It has come to my attention that not everyone seems to see the logic behind why two men in Kakashi and Iruka’s positions might find themselves drawn to each other in ways that might surpass the otherwise bland work-oriented relation which they currently hold within the animated show of Naruto. This matter is perplexing, and I have come to the conclusion that in an attempt to do justice to the reasoning I hold, I would formulate these reasonings in one coherent place. One would hope that this is the same reasoning as all the others in this fandom, and that the creation goes beyond the common fall-back of ‘who can we shove with whom?’ I understand that there will always be a few in any fandom who base their fandom on how good two characters may look together, though I tend (and I hope others do as well) to lean more towards characters that share more than appealing features.

Both Kakashi and Iruka lived through the attack of the Nine-tails and the secret third war, and each suffered great losses of comrades and family. They know what it is to have lost everything. Iruka lost his entire family with the Nine-tails attack, and no doubt many friends during the secret war; Kakashi lost Obito, his father, Yondaime. It is never clarified what happened to his mother or Rin, but he imparts to Sasuke that everyone he loves is already dead, so it is clear that they too have been taken from him. They have both suffered greatly, and as such have the ability to see and understand the past grief each has experienced making it easier to react to the other. Though Kakashi has made the statement that everyone he loves is dead, that does not close off the chance that he might love again, and Iruka’s ability to overcome his past angst becoming the warm protective person that he is might be the one thing that he needs in order to forgive himself.

Kakashi is a character that puts a great amount of strain on himself. He takes situations and turns them, shouldering the blame and the guilt as though they are solely his to bear. Advancing through the rank of shinobi at an alarming rate, Kakashi was forced to grow up far faster than anyone could handle, genius or not. It is said that he was forced to retire from ANBU for reasons unknown. He is broken; has broke so many times he probably can’t even remember a time when he was whole. Kakashi visits the memorial stone every morning to remember Obito and his past; this is seen and stated in the episode of Sandaime’s funeral. He wants forgiveness and acceptance, whether he will admit that to anyone or not.

Iruka is forgiveness and life. He is a character that show his emotions for everyone to see, which is a blatant disregard of the shinobi rule #25. Even though Naruto carries within him the existence of the thing that stole everything from him and so many of the village, Iruka treats Naruto like any other student. It is shown that even before the ‘Mizuki Incident’, he gave Naruto and students like him extra care and attention without the cold discrimination of the rest. After the ‘Mizuki Incident’, Iruka becomes like a father or elder brother to Naruto. If there is enough room in Iruka’s heart to accept the child carrying the reason his family is dead, perhaps there is enough room to forgive Kakashi for all the blood on his hands.

Throughout the series we see very few interactions between the two, but those that are given display one common feature. Iruka is always shown in some form of extravagant emotion, and it is only with Kakashi that he displays a blush. They have the common bond of having taught Naruto, and as is inevitable of a character like Naruto, this is a very trying experience. Iruka’s ability to handle Naruto, and Naruto’s devotion to Iruka’s brother/father figure would inspire at the very least curiousity and possibly even respect for the otherwise unremarkable brown-haired chuunin. Iruka nearly dies to protect Naruto, something that Kakashi would recognize as be akin to his own self-imposed promise to never let his comrades die.

“But Kakashi reads Icha Icha porn, and Jiraiya likes women.” Yes, this is true. But Kakashi’s most memorable line is to ‘look underneath the underneath’. And no, I doubt he’s talking about looking under a girl’s panties. Other than the blatant fact that he carries the book around, Kakashi does not seem like the sort of person who would be interested in porn. In every instance that he draws out the book to read, it is in a situation that will throw off the countenance of those he is engaged with. The existence of the porn is, at least in my opinion, more of a mask than any genuine interest. Naruto lost concentration during the gennin trials; when team Kakashi trailed him to see beneath his mask, he stopped to stare at the movie poster because he *knew* they were trailing him; when Sakura and Naruto face him after two years, he lets the children use Icha Icha to defeat him because he knows that they need the confidence that defeating him will provide them. Reading Icha Icha about town creates a personality for himself that allows people to underestimate him and see him as more than a cold shinobi machine. It makes him human. (and frankly I think that Kakashi would find no end of amusement teasing Iruka over its contents)

Of all the people that Kakashi is shown to associate with, Iruka is the only logical person for Kakashi to be with. Gai…well, one shouldn’t even have to define this, but I should cover all bases. Gai is Kakashi’s eternal rival. In most cases, I would say that this is enough grounds to argue a case for this pairing, however there are other issues at hand in this. Gai clearly is far more concerned with upholding their rivalry as a means to better himself, and if he has shown any sort of attraction to anyone in this series, it would be towards Rock Lee. Yes, Gai carries Kakashi piggy-back in the manga circa 270, but Kakashi’s expression is as one sick, and he really couldn’t protest due to the physical condition he had been placed in. I don’t even want to consider who would take what role in that relationship. Kurenai and Asuma interact with Kakashi more frequently than anyone else around his age, but it has been shown that they are interested in each other, and therefore not a possibility.

