Īs a child growing up without his parents, Iruka turned to performing antics in the Academy in order to gain recognition from others who would otherwise pass him over or look at him with pity for being an orphan. Naruto ignored all chūnin and jōnin who reprimanded him for painting all over the Hokage's faces and only showed fear when Iruka showed up. Because of this, Iruka came to be one of the only adults Naruto respected in his youth as well as the only person who could control Naruto's behaviour to some degree. This is seen from his lack of hostility towards Naruto Uzumaki who was often the victim of misplaced anger at the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox who was sealed within Naruto. Despite the tragedy of losing his parents at a young age, Iruka remained a determined and strong-willed individual with a kind disposition. This however, does not mean that he is a pushover, as he can be stern when the situation calls for it, most often seen when he shouts at his students in order to get them to obey him. This is most often seen through his teaching methods, often keeping a watchful eye over his students as they progress. Iruka is described as being both big-hearted, and soft-hearted. As a result, Iruka became the main reason Naruto did not become a sociopath like Gaara did. He thus resolved to be straight forward and deal with Naruto strictly in class from then on, in order to train him to become a fine shinobi. He also thanked the Third for assigning Naruto to him. This would surprise Naruto as this was the first time anyone in the village showed they actually cared for his well-being. After saving Naruto and bringing back the document attached to the artefact the latter retrieved, he reprimanded Naruto for such a reckless behaviour. Iruka chased him down and protected him from Takigakure spies who were attacking Naruto, eventually backed up by Kakashi. Later, Naruto went into the woods to steal items from corpses. He tried to ask the Third Hokage if he could not teach Naruto, though he was eventually disabused by the notion by Kakashi Hatake. When Naruto became his student, he found it awkward to deal with the person containing the very monster responsible for his parents' death. In the anime, it was revealed that Iruka became a teacher because he wanted to pass on the Will of Fire to the next generation in this manner, inspired by the Third Hokage's wisdom. Iruka deciding to become an instructor of the Academy. In the anime, it was noted that due to other people giving Iruka more attention than they do to Mizuki, Mizuki's kindness to Iruka revealed to be an act just to gain the Hokage's approval, all the while making Iruka miserable discreetly. Mizuki was a childhood friend of Iruka's after the Nine-Tails Attack, and usually made him feel better. He would spend his time at the monument where his parents' names were engraved, and, in his darkest moments would be cheered up by the Third Hokage. Iruka thereafter became a prankster, trying to gain attention to stave off his loneliness. With his family gone, Iruka had no one to give him attention. He was forcibly removed from the battlefield by an unknown shinobi while he called out for his parent to no avail. His father declared that it was the parents' duty to keep their child safe from harm. Initially, a young Iruka was present on the battlefield, and wanted to stay in order to protect his mother. Iruka's parents were killed in the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox's Attack twelve years before the beginning of the series. Iruka with his mother during the Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha.
Iruka Umino ( うみのイルカ, Umino Iruka) is a chūnin of Konohagakure, who served primarily as an instructor at the Academy until being promoted to Headmaster years later.
Konoha Hiden: The Perfect Day for a Wedding