WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Episode 176, "Blockade the A-Un Gate," now streaming on Crunchyroll.
Admittedly, Naruto didn't do many expert ninja justice, struggling with a sprawling cast with way too many shinobi to cover. Among them is none other than Hanabi, Hinata's sister and Naruto's sister-in-law, who was pushed to the side. Focus was instead placed on her cousin, Neji, and Hinata as a love interest for Naruto. However, in her few appearances, Hanabi displayed impressive power, which eventually got Hiashi, her grandfather, to push her as heiress and head of the Hyūga clan. However, after being relegated to the background again, come Boruto, Hanabi -- one of Konoha's most underrated warriors -- has finally been brought back into the fold thanks to Kara's impending threat.
Hanabi has left to go on a diplomatic mission as the Hidden Stone needs to know what transpired with Kara. Naruto sent her as he trusts her, with Hanabi admitting to the new Iwagakure leader, Kurotsuchi, that the Doctor that helped turn her grandfather, Onoki, evil, was working on genetic experiments for Kara. This resulted in the God Tree, but Hanabi makes it clear Onoki had nothing to do with it -- he was played by the Doctor before his death, and the Doctor was in turn tricked by Victor before being sacrificed.
It's a very important job as Onoki's villainous turn has been kept secret by Naruto and Kurotsuchi so as to not ruin his legacy. So it's nice to see Hanabi in such an important role, as she hasn't done much as Team 15's trainer recently, meaning this may be her time to shine. In addition to wielding the power of the Byakugan, Hanabi also mastered the Fist and Palm Styles Neji and Hinata perfected, making her just as lethal. She's vastly improved knowing the clan's looking to her next, which makes her an exciting prospective addition to Konoha's active agents.
Sure, it's great to see Hanabi in the political realm, patching up social issues and wars, but she's a great soldier who wants to honor Neji so hopefully, she'll get more field time. She and Hinata also make a deadly combination as well, so an arc with them and Hinata's daughter, Himawari, would also do great to show the prowess of the Hyūga ladies. Hinata's a housewife, while the novels just have them visiting Hiashi in family-driven stories, so they do need a bit more of an aggressive arc.
Now's a perfect time, as Naruto needs the big guns for Kara, which is something Konoha failed to assemble against the Akatsuki and it almost cost them millions of lives. Naruto's being proactive, though, and with Hanabi in this position, she could team up with the Hidden Stone shinobi too. She's stoic, likeable and a fierce force to be reckoned with, and someone who'll inspire Himawari especially to follow in Naruto's footsteps as Hokage, especially in a series that could benefit from more proactive female characters.
Given she's younger than Hinata, Hanabi could even partner with Konohamaru, Naruto's younger former protégé, because Konoha needs it's most elite on the frontlines. More so, this could once more prop up the Hyūga clan as one that should be feared as much as people did the Uchihas.
