Ever since Naruto had defeated Ino Yamanaka in a one-on-one taijutsu fight six months ago, the boys in their class had rarely mocked him to his face.
Quite a few seemed to have realized from that incident that, although Naruto was widely considered the class's Dead Last, that was apparently only in comparison to Sasuke. Those whose skills fell short of Ino's were actually weaker than Naruto, too.
But now...
When Sasuke returned and personally announced that Naruto was next to take the exam, quite a few of them simply couldn't hold back anymore.
Yes, they couldn't hold back.
Before, they hadn't dared offend both Sasuke and Naruto at once.
But after spending four or five years in the same class, who didn't know that taijutsu and the Transformation Technique were the only skills Naruto Uzumaki could show off? As for the Clone Technique... that was a complete disaster.
"Haha... now we're in for a good show!"
"The Clone Technique... hahaha!"
When Naruto heard that this exam would actually test the Clone Technique, he sneered inwardly.
But his face showed utter dejection. "Ah... what rotten luck. Why did it have to be the Clone Technique, the one I'm worst at?"
Even so, Naruto only looked dispirited for a moment before his fighting spirit returned, and he rushed out of the classroom. "I'll definitely succeed!"
Naruto arrived at the classroom next door, where the exam was being held.
The moment he entered, he saw the ninja forehead protectors neatly arranged on the desk in front of Iruka and Mizuki, and longing shone in his eyes.
Of course, Naruto was only putting on an act. Sooner or later, any forehead protector that ended up in his hands would get slashed.
"Naruto, this exam will test the Clone Technique. As long as