Disclaimer: This is a fanfiction based on the novel Daddy-Long-Legs using characters from the series Naruto. I own not the novel nor the series so, if you please, do not sue me for I own nothing but my computer. One reviewer asked for the pairing: future SASUNARU. There, that's clear. Thank you.

"The Letters of Naruto Uzumaki to Sharingan Rooster-Head-sama"

"'But what good did it do?' asked the raven.

Good? asked the Mikado of All Night's Dreaming.

'Yes,' said the raven. 'The monk was to die, and he died. The fox who tried to help him failed to help him. The onmyoji lost everything. What good did it do, your granting her wish?'

The king stared away at the horizon.

Lessons were learned,said the pale king. Events occurred as it was proper for them to do. I do not perceive that my attention was wasted.

'Lessons were learned?' said the raven, bristling its neck feathers, and raising its black head high. 'By whom?'

By all of them. Particularly the monk…"

"And that's the end of the story of the fox, the monk, and the King of All Night's Dreaming," Naruto lifted his gaze from the printed copy of his paper to see his classmates listening attentively at him. He inwardly jumped for joy. They were actually respecting him and his work!

"Or that's the official ending. But in one version, I've read that dreamers would sometimes see a monk and a fox, or a man and a woman together in the place where the bakus graze."

Naruto handed his report to his teacher and took his seat.

"That's very good Mr. Uzumaki! Full marks for your paper. It showed a thorough understanding of the subject and you even managed to find a new twist to an old tale."

A pale hand shot up. Naruto resisted the urge to glower.

"Yes Mr. Hyuuga?"

"Certainly Uzumaki's story-telling ability is passable. However, basing a paper on the contents of a comic book, which as Uzumaki has expressed is his main source of reference, for me should not deserve full marks."

A murmur of assent rose up in the room.

"Hey it wasn't a comic book!" Naruto protested, standing up. "It was a novel based on old writings too! Besides what's wrong if I get my materials from comic books?"

Several heads nodded at this statement.

"This is a class on classic literature," Neji looked haughtily back at him. "Comic books are not considered good resources for the tales that we use here. Good, solid library research should be the norm."

Light flashed off some eyeglasses as the members of the Society of Library Bookworms in the room agreed with Neji.

"I did go to that stuffy library. I read books for my paper from that place too. Besides we weren't told not to use comic books, right Ms. Anko?"

By that time Naruto was already hyperventilating. There was a trace of tears of frustration in his eyes too. Taking pity on her student, the teacher decided to step in.

"Class, class, settle down. Now, Mr. Hyuuga, even though you stated a valid point in that solid research is important, I still stand by my earlier remark that Mr. Uzumaki's paper is quite good."

Neji opened his mouth to protest but Ms. Anko raised a hand.

"I believe that Mr. Uzumaki was just expanding on the directives of the homework that I gave out. His own research process showed initiative. Now, between someone who uses all of the resources he has in hand, whether academically standard or not, and someone who just settles for what is readily available, who do you think deserves more merit?"

The class was silent.

"We've learned an important lesson today, class. Do not allow your minds to be boxed-in by the usual rules. Learn to free your creativity and sources of ideas. That is where great literature usually comes from."

The bell rang.

"And with that, I'll see you all next week. Have a great weekend."

The class stood up as one and bowed to their teacher. Then they all got ready to leave.

"You've done it again Uzumaki," Neji said, striding over to Naruto's area. "I don't know how you do it but you always manage to convince our teachers into letting you go scot-free."

Several of Neji's followers laughed.

"Ah, shut up fate-boy. You're just jealous 'cause Iruka helped me more with this paper!"

"Uzumaki," Neji growled.

An arm materialized between the two.

"Neji, Naruto, stop this."

The two looked at Iruka smiling at them both.

"Neji, I'm sorry if I put more effort into helping Naruto more than you. And I'm sorry I lent him my Sandman novel before you. I never thought that you would want to use it too."

Neji spluttered, turning red. Naruto snickered at him.

So fate-boy wanted to use the book too! Ha!

"And, Naruto, you did a good job. Now please stop trying to pick a fight with Neji."

Naruto opened his mouth to object but thought better. Iruka had been generous with his assistance. The least Naruto could do was humor the guy.

