This article contains mention of suicide.
Anime friendships are deep, meaningful, and hardcore. However, it's not like everyone gets the treatment Ash and Pikachu give one another. Sometimes, the best friend gets the short end of the stick, whether it's because of an event or a drift between friends.
Even though it sounds depressing, the truth of the matter is that many anime best friends have received blows from where they least expected it. Such characters truly deserved better and more than what they got in their respective stories.
10 Naruto Didn't Deserve The Treatment He Got From Sasuke (Naruto)
No matter how much the fandom glorifies Naruto and Sasuke's "friendship," that can't change the fact that Naruto didn't deserve a friend like Sasuke. Not only does Sasuke embed himself with a deep hatred for Naruto and the rest of the world, but he tries multiple times to take his life. Naruto never got the respect and care he deserved from Sakura and Sasuke, who never understood his friendship or power.
Naruto grew up isolated and wanted nothing more than to become a ninja, and despite always looking out for others, his teammates never gave him the same treatment he gave others. Naruto deserved better friends and allies in his journey.
9 Chiwa Deserved A Better Best Friend (Oreshura)
Eita and Chiwa are childhood best friends, but due to his complicated family dynamics, Eita has forsaken everything related to romance and love. That's a big letdown for Chiwa since she has had feelings for Eita for a long time but couldn't find the courage to confess. Even though Eita refuses advances from Chiwa and other girls, he falls into Masuzu's trap, who blackmails him into the fake dating trope.
Despite Masuzu's twisted and manipulative personality, Eita prefers Masuzu over Chiwa's genuine care for him. Chiwa already had it rough because of her long-term injury and bullying because of her petite figure. Even when Chiwa confesses to Eita, he shoots her down for Masuzu, who basically blackmailed her way into a relationship.
8 Suwa Had To Sacrifice A lot (Orange)
Suwa and the rest of the gang were pretty close, especially him, Naru, and Kakeru. After Kakeru's suicide in an alternate reality, Suwa marries Naho and has a family with her, but his guilt over Kakeru's death doesn't subside, even after ten years. After getting the letter, he dedicates all his efforts to bringing Naho and Kakeru together so that he doesn't take his own life.
However, in Suwa's attempt to save his friend, no one realizes that Suwa is actually sacrificing his future. By saving Kakeru, he'd never have a life with Naho in the current reality, and he convinced himself to be okay with it. Suwa is a gentleman, and he deserves to have the love he dreamed of. Even though no one particularly mistreated him, he deserved a better ending.
7 Momo Should Have Steered Clear of Sae (Peach Girl)
Momo Adachi faced the worst kind of racism a young, different-looking girl her age could go through. She was bullied and stereotyped for her tanned skin and bleached hair. However, no one treated her worse than her friend and classmate Sae Kashiwagi. Sae is a true mean girl and a backstabber who shamelessly wants everything Momo wants or had, whether it be a handbag or a boy.
Momo became a victim of Sae's rumors and even had to go through heartbreak because of her manipulative nature. Momo had a good character, but everyone severely misunderstood her, and she didn't deserve to be profiled.
6 Utena Gets Stabbed In The Back (Revolutionary Girl Utena)
Anthy and Utena grew close friends after she "wins" her in the dueling competition at the prestigious Ohtori Academy. Tomboyish, talented, and driven, Utena only wanted to protect Anthy so that no one could use her power out of selfishness. However, when Utena least expected it, she literally got stabbed in the back by Anthy, who took her brother Akio's side.
There was nothing malicious about Utena's intentions; she wanted to become like the prince from her childhood. Still, instead, she became a victim of political schemes that were way bigger than her ambition. Her moral compass was always in the right place, and she didn't deserve her fate.
5 Guts Was Betrayed By His Friend (Berserk)
Griffith is the worst anime friend, and unfortunately, Guts got to feel the full heat of his betrayal. Even though Griffith wasn't in the best of circumstances, Guts and the Band of the Hawk did not deserve the tragic treatment they got from the formidable warrior. In his reckless ambition of becoming a member of the God Hand, Griffith offered the Band of the Hawk as a sacrifice when they came to rescue him from prison so that he could be reborn with godly powers.
In his thirst for power, Griffith does unspeakable things to Guts and his former team, especially to Casca, whom Guts had feelings for. Guts deserved peace in life, especially after being alone for a long time. Instead, he got a lifelong revenge sentence from his close friend.
4 Mitsuki Didn't Deserve All the Guilt (Rumbling Hearts)
Mitsuki was Haruka's best friend and befriended the series' protagonist, Takayuki, so Haruka could get close to him. However, Mitsuki secretly fell for Takayuki, and so did Haruka, but the latter got the hero's heart. After a tragic accident leaves Haruka comatose, Mitsuki becomes a grief-stricken Takayuki's healer and eventually his love partner.
It's almost tragic how Mitsuki received all the backlash in the series just for going for a guy whose love interest was in a coma for years. Even after caring for Takayuki like a child, he never appreciated her efforts to bring him out of his depression. Even though she ends up with the man she loves, she doesn't deserve the hate and guilt she gets for it.
3 Armin Faced Unspeakable Horrors (Attack On Titan)
AoT is criminally dark and unnerving. No character gets good treatment in this anime, especially the main characters. Armin and Eren were best friends since childhood, and they dreamed of one day seeing the world outside of the island. Although their wish did come true, the world outside wasn't exactly a walk in the park.
Armin and Eren fought side by side, and he sacrificed so much for the sake of his dream. However, being on Eren's side wasn't an easy task for Armin, especially when Eren started taking on the anti-hero role. Armin shouldn't have been put in such a situation and deserved some slack from everyone, especially Eren. Armin was truly thrown into horrible situations, and it's almost tragic seeing him lose everything and still not catch a break.
2 Geto Went Downhill Way Too Fast (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Geto Suguru and Satoru Gojo were inseparable as teenage jujutsu sorcerers. Their chemistry, trust, and friendship were impeccable, and it seemed like nothing could come between the two. However, a chain of tragic events led Geto down a slippery slope from which he never returned. It's commendable how JJK intricately detailed Geto's fall from grace and his slow progression toward sorcerer supremacy ideology.
Unfortunately, it could've been prevented if someone, particularly Gojo, had paid attention to what Geto was going through. It was clear that he hadn't come out of the trauma caused by Riko's murder, and it was the best time for Gojo and Geto to strengthen their bond even more. Geto was introduced as more sensitive and caring than Gojo; he didn't deserve to become a villain.
1 Baam Was Betrayed By His only Friend (Tower Of God)
One of the worst anime betrayals of all time came from Rachel, Baam's singular friend from childhood. Tower of God is about a fictitious world where the pinnacle of all authority belongs to a mysterious tower. Not everyone is allowed in this tower, but anyone who manages to reach the top will have their wish granted. Baam and Rachel lived around this tower until one day, Rachel disappeared to climb the tower.
Worried for his only friend, Baam sets out to rescue Rachel, only to find himself thrown off the ledge by Rachel herself. She betrayed him to get to the tower's top. Baam never wanted to go inside the tower in the first place, and considering how he was rewarded for looking out for his best friend, he would've been better off without one.