Ok, first of all, you wrote a story that includes two of my most favorite characters in Naruto. Second of all, I ship them both. Third of all, it has nothing to do with how I ship them but I love their interactions. It fitted their personality and the friendship they made through being annoyed with each other to depending on each other is just too beautiful. This is the best friendship one could have

Kakashi was drawn into the memories of snapping, uncertain breath, raging fever, and haunted eyes. And dead boys. He said, "The cost wasn't minor."

It wasn't very encouraging to discover that Iruka's various uninhibited doubles hated him for some reason, but Kakashi decided he could get over it.

Iruka's eyes had narrowed in a way few creatures could provoke. "Hm. Your sensei is of the devil," he stated matter-of-factly.

hey, this won't be a long or detailed review like you deserve, but it will be oneI love this story 'cause it feeles in a way like a lullaby. The title fits really well and the poem was beautiful and cute 3 You language is high-level and various, which made it all true-to-live and charming. It was a bit challenging for me because I'm no native speaker but I can wholeheartedly say it is worth it. If anyone is ponded to read this story, do it! The first chapter let me think I would laught a lot, which I did.
The second chapter let me feel curious but also comforted. I felt like a chiled in the hug of his mother... The third -and final- chapter left me hurt and tortured. I was hopeless and couldn't think of any way this can turn out good, how anything can become alright again. Than I understood, that it never was 'alrightbut it doesn't have to be. They both are hurt and I'm hurt with them but together we get comforted. Thank you for this story, from the bottom of my heart,
love Sona

Oh heavens. I love, love, love your Kakashi-Iruka stories. They're what led me to you in the first place and why I stay (although World In Us is now added onto the list). I really like all your Iruka stories, because he is just so unassuming but you make him so much /more/, not in the way that he is secretly a powerful ANBU with an amazing bloodline, but that you make him make do.

Iruka is the unassuming guy that plays up whatever he is and what make him him into his strength, and for Iruka, ironically, that's his vulnerability. I find it ironic and interesting that Iruka could be so honest in his deception, because he literally bares a part of him in these missions. In turn, his enemies bare a part of them, thinking they don't need to keep up their guard, and that is the moment that he strikes. To me, Iruka have always been about sacrifices, doing what he has to do in his own way, and this story reaffirms this thought.

I like this dichotomy between, as Kakashi said, the citizen Iruka and the mission Iruka. Once again, interesting enough, citizen Iruka and mission Iruka is not far apart. Iruka was himself throughout the whole thing, kindhearted, oddly vulnerable, but also, a shinobi throughout. The scene where the kids talked to Iruka and was concern for his comfort made my heart ache, especially after the mission concluded and the implicates of what Iruka had done. I can only imagine how he felt, and omg, he goes to tons of these missions. The scenes where you had Iruka trying to reconcile what he is trying to teaching and what he is doing breaks my heart, but at the same time, they were done very, very well. Good job!

I'll just list what else stood in my mind:

- Kakashi's POV of the whole analysis of Iruka. Like I said, I love their interactions, their odd relationship with one another and how they grew closer without making light of their differences. Kakashi's initial impression of Iruka verus what he know of him now. It's sweet that Kakashi was checking up on Iruka at the end as well. I like how you showed that there are different /ways/ of being shinobi and that even though Kakashi was the renown one, in the end, Iruka may embody the spirit of shinobi more than Kakashi. You describe Kakashi as a warrior and that is true, because true assassin - a shinobi - is one who lives only in the shadow and remains unknown and unacknowledged.

- Tsunade, even though she was only being honest and matter-of-fact, broke my already shattered heart when she was essentially saying, "I know you care, but your caring could have endangered him. You should have brought him to Ibiki." It brings up the quote, "the road to hell is paved with good intention," which applies both to the hospital scene and when Kakashi tried to help Iruka against the village.

- How you subtly established that Iruka loves taking care of kids and that they love him too (the card in his bag) under the pretense of Kakashi and Iruka growing closer together. How can you do this to me?! Once again, the thought of those two kids in the camp that met their end through Iruka broke my heart.

- Kakashi reciting Icha Icha because he don't remember any of the poems in the book that Iruka bought him. It made me smile wryly despite the situation.

Anyway, thank you for writing and please write more in the future!

re read the story still love it and your authors note at the end to lol

Getting along is boring. True. Nice job! More?