"You two really need to get along better," Iruka suddenly clapped his hands. "I know! Let's all go shopping tomorrow."

Naruto and Neji groaned simultaneously.

"Uhm…I don't think that's such a good idea Iruka…" Naruto said, trying to dissuade his friend.

"This will be a good way for us to all bond," the peacemaker said seemingly not hearing Naruto at all. "I'll ask Lee to come too!"

The two wailed in despair.

"We're okay Iruka," Naruto said, draping an arm around Neji. He felt the other boy stiffen then keep still. "See? Neji and I get along."

Iruka stared at them for a long moment before smirking and walking away.

"I think we can get some clothes and some groceries done…Naruto, you definitely need to buy more T-shirts…"

Neji shook Naruto's arm off and lifted his head high.

"Umino, I refuse to go to your—"

The words died in his throat as Iruka turned a single hard eye at him.

"You have nothing planned tomorrow right Neji?" Iruka asked sweetly, still halfway turned.

"No…," Neji answered hesitantly.

"Then you wouldn't mind going with me and Naruto and Lee right?"

Neji's shoulders slump forward. Iruka might be the kindest person in their school but when he got angry then all hell would break lose. He had witnessed Iruka lose his cool only once but he still had nightmares about it. Also, when the brunette got an idea into his head, nothing and no one could stop him.

"Right, Neji?"

"Yes, Iruka."

"And Naruto?"

"I'm going! I'm going!"

Naruto had also witnessed the one and only incident when Iruka became angry. The guy who had been cruel to the puppy Iruka had rescued was hospitalized for three weeks and the boy's parents had actually been the ones to apologize to Iruka for the incident. Naruto's new friend was really that scary.

"Good! That's settled then!"

Iruka skipped out of the door, babbling his plans out. The two would-be combatants followed him dejectedly. Their other classmates could only look at them in sympathy.

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Friday

Dear Daddy Sharingan Rooster-Head,

What do you think, Daddy? My Lit teacher said that my last paper showed "a thorough understanding of the subject and even managed to find a new twist on an old tale." Those were her own words! Honest! Neji (remember him? the stuck-up guy?) tried to make me lose points because I used a comic novel as a reference material. But daddy, the teacher defended me! She actually did. She said that I showed initiative. Ha! That really got Neji down. And then, guess what? I made the Freshman kempo team! I was black and blue for about a week but that's okay. Neji tried for the team too but he didn't get in. Double ha-ha to him!

I think I'll go celebrate with a bowl of ramen.

Off for a midnight snack,

Naruto

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A bowl of ramen really does wonders with a person. I don't know how I survived without it while I was in the Konoha Home. Come to think of it, I don't know how I managed to hold on to my creative side when the orphanage forced everyone to become clones of just one person. (Three guesses on who we had to look like. I'll draw you a clue.)

Looking deeper, I believe that my artistic ability steps from my early chalk-drawings of Ebisu-sensei on the orphanage's walls. (Here's a copy of my earlier works. Looks familiar?)

There I go again, saying bad things about the house that I lived in since I don't know when. I'm really sorry if I sound so impertinent but I really hated that place. It was so cold and sad. It's dark shadow looms over me even in this warm place.

Daddy, I'm going to be honest with you. Half the time I'm scared that people will find out that I'm an orphan and they won't like me anymore. Well, except Iruka. He'll probably like me even if I had a demon in me or something. But I bet his parents would stop him from befriending me if they found out my secret. As it is, some people think I'm weird because I don't understand half of what they're saying. Can I help it if jokes were banned in the Konoha Home? I also thought that I'd left those cold, pitying eyes of that place but there are still some people here who look at me like I'm a cockroach or some such bug.

So, you can't fault me if I tell a big, fat lie to those who actually care, right? I told Iruka that my parents were dead, and that a kind old gentleman who used to be their friend was sending me to high school. It's mostly true too. I don't want you to think that I'm a coward, but I really want people to acknowledge me here. Therefore, I'm turning my back on my roots for a while. I really think that I'm as likable a person as any normally-raised person here.

Anyway, Iruka thinks I'm a great friend!

