Where Every Scroll is a New Adventure
Another random thought, but am I the only one who thought that after Iruka sensei got such an iconic character introduction into the franchise... that he would have somewhat of a bigger role in the manga?
I recognize that his role is that of Naruto's school teacher and that he graduates early on in the series, but I was always looking for more 'Iruka-supporting-Naruto' interactions and I feel like I was starved; especially considering how good each one that we DID get was. Iruka worrying about Naruto in the chuunin exams, him being the one to comfort him after Jiraiya's death, celebrating his homecoming, etc. etc. All great moments!
And of course, that early scene when he saves Naruto from Mizuki and just looks at him and goes, "Your loneliness must have been painful, right? I understand..." Goodness! It's the first time that Naruto felt his own humanity was recognized and recognized in a way that moved his teacher so much that he was willing to die to save him!
If you ask me, I think the reason Iruka didn't feature more is because he wouldn't have let half the people who treated Naruto badly (including Naruto himself) get away with it, and then Naruto would have been radicalized by the realization that the village was crap for treating him and all the other orphans so badly...