Iruka's Ordeal

is episode 177 of the Naruto: Shippūden anime.

Synopsis
After being denied a chance to join four of his classmates on a "Test of Courage" that will take place later that night, Naruto decides to pull a prank on them. Reprimanded by Iruka Umino who was nearby, Naruto declared that he would never return to the Academy because he realised that Iruka was looking at him in the same manner that the other villagers did. Initially seeking consult with the Third Hokage who was busy at the time, Iruka speaks with Kakashi Hatake instead.

While Naruto is walking around the village, he runs into the same group of boys whom he had scared in the cemetery. Their leader, Hibachi, offers him a chance to join their group, telling him that a patrol unit had fought some enemy ninja in the back hills the day before, and that if he could bring back something from the battle site, they would let him in. As Naruto runs off, the boys express delight that there might still be some enemy ninja out there, unaware that Shikamaru Nara and Chōji Akimichi were listening in.

Later, in class, when Iruka asks where Naruto is, Shikamaru exposes the trick that the boys played on Naruto, and Iruka announces that the class is to have study hall while he runs off to find him. While Naruto is running through the forest, excited at the prospect of having friends, he is followed by unseen ninja.