The young man's arrogant words naturally stirred up the displeasure of everyone present.
Whether it was the famously easygoing Sosuke or Dan, or the hot-tempered Jiraiya, they all looked at the young Grass Ninja with cold expressions.
Hatake Sakumo had also noticed what was happening and watched quietly from the side.
"You! You're a ninja from Kusagakure, aren't you? Are you talking about us when you call us brats?!"
Jiraiya sat on the ground, his hair a mess. He hadn't bothered to brush off the dust he'd picked up when Tsunade knocked him down. With a blazing look in his eyes, he glared up at the young Grass Ninja and spoke indignantly.
As ninjas, Jiraiya and the others might have been a little young, but as disciples of the Third Hokage, they had taken on missions that were anything but simple!
Even before they'd graduated from the Ninja Academy, the three of them had already far surpassed ordinary students in skill. And that was without even considering the trials of the past year's missions.
Tsunade, Jiraiya, and the others had made incredible progress over the past year!
They'd completed several B-rank missions during that time. Through missions where they could lose their lives at any moment, they'd grown into ninjas capable of standing on their own!
The Grass Ninja's words were an insult to them!
The companion beside the young Grass Ninja didn't want to cause trouble in Konoha, so he tried to talk him down.
"Hey, Okamoto, the exams are about to start. Don't pick a fight with them here."
At his words, Okamoto didn't continue responding to Jiraiya. He shot Jiraiya, Sosuke, and the others a disdainful look, forced a mocking smile, then turned back.
As if he were merely chatting with his companion, he smiled and spoke.