Uzumaki Naruto ...

That was all that was written on the black and white composition style notebook he'd found on the floor of the room he and the blonde ninja had been begrudgingly sharing for the last three days while completing another mindless 'D' rank mission. The Uchicha knew better than to do what he was about to do yet curiosity or something less concrete urged him on, even as he scoffed to himself thinking Like that dobe thinks about anything but playing pranks and eating ramen. Still Sasuke fingered the pages of the notebook, flipping through them at random. Stopping near the front of the book he read unaware that this act would change things between the two young shinobi forever. Pushing back a stray lock of ink black hair from his eyes, the boy scanned the page, taking in clips of what had been written.

Sept. 19th

Grrr...this SO isn't fair... Iruka-sensei can be really mean sometimes. I mean it was only a little spider...Choji and Shikamaru were in on it too so how come I'm the only one getting stuck with this stupid assignment. GAH! I guess I should just do this writing thing and hope Iruka forgets about it after the first few weeks. I mean...a diary? Only girls keep diaries...this is so dumb...What am I even supposed to write about? Today I woke up...there ...THE END!

Sept 26th

BAKA!... Grrrrr.. So Iruka-sensei said writing about the assignment wasn't good enough and when I said I didn't care he gave me that look, the one that says "I'll be so disappointed in you" Gaaaah...I really HATE that look... He said I should try and be more serious about this so I guess I've got no choice ...here goes... This morning I woke up early...around 6 because...well I promised the land-lady I'd help her with chores and stuff since my money's running a little low and ... Anyhow it wasn't that bad really. She's kind of nice when she isn't yelling at me. Hmm... uh well after that I had breakfast...the microwave's broken so I had to use that evil stove...I swear I only looked away for a second and it burned the noodles... Grr..stupid stove. After an uneventful (boring) day at the academy a bunch of us (Kiba, Choji, Shika and I) went to hang out for a while. It was nice really...we went out to this little lake and talked for a while...well Kiba, Choji and I did...Shikamaru was cloud-watching and didn't say much at all. Then Kiba had to run home and bring his stupid dog back with him. Akamaru is about as domesticated as Kiba...the mutt bit a hole in my jacket when Kiba and I played frisbee and I suck at sowing so it's still there...guess I'll have to ask Iruka-sensei when I turn this "Diary" in tomorrow. Well it's almost seven know so I guess I'll go train some before I eat an get to bed.

Sasuke looked up from the book a moment and sighed. It was pretty much what he'd expected though he had to admit he was a bit surprised by the range of Naruto's vocabulary, not that he truly thought the other boy was as dumb as he acted but surprised none the less. He noticed a few more entries for that month of varying lengths none of it all that interesting to the Uchiha that is until he got to the next month...

Oct. 10th

Today I'm another year older... I guess I don't really mind things so much. Hey...we get the day off from classes so it can't be all bad right. Iruka-sensei offered to take me out for ramen like every year but I decided I'd stay home, I kind of feel bad ...like I'm a burden on him...besides I know how hard it is for him even if it has been thirteen years... My power's out again so I guess it's leftovers for lunch and dinner today... At least the heat's still on...for now. I don't like to go out much on this day. It's not that it's any worse than usual, okay well maybe it is but I won't let them know it... the reason is every year it seems to get harder to pretend I don't care. I mean ...I don't...but I just don't feel right being out there today...putting on that stupid smile and pretending everything's okay. Especially when I know how much it must hurt...So I don't blame them... I don't think I'll be in class tomorrow either...I think maybe I'm coming down with a cold or something but..anyhow...maybe it's better this way...for everyone. Gomenasi ...I think I'm going to call this a journal from now on...though I still think it's stupid.

Oct. 12th

So I know it's not next week already...I'm not that stupid... I just needed to talk to somebody and since, well I can't exactly say this to my friends or anything...I can already hear Shikamaru now "Baka Naruto...mendokusai ne..." and he's really the only one who'll listen to me...well besides Iruka...but I still don't want to bother him. I mean he's got enough to do without me whining to him about things and besides I can't invite him over now...He'd just freak out about me not having power in the apartment again...but I swear I got them the payment in time..It should've been ahead of time. I guess it's just a mistake you know, besides it's really not that bad... So I guess, journal, I'll be talking to you...oh...heh I guess I should apoligize for leaving you in the rain the other day I kinda forgot you were in my jacket pocket and I was covered in mud from walking back home...Gyah! What am I saying you're a book you don't have feelings...this is starting to make my head hurt. I'll write more tomorrow...when it isn't so dark. Goodnight!

Oct. 13th

Class was boring today and I got yelled at again for falling asleep...I couldn't help it...with the power out it was too cold to sleep last night so I ended up sitting up all night. I hope they fixed the power today I really don't want to be that cold again. I think things are getting better though journal, though I still can't do Bunshin no Jutsu right. I won't give up though, I'm going to pass this time, I mean it. I won't be left back again. I'll never become Hokage that way. Yeah, yeah I know what you're thinking...the same thing most people think when they hear me say that, but I swear I'll keep trying...and it's not just to prove everyone is wrong about me (though there are a few choice faces I'd like to rub it in...) I want them to recognize my strength and hey maybe someday when I'm the hero of Konohagakure the villagers won't look at me like they do. Maybe I am just an idiot but that dream means everything to me.


Oct. 18th

Gyahahaha! Today was great. Everyone noticed me. First I painted the Hokage monument...hehhehe...it's like I told Iruka-sensei it's not that I don't respect them or anything..I mean they were all great, amazing ninjas...the strongest in the village...and the fourth even saved the village from a demon fox... but see the thing is...One day I'll become Hokage and surpass all the previous Hokage. Then everyone will acknowledge me. Anyhow... I got Iruka-sensei again latter in class when he made us practice for the final exam WHICH IS TOMORROW! I'm finally going to become a ninja ...this time for real... I won't fail... Ohh...hehe yeah I was talking about the prank I pulled on Iruka-sensei... So we all had to line up and do Henge no Jutsu to look like him and I got him good...heh with my Sexy no Jutsu...his face was even redder than when he yelled at me about the paint thing...I thought he was going to die...but Kami it was funny...even if I ended up getting yelled at again it was totally worth it.

Later Iruka-sensei took me out for ramen, after I cleaned off the monument, he wouldn't let me try on his forehead protector but at least I got to have seconds!

((TBC))