Yours,

Naruto, the Friendly Person

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I've just been reading this letter over and it sounds very sad. Nothing like me at all. That's because Iruka is about to drag everyone living on this floor to the shopping mall!!! Can you see from my three exclamation points that I'm dreading this day? I don't like malls or any stores for that matter. The people who managed the stores near Konoha Home always made me feel like a thief or a low-life delinquent even though I never did anything when I went there but buy supplies.

I also really think it's pointless to spend so much time deciding which wardrobe to buy or which shoes are better. You should hear some of my classmates here talk like girls. I mean I thought all guys hated shopping? Then again, Iruka becomes obsessive compulsive (He! That's a new word I just discovered!) when he buys stuff for his family. Neji spends hours trying to buy the perfect can of soup! And Lee takes forever to decide which speedo is the right kind of green for him!

Me, if something catches my eye and it fits, I'll buy it. Then I'll restock my ramen stash and head on home.

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Saturday

Dear Daddy Sharingan Rooster-Head,

I know I'm not supposed to expect any letters in return, and I've been warned not to bother you with questions, but tell me, Daddy, just this once—are you awfully old or just a little old? And what color are your eyes? Also, how fat are you? It's very difficult thinking about you in the abstract like a theorem in geometry.

Given a fat, rich man who hates orphans but decided to be kind to one, what does he look like?

Awaiting your response,

Curiously yours,

Naruto

P.S.

Iruka has just popped his head in my room for the third time. I've been putting him off, saying that I have to finish my letter, but I guess I can't delay the inevitable. If I should stop sending letters, know that I have been stomped to death by the mob that's always present at malls.

(Here's what I look like right now. Save me!)

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Hands clasped behind his head, Naruto ambled slowly behind Iruka and Lee, who were enthusiastically discussing the merits of a new brand of shoes. Beside him, Neji was mumbling something about fate being unkind to him.

The two in front began to outstrip the two behind and Naruto was already hoping that Iruka would forget about him and let him escape.

No such luck. Iruka suddenly stopped as he realized that he left behind his two charges.

"Come on you two! Hurry up."

The two grumbled but sped up. Iruka sighed in frustration. A sign for male apparel caught his eye just as he was about to deliver a long speech about the importance of their trip.

"Hey, look! That shop has a sale. Let's go there."

Lee grinned and flashed him a thumbs up. Naruto shrugged. Neji continued to stare.

"Just come with us and afterwards…uhm…I'll treat you to ice cream!" Iruka said desperately.

Naruto immediately became his normal bouncy self and headed towards the store without any more promptings. Neji continued to stare.

"Neji, we'll visit that fortune teller on the third floor if you promise to behave."

Neji felt that his destiny pointed towards the store Iruka liked.

Inside, the four friends browsed along separate aisles until Naruto gave a loud whoop. Iruka immediately went to him thinking that he had met an accident, or worse, played a prank. He was just in time to see Naruto rush inside a changing booth. Lee and Neji joined him.

"What happened?" Lee asked, clutching a piece of green-colored material.

"What has that loser done this time?" Neji asked.

"I don't know," Iruka answered, quite perplexed. "I just saw him go into that booth. I think he found something that he liked."

They all took a step towards where the blond had disappeared when they were halted by the curtain of the booth being abruptly pushed aside. Naruto beamed at them with his hands akimbo, obviously pleased with what he was wearing.

The three stared.

The jacket was a garishly shade of orange that was obviously a surplus. The pair of loose, orange pants had been folded up several times because it was too long for the boy. The ensemble should have been an eyesore. It should have resulted in violent reactions. It should have been a major fashion faux pas.

It wasn't.

On Naruto, the orange number seemed to come alive and exude a magical light that frightened off all the shadows in the place. Naruto practically radiated life and joy and vigor.

The three stared.

Naruto actually made the ugly ensemble look good!

ARC: The first part of this chapter was taken from Neil Gaiman's Sandman: The Dream Hunters novel (which I also do not own but have used with liberty, please forgive me!)

Thank you once more to those who reviewed, especially those who pointed out some inconsistencies in my previous chapter. I thank you from the bottom of my cold-blooded reptilian heart. Bow. :D

Also, there will be parts wherein Naruto will draw his daddy some illustrations to prove his points. However, I cannot draw a straight line even if my life depended on it so, if you please, just imagine what Naruto's drawings would look like. Thank you once more.

–Dragon.