The Boruto franchise, despite the heavy criticism it has received over the years, has been an amazing continuation of Naruto’s story. The series has served to expand the lore of the intriguing Ninja World created by Masashi Kishimoto while also giving many original characters a new chance to shine.

Nonetheless, not all the ninjas in the series have received the same development, not even when they are a vital part of the protagonist’s heritage. This is the case of the Hyuga Clan, once a pillar of the Hidden Leaf, as the family has not been involved in the story in many years. It is almost as if the series forgot that Boruto also has Hyuga's blood running through his veins.

The Hyuga Clan Has Never Been So Disrespected

Boruto Has Not Referred to His Mother’s Family in Many Years

When the original Naruto series began, the Hyuga Clan was introduced as a cornerstone of the Hidden Leaf. They were one of the strongest families in the world, feared and respected by ninjas from every corner of the globe. Their special eye jutsu, the Byakugan, allowed them to defeat opponents in a quick and refined way, blocking their Chakra flow and making them unable to move. One of the most important of the clan, Neji, was one of Naruto’s first and most significant antagonists.

As the original series progressed, fans noticed that the once-feared clan began being ignored, with its contributions to the village and the plot being progressively lower. Nonetheless, characters like Hinata and Neji remained relevant, being key allies for the protagonist. The Hyuga heiress herself became part of Naruto’s life after the couple became official, despite the controversy behind this couple becoming canon at last. Due to this, the Hyuga clan should have been a major part of the Boruto series, seeing as the protagonist was a member of this venerated family.

Still, besides some mentions and appearances from of the family, most of them relating to Himawari, the Hyuga name has almost no relevance in the sequel. This issue became several times worse once the Two Blue Vortex manga began publication, as Hinata’s bloodline has not physically appeared at all. Himawari, who was the hope of the family during the original series, received a completely unrelated power upgrade, becoming Kurama's new vessel.

Two Blue Vortex Only Made the Situation Worse

The Protagonist Was Not Taught a Single One of His Family’s Techniques

When the Boruto: Two Blue Vortex manga began, fans became impressed with how powerful the titular protagonist had become after being banished from Konoha. Thanks to the training of Kashin Koji, as well as his Prescience ability, Boruto was able to learn a long list of techniques and fighting styles. The protagonist went from a regular, albeit talented Genin, to one of the strongest warriors in the world. Naruto’s son has control over some of the most difficult Jutsu in the franchise, like his grandfather’s Flying Thunder God technique.

And yet, despite the various skills he was taught, Boruto has not used any of the Hyuga Jutsu or fighting styles in the entire series. This was a complete disservice to his heritage, as the boy should have at least been given a few lessons in his mother’s techniques. While it is true that Boruto himself has not gained access to the Byakugan, a tool that facilitates learning the Gentle Fist, this is by no means an excuse. The boy has been trained in this style since he was a child, as proven by his fight against his aunt Hanabi.

Moreover, he possesses the Jogan, a Dojutsu that works similarly to the Byakugan, allowing him to see the Chakra flow of an opponent. Not teaching him any kind of Hyuga-related fighting technique makes no sense story-wise. Boruto should want to have as many options as possible to fight against the franchise's most powerful villains. Still, the series forgot to give him not only one of the most iconic styles in the franchise, but also one that is a part of his heritage.

The Hyuga Were Supposed To Become Relevant Once Again

Kurama Hinted at the Hyuga Blood Being Special

In chapter #9 of the Boruto: Two Blue Vortex manga, Kurama speaks with Himawari about her role as his new Jinchuriki. The girl was too stunned to process the information, not knowing how she might have been selected to become the Kyubi’s new vessel. Although Kurama was also not sure why she had been chosen, one of the reasons he imagined had caused the decision was the combination of her Uzumaki and Hyuga blood. When this chapter was first released, fans imagined that this detail implied the Hyuga Clan would become relevant once again.

Almost a year after chapter #9 was released, the manga has yet to address why Kurama thought Himawari’s family was important enough to mention. One of the reasons why this might be the case is the fact that Himawari was taken out of the picture after her defeat at the hands of Jura. Even then, sidelining the Hyuga Clan in its entirety, even after hinting at their importance, does seem like a strange decision.

The Manga Has an Opportunity To Bring Them Back

​​​​​​​Himawari Could Be Currently Living With Her Relatives

After Kawaki trapped Naruto and Hinata inside a pocket dimension in chapter #77 of the first part of the manga, Himawari was likely pronounced as an orphan, as the village believes the Seventh Hokage died. As such, she should have been sent with her immediate family so they could take care of her. By following this logic, the Two Blue Vortex manga could slowly reintroduce the Hyuga Clan to the story, showing them training and taking care of Himawari. The story could also make them become active combatants against the Divine Trees.

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The Boruto: Two Blue Vortex manga series is undoubtedly an amazing addition to the franchise and will continue to fascinate new and older fans for many years to come. Nevertheless, it has many glaring issues it needs to address, and the inexplicable disregard of the Hyuga Clan is one of them.