Hinata sat in her living room, watching the sun rise over the horizon quietly. She hadn't slept at all last night; all she could think about was the look of pain that was in Naruto's eyes at the thought of losing his friends. In front of her was the accursed book that had caused all the problems. And soon it would be over, but would it be a result she'd be willing to live with? She wasn't sure.
Turning away from the window she looked at the journal in thought before picking up the key and looked it over curiously, a frown etched on her face. She knew that she had to do this, if for no other reason than to get the others off of Naruto's case. Setting the key back down on top of the book she picked up the phone and dialed a number from memory. "Hello, Sakura-san? I wish to call a meeting... about the pictures. My house in one hour please."
Several miles away, Kakashi watched Naruto worriedly; the usually talkative blond was being oddly silent and thoughtful. Normally, Kakashi would celebrate by reading his book, but he couldn't focus on it without the distraction. And it had gotten to a really good part too; Megumi was just about to confess her love to Hiroshi and ask to join him and Mira in their relationship. Sighing as he put the book away, he studied the blond openly for a moment. Something was up, and he wanted him over it.
"Maaa... what is wrong with my cute little student?" Kakashi drawled as he picked up his pace to come even with Naruto. "It's not like you to be so silent."
Naruto gulped nervously as he started and stopped a few times. "I... uhh... it's nothing Kakashi-sensei, I'm just thinking about something."
"Hmm... that's a dangerous pastime..." Kakashi responded dryly as he pulled out his book, reading it while talking with Naruto calmly. "You know... I haven't heard of you pranking anyone recently. Those were some of the highlights of my week you know... reading about you pranking ANBU or Jounins."
Kakashi's good eye widened slightly at the pained wince from Naruto, he usually liked to talk about his prankster past, but it seemed that was involved in this. Racing through what he knew about the boy he growled silently in frustration at just how much of it was classified and unfit to talk about in the open. He would desperately love to tell Naruto about his father... wait a minute... there was an idea...
"Maa Naruto-kun," Kakashi started, watching his former pupil intently, "Did you know that the Yondaime was my teacher? I know he was your idol. So maybe I could tell you some stories."
Naruto's eyes lit up slightly as he heard about the chance to learn more about the Hokage he wanted to be better than more than anything on Earth. However there was only one question that his mind could think of. "Kakashi-sensei... if... if he had survived the Kyuubi's attack on Konoha... do you think he'd have liked me? I mean he was a great man, I worry that he... he'd dislike me because I'm a prankster."
"No, he'd have like you a lot actually. I remember him getting really friendly with the previous Konoha prankster," Kakashi answered calmly as he turned the page in his book, "Kushina was her name, she was a lot like you. Kept the entire village on their toes." Chuckling fondly he used his thumb to mark the spot on the page, "One time she managed to glue three entire ANBU squads to the ceiling on the academy with the help of her little prankster apprentice, Iruka Umino."
Kakashi's eye turned into his traditional upside-down u shape as he watched Naruto's eyes bug at the new information planted on the table before him. The man who had hounded him about his pranking had been a prankster himself. The mental whirlpool that must have caused was definitely amusing to watch play out on Naruto's face.
Back in Konoha, the remaining members of the graduating class had gathered in Hinata's living room, each fidgeting under her tear-filled stare, a journal with a key in the lock before her. They had arrived early, by at least fifteen minutes when they heard that Hinata had called the meeting. It took a lot for Hinata to push for anything, even more for her to refuse to take a no for an answer.
When they got there, she invited them in, offered them a drink or something to eat, and then sat down and started staring at them silently. Nobody was sure how to start, each felt that she was weighing their worth while she silently studied the group. It really unnerved them to have her sitting across from everyone, almost like she was alone against them.
The gong of the clock on the mantle caused most of the assembled ninjas to jump, the only one that didn't was Shino who merely twitched. As the last gong faded into silence Hinata finally spoke. "Was it worth it?"
Before anyone could ask what she meant, Hinata continued, "This past week we all pushed and pried into Naruto's personal life. He has left to go camping for a while, leaving this journal behind. In here is his past, the good... the bad... everything... or it might not be... I don't know. I haven't read it yet. I want to know... was hurting Naruto-kun worth it?"
As everyone was reeling from that stabbing of guilt deep inside of them, Hinata waited staring deeply into their eyes, unblinking. After a moment she picked up the key and held it out in front of their eyes. "Do you see this? This is the kunai that we can stab Naruto into the back with... Or we can protect him... The choice is all in the answer you give me... Was. It. Worth. It?"
