H-Man said:
The official databook description is that Naruto's 'far below average' due to misbehaving and poor grades. So basically, his Taijutsu is passable in that he knows how to punch and kick, but if his 'real' skills were at the level seen when he fought Kakashi... he's not just bad enough at it, he's dumb in general, which helps none. He probably pulled off that 'LET'S FIGHT FAIR' thing more often than not.
[Also, Naruto REALLY thinks little of Shikamaru and Chouji pre-Sound Four, insulting them. He has more respect for Kiba even if he's just mocking him.]
I can't even consider the whole 'Dumb in general' for Naruto as a reasonable statement. Kishimoto, through out the entire damn series, kept Naruto comically dumb on purpose. Seriously, it was cute and endearing at first, but that trait kept going on and on and on when even he isn't stupid enough to utterly forget the nastier abilities of his enemies. (Nagato comes to mind, oh my god I wanted to drop a bomb on Kishimoto's head when, already seeing and understanding Nagato's ability to drain chakra from techniques, he goes and throws yet another Chakra technique at Nagato.)
Right there, that moment is when I replayed the skit from Far Cry 3. 'Do you know my definition of insanity?' Doing the same shit over and over again and expecting a different outcome.
Okay, new Pet Peeve: Dumb!Naruto. Not to be mistaken with Naive!Naruto or Ignorant!Naruto or even
Naruto-Catches-A-Goblin!Naruto. Cause I can swing all those things. I just feel pain when it's Dumb shit over and over again.