In anime, it's conventionally accepted that heroes treat their friends with kindness and compassion. This is to further endear them to audiences, often playing into the power of friendship trope and illustrating that they are people worth supporting. Such kindness is usually reciprocated in one way or another.
However, there are some characters who are so flagrantly willing to mistreat their friends that it's surprising they still have them. By identifying such rogues, fans can better appreciate that heroism has many faces, and not all of them are pretty.
10 Nami Is Exploitative, Physically Abusive, & Sometimes Manipulative To Other Straw Hats (One Piece)
Although Nami is a tremendous credit to her crew, she isn't always the nicest. She can often be even more immature than Luffy, such as when she exploits Sanji's lust for favors or physically abuses her friends for goofing off.
Perhaps Nami's greatest breach of trust is when she sold Luffy out to Arlong. Fortunately, the aspiring captain got to the bottom of what was really going on, freed his navigator's village, and won her support as a permanent member of his crew.
9 Naruto Put His Friends In Danger Out Of Misplaced Faith In Sasuke (Naruto)
Ever since Sasuke went rogue, the Konoha 11 felt responsible for capturing and possibly even killing him. The last Uchiha's actions were a disgrace to the village, especially when they needed to come together at the beginning of the Fourth Shinobi War.
Instead of understanding his friends' fears, Naruto actively impeded their efforts, putting everyone in danger. Should he not have been able to physically overpower Sasuke, he would have enslaved the entire world — including the Leaf village.
8 Fugo Was The Only JoBro To Give Up Midway Through (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)
Out of every JoJo act, Fugo was the only character to completely abandon his friends midway through the mission. His fear of what Diavolo might do overshadowed how much he cared for Team Bucciarati, prompting his unceremonious departure.
Fugo's presence was hardly missed. Even before leaving, he was abusive to Narancia and rarely contributed to the group's success. Over the act's duration, he only defeated a single Stand user — and not entirely by himself. In the end, his ability was incompatible with others, which reflected his abrasive personality.
7 Merlin Was Using Her Friends To Beckon Chaos (Seven Deadly Sins)
Although Merlin was once the most reliable member of the Sins, she was also extremely treacherous. Her entire purpose for joining Meliodas was to eradicate the Demon King and Supreme Being so that chaos could be unleashed. On top of that, she toyed with Escanor's affection and used him as a shield for her convenience.
As heartbreaking as Merlin's betrayal was, Meliodas and his friends didn't give up on her. Although she was saved from the destruction she unleashed, the damage her actions caused would be felt for generations to come.
6 Kurapika Allowed Himself To Be Consumed By Revenge (Hunter X Hunter)
In Hunter X Hunter, Kurapika was one of the first friends Gon met on his journey to become a licensed hunter. Although he was an invaluable asset during the exams, the two slowly drifted apart once he had his license.
Armed with the means of taking his revenge, Kurapika killed Uvogin and nearly Chrollo before Gon could reach him. Although he listened to the young boy's advice, his grudge continued to trouble him well into the future.
5 Kagome Misused Inuyasha's Control Collar (Inuyasha)
When Kagome was first introduced to Inuyasha, she received a collar that effectively allowed her to control him. Whenever the half-demon acted out of line, she could order him to "sit," which face-planted him in the ground.
Although this seemed like a worthy precaution, Kagome overused her charm well past its intended purpose. Inuyasha was forced to "sit" whenever he mildly annoyed her, whether through failing to recognize courting gestures or responding to Shippo's antagonism. Ironically, they ended up as a couple in spite of her repeated and careless mistreatment.
4 Olivier Was Brusque & Domineering (Fullmetal Alchemist)
Although Olivier proved to be an efficient leader of the Northern Brigade, she was hardly more compassionate than the figureheads in Amestris. She treated soldiers and friends alike with domineering derision, even going as far as to verbally abuse her own brother.
Miraculously, Olivier is respected and celebrated by those in her service. However, the adherence they give to her does not negate how she dehumanizes them when organizing and fulfilling her plans. Olivier is the perfect opposite to Bradley in the sense that despite her brutal demeanor, she has good intentions at heart.
3 Inosuke Constantly Picks Fights With Whoever Will Humor Him (Demon Slayer)
Inosuke's pugnacious spirit makes him almost impossible to get along with in Demon Slayer. He constantly picks fights with everyone in order to test his strength and amuse himself. He is cruel to Zenitsu and sardonic toward Tanjiro despite the fact that both are stronger than him.
Worse yet, he tried to kill Nezuko the second that he saw her. Without the humbling experience of facing off against Rui's family, Inosuke may have grown too wild for anyone to control.
2 Faye Valentine Is Unreliable & Catty (Cowboy Bebop)
Faye Valentine from Cowboy Bepop is a bad friend. She frequently abandons the Bebop without saying a word, only to return just as unceremoniously. Oftentimes, its crewmembers will find things missing, and she is their most likely culprit.
The woman blames much of her eccentric behavior on her past and the difficulty she has with trusting others. However, both Spike and Jet have experienced just as many tribulations without resorting to such underhanded tactics toward their own colleagues. Although Faye is reliable in dire situations (such as against Mad Pierrot), her overwhelmingly snarky attitude can make her difficult to tolerate.
1 Asuka Insults Everyone To Cope With Her Insecurity (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
Asuka was a young braggart who couldn't help but to belittle those around her. Whether Rei or Shinji, she will constantly attempt to minimize their achievements and refuse to accept their help until absolutely necessary.
Much of Asuka's disposition comes from abandonment issues and a sense of insecurity. However, instead of sorting herself out, she makes it a problem for literally everyone who attempts to help her. Worse yet, she sees being a pilot as a chance to reap glory instead of saving thousands of innocent people.