It was Shino that spoke first, breaking the pained silence nearly a full three minutes later. "No it wasn't Hinata. Naruto is our friend... we should have trusted him more."
As the others murmured their agreements, Hinata laid the key down on the diary with a sad smile on her face. "That is what I had hoped you would say. Now... we are likely to find out things that Naruto has hidden for years... I want you all to consider that Naruto is baring everything to us. If you feel you might hurt him with or because of what you learn, you know where the door is, you can see yourself out."
Kiba stood up and began walking towards Hinata, seemingly ready to pass her and exit. All eyes were on him as he walked past Hinata and towards the hall out. He stopped a step from the hall and moved over to the side, shutting the curtains for the window instead. "This should be a private meeting."
Sakura smiled calmly and stood up, walking towards Hinata, her eyes locked on the other woman. Reaching out she took the key away from Hinata, and looked at it for a moment before sticking it into the lock and turning the key with a solid click. "I called the others in... I made you join us... I unlocked the diary. This is what happened, and what we'll tell Naruto if he ever asks," Sakura stated calmly as she pulled the lock away and used the key to hold it down.
Hinata flipped open the book after hugging Sakura gently. Finding the first entry, she looked over the crayon scribbling trying to figure out what it said. After a moment they decided to skip until they came upon something resembling words. A few dozen pages later, they came upon an entry that had Ino fuming, while Sakura giggled insanely. Apparently it was Naruto who had put green food coloring into Ino's shampoo. The attached picture was the first that was taken by the new camera 'Old-man Hokage' gave him for his birthday. Green haired Ino was chasing around a laughing Sakura while others seemed to be joining in the laughter.
The next entry had the roles reverse, with Sakura fuming as Ino laughed. It was the time that someone had made her mother think it was a snow day, so that when Sakura waddled out wrapped in several dozen layers of clothing; she was nearly laughed off the face of the Earth by people in shorts and t-shirts.
Several pages later, the journal stopped making them laugh, as Naruto began writing about his life outside of pranking. Most of it was crossed out, with side margins explaining he had to save the erasers he snatched from the garbage for homework assignments. It was easy to make them out though, and what they saw made their hearts sink. He would describe how he would get bullied, beaten by adults, or neglected of many of the things they took for granted. They found out that Naruto had worked after school for months at the weapons shop in order to pay off the training kunai and shurikins that they all got from their parents. He even refused to accept the Hokage's help in paying for it, stating that he had his pride still.
It was a couple pages later that Hinata pointed something out. "He never puts names unless it's positive for them... Look here... he says that Iruka-sensei treated him to some ramen, but later in the same paragraph he claims that the 'scarred-nose teacher' yelled at him. And again where he says Sakura-chan was really pretty today, but then refers to her as 'pink' when he mentions her hitting him..."
A couple pages later no one could meet any one's eyes. It was crossed out, but still very painfully readable. Again he never put down a single name, but it was very easy to tell who he meant. It was a detailed account of his classmates and teachers giving him a day from hell.
I wish they'd stop looking at me with 'those' eyes, ya know? I just want someone to recognize me as another human... Today, I tried to talk with pink hair, but she punched me when I said she was pretty. Then teme chose that moment to walk past, kicking me in mid-step, making blondie and pink hair trample me. No one seemed to care how much pain I was in, not even pineapple, mutt, and snacker. They just laughed at me. The only ones that didn't laugh was pale eyes, she just watched, and bugs, but I don't think he can laugh. I wanted to talk with her next recess, but when I did she just got all red with anger and ran away. I chose to skip and listen to scar-nose scold, then have the other teachers beat me up... again.
The group paused to allow the impact of the entry to pass; the girls were wiping their eyes while the guys all looked anywhere but at the others. Several minutes later the sound of the page being turned broke the silence. The others looked at Hinata as she flipped past several entries and pictures, until she came upon the day no one else could remember. As her eyes widened the others moved closer to read the entry. It seemed that Naruto had made each pose purposely, and even wrote them messages to explain them.
Today Iruka-sensei had us try out al-ka-hol, it tastes nasty. It also made everyone really sleeping, so I thought of a beautiful final prank to play on the entire class. I know we're going to be separating in a couple weeks, so I wanted to send out these final messages to them.
