In anime, sibling bonds often take the shape of the most powerful of bonds to the greatest rivalries, but none are quite as tragic asNaruto’s Uchiha’s andDemon Slayer’sShinazugawa brothers. Both the Uchiha and Shinazugawa families suffered devastating losses, leaving behind only a pair of brothers who became estranged andburdened by misunderstandings, loss, guilt, and painful decisions. While each pair of siblings carries the weight of these problems, the story of Genya and Sanemi is arguably more tragic.
Both Sanemi and Itachi made sacrifices that hurt their younger brothers and changed the course of their lives forever. While each character had little choice, their actions left Genya and Sasuke to deal with the fallout, betrayal, and confusion that drove their brothers’ actions. In the end, misunderstandings and accusations became the driving force behind the brothers’ distancing from one another, ultimatelyleading to hostility and alienation.
Genya and Sasuke Were Left Resentful After Their Brothers' Actions
Sanemi and Itachi Faced Ultimatums Before Killing Members Of Their Family
Genya harbored resentment toward his brother that stemmed from seeing what he believed was the murder of their mother at Sanemi’s hands. He harshly accused Sanemi, unaware of his mother’s transformation into a demon, and initially viewedSanemi’s tragic actionsas an unforgivable betrayal,driving them onto separate paths. While Genya eventually realizes his error, Sanemi has long since grown rageful and remained hostile towards Genya, preventing any reconciliation from reconnecting with their family.
InNaruto, Sasuke’s resentment towards Itachi ran even deeper and became the driving force behind his motivations. After the massacre of his clan at Itachi’s hands, Sasuke was left with hatred of the betrayal and strove to become powerful enough that he could exact revenge. Unlike Genya, Sasukedid not uncover the truth behind Itachi’s motivationswhile he lived and never had the option to attempt to reconcile their bond. However, Itachi understood this and acted accordingly to maintain his front, which became the heart-wrenching decision that made Sasuke and Itachi’s story as tragic as it was.
Sanemi and Itachi Protected Their Brothers In Unexpected Ways
Itachi Sought To Prevent A War, While Sanemi’s Intentions Were Only To Protect His Family
Itachi Uchiha made choices that were motivated by a sense of duty toprotect Sasuke and all of Konoha from a brewing civil war. To save the village, Itachi took on the role of the villain and only spared Sasuke as he massacred the Uchiha clan to prevent their rebellion. This cruel and difficult decision was made as an act of self-sacrifice designed to protect the Hidden Leaf Village and protect his brother from meeting the same fate as the rest of their clan. However, it alsosent Sasuke down a hateful pathfilled with vengeance.
Somewhat similarly, Sanemi Shinazugawa killed his demon-turned-mother to protect Genya from becoming another of her victims. When Genya returned to see Sanemi standing over their mother’s corpse, he had initially accused Sanemi of being a murderer, oblivious to the difficult decisions he had taken to save Genya’s life. The harsh exchange led the brothers down different paths until Genya joined the Demon Slayer Corps in an attempt to reconcile with Sanemi. Unfortunately,Sanemi had no intentions of reconciling with Genyaand maintained a harsh demeanor in hopes of deterring Genya from remaining a demon slayer, knowing he didn’t have the skills.
Demon Slayer’s Most Unlikable Hashira Is Secretly One Of Its Best, & His Backstory Proves It
Sanemi Shinazugawa comes across as harsh, but beneath his rough exterior he is protective and kind-hearted with a desire to protect those around him
In Genya’s eyes, Sanemi was filled with rage and betrayal over the accusations of matricide. However, Sanemi’s harshness was fueled by protection and fear of losing Genya to the same fate as their siblings. While Itachi’s choices were made to keep Sasuke protected from afar, Sanemi’s approach involved the need to remain cold-hearted and keep Genya at arm’s length. However, unlike Sasuke, Genya realizes his brother’s actions are to protect him, yetSanemi’s harshness denies them a chance to be a family again. This choice leaves their bond fractured, yet one step away from reconciliation.
The Shinazugawa And Uchiha Brothers Were Ultimately Driven Apart By Tragedy
In The End, Neither Of The Brothers Were Able To Reconnect And Were Permanently Driven Apart
The tragic end of the Shinazugawa and Uchiha brothers demonstrates howfate and circumstances can permanently fracture family ties. Both Genya and Sasuke found themselves burdened by the weight of their brother’s actions, leading to an intense feeling of betrayal and misunderstanding. InNaruto, Sasuke and Itachi’s broken relationship is seeped in misunderstandings and desires for vengeance. When the truth of Itachi’s actions comes to light, Sasuke is left to pick up the remains and turns his anger on his village.
Genya’s initial resentment toward Sanemi came from the belief that his brother’s actions were selfish and harmful. When he learned the truth, Sanemi had rejected Genya from getting too close, yet despite the coldness, Genya understood his brother better than anyone and knew he was kind-hearted. Genya strove to become someone his brother could acknowledge, and during the Infinity Castle arc, Sanemi officially revealed to Genya that he wished for him to live a normal, happy life. In the end,Sanemi fought hard but was unable to protectthe one person he cared for more than anything.
The Shinazugawa brothers’ tragedy stems from the unspoken closeness and understanding between Genya and Sanemi, despite any outward appearances. Unlike Sasuke, who discovers Itachi’s sacrifice too late, Genya learns of his misguided belief in time to attempt to form a bond again. However, due to Sanemi’s relentless drive to protect Genya,a rift formed between them was never mended, despite both sides wanting the best for the other. Sanemi and Genya areDemon Slayer’s most heart-wrenching pair of lost familial bonds, as their love for each other was never expressed freely, making their story more haunting at its end.
Demon Slayer
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaibais a wildly popular anime and manga franchise created by Koyoharu Gotouge. Set in Taishō-era Japan, it follows Tanjiro Kamado as he battles demons and seeks a cure for his sister, Nezuko, who was turned into one. The franchise includes a manga, anime TV series, films, video games, and spin-offs. Known for its stunning animation and gripping storyline,Demon Slayeris one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.
Naruto
Naruto is a franchise spawned from the manga series penned by Masashi Kishimoto that began in 1999. Generating several tv series, games, movies, and more, Naruto follows the exploits of a young outcast ninja harboring the spirit of a demon fox who seeks to become the Hokage, the leader of his ninja village, to break the stigma against him. Upon the conclusion of the initial series, Naruto expanded into Boruto, following many series protagonists' children and returning faces.
