In anime, the lines between hero and villain are not always clear. Although characters may be presented in opposition to or support of the main character, they sometimes deviate from moral conventions so radically that entire fanbases are divided about what they really are.

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Whether they're heroes willing to do anything for a cause or apologetic villains with a robust set of personal values, these controversial individuals have sparked a number of energized conversations. By identifying them, we can better appreciate the qualities that make them unique, morally gray, and unreplaceable in their respective universes.

10 Fujitora's Philosophy Of Blind Justice Provided Refreshing Nuance To The Marines (One Piece)

Fujitora mad One Piece

When Aokiji left the World Government after being defeated by Akainu, a new admiral was needed to supplement the Marines' efforts. Fujitora's sense of justice provided his organization with a robust sense of nuance since he was willing to hold his benefactors accountable for their crimes.

Nonetheless, Fujitora's actions still implicitly condone the atrocities of the Celestial Dragons. Consequently, even though he's more lenient toward Luffy than most, it's difficult to consider him heroic or even a good person.

9 Light Yagami's Philosophy Of Justice Is Notoriously Divisive (Death Note)

Death Note's Light Yagami Writing Names In His Death Note

Light Yagami's punitive-focused sense of justice is notoriously controversial in and out of his own universe. On one hand, the world clearly struggles from an excess of crime as seen through frequent reports of robberies, assaults, and murders.

However, Light's willingness to kill innocent people in order to preserve his identity is noticeably problematic. It calls into question whether or not he is a qualified judge, juror, and executioner when considering that he too has blood on his hands. He is especially polarizing given his willingness to emotionally manipulate women for his own ends.

8 Eren Yeager's Rumbling Divided Characters & Fans Alike (Attack On Titan)

Eren Rumbling in Marley — Attack On Titan manga

When the world declared war on Paradis at the behest of Willy Tybur, Eren was understandably distraught. It justified the concerns and phobias he had about his nation's enemies and compelled him to begin the Rumbling.

Since his actions murdered eighty percent of the global population, they were exceptionally controversial in and out of the series' universe. Although omnicide is one of the worst moral atrocities possible, Eren would later be proven right about the outsiders when what remained of Paradis was destroyed with bombs.

7 Bakugo Balanced Being A Bully & Hero (My Hero Academia)

Bakugo and Deku Hero Costumes

Although Bakugo is a hero student of Class 1-A, his actions don't reflect well on his classmates or intended profession. He was exceedingly brutal and cruel toward Midoriya throughout their childhood and maintained his needlessly confrontational outlook well into later years.

RELATED: My Hero Academia: 5 Characters Overhaul Can Defeat (& 5 He Can't)

With a desired name like "King Explosion Murder," Bakugo inspires fear much more than hope as All Might has suggested. Nonetheless, his refusal to join the League of Villains illustrates a strong sense of values and that the courage he projects constantly is genuine.

6 Stroheim Was A Nazi Who Fought Alongside The Heroes (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)

Stroheim smiling from jojo

Stroheim is handily one of the most polarizing characters of the JoJo universe. Although he abducted Speedwagon, he was also an active opponent of the Pillar Men and risked his life against them time and again.

During the final fight, Stroheim even attempted to finish Kars off with UV rays. However, it's difficult to consider him a hero when acknowledging his background as a member of the Nazi party and what his organization has done in the real world.

5 Satsuki Kiryuin Did Horrible Things To Stop Ragyo (Kill La Kill)

Satsuki Kiryuin frowning from klk

Lady Satsuki Kiryuin was the founder of Honnoji Academy and the first villain of the Kill La Kill series. She was introduced as the murderer of Ryuko's father, a lie that was believable when considering the barbaric way she ran her government.

RELATED: Kill La Kill: 5 Ways Satsuki Is A Hero (& 5 She's A Villain)

It was later revealed that Nui Harime had actually killed Isshin, putting Ryuko's grudge against Satsuki partially at ease. Although she helped to stop Ragyo, she was still responsible for multiple atrocities, including turning Ryuko's best friend against her to expose the darkest aspects of human nature.

4 Alucard Was Integra's Private Killing Machine (Hellsing)

Hellsing Integra Alucard pointing gun

After awakening Alucard, Integra used him as the Hellsing Organization's most valuable weapon. In theory, his performance against corrupt Iscariot members and the revitalized Nazi party were both credits to London.

However, Alucard himself was also a bloodthirsty, amoral monster with no consideration toward the people he saved. The vampire basked in the carnage that his Millennium adversaries unleashed and greedily slurped up the blood of the innocent. In the wrong hands, he could be significantly worse than the villains he vanquished.

3 Najenda Was Technically A Terrorist Leader (Akame Ga Kill!)

Najenda smiling in Akame Ga Kill!

Najenda was the leader of Night Raid, a sub-organization of a massive rebellion intended to target the Empire's weak points. Although the government she fought against was grotesquely corrupt, her violent methods fall within the technical definition of terrorism.

Further supporting this end, she told Tatsumi that he would either have to join Night Raid or die after liberating him from a house of cannibalistic nobles. Given the heavy demands Najenda placed on an innocent person and her willingness to let comrades sacrifice themselves for the sake of a mission, she can't be considered morally superior to the people she fights.

2 Colt Kept His Humanity Much Better Than Other Chimera Ants (Hunter X Hunter)

Colt frowning from hunter x hunter

Colt was once an innocent young boy who fell before the chimera ants' savagery. Ever since being reborn, he has worked tirelessly to enact the Queen's will. In other words, he had no qualms with killing civilians to slake her growing appetite.

Despite this, he isn't remotely as evil as many of his counterparts. Colt attempted to stop Rammot from over-harvesting humans and even worked with the Hunters' Association after they arrived at the NGL. In the end, he served as a medium between them and his people after the death of Meruem and in spite of his own past crimes.

1 Itachi Committed Genocide Against His Own People To Save The World (Naruto)

Itachi prepares to kill his parents, who are under his genjutsu

Itachi's decision to massacre the Uchiha Clan is easily one of the Naruto series' most defining moments. Although it was initially depicted as an unconscionable act of barbarism, he actually had a strong moral incentive for what he did.

If he hadn't killed the Uchiha Clan, they would have caused a civil war with the rest of Konoha. Their conflict would prompt the Leaf's allies and enemies to participate, potentially leading to an unimaginable number of deaths.

NEXT: Naruto: Konoha's 10 Greatest Failures, Ranked