Families are relatively common in the world of shonen anime, with protagonists seeking familial support or jumping into action to avenge the death of a loved one. Anime families give protagonists the motivation to keep fighting through especially dire times. However, the families of anime protagonists aren't always sources of comfort or trust.

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Some anime families outright betray family members in favor of selfish goals or maintaining a specific reputation. For certain protagonists, families commit heartless betrayals that leave lasting impacts on everyone involved. Characters faced with this situation must face their own families to move on and pursue their personal goals.

10 Killua Zoldyck Comes From A Ruthless Family (Hunter X Hunter)

Illumi threatens Killua with his Nen aura Hunter x Hunter

Although Zoldyck family members care for each other in unique ways, Killua's goals often conflict with his family's interests. Killua's parents and siblings go to extreme lengths to force Killua to remain an assassin, despite Killua's continual reluctance. His attempt to befriend Gon results in Illumi's unwanted interference and torture at his relative's hands.

When Killua tries to free Alluka, his immediate family and butlers hunt him down out of a wish to control her. The Zoldyck family even went as far as to brainwash Killua without his knowledge. Killua can never fully trust his family to respect his decisions.

9 Sasuke Uchiha's Brother Chose To Kill His Clan (Naruto)

Itachi stands before Sasuke after destroying the Uchiha clan

Sasuke's brother, Itachi, from Naruto murders his clan members yet chooses to spare Sasuke. Although Itachi eliminates his clan due to uncontrollable circumstances, his actions still result in numerous deaths and a grief-stricken Sasuke. Itachi betrays his clan with the belief that it was the correct decision despite knowing that Sasuke would hate him.

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Sasuke's experience with his brother awakens his desire for revenge and his obsession with gaining the strength to appease it. Sasuke remains tormented by his tragic past and spends years believing his brother to be a true villain.

8 Nina Tucker's Humanity Is Sacrificed By Her Father (Full Metal Alchemist)

Nina Being Licked By Her Dog Alexander

Nina Tucker's life changes forever after her father, Shou, transmutes her with their pet dog as part of an alchemy experiment. Nina loses her humanity after her father betrays his daughter in favor of his research. She retains enough awareness as a chimera to understand her situation.

Despite her father's actions, Nina tries to save her father and mourns his death at Scar's hands. Shou's familial betrayal extends farther than Nina discovers, as he lies about using her mother as an unwilling test subject. Nina faces the full consequence of her father's actions when Scar kills her out of mercy.

7 Soichiro Yagami Is Betrayed By His Son (Death Note)

Light cries as Soichiro dies

Soichiro experiences his son Light's betrayal after Light works behind his back as the killer Kira. Soichiro's job as a police officer sets him on the task to catch Kira at all costs, no matter how dangerous the situation becomes. When L accuses Light of being Kira, Soichiro desperately tries to prove Light's innocence until the very end.

When Light eventually leads Soichiro to his death, Soichiro dies without knowing the truth about his son's identity. Light cunningly deceives his family without regret despite Soichiro's repeated attempts to protect him and his sister.

6 Isabella Raises Children To Become Food (The Promised Neverland)

Isabella serves Breakfast to the Grace Field House children in Promised Neverland

Although the children of Grace Field House in The Promised Neverland are orphans, their caretaker, Isabella, acts as their mother. Emma, Norman, Ray, and their fellow housemates hold great affection for Isabella, though their respect for her ends when they learn that Isabella raises them to become demon food. Isabella's betrayal comes as a massive shock to the children, who had always viewed her as family.

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When Emma, Norman, and Ray reveal Isabella's secret to the older children, they struggle to accept that Isabella's kindly demeanor was a lie. The children discover a hidden hostility in the person they trusted for years.

5 Shinji Ikari Is Abandoned And Used By His Father (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

Shinji Ikari Emerges In Eva Unit 01

Shinji Ikari's father, Gendo, sends him to live with a teacher at a young age after his mother's death. Shinji only reunites with his father as a teenager when Gendo orders him to fight as an Evangelion pilot. Gendo fails to act as a supportive parent and sees Shinji as simply a tool of war. Although Shinji agrees to Gendo's demands, his relationship with his father never recovers.

Shinji bears a lot of anger towards his father that only increases when his attempts to connect fail. Though Gendo apologizes before his death, he betrays his son by abandoning his responsibility.

4 Hyakkimaru Is A Victim of His Father's Demon Pact (Dororo)

Hyakkimaru wields sword

Hyakkimaru's father, Kagemitsu, allows demons to take his son's body parts in exchange for power. Hyakkimaru additionally finds himself an outcast among his brother and those around him, as they view him as a threat to their land. His mother remains the only family member who chooses to support him and explain the truth of his past.

Hyakkimaru embarks on a path of vengeance that leads his father to attempt to kill him and anyone Hyakkimaru cares for. Kagemitsu shows no remorse for his betrayal until the moment of his death, yet he never truly repays his son.

3 Ragyo Kiryuin Turns Her Entire Family Against Her (Kill La Kill)

Ragyo Kiryuin, Kill La Kill

Ragyo Kiryuin's villainous actions in Kill la Kill eventually cause her entire family to betray her and oppose her plans of world domination. After Ragyo uses her daughter, Ryuko, for a dangerous experiment, Ragyo's husband Soichiro hides Ryuko away for protection. Ragyo's oldest daughter, Satsuki, appears to loyally serve her mother, yet Satsuki eventually stabs her to protect the Earth.

A teenage Ryuko resists all of Ragyo's attempts to control her, even if it means risking her life. Ragyo ultimately deserves the familial betrayal she experiences and the loss she suffers at her daughters' hands.

2 Kazuma Yagami's Family Exiles Him (Kaze No Stigma)

Kazuma Yagami using his contractor wind powers

Kazuma Kannagi's family banishes him after he fails to learn how to control flames. Although Kazuma's father allows him to compete to be the family heir, Kazuma loses and leaves in disgrace. Kazuma faces further betrayal when he returns home as a wind user to find several family members dead. His remaining family members accuse him of committing the murders for revenge despite his innocence.

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Kazuma gradually repairs his relationship with his family, yet he spends years proving his family's unfavorable opinion of him wrong. His banishment sets him on a path of violence to surpass his father in combat.

1 Hakaze Kusaribe Is Banished By A Family Member (Blast Of Tempest)

Hazake Kusaribe from Zetsuen no Tempest

The sorceress Hakaze Kusaribe's relative, Samon, traps her on a deserted island as part of their family's plan to resurrect an entity called the Tree of Zetsuen. Hakaze joins up with Mahiro Fuwa after he responds to her distress call, on the condition that she helps him find his sister's murderer. She fights against her family to prevent the Tree of Zetsuen's revival while also assisting Mahiro with his vengeance.

When Hakaze becomes trapped in a time loop, she directs Mahiro and his ally, Yoshino, to face her family in her place before she returns.

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