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Warning: Spoilers for Boruto: Naruto Next Generations chapter 77Naruto's female characters have always been something of a sore spot, and unfortunately Boruto's latest insult to Hinata only makes this unfortunate trend even worse.
When Kawaki makes the stunning admission that he will kill Boruto, the best Hinata can do is slap him across the face in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations chapter 77 by creator and supervisor Masashi Kishimoto, artist Mikio Ikemoto and scriptwriter Ukyo Kodachi. Meanwhile, all Naruto does is put a supportive hand on his wife's shoulder. While Hinata has taken on a motherly role for Kawaki, the idea that she wouldn't do more to prevent him from killing Boruto might be the series' gravest insult to her character yet.
Hinata's Reaction to Kawaki's Threat Misunderstands Her
While some could consider a slap as an appropriate response, it would have been so much more satisfying and not another one of Boruto's slights on Hinata's character if she had actually punched or attacked him. A boy whom her husband had accepted into their home and who her son regards as a brother just threatened her child, and the best she can muster is a slap? There are cases where slaps are appropriate and can even be more degrading than an actual punch, but here, the act comes across as unnecessarily weak and restrained, while making her appear overly hysterical, which Hinata is not.
The problem is that this is the second time Boruto has ridiculed Hinata's role as a stay-at-home mother when that's the "only" role she has. Of course, there isn't anything wrong with being a stay-at-home mom, but the problem is that Boruto makes that Hinata's only characteristic. In chapter 72 of Boruto, for example, the title hero is about to head off for a mission, and Hinata can't help but react out of fear, causing her to apologize for being a mess when she knows that she should be sending him off with a smile. As Hinata wipes the tears from her eyes, it is Boruto who comforts her, reassuring his mother that he'll be back no matter what. Hinata should have been able to keep these insecurities to herself, especially since the only times readers get to experience anything from her is when it involves her family or when she's performing her motherly duties. But, instead, when it was her time to prove that she is a capable mother, Boruto's creative team unnecessarily made her fail.
Naruto's reaction even reflects poorly on Hinata
Aside from the many other instances where Boruto completely ridicules Hinata, how Naruto reacts to Kawaki's confession in the latest installment doesn't reflect well on Hinata, either. Naruto is calm and reserved and even puts a comforting hand on Hinata's arm. Naruto's reaction wouldn't be so demeaning if Hinata just didn't smack Kawaki. They could have been reserved together. But now Naruto is having to comfort his wife, which makes her seem overly hysterical when that's not the case. If she had punched Kawaki, Hinata would have come across as a complete badass, and Naruto reacting in the same way as he does in chapter 77 would have made him appear less concerned about the wellbeing of their son.
All in all, Boruto needs to stop portraying Hinata and other female shinobi in stereotypically embarrassing ways when Naruto already proved they are actually quite strong and capable women.
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations is available on Viz.com.