And let me state clearly that Kakashi paired with *any* of cell 7 is absolutely morally not considerable. Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura are *twelve years old*. Kakashi is twenty-seven. Lolita complex much? Sakura is in love with boys her age. She wants Sasuke, and shows moderate attraction to Naruto (after he saves her, and after he returns from training) and Rock Lee (after he’s injured). Kakashi may see Rin in her, as many fans seem to suggest, but he doesn’t seem like the sort of character who would take advantage of that, and she would only serve as a constant reminder of the pain of his past. The show gives enough situation to suggest that Sasuke could be paired with Sakura (this I will agree with), more likely Naruto (as there is far more evidence of this) and even Itachi (though there are way too many issues to go into that for an essay on Kakashi/Iruka). Kakashi teases Iruka, compliments him, meets him on rooftops, and lends him Pakkun to ease his task of aiding his wayward student. Iruka is also, conveniently, 23. (and exactly three centimetres shorter than kakashi ^_^)

As for Iruka? Some people like to comment that perhaps he is attracted to the girl who is introduced in the Mizuki filler arc circa 125. When Pakkun and Naruto make the statement of her being his ‘pinky’, he introduces her as the fiancé of Mizuki. In his administrations of her wounds and for all her words, he treated her civilly and without a single indication that he might fancy her. He doesn’t blush for her as he does for Kakashi. And Mizuki! Mizuki is engaged as has been stated. Even if they *might* have had a relationship, it is over, and Iruka can move on. Kakashi has grey/white hair too, so one could argue that if Iruka had harboured any sort of emotion for Mizuki, he might in turn be attracted to Kakashi, though I find that a flimsy connection. Mizuki nearly kills Iruka. Twice. Kakashi would do everything he could to protect his comrades. I feel that between the two, Iruka would be more inclined to choose Kakashi’s solid presence.

It is also suggested a suggested pairing for Iruka and Anko. This one may be feasible, I will admit. Anko is loud and brash, and seems to have a prankster attitude much like Iruka’s own. However, I believe that Anko is more enraptured with the Orochimaru that was her sensei, and as a result any relation between her and Iruka would be purely carnal in nature. I don’t think that Iruka would be able to survive in that sort of relationship, or that it would have any real meaning for either of them. Anko’s also a very proud person, and as a jounin might not see dating a chuunin as something that befitted her station.

Iruka isn’t seen with many other characters, and DAMN ANYONE THAT PAIRS HIM WITH SANDAIME, YOU DIRTY DIRTY PEOPLE.

Now consider for a moment that Kakashi really is a pervert. What fantasy is more sought after than the illusive innocent/kinky teacher? I’m sure that concept is in at least one of the volumes of Icha Icha. We are given the information that Iruka used to be quite a notable prankster that rivalled Naruto back in his day. Even though he doesn’t show it in the current anime time span, it is assumed that he still retains some of that mischievous spirit which would appeal to Kakashi. Underneath the underneath, to find a spirit that shared Kakashi’s creativity for mind games and pranks would spark Kakashi’s interest, especially if it was a side of Iruka that took him time to draw out. Kakashi enjoys a challenge.

With Iruka being a Chuunin, and a school teacher at that, Kakashi would not have to worry about Iruka being injured or killed on missions. Iruka rarely goes on missions, and only then if there is no one else to go. Teaching children puts him in a minimum risk environment (only threatened really by wayward practice kunai or an angry PTA). This means that unlike other jounin or active chuunin, Kakashi has a much better chance of coming home to find him alive, and thus less likely to loose yet another ‘precious person’.

Need I even mention that every merchandise release of Iruka has a paired kakashi? Kakashi is always either on his own, or standing next to, to back to back with Iruka. (*points to coin purses, note paper, keychains, pillows, posters etc.*) For gods sake, the pictures of cell 7 with Iruka look like family portraits. Naruto’s memories of his ‘precious people’ look like family portraits, and always start with Iruka, followed by Kakashi, THEN Sasuke and Sakura. At this point I have to point out that on the Kakashi and Iruka cellphone strap I own, the packaging in English reads ‘there is a secret everyone in Konoha knows but Naruto’ followed by an image of Iruka blushing.

That most famous line, opposites attract? Kakashi and Iruka have many traits, some of which have already been mentioned (but I feel should be mentioned again), that make them perfect opposites. Kakashi wears a mask and trains his expressions and words to always appear bored and aloof; Iruka is emotional and impulsive (they work as complementing personalities). Umino Iruka is the water’s dolphin; Hatake Kakashi is the field’s scarecrow (they both represent creatures that live in different complementing elements; a field needs water to grow). Iruka has a horizontal scar, Kakashi has a vertical one; Iruka is tan, Kakashi is pale.

I am not saying that after their notorious argument over the Chuunin Exams Kakashi was fascinated by the fiery spirit of the brown-haired man and immediately pinned him to a wall and had his way. I am merely pointing out that there is sufficient character evidence that suggests that a relation between these two characters can logically exist at some point in the Naruto world. As a fan of a character, one only wants the happiness of said character. That said, when I look at the dimensions of these two characters, I find that that happiness is easiest when found with each other. Until someone can come up with another character that makes more sense for these characters, there is no reason to assume that a Kakashi and Iruka pairing is illogical. They’re both broken and scarred men, they need someone to be there for them.