Boruto's Surprising Tribute to Hinata's Legacy: Unveiling the Hidden Twist

In the Boruto manga, Hinata is constantly being insulted, much to the disappointment of fans. However, there are characters in the anime who actually respect her legacy. The only catch is that this respect is only portrayed in the anime, particularly through Boruto's earnest efforts to live up to his mother's and her clan's ideals. Even Himawari, Boruto's younger sister, possesses powers in the anime that are directly tied to their mother Hinata, something that is not referenced in the manga.

Early on in the anime, Boruto enthusiastically concludes that he is the only one capable of seeing ghostly specters that have been possessing his classmates and villagers. He believes that this is due to inadvertently activating his Byakugan, a power associated with the Hyuga clan that Hinata belongs to. Despite facing opposition from his friends, Boruto persists with this theory for several episodes, even when his grandfather's sparring session suggests that he does not possess the Hyuga's Kekkei Genkai. Eventually, in episode 13 of the anime that adapts the original manga by Masashi Kishimoto, Mikio Ikemoto, and Ukyo Kodachi, one of Boruto's eyes awakens.

Boruto's Obsession Also Mirrors His Feelings Towards Naruto

Boruto's determination to emulate his mother showcases his deep respect and love for her, even though she can never return to her former self. However, it is unfortunate that the manga has failed to delve into this aspect. Instead, it consistently belittles Hinata, disregarding significant moments related to her. For instance, she was blatantly overlooked during the investigation into her people's murderer, and her heroic actions during the Ohtsutsuki invasion were downplayed. Furthermore, the manga portrays Hinata as an inadequate mother, burdening her son when he needed support or reacting embarrassingly when Kawaki threatened Boruto's life.

In addition to Boruto's sister inheriting Hinata's powerful Byakugan and surpassing their father because of it, Boruto's preoccupation with unlocking his own Byakugan also symbolizes his complicated relationship with Naruto at that time. Boruto's intense desire to obtain the Byakugan can be seen as his attempt to distance himself from his father. By then, Boruto had already mastered many of Naruto's techniques, such as the Shadow Clone Jutsu, which he reluctantly used despite his feelings. Acquiring the Byakugan would have allowed him to rely less on Naruto's jutsus. This dynamic, although not explicitly stated, parallels the expressed wishes of My Hero Academia's Shoto Todoroki, who initially rejected activating the Half-Hot aspect of his Half-Cold Half-Hot quirk inherited from his father.

The Byakugan Is An Ohtsutsuki Technique But Naruto Isn't Involved

Although Naruto is a descendant of the Ohtsutsuki, it's important to note that the Byakugan originates from that same lineage. However, the connection between Naruto and the Byakugan ends there, as it is primarily associated with Hinata's side of the family. The Byakugan is derived from Hamura Otsutsuki, who established the Hyuga clan to which Hinata belongs. On the other hand, Naruto is a direct descendant of Hagoromo Otsutsuki, who, despite being Hamura's brother, did not possess the Byakugan. Instead, his descendants formed separate clans like the Senji, Uzumaki, and Uchiha clans. Therefore, while Boruto's Byakugan eye activates when he assumes his Karma form, his admiration and desire for the Byakugan stem entirely from his love and respect for his mother, Hinata.