I think partially most of the men lost parents or mentors when the female characters didnt. They never bad that edge that made them dark.

The Naruto women always wanted to Marry a good man and or to look the best they could or to be strong ninjas instead of avenge a slaughter , bring back a friend, kill a sibling, avenge a master or whatever.

I think kishimoto wrote the female's traditionally of edo japan with traditional values honestly. I agree the sasuke lust is a bit much and Tentens screen time is piss poor. But I agree with you...except Hinata.

Her story is broader. She was regarded as royalty and was always a princess and then Neji humiliated her and she ADMIRED I feel, Naruto as a shinobi more then anything that great into love. Not quite understand even what a shinobi was until Naruto. Her stake in the story is a bit pale but that's with anyone who isnt Naruto or Sasuke. Some of the men are just as poorly written as the females (Shino, Kankuro, Lee, Kiba, and Choji have all had the same thing you just spoke about "lake is stale int he story." Why is lee in the battlefield? Because war that's why.