Hinata is a character who’s hard to dislike within the Naruto universe, and for very good reason. For one, she’s one of the only characters who’s shown supporting Naruto from the beginning and harboring no ill will towards him because of the circumstances surrounding his birth. She always encourages him, is a genuinely kind and empathetic person, and also has a tragic family backstory that makes it so it’s hard not to feel sympathetic for her or at least begin to like her.
Despite this, though, it isn’t as if her character is so flawless that there isn’t anything about her that may rub certain viewers the wrong way. Just as there will always be people who love certain characters through-and-through, there will also be those who can’t understand their popularity or dislike them because of something particular that they do over the course of the series.
10 She Watches Naruto From Afar When She’s Young And Never Reaches Out To Him
Aside from Hinata’s very first meeting with Naruto, she isn’t really seen by his side offering him support. This comes across as quite odd, as Hinata is aware of just how lonely Naruto is in his early years without a family, on top of being ostracized by his peers and those older than him.
This is arguably the period of Naruto’s life where he needs the most support, too, as he hasn’t established a friend group of his own yet. She cheers him on, but only does so silently.
9 She’s Raised As The Hyuga Heiress But Is Entirely Unsuitable For The Role
Hinata is the eldest daughter of Hiashi Hyuga, and is raised with the expectation of becoming the next head, as Hiashi is the current head of the Clan. This makes Hinata the Hyuga heiress, but she’s not suitable whatsoever for this role.
Not only is her younger sister, Hanabi, much more talented than her, but Neji is as well despite not hailing from the main branch of the family. In the anime, Hinata and Hanabi fight for the position, but she hesitates and is unwilling to do what’s necessary to secure her future.
8 She Agrees To Marry Someone Else Despite Knowing That It’ll Break Naruto’s Heart
Although Hinata is treated incredibly unfairly by her family and is handed off to Kurenai after being unable to prove herself, she still cares for them and will do what’s necessary to please them. Toneri attempts to kidnap Hinata and when this fails, he instead kidnaps Hanabi.
Hinata goes along with his request to marry her simply so that no harm comes to Hanabi, and while she isn’t serious about this whatsoever, such an action is sure to break Naruto’s heart. And with how long she’s loved him and watched over him, it doesn’t make sense that she’d so quickly accept this as her only option.
7 She Originally Doesn’t Believe In Herself And Leans On Her Teammates During Rough Situations
Early on, Hinata is similar to Sakura in a lot of ways, who also gets a lot of flak from the fanbase for her prioritization of boys rather than training as well as her lack of usefulness in battle. Hinata spends much of her time watching Naruto instead of working to improve herself, which also comes off somewhat creepy as she refuses to approach him.
Not only that, but she also has a very bad tendency to lean on her teammates whenever a situation is too much for her. The only thing that somewhat redeems this point is that with the help of her teammates, she’s able to start working past these weak points.
6 She’s Essentially Just An Emulation Of Naruto Instead Of Becoming Her Own Person
Hinata doesn’t have any confidence in herself at all due to her upbringing. She’s a kinder and gentler soul than many of the other characters within the Naruto universe, and this is something that her family scolds her for, making her even more timid and shy.
When she does start breaking out of her shell, all she really does is emulate Naruto. Her entire purpose for being a ninja and her way of looking at fights is his exact ideology, meaning that sometimes it feels more like she’s trying to be a second Naruto rather than trying to find herself.
5 She Has A Scarily Strict Side That Appears Out Of Nowhere After She Becomes A Mother
Although she starts out as an incredibly timid person who’s afraid to express herself, Hinata blooms into a wonderful mother who’s able to be herself comfortably and isn’t afraid to raise a family.
This is mostly due to her biggest dream of being Naruto’s partner coming true, but it feels out-of-character to many fans. It’s never felt as if Hinata has an angry side whatsoever and would be more of a caring and compassionate mother who has a harder time being stern.
4 Hinata Offers To Let Naruto Cheat From Her In A Way That Openly Endangers Them Both
During the written part of the Chunin Exams, it becomes clear that the only way to pass is to cheat off someone else. Although Naruto is quite strong, he’s completely lacking in the field of book-smarts, and Hinata tells him that he can cheat off of her exam knowing this.
It’s not the act itself that makes Hinata unlikable, but it’s how careless she’s being by doing so. Naruto ultimately declines, but both of them likely would have been discovered and gotten both of their teams disqualified, as this is so obvious there’s no way the proctors wouldn’t notice.
3 Even After Three Years Of Growth, She Can Do Nothing But Faint Upon Seeing Naruto
Hinata loves Naruto more than anything in the world, and it’s been this way since she was quite young. Considering this, it makes sense that she’d miss Naruto dearly and dream of a chance to see him again during the three years before Shippuden, where he’s training away from the village.
When he does return, though, she screams and hides upon noticing him. He’s able to realize that the scream he heard belongs to Hinata and goes to find her, and all she’s able to do after three years is passed out as soon as she sees him, ruining a moment of growth for their relationship.
2 Neji Only Winds Up Dead Because He Shields Hinata From Taking A Lethal Attack
Neji grows up believing that it’s his destiny to always be below and serve those in the Main Family, as he was born a member of one of the Branch families instead. He’s able to finally start believing in a different future for himself after the influence of Naruto, but he actually does end up fulfilling this inescapable destiny because of Hinata.
Hinata uses her body to protect Naruto from a volley of projectiles, which in turn causes Neji to shield her. Although this does mean that the other two outcomes of this are either Hinata or Naruto dying instead, it’s incredibly painful knowing that Neji fulfills the destiny he always bitterly wishes to escape from in order to save Hinata.
1 After Becoming A Mother, It Feels As If Her Development As A Shinobi Is Completely Forgotten
Hinata’s lifelong dream is to gain the approval and admiration of Naruto, and she’s ecstatic when not only does she accomplish this, but she has a family with him as well. And while this is heartwarming, it also feels like a bit of wasted potential.
Most of Hinata’s growth throughout the series involves her trying to become stronger, both physically and mentally, but with Boruto it feels as if she’s mere more than a housewife. While this makes sense given the fact that things aren’t as dangerous as they are back in Shippuden, it’s still a waste that Hinata’s days of participating in combat are almost entirely over.
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