Great great GREAT story. Iruka inspiring the flame of Konoha in another village was so lovely.

I wonder what the civilian side of Konoha would do or think if they knew that Tsunade sanctioned Iruka's kidnapping.

I am an avid KakaIru shipper but I must admit I am severely enjoying this friendship. It is so pure 3

I just to say that I love your Iruka so much 3

Had a lovely reread of this trilogy. I adore the way Iruka incites a revolution in the Kusa villagers just by being nice. Fantastic work with this!

Loved it!

OMG
This
(I fear that’s as good as I’m going to get to describe how awesome a story this was )

Loved loved loved this story! Probably my favorite story of yours that I have read and I've enjoyed them all so far. I really like your portrayal of the characters and how much depth and emotion you gave all the characters.

A distinct rumble echoed from the crowd behind him. Agreement, warning, hostility. They were standing at the edge of a mob.

As a note of interest, Tan-li also did not have his half-mask from the beginning. It was a modification when I wrote the grasshopper scene and realized that it would be hard to munch an insect without a mouth (grins). At the time, I considered cutting the foraging out, but ultimately I decided that Tan-li's "yum" was too essential to the development of his character.

They were absolutely the wrong words, for in that moment, Kakashi would have attempted to kill his own kage for calling Iruka a traitor. And to threaten his life…

Kakashi descended on the platform like a dove, grey and with wings.

Iruka – staring at his defender's back, his raised weapon, and his deadly, rigid mouth – thought to wonder just when it was that Tan had ceased to be a jailer and started being a guardian.

Iruka laid down the ground rules as he introduced the newest member to their group of orphans. He pointed at the other children and ordered sternly, "Not for eating."

The boy pondered this seriously for a long moment, and then pointed to Tan-li.

"No, not him either," Iruka told him. "However, if you should happen to see Captain Shouda…" But the child's grave expression changed Iruka's mind in an instant. Obviously, they weren't ready for sarcasm. "Never mind. You're on an all vegetable diet for the time being."

"He eats people?" Iruka looked at his charge, stunned by the revelation.

The child only grinning at him toothily.

"Oh dear. But you liked the cake I set out for you, right?" he asked. A pink tongue flicked over dark lips, which Iruka took as confirmation. He told the elders, "I think we can work on that."