Chapter 2: Four Pillars of a Shinobi
I arrived early.
The classroom was silent, bathed in soft morning light, chalk dust still clinging to the air like memory. I slid open the window and let the breeze in. Somewhere in the distance, I could hear the steady thud of a training dummy being struck—probably someone from the older classes.
Perfect.
I drew four large kanji on the board:
Study. Train. Play. Sleep.
Beneath them, I wrote their meanings, one line each.
Study hard.
Train plenty.
Have fun.
Sleep well.
I smiled as I stepped back. "The Turtle Hermit Way," I said aloud, tracing the words with my eyes. "The foundation of lifelong discipline… and balance."
It was a motto from another world—Master Roshi's motto, actually—but it felt right here. Timeless. True.
The door burst open. Naruto stumbled in, yawning and adjusting his headband.
He blinked at the board.
"…We're learning bedtime stories now?"
I smirked. "Sit down, Naruto."
---
By the time the class filled up, the motto was already causing whispers. Shikamaru stared at it with a mixture of confusion and disinterest. Sakura squinted like she was trying to decode it. Sasuke, as always, pretended not to care—but he sat straighter than usual.
I tapped the board.
"These four things are going to be part of our daily routine," I said. "You're all training to be ninja, but that doesn't mean you sacrifice your mind, your body, or your joy. Mastering ninjutsu is important, but so is mastering yourself."
Naruto raised a hand.
"Yes?"
"What does 'play' have to do with being a ninja?"
"Plenty," I said. "Fun builds creativity. It builds bonds. It keeps your spirit from dying before your body ever does."
Kiba laughed. "So you're saying I should goof off more!"
"No," I shot back. "I'm saying you need to understand why you train—and why you live. A shinobi who only trains and never rests is a sword that rusts before it breaks."
Even Shino looked up at that.
"Every day," I continued, "you will have one block of study, one block of physical training, one session to simply enjoy yourselves, and a mandatory reflection period—preferably with sleep following it."
"Wait, so you're telling us when to nap too?" Ino asked.
"Only if I find you snoring during shuriken drills."
Laughter again. Not mocking. Warmer now.
They're buying in.
---
Later that day, as the students moved through a surprisingly organized taijutsu session, I observed each pair carefully—taking note of posture, rhythm, and attitude. Lee wasn't in this class, but I could already see promise in kids like Hinata, Kiba, and even Sakura.
And Naruto—when he wasn't flailing—was relentlessly energetic. If I could just mold that chaos…
Behind the building, a small crowd had started to gather. I hadn't expected it.
Parents.
---
Mikoto Uchiha stood tall and quiet, arms crossed. She was watching Sasuke spar, her gaze unreadable. Occasionally, her eyes flicked to me—not hostile, but weighing.
Inoichi Yamanaka, Ino's father, stood near the back of the group. He looked intrigued more than anything, occasionally scribbling notes on a small pad.
Choza Akimichi had brought snacks. He offered me a rice cracker with a smile when I noticed him.
"Unusual routine, Iruka-sensei," he said gently. "Structured… but with room for joy. That's not common these days."
"It's a philosophy I've found useful," I replied, bowing slightly. "Burnout kills more dreams than kunai."
He hummed. "You'll go far with that kind of thinking."
---
But the one who truly surprised me was Hiashi Hyuga.
He stepped forward as Hinata finished her spar, brushing herself off, eyes downcast.
"She's not aggressive," he said quietly.
"She's thoughtful," I replied. "Grounded. She'll build strength from stability."
He looked at me then, really looked. A man used to dominance. Tradition. Control.
"She adores your class already," he said finally. "That's… new."
He didn't smile. But he bowed before walking away.
---
Later that evening, I was summoned.
The Hokage's office was warm, cluttered with scrolls and maps, a kettle steaming in the corner. Hiruzen Sarutobi stood at the window, pipe in hand, watching the sun paint gold over the rooftops of the village.
"Iruka," he said, without turning. "Your first day stirred more conversation than most chuunin missions."
"I imagine Naruto had something to do with that."
He chuckled. "Not this time. It was you."
He turned, his expression unreadable.
"You've implemented an unorthodox philosophy. Balance. Joy. Rest. Cooking exercises."
"I believe in teaching the whole student, Lord Hokage."
"And what of shinobi doctrine? The Will of Fire? The sacrifice expected of every ninja?"
I stepped forward.
"Flames burn out when not fed," I said. "I intend to feed my students—not just their strength, but their spirit."
He stared at me for a long moment. Then nodded slowly.
"Jiraiya was a fool," he said quietly. "But even fools sometimes say wise things. That motto you used… it was his once too, though he abandoned it."
"Then I'll bring it back," I said. "Stronger than ever."
A puff of smoke curled from the Hokage's pipe.
"You may just do that, Iruka. I'll be watching."
---
Back in my apartment, I sat at the table, rolling out onigiri for the next day. A knock came at the window.
I turned.
Anko.
She was upside down, hanging by her feet, grinning like a fox.
"You really made the Hyugas talk about feelings?" she asked, slipping in with the breeze.
"Not feelings. Balance."
"That's worse."
She snatched a rice ball, took a bite, chewed, and paused.
"…Damn. You could poison me and I'd die happy."
"No poison," I said. "Just garlic. And a little Love Breathing."
She raised an eyebrow. "You are so weird."
"Still hanging around."
She smirked. "Yeah. I think I will."
---
To be continued…