Effort, focus, diligence, hard work... he even treated learning and cultivation as a kind of hobby, as if addicted, unable to stop!
Let alone Naruto, he had never seen anyone enjoy cultivation as much as someone enjoys lust... it surpassed the diligent genius Rock Lee from the previous class!
Although Rock Lee worked himself to death, he relied on his will and perseverance, gritting his teeth and enduring!
For him, diligent cultivation was still painful.
But for Naruto, it was as if cultivation itself had become an indispensable thing; if he wasn't allowed to cultivate, he would practically burst into tears!
What else could this be but addiction?!
Although he didn't understand the reason, Iruka-sensei's relief was incredibly genuine... Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Chinese, Math, English... Moral Character, Ninja Principles... Naruto answered every question flawlessly.
Less than an hour after the exam began, Naruto had already finished everything!
This speed even surpassed Sakura Haruno!
"That fast?!"
Sakura couldn't help but stare, temporarily pausing her pen.
She saw that Naruto had already picked up his test paper and started checking it from beginning to end!
Hinata's eyes, however, lit up.
"Naruto-kun... you really did it..."
Sasuke, however, clenched his fists in frustration.
"Damn it, that Diao Che Wei!"
Naruto wasn't arrogant or complacent; although he had finished, he still checked it carefully and thoroughly.
He didn't know about others.
But if he didn't get into the top ten of the class, system big brother had promised a "small punishment"!
He didn't know what the small punishment was.
And he absolutely didn't want to know... Naruto kept checking carefully, revising until the very last moment.
One and a half hours finally passed.
Iruka-sensei looked at his watch.
"Ahem, the exam is over! Everyone, put down your pens!"
A chorus of wails immediately erupted in the classroom.
"Ah—"
"I haven't finished yet..."
"Iruka-sensei, can you wait a little longer...?"
"I just found a mistake, can I correct it before submitting, please?!"
Iruka-sensei said in a deep voice, "Time's up, everyone must put down their pens!"
"Everyone has the same amount of time!"
He immediately began collecting the papers, without any delay.
He walked past student after student, some happy, some sad.
When he picked up Naruto's paper, Iruka-sensei couldn't help but take an extra look.
His eyes lit up as he gazed at the densely filled answers; although he couldn't tell right from wrong at a glance, a warm feeling had already surged in his heart.
"Well done, Naruto..."
Iruka-sensei praised Naruto in a low voice, leaning close to his ear.
Naruto was startled, then clasped his hands behind his head, leaned back in his chair, and showed a brilliant smile.
"Of course!"
"Thank you, Iruka-sensei!"
Iruka-sensei's smile was mixed with tears, his eyes moistening slightly; he quickly coughed to cover it up and immediately moved on to the next student.
"Enough, Ise!"
"Hand in your paper!"
"Iruka-sensei, let me write a little longer... Ah!"
Iruka-sensei forcibly took his paper, and the student immediately slumped onto his desk, clutching his head in despair.
Naruto watched this scene, and couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.
Once upon a time, he must have been like this too, right?
No, he didn't care about exams back then... After all the papers were collected.
Iruka-sensei didn't pause, clearing his throat and saying, "Next, everyone prepare for the second assessment, which is the most important..."
"Ninjutsu assessment!"
Naruto couldn't help but feel a little nervous. What Ninjutsu would be tested this year?!
Although he had mastered them all quite well, there were still some differences... The exam questions would determine the upper limit of his score!
Iruka-sensei said in a deep voice, "Ahem, this year's Ninjutsu assessment topic is..."
Chapter 67: Shadow Clone That Shocks Everyone! Beyond Limits! Seeking first subscription!!!
"This year's Ninjutsu assessment topic is..."
"Clone Technique!"
Iruka-sensei loudly announced the exam topic.
Naruto couldn't help but clasp his hands behind his head, grimacing.
"Sure enough, it's still Clone Technique, my least favorite!"
"However..."
He then had a change of heart; although Clone Technique was still his relatively least proficient Ninjutsu, compared to before, it had improved by more than a hundredfold!
He would absolutely not fail the Ninjutsu assessment again!
What's more, he still had the ultimate weapon, Shadow Clone Technique!
Iruka-sensei said, "Alright, the Clone Technique assessment begins now."
"First up, Nara Shikamaru..."
"Hey! Shikamaru! Don't sleep!"
Akimichi Choji quickly woke up Nara Shikamaru.
He rubbed his sleepy eyes, clearly not yet fully awake.
Seeing the furious Iruka-sensei, Choji quickly said, "The Ninjutsu assessment has started!"
"You're first, the topic is Clone Technique!"
Nara Shikamaru reluctantly stood up, let out a big yawn, and lazily walked to the podium.
"Clone Technique."
Bang—
After a puff of white smoke, Shikamaru created a Clone, which was quite decent.
Iruka-sensei said helplessly, "Passable."
"60 points!"
Nara Shikamaru shrugged indifferently and walked off the podium casually.
Iruka-sensei could only sigh and shake his head.
"Next, Akimichi Choji!"
Choji secretly swallowed the last bite of his snack, raised his hand, and stood up.
He also performed the Clone Technique, and it was even more realistic than Shikamaru's.
"Hmm, not bad..."
"65 points!"
"Next, Inuzuka Kiba!"
Inuzuka Kiba was full of confidence, directly creating two Clones, both perfectly identical.
"Very good! 85 points!"
He chuckled, quite satisfied with his performance.
The Inuzuka clan's Ninjutsu had certain requirements for Clones and transformations, so Inuzuka Kiba was quite skilled in this area.
"Next up is..."
"Uchiha Sasuke!"
Immediately, including Naruto, everyone's gaze turned towards him; he was the center of attention.
Sasuke still walked onto the stage with his hands in his pockets, aloof.
He disdainfully formed hand signs.
"Clone Technique."
Bang bang bang—
In an instant, Sasuke actually created four Clones!
And each one was incredibly lifelike!
Iruka-sensei couldn't help but be surprised.
"He's even better than last year, as expected of Sasuke..."
"100 points!"
Naruto pouted, "Hmph, still so fond of showing off, that bastard Sasuke!"
Sasuke seemed to sense Naruto's displeasure and instinctively glanced at him.
Their gazes intertwined, unleashing a strong electric current.
"Hmph!"
They both snorted coldly and turned their heads away.
"Ahem, next is Sakura Haruno..."
Sakura Haruno also performed excellently in this basic Ninjutsu.
She created three quite perfect Clones.
"Very good, 95 points!"
Iruka-sensei also gave her a very high score.