I guess it is necessary to have Kakashi in this situation. Somehow i feel comforted that hes there even if he didnt follow orders

Did u write thT poem? Nice job

“Do you have a child at home that I’ll be orphaning?” Stop, stop, stop hurting my emotions! I’m thinking about Naruto when he hears that Iruka won’t be coming home, and you’re describing Iruka’s acting when he pretends to be close to tears and now I’M close to tears and inside I am BLEEDING and it’s all your fault! I do not – repeat – I do not rant over chapters anymore, because I am far too analytical these days and there are no stories worthy of compromising my emotions. So how is it that I’m now screaming over the keyboard and preparing to host a “Save Iruka” rally? 0_o How do you wrench me inside over and over, and how am I surviving?

Kabano evil. Kabano’s methods intense torturer. Kabano’s actions somebody please kill that guy for me. This a really good antagonist since I actually want to maul him. It takes a bit of depth for me to hate someone like that. ;)

I really, really, really want to smash his face for breaking Iruka’s arm.

Really.

He’s a good manipulator, trying to use Iruka to influence Kakashi. I guess he figured out right away that this wasn’t going to work. I wonder what Iruka was afraid of, and how that was used against him. I’m guessing he was afraid of what Kabano could do to Kakashi, but I’m still not sure how that played out in the end.

Kakashi, that was an epic fail. Even if you don’t know poetry, you don’t quote porn to someone while they’re bound and in pain! Seriously!

You included an exquisite description of how the snow felt to Kakashi and how it affected him. :) (Had to mention it, because that was a fascinating paragraph.)

GIVE IRUKA HIS CARD BACK YOU KLKHKJHKJHKJHKJ Why did you have to steal it and make fun of it? LAJLOAHRGLJHKJLHKLJHKJL!

Great, now I’m ranting on the keyboard again. I liked the serene insult parry between Kakashi and Kabano. I actually admire Kabano as an antagonist, even though I hate him.

I’m actually finishing this review at a later time than I started, and feeling less angry - which is a good thing. I could put up a maniacal screaming fit right now about how they cut Iruka’s hair (maybe I’ll scream just a little) and tortured him in untold ways until he finally had the perfect opportunity to kill everyone. (Which I'm really close to, because this whole chapter is too gritty and heartwrenching to take.)

Poor, poor Iruka. :’( When he’s whispering “Hypocrite, hypocrite, hypocrite….” Knowing what he’s done, what he stands for in Konoha, the compassion he defends, and the lives he snuffed out… So often you leave me unable to review properly. There’s nothing to say for this part. It’s too deep.

Ah, Tsunade. Brusque and too the point as usual. She is a true, iron-fisted Kage, but she does at least look after Iruka after he returns. I just can’t believe she still sends him on these missions – but he completes them, and he does so for the good of Konoha…. There is no sense to the shinobi world.

Haha, I love how Naruto went berserk because “someone butchered Iruka’s hair”, and Iruka told him that he accidentally set it on fire himself. That brings a little happiness back into the story. :)

‘Sigh’ Iruka’s plan was too well thought out. Cruelly, sadly effective. This may be one of the darkest of your fics, but it's so imperative to understand Iruka and the extent he will go to for Konoha. (Kind of like Itachi….) Makes me wonder again how Iruka in your world would react if he had to choose between defending Konoha by stopping Naruto, or protecting Naruto despite the Hokage's orders...

You did a superb job on this. :) I’m going to re-read your oneshot where Iruka meets the Inuzuka Clan and make myself happy, then move on to the next fic. ;) Nice work!

Aw, I love Iruka’s clones. They say so much without speaking. So much must have been implied in that glare the clone gave Kakashi. It was cute when Iruka tsked over his clone’s cuts (I mean, what ninja feels sorry for his clones?) and then when the clone patted his cheek in farewell. (I bet that was Ichi.) ;)

So Naruto’s clones are “sophisticated” because they’re unemotional? Poor Iruka; his compassion seems to get in the way of everything.

Iruka – uniquely talented in survival. That hurts. I feel with Kakashi and I want to punch some random, evil shinobi in the head. The suspense when Iruka was purposefully making noise, creeping into the village, knowing he would be captured and possibly tortured or killed…. AUGH, HOW DO YOU DO THIS TO ME? This is possibly the worst suspense of the entire story. All your stories seem to have a moment like this, and I LOVE it.

Poor, poor Iruka, knowing he is walking into a trap, doing it for Tsunade and Konoha, and Kakashi keeps BADGERING him about the danger. He already knows, Kakashi! Stop making this worse for him!

And for once he has to think about word getting back to Naruto, because Kakashi is training him and Iruka knows Kakashi will blatantly divulge everything. Anyone else might say “Iruka died on mission” but Kakashi would TELL, and Iruka doesn’t want Naruto to be angered by the truth. (Especially with the Kyuubi….)

