A Compilation of Kanda - Link Parallels (that no one asked for)
Or, from sharing narrative themes during the Alma Karma arc to being opposed to consuming Johnny's suspicious Komu-vitamins, these two might not be as different from each other as they would like to be. Here's a comprehensive post about all the similarities between them that I could find:
1. Their origins
Both were taken in by the Order when they were young and vulnerable - Link was an orphan, and Kanda's current body (which was not made in a lab, unlike what most people think) was an abandoned baby that the Order took for experiments, and Yuu himself was later a vulnerable child in the scientists' care when he woke up - and both of them were left worse off because of it.
The Order wanted to mould them both into superpowered puppets to fight its War, which, unlike Kanda, Link did end up becoming. Hopefully Link will also break free of the brainwashing by the end of the story.
2. Their ties to the Chang family magic
Both Kanda and Link have been modified by magic designed by the Chang family, and have been visibly marked by it - the regenerative seal on Kanda's chest and the two red dots that all CROWs have on Link's forehead, and later the markings of Atuuda on his right hand as well. Both of them currently also have healing abilities as well as a power that drains their life energy when used - also something the Chang family developed. Along with this, before Mugen became a Crystalline type, both their weapons were manufactured by the Chang family as well.
3. Opposed to the Third Exorcist Project
In chapter 186, while Link does not express his opposition out loud like Kanda does, both of them spend the whole chapter looking hella conflicted about the project.
4. Estranged Relationships
While both Kanda and Link went through hardships in their childhood, they were not alone during them - Kanda had Alma while Link had the Thirds. However, both of them clearly had a falling apart with their loved ones at some point in the past, with Kanda 'killing' Alma in self defence and later trying to kill Alma again at the North American Branch, and all the interactions between Link and the Thirds after Link stops being a CROW being tense, overly formal and kind of passive aggressive.
However, despite their strained bonds, it is clear that both Kanda and Link very much still care - we only need 0.5 seconds to tell how much Kanda cares about Alma, and when Tewaku starts having visions, Link can pretend that he's coming with her as Allen's supervisor all he wants, but really, it's because he is worried about the Thirds.
Along with this, both their loved ones are test subjects (whether willing or unwilling) involved in the Third Exorcist Project, and both end up degrading into full Akuma by the end of the arc.
5. Fucking up big time during the Alma Karma arc
Kanda and Link are both cynical, jaded and deeply mistrustful individuals. Both fail to trust Allen - Allen, who never stopped trying to save Alma or Tokusa until the very end - during the arc, which is a huge mistake as both of them end up failing to save their loved ones because of this.
Both their misery during the Alma Karma arc is partially self-inflicted - Kanda, after the deep blows to his psyche from finding out about Alma's survival and reliving his memories, retreats into the familiarity of violence. Because of this, he is unable to face Alma properly and also ends up stabbing Allen and awakening Neah.
Link retrieving the Akuma egg fragment kickstarted the Third Exorcist Project that made a sacrifice out of his friends, and when he arrives at the North American Branch, he once again makes a mistake by restraining Allen and then by obeying Lvellie's orders instead of listening to Allen, or his own gut feelings - because of this both Tokusa and Tewaku both end up slipping out of his grasp unsaved.
However, the story doesn't have to end here.
While Kanda couldn't stop Alma from dying, by coming back to his senses and relying on Allen, Kanda managed to recognize Alma as his reincarnated lover, and him and Alma manage to find peace and salvation in Alma's final moments. The Thirds' storyline hasn't ended yet. Link has already thought about his actions and expressed his regrets about not trusting Allen and failing the Thirds. He has now left Central and Lvellie's supervision and joined forces with Allen, and he is conflicted about Allen's fate. Perhaps Link and the Thirds might be saved yet, like Kanda and Alma were.
And with this, I end my long ass comparison post that no one ever asked for. For you, who has made it this far I'll include the miscellaneous, unserious examples of:
a.) As Johnny rightfully pointed out, both of them getting their asses handed to them and their memories erased by Apochryphos (they tried their best, ok?)
And
b.) Both of them refusing to take Johnny's Komu-vitamins like their lives depended on it:
