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. Future SASUNARU. Thank you.
"The Letters of Naruto Uzumaki to Sharingan Rooster-Head-sama"
Naruto sighed as he rolled another lopsided onigiri. Normally he would have his dinner in the common cafeteria but tonight he was having a "special dinner."
He snickered, finishing off the last mound and placing it in the bento he had carefully arranged.
"Special…yeah right," he murmured, glancing around the small kitchenette provided for the rooms on their floor.
"Naruto!" Iruka's warm smile was accompanied that night by a warm pot of teriyaki that he had prepared in the cafeteria's kitchen on the ground floor. He was the only student the cook had allowed to actually enter her sacred kitchen.
"My, my, you really adore that orange ensemble that you bought huh?"
Naruto rubbed the back of his neck guiltily. He had become quite fond of his latest purchase. Although he had kept the orange jacket in his closet until the winter months arrived, he used the orange pants as often as he could, with whatever clean shirt he had.
"Have you finished your onigiris?"
Naruto gestured towards the bento as he checked the rice in the rice pot. Iruka put down his cookery on the table and looked at the blonde's work. He clasped his hands in rapture.
"Ahh! It looks yummy!"
"It's nothing," Naruto murmured, flushing a bit at the compliment.
"I'll just change my clothes for a bit," Iruka grimaced at his sweaty uniform. "I'll probably be back before the others arrive from the supermarket."
True to his words, Iruka came back before the rest of the boys entered—Neji holding a box of sweets and Lee handling two bottles of cold drinks. After arranging all the food and plates and utensils, they all uttered a hearty "Let's eat!" before tucking in. Iruka beamed at the assembled boys eating with gusto, feeling extremely proud of himself. The dinner had been his idea, after all—part of his ongoing mission to bond everyone. Even Neji looked like he was having fun—
"Uzumaki, what is this?" Neji held up an onigiri contemptuously.
"Duh! What do you think it is, moron?" Naruto replied with his mouth half-full of teriyaki.
"It looks like a riceball that got thrown out of the window and squashed by stampeding feet."
"Hey! If you don't want to eat it, then don't!"
"Naruto! Neji! Please no fighting in front of the table."
Naruto harrumphed and settled down to just glowering at Neji.
"Neji stop being such a perfectionist," Lee said, happily munching on a riceball. "These are actually good despite their appearance."
Neji took a tentative nibble. His eyes widened. He took a bigger bite, refusing to see the triumphant look on Naruto's face or to acknowledge that it was actually good, really good. The rice was the perfect taste—not to salty—and was that a hint of spice and were those sesame seeds?
"Where did you learn to make these Naruto?" Iruka asked when he was sure that Neji had settled down. "Did you learn the recipe from your parents?"
Naruto choked. Iruka quickly patted his back while Lee offered him a drink.
"I'm sorry. Did I say something unpleasant?"
"Uhm…uh…no! Uhm…those…I learned how to do those on my own. I had to do a lot of cooking you know…" Naruto gulped down his drink.
What he had said was partly true. He had to learn how to cook and do other chores back in the orphanage.
"I'm sorry for being insensitive, bringing up your family when you never really got to know them," Iruka sighed, sitting down once more. "I guess your cooking reminded me of a home cooked meal. I really miss those. I miss family so much, especially my cute little siblings…"
"It is perfectly understandable," Neji said, licking his sticky fingers but still managing to look impeccably snotty while doing it. "Family is important. My family, the Uchiha-Hyuuga clan, is a tight-knit unit."
Naruto and Iruka caught each other's eyes and were hard pressed not to laugh at Neji's pompous attitude. He reached for another onigiri as he continued his speech.
"Although we seldom see each other, we have an annual get-together which all must attend no matter what. My cousins and I are practically the same age and we always managed to see each other and exchange stories. I have a cousin who is a little bit older than I but he and I have many things in common. People always mistake us for brothers."
"I agree with you," Lee said.
Naruto and Iruka groaned. There would be no stopping the two now. They loved nothing more than to prattle about family and youth and destiny. The two concentrated on their food while Lee and Neji lectured on the advantages of family.
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June 1, Friday
Dear Daddy Sharingan Rooster-Head,
You never answered my questions and they were important too. Are you awfully old or just a bit old? And how fat are you?
See, I'm trying to make this portrait of the most important person in my life—that's you!—but I can't start it. If you don't tell me anything then I'll just have to make this shadowy person with a rooster-like head. Help me out here!
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9:45 P.M.
I have a new unbreakable rule: never, ever to study at night, except when I have to cram for an exam. Instead, I just read or draw. Most of the time I draw. I just look out my window and draw whatever it is that I see or whatever inspires me. Right now I'm drawing this tree that's outside my window (I've put aside your portrait until you tell me more about yourself). Anyway, the tree is really big and old with lots of leaves and it looks good especially during a full moon.
