Deku and Katsuki have a complicated friendship — though only one sees it as a friendship, while the other sees it as a bitter rivalry. It's similar to Naruto and Sasuke's relationship; the two occasionally butt heads when forced to work together, but gradually grew closer as time went on.
As one of the top students at U.A., Katsuki never imagined that anyone could threaten his spot. Like Sasuke, he never paid attention to his other classmates until Deku started using his new Quirk. Their relationship developed as Deku grew comfortable with his new power, like how Sasuke took notice of Naruto's hard work paying off. The friendship between Deku and Katsuki is very similar to Naruto and Sasuke's friendship, but they do have their differences.
10 Deku And Naruto Struggled With Confidence, But For Their Own Reasons
Deku and Naruto struggle with confidence, but one can mask their insecurities better than the other. For years, Katsuki taunted Deku for not having a Quirk, making him lose confidence. After a while, Deku became reserved and quiet, unable to express his frustration. He feared Katsuki's retaliation if he stood up for himself, which carried into his teenage years.
Naruto's lack of confidence came from a need to be recognized. He hid behind his cockiness and penchant for trouble, pulling immature pranks to get people to notice him, even if the attention was negative. As the Nine-Tailed Fox's jinchuriki, he was seen as a monster's vessel, further isolating himself from his village.
9 Both Sides Are Jealous Of Each Other
Both relationships stem from envy of one another. Sasuke and Katsuki see something in Naruto and Deku that they don't possess, and vice versa.
Naruto's jealous that Sasuke has Sakura's affection, while Deku envies Katsuki's confidence and control over his Quirk. On the other hand, both Katsuki and Sasuke are jealous of Deku and Naruto's hard work in their training. Both sides feel they've stagnated in their growth but can see the fruits of the other's labor, which frustrates them.
8 Naruto Sees Sasuke As A Rival, While Deku Doesn't
Though Naruto and Deku envy Sasuke and Katsuki's natural talents, their reasonings differ. Naruto sees Sasuke as a rival; he feels inferior while comparing himself to the Uchiha prodigy. Also, Sakura's crush on Sasuke further fuels his jealousy. Sasuke has everything Naruto wants, which pushes him to challenge Sasuke constantly.
On the other hand, Deku may envy Katsuki, but it's more out of admiration. Despite Katsuki's taunts, Deku sees the heroic qualities in Katsuki that no one else does. He wants Katsuki's confidence, his ambition, and a complete understanding of his Quirk. Katsuki may take his Quirk for granted because he's lived with it for so long, but Deku appreciates it from an outsider's perspective.
7 Both Admire Each Other
Even though Sasuke and Katsuki never admit it, they're not always jealous of their childhood friends. It's more of a mixed bag of confusion, frustration, and jealousy, but they also feel admiration. They witness first-hand how much Naruto and Deku work to hone their skills. Also, they have a magnetic personality their peers look up to, something relatable that the top students wouldn't understand.
On the other side, Naruto and Deku admire Sasuke and Katsuki for their prodigy status. Initially the worst students in their respective classes, it's frustrating to see their hard work fail to pay off. Both of them see the sheer talent needed for the top spots and want to aim for them.
6 Sasuke Never Bullied Naruto
Unlike Katsuki, Sasuke never actually bullied Naruto. Naruto's isolation originated with the adult villagers who remembered the Nine-Tailed Fox's attack, and their children only taunted Naruto to mimic their parents' hatred. Sasuke kept to himself most of the time, occasionally making snide comments about Naruto's failing grades and immaturity.
Despite being childhood friends, Katsuki saw Deku as an annoyance and frequently mocked him for his admiration of heroes. Deku would attempt to follow Katsuki and his friends but was always left behind or pushed away. Even in school, Katsuki continued to bully Deku until he eventually distanced himself once All Might passed down his Quirk.
5 Sasuke And Katsuki See Naruto And Deku As Rivals
Unlike Naruto and Deku, who see their friends more positively, Sasuke and Katsuki view them as obstacles they need to overcome.
Naruto and Deku gradually surpass them with hard work and no talent, which only angers Sasuke and Katsuki. Their natural talent and perfect grades earned them high marks at their schools, but it wasn't enough compared to the worst students. Naruto and Deku had to climb their way up to their respective positions, further reminding Sasuke and Katsuki of their wavering status as top students. Instead of friends, they see their classmates as threats.
4 Bakugo Worked With Deku, While Sasuke Pushed Naruto Away
Sasuke still worked with Naruto on missions, but as his desire for revenge grew stronger, he grew more distant. He became frustrated with his lack of power and decided to follow Orochimaru to become stronger. This decision led to a rift between Naruto and Sasuke, with Sasuke eventually betraying the Leaf.
So far, Katsuki holds no such need for revenge, but he hates the idea of working with Deku. Like Sasuke, Katsuki prefers to work alone and only sees his teammates as "extras" blocking him from his goal. Deku appears weak initially because he has no control over his newly inherited Quirk, but Katsuki quickly learns that Deku's slowly surpassing him. Not to mention the fact that Deku's more of a team player, frustrating Katsuki even more.
3 Bakugo And Sasuke Are Top Students, But Naruto And Deku Are More Likable
Sasuke and Katsuki earned constant praise from both teachers and fellow students. Sasuke was popular with girls for his calm demeanor, while Bakugo had two childhood friends who acted more like yes-men. However, no one was interested in knowing them personally.
On the other hand, Naruto and Deku naturally befriended everyone in their classes. Naruto bonded with Iruka, the only teacher who believed in him, while Deku warmed up to Ochaco. Gradually, other peers got to see Naruto and Deku for who they were rather than the unkind rumors surrounding them.
2 To Naruto, Sasuke Is The Brother He Never Had
Despite his initial jealousy towards Sasuke, Naruto could still sense the growing loneliness inside him. He knew nothing about the Uchiha massacre until much later in the series, but he could still sense a potential camaraderie. Naruto never had a familial bond as Sasuke did, but he knew Sasuke needed someone to pull him out of that darkness. Naruto's intuition made him so desperate to bring Sasuke back to the Leaf; he saw Sasuke as a family member who had lost his way.
Deku, on the other hand, sees Katsuki as more of a friend he admires. He can see that Katsuki's trying to make a Pro Hero career for himself, but he's struggling to accept help from others. Rather than a brother, Deku sees Katsuki as a comrade, and both of them are striving to become better heroes.
1 Both Have Learned To Grow With The Other's Help
As both series progress, the pairs start to understand more about themselves and each other. Their journeys are frustrating and messy, but also provide many essential life lessons. Sasuke and Katsuki learn to rely on others for help, even if they don't necessarily want to. They know not to underestimate everyone they interact with because Naruto and Deku are living proof of that lesson. They've learned from their many mistakes that someone will always surpass them, whether through hard work and drive, more experience, or just raw talent.
Similarly, Naruto and Deku learn to be more confident in themselves and their abilities. They both know how to be more open about their feelings and stand their ground. Throughout Naruto and My Hero Academia, Naruto and Deku learn to trust their gut and keep pushing themselves to heights they never thought they'd achieve. Believing in their hard work has helped them grow as better people and fighters.