While many anime heroes motivate viewers to pursue their goals, Naruto remains a particularly strong source of inspiration. He faces hardship and rejection early in life, often without understanding why. Despite these challenges, Naruto holds onto his strong sense of right and wrong and never gives up on his dream of leading his village.
Given everything Naruto endured, it’s surprising to many fans that he didn’t become bitter and turn against his village. While some adults in Konoha were unfortunately cruel to him, others recognized his good heart and didn’t see him as the monster others claimed. Iruka Umino, one of Naruto’s early teachers who appeared right from the first episode of Naruto, was a key figure in offering him that compassion.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Your Order
Results
— —
Iruka Umino and the Wrath of Kurama
Iruka’s Family Passed Away During the Legendary Fox’s Attack
Before Iruka Umino became a teacher at the Ninja Academy, he was a student there himself, raised by two skilled ninja parents. Sadly, both of his parents died while fighting Kurama, the dangerous Nine-Tailed Demon Fox that threatened the village. This battle ultimately led to Kurama being sealed inside a newborn baby – Naruto.
Naruto had a lonely childhood in the Hidden Leaf Village. Most adults saw him as a dangerous monster because of an attack that once threatened their home, and they didn’t want their children associating with him. This left Naruto feeling confused and hurt, wondering why everyone disliked him. He wouldn’t discover the real reason until he turned twelve.
Iruka was deeply saddened after his parents died, and he felt very alone. To cope with his grief, he acted like a class clown at the Academy, using humor to mask his loneliness. But in private, he would visit the memorial honoring his parents and their comrades, remembering their courage. Thankfully, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, offered Iruka support and eventually became his mentor.
I watched Iruka grow into a really capable ninja, eventually earning the rank of chūnin through hard work and talent. He’s always been a deeply caring person, which, honestly, could be a problem in his line of work. He realized his empathy could sometimes put himself and others at risk, so he decided to focus on teaching. He hoped he could help the next generation avoid some of the hardships he’d faced. By the time he was in his early twenties, I saw him become Naruto’s primary teacher, guiding him through the Academy and preparing him to become a ninja himself.
How a Traitor Within Konohagakure Cemented Iruka’s Loyalty to Naruto
Iruka Vowed to Never See Naruto as the Beast Sealed Within Him
Growing up, Naruto reminded me a lot of Iruka – he acted out with pranks as a way to hide how lonely he felt. But things backfired. Because of the villagers’ lingering resentment over something that happened twelve years prior, and the fact that he was always playing tricks, Naruto just ended up with a terrible reputation. Even the Third Hokage didn’t seem to like him, and that just made Naruto act out even more, turning him into an even bigger target. You see it right away in the first episode – he’s running from a bunch of ninja after spray-painting the Hokage Rock!
The episode quickly establishes that Naruto doesn’t always respect the adults around him, largely because they often treat him poorly. However, he deeply respects Iruka, who, despite frequently scolding Naruto for his mischievous behavior, genuinely cares for him. Their bond feels like that of an older and younger brother, or even a parent and child, shifting depending on the circumstances. Iruka understands how much it hurts Naruto to be constantly dismissed, and he shows his care by taking him to Ramen Ichiraku – a place where Naruto shares his dream of becoming Hokage. It’s a fitting gesture, as no one would ever disrespect the Hokage.
While Naruto was having trouble finishing ninja school, Iruka’s friend from childhood, Mizuki, was secretly planning something dangerous. Mizuki used to defend Iruka when they were young, but he grew resentful as Iruka became more popular. Over time, Mizuki’s dislike for Iruka – and even the entire village – turned into hatred, leading him to involve Naruto in a treacherous scheme. Believing Mizuki was trustworthy, Naruto stole a powerful, secret scroll, unaware that Mizuki intended to frame him for a crime and then kill him.
Fortunately, Iruka located Naruto before anyone else and realized that Mizuki had been manipulating him. This led to a fight between Iruka and Mizuki, during which the truth about Naruto’s connection to the Nine-Tailed Fox, Kurama, was revealed. After Iruka shielded Naruto from a dangerous attack, Naruto briefly ran off, but quickly returned to save Iruka when Mizuki attacked him. Iruka defended Naruto, insisting he saw him only as a Konoha ninja, not as Kurama. Encouraged by Iruka’s belief in him, Naruto was finally able to perform the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, allowing him to defeat Mizuki. Iruka, proud of Naruto’s abilities and thankful for the rescue, presented Naruto with a forehead protector, officially allowing him to graduate from the Academy.
Iruka’s Legacy After the First Episode
The Chūnin Acts as a Guardian Figure for Naruto Throughout the Series
After the initial episodes, Kakashi Hatake takes over as Naruto’s primary teacher, though Iruka remains an important character throughout the series. His responsibilities shift to teaching at the Academy, meaning he sees his former students less often, as he focuses on training new ninjas. Despite this, it’s clear, particularly during difficult times, that Iruka genuinely cares about those around him.
Iruka consistently provides emotional support to those around him. After the Third Hokage’s death and during his funeral, he comforted Konohamaru, the grandson of a famous ninja. He continued this support with Naruto, taking him to their favorite restaurant to discuss their hopes for the village and their training after a difficult time. Even later, when Naruto lost a close mentor, Iruka was there to offer comfort during his grief.
A major turning point in Iruka’s relationship with Naruto came with the reappearance of Mizuki, an old enemy. Iruka still considered Mizuki a friend and desperately tried to help him change his ways. Unfortunately, Mizuki revealed that his childhood desire to stay close to Iruka stemmed from jealousy of Iruka’s popularity, and he actually wanted to make Iruka suffer. Though Mizuki was beyond redemption, Iruka survived their battles, ultimately defeating him with a carefully planned ambush aided by Naruto.
Naruto and Hinata continued to collaborate when needed, but a particularly touching moment happened during their wedding preparations. Because Naruto’s father had died when he was a baby, he asked Iruka, his lifelong mentor, to stand in as a parent at the ceremony. Both Naruto and his future wife felt Iruka had become a father figure to him. Iruka gladly accepted, and continued to watch over Naruto for years to come, proud as the young ninja grew into a renowned Hokage.
Read More
- How to Unlock the Mines in Cookie Run: Kingdom
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Solo Leveling: Ranking the 6 Most Powerful Characters in the Jeju Island Arc
- Gears of War: E-Day Returning Weapon Wish List
- How to Unlock & Visit Town Square in Cookie Run: Kingdom
- Bitcoin’s Big Oopsie: Is It Time to Panic Sell? 🚨💸
- The Saddest Deaths In Demon Slayer
- How to Find & Evolve Cleffa in Pokemon Legends Z-A
- Most Underrated Loot Spots On Dam Battlegrounds In ARC Raiders
- Bitcoin Frenzy: The Presales That Will Make You Richer Than Your Ex’s New Partner! 💸
2026-02-04 04:08