Next to a picture of Sasuke and Kiba cuddling nice and tenderly was messages for the two of them. Kiba looked away from the note after reading it, coughing and looking slightly ashamed. To Sasuke: You need someone strong and loyal as a teammate, Kiba would be a good friend to have. To Kiba: Sasuke will help push you farther on your path to being a strong member of your pack. Show him you your strength, especially that loyal heart of yours.
Next was a picture of Sakura and Ino laying on top of each other, arms and legs entwined. Wolf howls and whistles echoed from the guys as Sakura and Ino both turned redder than Sakura's dress. Sakura/Ino: You two are best friends, and fit well together, forget Sasuke and be good to each other, please?
Next up was the newest teacher of the ninja academy, Shikamaru, slouched over the lectern, appearing to have passed out while teaching a class, not that that hadn't happened already. His message was simple and to the point. To Shikamaru:You are smart, share it with others.
Following the shadow user's picture, came his best friend, and unofficial classroom alarm clock, sprawled out over a health food cook book. To Chouji: Not saying your fat man, because I know about you needing to eat and all that... but ya know these just sounded tasty and useful. Hope you like them!
Shino's picture was of him surrounded by bug spray, especially mosquito repellent, which no one save Shino could remember him waking up like that. Each note prior to this had caused them to squirm, often ending the one mentioned looking away in shame. Shino seemed to manage to stoically look at the entry for him and hold its gaze. To Shino: Hey bug man, I heard those mosquitoes carry sicknesses... just take care, alright?
Hinata blushed heavily as she read over her note, having to stop a few times to wipe her eyes at how thoughtful Naruto seemed to be when writing this note. To Hinata: I want to shield you from the horrors of the path we've chosen, but doing that would make you no better than a dummy. Stand tall, be proud of yourself.
Hinata paused a moment to let her blush die down, before moving onto the picture of Iruka tucked in, with a copy of Icha Icha on his face. When Sakura snorted and made a comment about it looking like Kakashi had visited, the others joined in chuckling softly. When they had settled down Hinata read the entry for him. To Iruka-sensei: You need to relax more, maybe get some reading done.
The last picture was the one that had caught their attention most of all. It was almost an exact copy of the one that Hinata had found initially. Only this one the blond tuft of hair at the bottom was a little more obvious than in the other. What had caught their attention most of all was that it was the only one without a comment or anything on it.
They sat a few minutes in silence before Kiba pushed off the seat he had been on, bumping into the table, accidentally knocking it into the journal in Hinata's hands and knocking the tape of the picture loose. As the photo fluttered to the ground, their eyes caught sight of a message on the backside addressed to everyone. Once the picture had settled on the ground, they were finally able to read it, eyes misting over as they read it.
To Everyone: I will be watching over you, even if I'm not one of you. Ji-san once told me, "A Shinobi's duty is to watch over the people of their villages, a Hokage's honor is to watch over the shinobi." I hope to live up to that honor.
No one could believe what they saw in those words to them, Naruto, the one that no one had believed in until the Chuunin exams, save Hinata and some adults, had them all in his heart all that time. He even stopped pranking to become a better person.
Replacing the picture in the journal they notice that a picture had work itself loose on the next page. After ensuring that it was firmly in place, they slowly turned the page to see the picture, and found them all looking at themselves shortly after they had all gotten back to the tower. The message was above the picture, but it was certainly touching.
This is my final entry journal. Since becoming a shinobi, I have given up pranks, mostly. It's great that all my friends are doing well, and supporting each other. They're even supporting me. All my dreams are coming true lately; maybe someday I'll be able to find someone that loves me for who I am. Until then, I am, and will remain Naruto Uzumaki.
PS: The next page is an explosive tag.
Hearing the familiar fizzling sound of a tag burning, the entire group dove for cover as one. When the sound died down, minus the earth shattering kaboom, a few ventured forth to check the page. Their curiosity was rewarded by a picture of one younger Naruto Uzumaki pointing and laughing his ass off at them from out of the book. A moment later his voice came out with a chuckle before speaking out, saying only one word, that summed up his life as a prankster. "Gotcha!"
The group all looked at one another for a moment before someone started snickering. Heads turned slowly towards the source of the sound, only to find Hinata laughing. Soon after all the room save Shino joined in the laughter, Shino himself had the largest smirk he'd ever wore in his life.