I also borrowed this book on world art history yesterday. I'm learning a lot from it. Sometimes I just look at the pictures and imagine what the painter was thinking when he did his masterpiece.
I'm starting to get into adventure books too. I like the old stories about the samurais and ninjas. Maybe I can start a story about them…uh-oh better finish that thought tomorrow. Ten o'clock bell! Good night daddy!
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Monday
I know you wanted to hear from me only once a month but I've been showering you with letters and questions almost every week. So, I'll just continue this letter and I promise I won't bother you again until the middle of next month. So, won't you answer my questions at least? Please?
Or you could ask that weird secretary of yours to come and tell me: Sharingan-sama is really old or Sharingan-sama has blue eyes like Naruto or Sharingan-sama is obese.
Something like that. I'll make you some onigiris in exchange! Iruka made us four—Iruka, Lee, Neji, and me—have dinner together and they all liked my cooking. Neji didn't say anything but he ate most of what I made so it must really be good!
What do you say? Some delicious riceballs in exchange for information? Sounds like a good deal, right?
Looking forward to closing a deal with you,
Naruto, the Great Cook
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"Uzumaki!"
Naruto looked up from the letter he had just finished as Neji barged into his room.
"What is it bastard? Don't you know how to knock?" Naruto growled.
Neji impatiently dismissed the blonde's reaction and just grabbed his hand.
"Come with me!" he said, hauling Naruto out of the room towards the stairs.
"Wha—Hey! Where are we going?" Naruto yelled in alarm.
"To the reception area. My esteemed cousin has suddenly appeared for a visit. Since Iruka and I have an exam in our next subject, you will tour my cousin around the campus and then return him to our dormitory when my class is finished."
"What!" Naruto managed to hold onto the banister and stop their mad dash. "No!"
"Uzumaki" Neji growled. "I really do not have time for your foolishness."
"Then get someone else to do this! I don't want to!" Naruto freed his hand from Neji's grasp and stomped back up.
Neji contemplated pouncing on Naruto and trying to overpower him but that would take too much time. Besides, Naruto had learned a lot since he entered the kempo team. He decided to try another tactic.
"You've always said that you wouldn't turn away a friend in need," he called out almost accusingly.
Naruto stopped and partly turned back. Neji inwardly crowed in triumph. It was just too easy.
"Since when did you ever consider me your friend?" Naruto asked.
Neji groaned. He began to think fast.
"Okay, okay how about this? I'll buy you ramen for a week."
Naruto fully turned back and gazed at him.
"One month," he held up one finger. "And you don't call me idiot the whole time."
"One month?! You'll only be with him for an hour and a half. I refuse!"
Naruto's lips stretched into a wicked smile.
"Fine. Have it your way."
The blonde made a show of turning back up the stairs before Neji gurgled something unintelligible.
"What was that, Hyuuga?"
"Two weeks!" Neji said stubbornly. "And if you lay off being an idiot then I won't say anything demeaning about you."
Naruto's brows furrowed then he skipped down happily.
"You owe me one Neji!"
Neji grumbled but grabbed Naruto's hand again. They reached the reception area in record time. Only one person was there. Neji dropped Naruto's hand and hurried forward, partially blocking the guy from the blonde's sight.
"This is my yearmate Naruto Uzumaki. He will be touring you around while I go to my class."
Neji moved and Naruto got his first look at the "esteemed" cousin. Blue eyes widened as dark orbs clashed with his. An intense but fleeting vision of a haughty smirk and a shadow in the form of a rooster passed his mind leaving him disoriented. Slowly, the person rose from the couch.
"Uzumaki, this is my cousin, Sasuke Uchiha."
Naruto frowned as he bowed in greeting. The other boy looked familiar.
"Well I'll leave you two alone."
Neji gave Naruto a final meaningful glance to behave. Naruto responded by making a face at the Hyuuga before looking back at the Uchiha. He found Sasuke looking at him in a strange but unreadable way.
"Er…so where do you want to go first?" he asked, loosening his tie out of nervousness.
Red lips smirked.
"Wherever you want," a deep baritone answered.
Naruto's eyes widened as he finally remembered that conceited look, that arrogant voice! He cursed inwardly. Sasuke Uchiha had been the boy he had fought with in the orphanage the day he had received the blessings of Daddy Sharingan. This boy knew he was an orphan!
He knew he should have insisted on that one-month supply of ramen.
ARC: Thank you to those who reviewed, especially those who gave me pointers to ponder and include in the next chapters. I thank you from the bottom of my cold-blooded reptilian heart. Bow. :D
Onigiri is rice that's triangular in shape and can be made from leftover rice and a little bit of salt. Anything goes with onigiri, you can make it with nori (seaweed) or plums or whatever you want. Teriyaki is pan-fried beef tenderloin with special sauce. Aah, hungry!
–Dragon.
