Anime is known for its thrilling recurringtheme of betrayal, often conducted by characters who have infiltrated the ranks of either the heroes or villains. The most well-executed betrayals can be mind-blowing, and even more so when they involve a triple cross.
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Double agents operate on multiple sides for one reason or the other: to ensure their survival or even to learn the plan of the villain in the hopes of stopping them. They are skilled in the art of deception and disguising their true intention. These moments of betrayal are usually highly anticipated by fans and tend to be memorable even after the series has ended. Here are some of the most iconic double agents in anime.
9Itachi Uchiha – Naruto
Itachi Uchiha, a majorcharacter in the anime seriesNaruto, played a double agent for Konoha while pretending to be a mole for the Uchiha clan in the ANBU. He was driven by love for his village, as well as a desire to protect his brother.
He made a villain out of himself and later joined Akatsuki to observe the organization and Madara Uchiha in case either one of them ever acted in opposition to the best interest of Konoha. Fans often mention Itachi’s story arc as one of the most emotional of the series.
8Gin Ichimaru – Bleach
Ichimaru Gin is one of theGotei 13 captainsintroduced in the series. Throughout the course of the series, viewers learn more about Gin’s mysterious history. He used to be a member of the Soul Society, but after becoming disenchanted with the group, he betrayed them by joining Sosuke Aizen, the major antagonist.
He agreed to partake in Aizen Sosuke’s hollowfication experiments in order to gain more power and avenge his friend Rangiku Matsumoto. Neither a true hero nor a true villain, Gin was evil whenever the need or desire arose, but always for a justifiable cause.
7Hawks – My Hero Academia
Keigo Takami, also known as Hawks, is the second highest-ranked hero inMy Hero Academia. After his secret recruitment into theLeague of Villains, an organization with the aim of overthrowing Hero Society and establishing a new world order, Hawks is asked to gather information about the heroes and report to the organization.
Later, it is revealed that he is actually a double agent trying to infiltrate the league, posing as a villain in order to gather information about their members and future plans, which he will then pass on to the heroes.
6Gajeel Redfox – Fairy Tail
Gajeel Redfox belongs to the Fairy Tail guild, a strong and powerful guild in Earth Land. At first, he’s shown to be cruel, with a dark history as a member of the Phantom Lord Guild, Fairy Tail’s rival. Eventually, he becomes a loyal member of Fairy Tail.
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There are still doubts about where Gajeel’s loyalty despite his effort and this eventually aids the Fairy Tail guild. Makarov Dreyar, the master of Fairy Tail’s guild sends Gajeel to infiltrate the Dark Guild Raven Tail, run by Makarov’s son, Ivan Dreyar, leading to its defeat.
5Ryouji Kaji – Neon Genesis Evangelion
Assigned to work with NERV, government agent Ryouji Kaji becomesan undercover agentfor SEELE, the secret organization that powers NERV. As the story unfolds, Kaji offers valuable information and help to the main characters, but his true motives are not so clear.
He is a double agent, working for both NERV and SEELE, and he also has a personal agenda. His actions throughout the story are intriguing until NERV and SEELE catch wind of his true nature as a double agent and his assassination is ordered.
4X-Drake – One Piece
The pirate captain, X-Drake, like Luffy is a product of the worst generation. He joined Kaido’s army during the time jump and worked his way up to becoming a member of Flying Six, the second tier of Kaido’s crew of elite fighters. He assisted in releasing Law from prison duringthe Wano arc, and Hawkins and Queen later learned that he was a double agent who worked for the covert Marine organization “SWORD.”
It was later revealed that he joined Kaido’s gang, in order to exchange knowledge about their movements and put a stop to some of their excesses. He leaked information about Luffy’s imprisonment as well as Big Mum and Kaido’s alliance to Koby – one of his useful acts that stemmed from being a double agent.
3Taizou Kirihara – Code Geass
Taizou Kirihara inCode Geassis an old industrialist who played a significant role in the Sakuradite mining. The founder of Kirihara Industries, he became known as a traitor after he publicly supported the Britannia Empire’s invasion of Japan.
However, Taizou Kirihara pulled strings in private to support hostile activities towards the Britannia Empire, including giving support to Lelouch Lamperouge on his quest for justice. Taizou took advantage of his position to further his purpose, even though it required some deception to pull off his plan.
2Halle Lidner - Death Note
Although Halle Lidner is not a major character inDeath Note, she plays a major role in the relationship between Nate River, also known as Near, and Mihael Keehl, also known as Mello. While working with the FBI to find Kira, Halle feeds information to Near and also does the same for Mello, even giving him shelter in her home.
Halle Lidner is said to be one of themost intelligent female characterson the show, carrying out her plans and actions with cunning and false loyalty.
1Char Aznable – Mobile Suit Gundam
Mobile Suit Gundam’s Char Aznable is one character whose motives are difficult to determine, being awfully layered and complex. Also known as “The Red Comet”, Char is an officer ranked high in the Principality of Zeon, relentless in his service to Zeon, or so it seems.
What lies underneath Char’s motives remains uncertain throughout the story. He teeters between the good and bad sides, moving from loyal Zeon officer to usurper and back again, in an effort to gain information or carry out his plans for revenge.