The action scene was astonishing. I always had a hard time writing variations for action sequences, so I tend to summarize them as best as possible. You did an astounding job describing Iruka as a competent ninja. Wow.

Ack, Ack, ACK! Noooo! The part where the shinobi has Iruka trapped and is about to kill him is too much! Iruka seems so small and helpless, and he’s about to get his neck broken, and the killer only stops because Iruka plays into the “terrified prey” long enough for the death sentence to evolve into live bait. Why? Why do you twist my emotions so cruelly? I hate it when I want to jump into a story and rescue a character. I’m not meant to contain so many emotions because of fanfiction! D’X

I’m not even going to describe the horror when he was captured. Just know that, reading this for the second time, I am crying inside for Iruka. Be happy with your stupendous writing.

The part where Kakashi is dragged inside and Iruka wails “What have you done?” No, no, No, NO! Kakashi, stop ruining everything! Why, why, WHY? Gah! When was the last time I felt like banging my head on the computer desk because of a story? Why do you toy with my emotions so much? Kakashi, why are you being a stupid, noble shinobi? Eesh, I need to calm down a bit.

(Think rationalism, Neocolai.)

STOP BEATING UP IRUKA, YOU GREAT APE! All right, so I’m yelling at your characters again. That chief – I’m gonna ….! Do something. Rant incoherently at the screen for the next half hour, probably. First they’re kicking Iruka around, and then they’re dragging him by his hair? That is so mean! Grrrrrrr! Totally thinking of creative ways to maul them without including the death sentence. X(

Of course, Kakashi has made things ten times worse just by being involved! Everyone knows who he is, so instead of being an “insignificant, undisciplined chunin”, Iruka is suddenly spy, insurgent and evil pawn. Great. Thanks, Kakashi. More things for me to rant over.

Anything further in this chapter would include more incoherent shouting from my keyboard, so I will stop there. I will emphasize how much I liked Iruka’s conversation with the two boys, however. Even in an enemy camp, he’s looking out for children. It makes me sadder knowing what chapter three will bring. He feels sorry for them, and they respond by gifting him with a scarf, and ….. Sorrow.

But why did they have to let down Iruka’s hair? I know what will happen but I still want to shout “Don’t cut it!”

‘Sigh’

These chapters are so deep. How in the world do you manage it? I’m going to go rant inwardly while I fix supper, and maybe I can wade through the next chapter without blasting capital letters all over the review. (It’s probably going to happen.)

Thanks for reposting this. :) What a grilling story. I still want to bash those shinobi over the head. (Calm down, Neocolai. One more chapter to go.)

I’m going to burn all of Kakashi’s books because of his interference. X(

I believe this was the third story I read of your works, and it is going to be murderous to review. I thought “Hm, I’ll read it again and quickly summarize my favorite points of the chapter.” For chapter one, at least? Nope. There’s got to be the equivalent of forty manga chapters’ worth of information in this section. ;)

So then, on to the commentary (and might I say I’m addicted to Iruka thanks to you):

Kakashi. Wandering Konoha with “nothing more on his mind than whether he was hungry enough to seek food.” Nailed him. You give him personality without making him OOC, and I see more of his character than the blank, annoying shinobi in the first half of the Naruto series. (He’s a complicated character to figure out.)

In fact, I’m going to repeat that rest of that first paragraph because it describes him perfectly: “He’d planned the afternoon in the formless way of the truly unengaged, and currently it held little more than vague notions about finding a tree in a warm patch and lounging in isolation until someone caught him and dragged him back to the mission office.” Lazy, simple-pleasure-minded Kakashi, always avoiding as much work as possible. How he must irritate Tsunade! ;)

Haha, loved it how Naruto was practically dragging Iruka down to ramen. I wonder if Iruka had other plans for the morning, but gave them up for Naruto? (By the way, you have greatly increased instant Ramen purchases in this household, because every time I read about Naruto or Iruka eating ramen I think “Mmmmmm, ramen…..” and I have to munch some while I’m reading.)

Of course, then Kakashi ruins Iruka’s morning further by accompanying them! Heehee, Iruka was hoping to see Kakashi run into a rabid cat or something, and Kakashi tagged along just to annoy him further. I love the clashing personalities in this arc.
It gets worse during the ramen scene, and this just follows up on my favorite aspect of Iruka: how he can be impeccably polite and still put people in their place. When he calmly tells Naruto “Your sensei is of the devil” and continues eating as though Kakashi is nothing more than a droning bug – no wonder Kakashi’s lifelong goal is to goad a reaction out of him!

