"Yeah, that's right. Yashui's my friend, and he's the Third Hokage's grandson," Naruto said proudly.
"What a drag." After hearing that, Shikamaru glanced at Yashui and said no more.
"Tch, what are you so proud of? Yashui's the Hokage's grandson, not you." Kiba Inuzuka patted Akamaru on his head. "Right, Akamaru?"
"Hmph! You looking for trouble, you runt?" Naruto rolled up his sleeves and marched toward Kiba.
"How annoying. My Sasuke is still the most handsome~" Sakura gazed at Sasuke, looking completely smitten.
"What are you talking about? Sasuke's mine!" Ino, lovestruck girl number two, had entered the scene and started arguing with Sakura.
Sasuke, meanwhile, was staring at Yashui, probably wondering how strong he was.
The others were relatively quiet. Hinata, especially, was unusually silent. She kept sneaking glances at Naruto, her cheeks faintly flushed.
"With the Byakugan of the Hyuga Clan, Naruto's practically naked in front of Hinata. That means Hinata can see Naruto's... No wonder she's blushing..." Yashui thought to himself, then nodded. He seemed to have uncovered another earth-shattering secret.
"Quiet!"
Umino Iruka walked into the classroom.
"It's your last day of school, and you still can't behave? You're the worst class I've ever taught!" No matter what world you were in, homeroom teachers always said things like that.
The classroom fell silent. Even the leaves rustling outside the window could be heard.
"Um, when I call your name, please go to the classroom next door for your exam. This year's test is the Clone Technique. Get ready." After speaking, Iruka went into the neighboring classroom.
As soon as Iruka left, the classroom turned into a madhouse again.
"The Clone Technique? That's easy," Kiba bragged in front of Naruto.
"What a drag." Shikamaru slumped over his desk and went to sleep.
Sasuke said nothing, gazing out the window.
Some of the background students started practicing the Clone Technique. Their clones were mediocre, too; very few could make five. Most could only make three.
Of the Konoha Twelve, the other eight besides Naruto could generally create five or seven clones.
After training his chakra control, Yashui could make ten clones without much trouble. But he couldn't be bothered to make that many, and planned to finish the exam with five.
Besides, the Clone Technique wasn't a practical ninjutsu. Once an opponent had even a little skill, it was easy to tell the real person from the clones.
"Choji Akimichi!"
"Huh? It's my turn already? I haven't finished my snacks..." Choji casually tossed aside the snack bag, wiped his greasy hands on his clothes, and got up to go to the classroom across the hall.
"Ogimachi Hachiko, please get ready."
A girl was queued up after Choji. She was probably just a background character. Yashui didn't remember hearing her name in the original story.
Before long, Choji came out of the exam room. Judging by how relaxed he looked, the test really was simple.
"Ogimachi Hachiko, please get ready, Fujiwara Shiro."
The students went in one after another. Seeing how relaxed they looked, Yashui felt more at ease as well.
"Sasuke Uchiha, please get ready, Sarutobi Yashui."
Sasuke went in with his hands in his pockets and an arrogant look on his face. He came out with that same arrogant look. It was as if a dog plaster labeled "Arrogance" was stuck to his face.
"Yashui. If you become a Genin too, let's have another match." After saying that, Sasuke left without looking back.
Sasuke's personality could be pretty irritating at times. After he came out, the announcement began calling Sarutobi Yashui's name.
Hearing his name, Yashui walked into the exam room.
"Mizuki, he's the Third Hokage's grandson. He's also an honors student who's graduating early. Should we raise the requirements?" Iruka quietly asked Mizuki.
"I don't think we need to. If he graduates early but can't pass, it'll be embarrassing for him. It'll also be hard to explain to the Third Hokage." Mizuki was a teacher, but from what he said, it was clear he wasn't as responsible as Iruka.
"No. If he's graduating early, he has to prove he's better than the other students." Iruka glanced at Yashui. "This is to keep him from dying too young in his career as a ninja."
"Suit yourself." Mizuki leaned back in his chair, making it clear he wouldn't be involved in the student's exam.
"Sarutobi Yashui, the requirement for the graduation exam is to create three clones. But since you're graduating early, the bar is higher. You'll have to make seven clones to pass," Iruka told Yashui.
Yashui nodded and formed a hand seal without rushing.
"Poof!"
Seven clones appeared around Yashui. They were only illusions; the Clone Technique taught at the Ninja Academy was the most basic kind.
"All right, you passed. Come get your Konoha Headband." After receiving his headband, Yashui returned to the waiting room.
A little while later, Naruto went in for his exam. Yashui didn't even need to wonder how Naruto would do. Naruto was terrible at the Three Basic Techniques. He'd spent all the effort he could've put into practicing low-level ninjutsu on practicing the Sexy Technique instead.
Naruto looked dejected after failing the exam. He didn't even fool around as he usually did. He sat alone in a corner of the classroom, head bowed, quietly mourning his failure.
"Heh heh. Naruto, you failed again?" Kiba had passed easily and was showing off the Konoha Headband in his hand. "You really are the dead-last, hahaha..."
Yashui hadn't been interested in the squabbles between these kids. But that didn't mean he had no limits. He knew Kiba was just naturally like that and didn't mean any harm.
But seeing Naruto so upset made Yashui unable to sit still. He'd lived for two or three decades, after all. He knew what it felt like to have someone rub salt in the wound when you were already sad.
"You mangy dog. Even if you passed the ninja exam, your actual fighting ability is still worse than Naruto's... You don't even need Naruto to fight you. You can't beat me, his little underling." Yashui didn't know where he found the courage, but he went straight to provoking Kiba.
"I remember you. You're the one who graduated early, right? Looks like you passed the exam too." Kiba stared at Yashui with a mocking expression. "Other people might not remember, but I still remember your scent. You're the guy who challenged Sasuke after school every day and got beaten until you were crawling on the ground every time!"
Kiba raised his voice again, as though he wanted the whole world to know Yashui's record against Sasuke.
Before you continue