Boruto: Naruto Next Generations is the continuation of Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto story and it sees Naruto's son, Boruto Uzumaki, take a central role. The ninja world is at peace, however, the need for ninja still exists, which is why Boruto's generation of shinobi is pivotal to the story.

RELATED: The 15 Strongest Women In Naruto, Ranked According To Strength

As with Naruto, one of the biggest criticisms of the story is the fact that there are quite a lot of characters who have incredible potential but get sidelined for Boruto and his team because the story demands it.

super beast scroll inojin

Inojin is Ino Yamanaka's and Sai's son and is also one of the main members of Konohagakure's next generation of shinobi. He's got incredible potential as a ninja since he has both the abilities of Sai and Ino's talent as a sensor-type ninja.

Unfortunately, Inojin has barely ever been featured in a serious arc in Boruto, especially in the manga. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that he's already a wasted character.

9 Iwabee — he was reduced to an unimportant character as the story went on

Iwabee Yuino in Boruto.

Iwabee was introduced quite early in the Boruto series and was deemed to be an excellent ninja with his only problem being failing the theory part of his ninja academy.

Even in the Academy, he was powerful enough to use some of the most high-level Jutsu and could even overwhelm Boruto Uzumaki in combat. Just like Inojin, however, Iwabee was reduced to an unimportant character as the story went on and in the manga, he's never been revealed at all.

8 Denki Kaminarimon — his potential is held back by a lack of screentime

Denki Kaminarimon Boruto Naruto Anime Battle Action

Denki is a Genin from Konohagakure who belongs to the same generation as Boruto Uzumaki. Along with Iwabee and Metal, he is a part of Team 5 of Konoha, which holds a tremendous amount of unfulfilled potential.

Denki isn't a good shinobi when it comes to ninja arts, however, he makes up for it with his mind. He has a great understanding of ninja technology which makes him an incredibly useful character, but he is held back by a lack of screentime, just like many other characters in the story.

7 Metal Lee — he often gets sidelined for characters like Boruto & Sarada

Metal Lee from Boruto

Rock Lee's son, Metal, is a powerful shinobi from Konohagakure who excels in the way of Taijutsu, just like his father. He is considered to be a prodigy and even in the Academy, he showed the ability to open a few of the Eight Inner Gates under the influence of Dark Chakra.

RELATED: Naruto: 5 Shinobi The Fourth Raikage Could Crush (& 5 That'd Defeat Him)

Metal's Taijutsu skills are extremely impressive and what's more, he's also quite skilled with shuriken-jutsu too. Much like Rock Lee in Naruto, Metal often gets sidelined for characters like Boruto and Sarada.

6 Sumire Kakei — she's already being reduced to a love interest for Boruto Uzumaki

Sumire As A Genin Training To Become A Better Ninja

A former member of Team 15, Sumire Kakei was a skilled Kunoichi from Konohagakure, from Boruto's class. She was an exceptionally talented ninja and had incredible skill as she even put up a fight against Mitsuki.

Sumire was sadly moved towards the science division with Katasuke where she doesn't get the spotlight that she deserves. Her skills as a Kunoichi will eventually also get rough around the edges and she's already being reduced to a love interest for Boruto Uzumaki.

5 Moegi Kazamatsuri — the series has never focused on her character at all

moegi boruto

One of the most powerful Jonin of Konoha, Moegi was once a teammate of Konohamaru. Currently, she leads Team 10 which consists of the current generation of Ino-Shika-Cho.

Moegi is known to be a skilled fighter and what's intriguing is that she has the ability to use Wood Release as well. Sadly, the series has never focused on her character at all and most likely won't do that anytime soon.

4 Konohamaru Sarutobi — The only major arc he's been a part of in the last four years is the Ao arc where the writers failed to utilize him properly

Boruto _ Konohamaru

Surprisingly, Konohamaru is another one of the characters with wasted potential in Boruto. Although he's the leader of Team 7, Konohamaru doesn't get the attention that he deserves.

RELATED: Boruto: 5 Characters Konohamaru Can't Beat Yet (& 5 He Never Will)

The only major arc he's been a part of in the last four years is the Ao arc where the writers, once again, failed to utilize him properly. For someone filling the boots of Kakashi Hatake, Konohamaru isn't given enough time to develop his own character.

3 Shino Aburame — Shino has been reduced to an Academy teacher; something that's too small of a job for him to handle

Shino Aburame with his bugs standing in front of a cave

Shino was once among the strongest characters of his generation in the Naruto series. He was skilled enough to take down even the most skilled Jonin with his keen intellect and his ability to use bugs in combat.

In the Boruto era, Shino has been reduced to an Academy teacher; something that's too small of a job for him to handle. He's much more capable and all his potential as a Jonin has already been wasted in the story.

2 Hanabi Hyuga — she leads Team 15 but that is all that she's done in the story

Hanabi Hyuga Smiles In Boruta: Naruto Next Generations

Hanabi was one of the most prodigious characters in the Naruto series and, often, her skill was even compared to that of Neji Hyuga. Strong as she was, she ended up becoming the heiress to the Hyuga clan and a proud Jonin of Konoha.

Currently, Hanabi leads Team 15 but that is all that she's done in the story. In over 4 years, she has hardly made an impression or even seen, if the manga is taken into consideration. Hanabi is a prodigious shinobi whose talent was wasted in Boruto.

1 Hinata Hyuga — in the Boruto era, she's quit life as a ninja

Hinata using her Byakugan in Naruto.

One of the main characters in Naruto, Hinata is Naruto Uzumaki's wife and the mother of Boruto and Himawari Uzumaki. Famed as the Byakugan Princess, Hinata possesses loads of talent and great skill as a ninja. However, in the Boruto era, she's quit life as a ninja.

Hinata also has a connection to the likes of Hamura Otsutsuki and the story could certainly have made her an important character. Instead, her skill as a ninja went to waste with how her character was handled.

NEXT: Naruto: 10 Rage Moments That Gave Us Goosebumps