Facebook
Reddit
Email
Iruka’s role in Naruto is one of the most controversial topics discussed in fandom. This article answers that question.
Naruto follows the journey of a boy among many who wants to be Hokage when he grows up. On his path to achieving this, he meets a lot of interesting characters. One of the most important people in Naruto Uzumaki’s life out of all the characters who share a very special bond with him is Iruka Umino.
As the first teacher Naruto ever had who truly cared about him, Iruka helped form the basis of what kind of hero Naruto would eventually grow up to be. Through thick and thin, Iruka stood strong by Naruto, helping to guide the once-broken boy onto the bright future that he deserved. In this article, we take a look at how Iruka shaped Naruto’s life from his very first teacher to his father figure.
Iruka As Naruto’s First Mentor
Long before Kakashi, Jiraiya, or any of the other powerful ninjas popped up and taught Naruto the ninjutsu, there was Iruka Umino. At the academy, Iruka, Naruto’s teacher, helped him progress in his way of becoming a ninja. But Iruka’s influence was much more than just the teacher who showed Naruto how to throw a kunai or do a couple of basic jutsu. Iruka struggled with his feelings towards Naruto at first too. Like many villagers, he treated Naruto as the Nine-Tails that had slain his parents years earlier. But Iruka was able to see through this and see the real Naruto—a lonely kid just looking for attention and acceptance.
However, their relationship changed after Mizuki manipulated Naruto into stealing the Scroll of Seals. Later, when Mizuki attacked Naruto, Iruka leaped in the way of an incoming large shuriken aimed at Naruto and took the damage himself. And at that moment, Iruka saw Naruto as “an excellent student” who held much promise for the future. This moment started their special bond and made Iruka Naruto’s first true mentor.
Iruka taught Naruto differently than other students. He was strict when needed but knew when Naruto needed encouragement instead of criticism. He recognized the potential in Naruto when everyone else dismissed him as nothing but a hooligan or a loser. With a mix of kind words and tough love, Iruka helped to shape Naruto as both a ninja and a human.
A Father Figure to Naruto
For Naruto, Iruka was one of the most crucial characters in his life; he was a father figure. He lost his parents when he was a baby and therefore was able to grow without the love and guidance of his parents. Having been orphaned by the Nine-Tails attack himself, Iruka had a bond with Naruto that none of the other mentors shared.
What was once a teacher-student relationship transitioned into something so much more. Iruka became a person Naruto turned to for advice, comfort, and celebration. Their tradition was to take Naruto to Ichiraku Ramen for celebrations. These were not merely meals; they were moments that provided Naruto with the family experience he sorely lacked.
Iruka had always taken pride in Naruto’s accomplishments. The headband he gave Naruto when he graduated from the Academy was the one he wore. When Naruto returned from his training with the Sage Jiraiya, it was none other than Iruka who spoke up about Naruto’s grown-up physique. And when Naruto wished to marry Hinata, it was Iruka who took the place of his father.
Iruka was present for plenty of milestone moments in Naruto’s life, providing the type of support and care that a parent should offer. Their relationship gave Naruto his first experience of being valued and believed in. This is something that would shape how he approached all his future relationships.
Iruka’s Role in Naruto’s Moral Development
Iruka did not simply instruct Naruto in ninja techniques. He molded Naruto’s sense of right and wrong. In a world where ninjas are meant to be weapons, Iruka taught Naruto to protect others and to use his powers for good.
Naruto was a troublemaker looking for attention at any cost. He was without focus or goals. Iruka helped turn this unfocused energy into something positive by teaching Naruto the Will of Fire. He taught him that love is the key to peace. This idea became central to how Naruto handled conflicts throughout the series.
Iruka also showed Naruto forgiveness and how to see beyond appearances. Though he had been bitter towards the Nine-Tails, he always viewed Naruto as his own person and someone who deserved love and respect. This lesson struck home with Naruto, who went on to become known for finding the good in even the worst of his enemies.
Another key moral lesson from Iruka was hard work. Naruto did not have Sasuke’s natural ability, but Iruka kept supporting his attempt no matter what. He taught Naruto to persevere and always do your absolute best no matter what. This was a valuable lesson that would carry Naruto through innumerable challenges that seemed utterly impossible.
The core ideals we come to associate with Naruto—his belief in second chances, his will to protect friends, and his determination—all trace their way back to what Iruka instilled in him.
