Shoyo Hinata discovered volleyball after watching Karasuno High's "Small Giant" dominate a national tournament broadcast, sparking his passion despite the player's short stature. During junior high, he joined his school's volleyball club but remained its only member for two years, practicing alone or forming temporary teams with friends from other sports. His makeshift squad suffered a crushing defeat to Kitagawa Daiichi Junior High, featuring setter Tobio Kageyama, in his third year. This loss cemented Hinata's resolve to surpass Kageyama, leading him to enroll at Karasuno High. At Karasuno, Hinata found Kageyama as a teammate, reigniting their rivalry. Early conflicts earned both a temporary ban from team activities until they proved they could cooperate. Hinata joined as a middle blocker, wearing the Small Giant's jersey number 10. He possessed unruly orange hair and brown eyes, standing 162.8 cm tall at high school entry, making him the team's second-shortest player. Opponents frequently underestimated him, mistaking him for a junior high or elementary student. Hinata displayed a relentlessly cheerful and energetic personality, his loud enthusiasm matched only by teammates Nishinoya and Tanaka. Though often seeming simple-minded, he demonstrated sharp observational skills and empathy, offering timely encouragement. He forged friendships easily, connecting with reserved individuals like Kenma Kozume and Aone. His intense volleyball focus manifested as tenacity in matches, refusing to concede even when disadvantaged. Initially, he battled severe pre-game nerves, experiencing stomach issues and clumsiness, but gradually gained composure. Academically, he neglected studies due to volleyball obsession, consistently scoring poorly until tutoring prevented suspension from training camps. Athletically, Hinata compensated for his height with exceptional jumping power, achieving a vertical leap of approximately 123 cm, combined with remarkable speed and stamina. His daily 30-minute mountain bike commute to school contributed to his endurance. Early skills centered on spiking, particularly executing the rapid "Minus Tempo Quick" with Kageyama, demanding precise synchronization. He initially spiked with closed eyes but evolved to keep them open for mid-air adjustments. His ability to draw blockers' attention earned him the moniker "Ultimate Decoy," creating opportunities for teammates. His technical growth included mastering block-outs, feints, and back attacks. Receiving was a weakness initially, but dedicated practice led to proficiency in "flying receives" and split-step techniques. Key development occurred at a first-year training camp where perceived over-reliance on Kageyama excluded him from formal drills. Accepting a ball boy role, he observed elite players and refined his jumping technique, adopting a "BAM jump" for greater height and stability. This period also exposed nutritional and sleep deficiencies, culminating in a physical collapse from fever during a national tournament match, highlighting the need for holistic self-care. Post-high school, Hinata moved to Brazil for two years to play beach volleyball, enhancing his adaptability and ball control in challenging conditions. He learned Portuguese through interactions with his roommate Pedro and watching dubbed anime. Returning to Japan, he joined the V-League Division 1 team MSBY Black Jackals as an opposite hitter. He later transferred to Asas São Paulo in Brazil's Super League, wearing jersey number 21. His professional rivalry with Kageyama persisted, their head-to-head record reaching 1,096 wins for Hinata against 1,100 losses. Hinata's family includes his mother and younger sister, Natsu, who followed him by joining her high school volleyball team. He prefers meat buns and tamago kake gohan and is a fan of the One Piece manga, citing Roronoa Zoro as his favorite character.