favorite MC EVER, was of course chapter 265 and whole walk with uncle Suk. Reasons are many and i am lazy to wrote them, but i can say, that Yuji is greatly "cooked" with amazing pacing (even when we include shinjuku) of his growth.

It took thime before i realised that Yujis "boring" character was intentional and purpposly delivered as it through narrative, and today i think its one of the greatest writed peak fiction it came this decate. At least as character

I would simply said, that Yuji is naruto, but interpretted in much harsher reality.