Iruka’s Role in the Ninja Academy
Besides his special relationship with Naruto, Iruka played a significant role in the Ninja Academy in the Naruto world. Iruka was not a major character, but he impacted an entire generation of young ninjas who would play major roles later on in the series.
Iruka taught with discipline but also empathy. He could be stern when the situation called for it; he would in this way reprimand Naruto for his pranks or Shikamaru for his laziness. But he also recognized that every student possessed different strengths and styles of learning. This technique allowed him to reach everyone, from the shy Hinata to the rowdy Kiba.
Whereas many other ninjas believed you necessarily needed to be a great fighter, Iruka was different. He believed that being a good person meant more than being a strong fighter. Combat techniques were a huge component of the academy, but Iruka instilled the importance of teamwork and moral choices too. These lessons proved vital as his students encountered complex moral dilemmas in the series.
Iruka’s classroom also offered the first peek at many characters’ personalities and relationships. The rivalries and friendships that he would forge during that time would become central to the narrative, laying the ground for many of the critical plot points.
Iruka’s Role in the 4th Great Ninja War
In the Fourth Great Ninja War, Iruka transformed into a support system for Naruto as he forged a different yet equally relevant role. Not one of the front-line ninjas like so many other characters, Iruka is irreplaceable because he is an important support for Naruto.
As the Allied Shinobi Forces prepared for battle, Iruka was assigned to a barrier team, using his abilities to protect Naruto and Killer Bee while in seclusion. But Iruka’s true contribution during this time was his emotional support of Naruto.
Just before the war was about to begin, Iruka had been ordered to keep Naruto at the island he was training on. Initially, it felt as if it was a betrayal, as Naruto believed that everyone was trying to keep him away from the battlefield. Iruka decided to speak with him to calm him down. In reality, Iruka was giving Naruto the final guidance he would need.
In their talk, Iruka acknowledged how much Naruto had grown and expressed confidence in his abilities. This vote of confidence from his first mentor energized Naruto to begin facing the challenges that lay ahead. Naruto remembered why he was fighting thanks to Iruka, and it was not just to prove himself worthy but to protect the bonds that he had formed with people.
Naruto carried Iruka’s teachings with him across the battlefield and everywhere he went. The lessons Iruka had imparted—to safeguard those around you, to have faith in yourself, and to never surrender—became the battle cry that Naruto used to unify the Allied Forces.
Iruka’s Legacy in the Naruto Series
As the series moved into its later parts and even into the Boruto era, Iruka’s impact remained strong. While he showed up less when Naruto came into his own power and found new relationships throughout the Shinobi world, the foundation built by Iruka never went away.
One of Naruto’s most impactful moments came at his wedding. Instead of merely attending as a guest, Iruka was asked to act in place of Naruto’s father. This moment perfectly captured their relationship. Iruka had been, in all ways that mattered, a father to Naruto. The tears they both shed during this ceremony showed the depth of their bond.
Several years later, Iruka was still the academy principal, raising the new generation of young ninjas just like he raised Naruto’s generation. His approach to teaching turned the training of ninjas into something kinder than it had been previously.
Iruka’s impact is even seen in Naruto as a dad himself. His role as Hokage, of course, occasionally pulled him away from family requirements, but his care for Boruto and Himawari was at times similar to how Iruka learned to be considerate.
Conclusion
When it comes to Iruka’s role in Naruto, it is clear that his significance extends beyond his relatively humble skills as a ninja. And he, of course, never taught him the Rasengan and Sage Mode like Jiraiya, but Iruka believed in him when nobody else would. For Naruto, that is something more valuable than all the ninjutsu he’d ever learned.
From their first bond when Iruka saved Naruto from Mizuki to years of mentoring and ramen trips, Iruka gave the emotional grounding that made it possible for Naruto to become the leader he was destined to become. He was the first person who saw Naruto as his own person, not an extension of the Nine-Tails, the first to see the potential in him, and the first to love him unconditionally. By sticking up for a lonely, troubled boy whom everyone else had abandoned, Iruka helped turn around not only Naruto’s life but ultimately the entire ninja world.
And as the series concluded with Naruto finally becoming Hokage, we can even point to that moment as an instrumental part of his growth as a person. In this way, Iruka’s contribution to Naruto’s progress is one of the most specific of all in the series: the silent hero who made it all happen.
Looking For More?
Thank you for reading the article. We provide the latest news and create guides for Baldur’s Gate 3, Starfield, ARK Survival Ascended, and more. Also, watch Deltia play games on Twitch or visit his YouTube channel!