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Anime enemies tend to get all tangled up in their relationships with each other, and we love them for it. Some of the most thrilling rivalries in anime didn’t simply materialize out of thin air. They were based on friendship and trust, and later they shattered.
On the flip side, some of anime’s most endearing pairings started with hate. This mix of closeness and conflict makes these stories stick. Let us look at four of the greatest anime friendships that started with animosity, and four of the greatest anime enemies who once stood side by side as friends.
Anime friends that started as anime enemies
1. Naruto and Gaara
Anime: Naruto
Naruto and Gaara started off as rivals, and their battle during the Chunin Exams arc was one of the more violent ones in the series. At that point in the story, Gaara was a lonely, hate-fueled, and broken shinobi. Naruto recognized Gaara as his past, and hence didn't give up on reaching out to him.
It was one of the best cases of anime enemies ending up as allies. Their bond grew into respect, and with Naruto’s belief in him, Gaara even became Kazekage. Going from enemies to close friends, their story is one you cannot forget.
2. Itadori and Choso
Anime: Jujutsu Kaisen
Itadori and Choso were bitter anime enemies at first. Choso wanted Yuji dead to avenge the loss of his brothers, Eso and Kechizu, and he came close to realizing his wish during their brutal fight. However, just before striking the final blow, he felt something strange. Yuji’s looming death left in him the same sensation he had felt when his brothers died. The moment made Choso hesitate, and it planted a seed of doubt that would completely change their bond.
Once Choso connected the dots between Noritoshi Kamo and Yuji, he saw Yuji as family rather than an enemy. From then on, he stood by his new “little brother,” fighting to protect him and directing his rage toward Kenjaku for twisting his purpose. Their relationship turned from revenge to loyalty, and has been one of the most surprising shifts in Jujutsu Kaisen. Also, it has really been helpful for Itadori.
3. Goku and Vegeta
Anime: Dragon Ball
There may be no two anime enemies who are as iconic as Goku and Vegeta. Vegeta descended to Earth as a cold-blooded Saiyan royal, prepared to kill anyone who stood in his way. Only Goku could stop him, and their first showdown has been one of Dragon Ball’s finest moments.
What started as hate turned into rivalry and then respect. Vegeta’s pride kept him from backing down from challenging people. Deep down, however, he knew Goku was his equal. Watching them go from opposite sides to comrades and finally friends who compete with each other has become one of the most interesting aspects of Dragon Ball.
4. Jotaro and Kakyoin
Anime: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
Upon his introduction, Kakyoin was being controlled by Dio and he fought Jotaro. Their brutal fight made it obvious they were anime enemies from the beginning. However, when he was freed from Dio’s control, Kakyoin became one of Jotaro’s most steadfast partners. They built their bond by fighting side by side. That is the reason Kakyoin’s subsequent death hit fans hard.
The interesting aspect about this relationship is how quickly it went from enmity to trust. Jotaro, usually cold and distant, clearly valued Kakyoin’s loyalty. Their friendship, born from a clash, remains among the most emotional ones in JoJo’s long line of rivalries and alliances.
Anime enemies that started as anime friends
1. Madara and Hashirama
Anime: Naruto
Madara and Hashirama were best friends who desired peace in a war-torn world. They would daydream of creating a place where kids didn’t have to die in senseless wars. However, the pressure of their clans drove them apart. Eventually, their ideals caused them to take different paths. Madara thought peace had to be enforced, while Hashirama still believed in trust and a middle ground.
Their friendship collapsing into rivalry gave us some of the most dramatic fights in Naruto. The scene where their families attacked each other, where they both knew their friendship was over, was hype and sad at the same time. It is a classic case of friends turning into enemies in anime. Dreams can bring people together, but differences can rip apart even the closest friends.
2. Vicious and Spike
Anime: Cowboy Bebop
In Cowboy Bebop, Spike and Vicious once fought side by side in the Red Dragon Crime Syndicate. Howeverm their friendship fell apart over Julia. Spike had a romantic affair with Vicious’s girlfriend, Julia, and it was this betrayal that made them anime enemies. Spike left a life of crime. Vicious stayed and rose through the syndicate’s ranks.
The last battle between them wasn’t a matter of survival but of what wasn’t said. Julia died due to Vicious’s quest for revenge. Spike’s unpredictable style clashed against Vicious’s swordsmanship. Eventually, Vicious died, and it is speculated that so did Spike. It is one of the most personal and understandable enemy-turned-friendship breakdowns in anime history.
3. Guts and Griffith
Anime: Berserk
Guts and Griffith’s bond is one of the most tragic stories in anime. They started as comrades, with Guts respecting Griffith’s dream, and Griffith seeing Guts as his key to victory. Their friendship was deep but also delicate. When Griffith sacrificed the Band of the Hawk during the Eclipse for power, Guts was left betrayed in the worst way possible.
What makes Berserk so haunting is how it shifts from brotherhood to bitter anime enemies. Their story isn’t just about fights. It is about dreams, betrayal, and the cost of ambition. Few friendships have ever fallen apart this painfully.
4. Jonathan Joestar and Dio Brando
Anime: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
The feud between Jonathan Joestar and Dio Brando is legendary. However, to begin with, Jonathan actually tried to see Dio as a brother. That history set up one of the most iconic rivalries in anime. Dio’s hunger for power and cruelty shattered all chances of friendship, leaving Joestar with no option but to see him as an enemy.
This breakdown gave us one of the greatest examples of anime enemies born out of family-like ties. Jonathan’s battles with Dio shaped not just his own story but the entire Joestar bloodline. Their relationship is a reminder of how growing up in the same house and experiencing similar things does not guarantee ending up as friends.
In conclusion
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Anime enemies that start as friends or flip from hate into trust always leave the biggest mark on fans. They will stand as a reminder that the ties that bind don’t always stay bound. So, that’s the reason these stories continue to hit deeply.
Whether it is Naruto and Gaara learning to see eye to eye, or Madara and Hashirama going at it until neither of them can anymore, those are the little stories that we keep with us. Which is great, because these stories are stacked with love, hate, respect, and betrayal at the same time.
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