Naruto thrives on its roster of powerful ninjas, but the series introduced so many characters to build hype that some, like Anko Mitarashi, were left on the sidelines. Orochimaru’s talent for recognizing potential is evident with Sasuke Uchiha, and it was often emphasized that Anko had the skills and abilities to be a standout character—or even a suitable vessel for Orochimaru himself. Despite this, her potential was never fully realized.

https://screenrant.com/naruto-anime-characters-anko-wasted-potential-op-ed/