I didn’t realize before what it meant to Iruka when he opened the scroll, and what kind of mission he was expected to complete. His dedication to Konoha, and his willingness to do ANYTHING to protect his village…. It’s cruel of the Hokage to ask this of him. :( But he knows he’s the only one to get the job done right. Kakashi has no idea what he is getting into.

Seriously, Kakashi has no respect for Tsunade. Calling her “the old hag”. And she makes him pay for it with annoying little jobs, which makes it funnier.

“Try not to make me regret it… or let Iruka pay for it.” Hm, now I wonder if some shinobi who escorted Iruka were real snobs who interfered ONLY at the last moment and ONLY if they had to. GRRRR! I am SO glad Iruka has Kakashi to look out for him later on!

I liked Kakashi’s overview of Iruka: his sleeping habits, cooking talents, and how Sakura and Naruto had copied off their teacher. (Humming while he eats? That would drive me batty.) The fact that Iruka learned to reserve his chakra because he knows he has limited stores intrigued me. One more mention to make people wonder HOW did he become a chunin? But that’s what makes Iruka amazing. ;)

The “come-home-quick-and-don’t-die” card was bittersweet. Iruka has so many kids who love him because they know he cares. The card gives an ominous feel to the chapter because you KNOW something awful is going to happen. I wonder how the orphans felt when Iruka returned from this particular mission. :(

The comparison Kakashi makes between a “warrior shinobi” and Iruka’s habit of looking after orphans described both characters perfectly. Kakashi is trapped in “Sharingan Kakashi” mindset, and Iruka is too soft to be a real ninja. It’s true, Iruka’s compassion could see him dead just by sheer “stupidity”, but Kakashi’s killer mindset destroys any chance of enjoying life. (I loved how Iruka’s favorite hobbies were included, which gave him a mindset outside of children and the classroom. The fact that Kakashi’s only cushion is Icha Icha paradise tells a lot about how numb he is to ordinary life. I have a lot of compassion for him.)

“Compassion complex. Born into the wrong profession….. It’s a good thing I’ve already come to terms with my life as a failure.” Egad, IRUKA! 0_o He knows his weaknesses are unacceptable, but he is willing to fight for his compassion instead of killing it to become a better shinobi. WOW. He is so confident about himself that he isn’t afraid to admit he’s a terrible shinobi (in the killer sense) but the fact doesn’t shame him. He is comfortable being the “too soft teacher” (even though he knows how to kill – better in fact, than some ANBU).

“Iruka couldn’t be trusted with fire; he had burned himself twice already tending it.” Reminds me of when younger Naruto admits “Sense’s pretty clumsy”. Ah, poor Iruka. He’s not even competent enough to mind the fire. ;) It must make Kakashi wonder why Tsunade keeps the bumbling chunin around.

Iruka’s reactions to Icha Icha Paradise are always amusing. “This is obscene.” His calmness (compared to his fury in the oneshot series, when Kakashi reads it to Iruka’s students) is so opposite to Kakashi’s blasé responses, because Iruka still SAYS everything with a few simple words.

It’s kind of painful to describe where Iruka admits his mission is “complete elimination”. Konoha does a good job hiding that from the civilians – the village seems so “honorable”. But the truth is… every leading power has its corrupt secrets. Why should Konohagakure be any different?

One of the most interesting parts of this chapter was describing how Iruka made himself seem younger and inexperienced by messing up his uniform. This espionage bit fascinates me. It not only emphasizes Iruka’s creativity, but it delves into the itty-bitty secrets of why he is so good at what he does. He can fit into any role with only a few stage props.

And, of course there’s Iruka’s clones. :3 I love how they have their individual personalities (and consequentially hate Kakashi.) Okay, and Naruto picked up the sexy-no-jutsu from Iruka? 0_o Why am I not surprised…..

Haha, Iruka bought Kakashi a book of poetry. See, Kakashi, there is more to life than Icha Icha Paradise. But it will take him some time to understand the finer points of that. (Especially since poetry really isn’t Kakashi’s taste… still, anyone can enjoy the lilt of words every now and then.)

Wow, that’s the end of chapter one! These stories have SO much detail packed into them. I think this one is the hardest for me, because of Iruka’s task, but it tells a lot about his personality from the SwissArmyKnife universe.

Wow, I love your story. I like the way you portrayed the characters of Kakashi and Iruka. Your style of writing is unlike anything I have seen ( that's a good thing) and it really brought the story to life. I found reading this story really enjoyable.

You pictured kakashi very weak, but despite that it was refreshing to see a story about kakashi and iruka without it being Yaoi.
Thanks