Exploring Rin and Sae’s Toxic Brotherhood in Blue Lock: A Parallel to Sasuke and Itachi’s Relationship in Naruto

In the latest developments of the Blue Lock manga, Rin Itoshi confronts the ghost of his brother Itoshi Sae, highlighting the deeply toxic relationship between the two siblings, Rin and Sae. While many shonen anime explore sibling dynamics, the relationship between Rin and Sae draws interesting parallels to the well-known brotherhood depicted in Naruto.

In Naruto, Sasuke Uchiha served as a key rival to the protagonist Naruto, aspiring to surpass him. However, Sasuke’s primary motivation was rooted in his desire to “kill”his brother Itachi, a goal born not from sibling rivalry, but from a profound sense of betrayal.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers from the Blue Lock manga.

Comparing Rin and Sae’s Brotherhood in Blue Lock to Sasuke and Itachi’s in Naruto

Itachi and Sasuke Uchiha as seen in Naruto (Image via Studio Pierrot) — Itachi and Sasuke Uchiha from Naruto (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Initially, Itachi and Sasuke shared a close bond. Itachi understood the plans of his clan to oppose the Hidden Leaf Village and made every effort to spend quality time with his younger brother despite the burden he carried.

However, everything transformed when Itachi was forced to massacre his clan. To end the cycle of violence, he became a perceived villain by eliminating his family but managed to strike a deal with the village leaders to spare Sasuke.

Rin and Sae Itoshi as seen in the Blue Lock manga (Image via Kodansha) — Rin and Sae Itoshi from Blue Lock (Image via Kodansha)

Unbeknownst to Sasuke, he viewed Itachi’s actions as a betrayal, leading him to seek revenge against his brother. This decision consumed Sasuke, driving him to become stronger with the singular aim of one day killing Itachi Uchiha.

In contrast, Blue Lock does not depict any literal massacres, but the bond between the Itoshi brothers deteriorated similarly due to Sae’s transformation from Rin’s perspective.

Sae and Rin Itoshi as seen in the Blue Lock manga (Image via Kodansha) — Sae and Rin Itoshi from Blue Lock (Image via Kodansha)

Initially, Sae Itoshi was protective of Rin and nurtured a loving relationship with him. Sae introduced Rin to football and encouraged him, sharing the dream of becoming the best strikers together.

This dynamic dramatically shifted when Sae moved to Spain to play for Reale’s youth team. Experiencing global football altered Sae’s aspirations, leading him to pursue a different path as a midfielder, diverging from their shared dream.

Rin Itoshi as seen in the Blue Lock manga (Image via Kodansha) — Rin Itoshi from Blue Lock (Image via Kodansha)

Rin’s inability to accept this change reflected a break in the promise they once made to each other. Rin had taken up football primarily to stand alongside his brother on the world stage.

More so, Sae’s attitude turned harsh, as he began to belittle Rin, calling him names such as “eyesore”and “worthless.”This emotional turmoil led Rin to contemplate “killing”his brother in an emotional sense for ruining his aspirations and life.

The relationship’s degradation was starkly illustrated during the U-20 Arc, where Sae cruelly advised Rin to isolate himself and accept his perceived worthlessness. This sentiment marked a low point for their already fractured bond.

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