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. SASUNARU so beware all ye who dare to read on.
"The Letters of Naruto Uzumaki to Sharingan Rooster-Head-sama"
Naruto slammed his room's door shut and raced out of the dorm towards Hayate-san's house. At the main door he almost collided with Iruka.
"Naruto slow down," his best friend admonished. "You just got out of the infirmary. You should be taking it easy."
"I'm fine Iruka!" Naruto insisted, jumping up and down like a little kid. "I just need to deliver this important late Christmas present to a friend."
"Oh? Who?"
"Hayate-san and his family!"
Iruka's brows furrowed.
"You mean that guy we met two months ago? The one who was coughing all the time?"
"Yep that's him. My guardian has a special gift for him and I'm delivering it now."
Iruka sighed.
"Okay, fine. But take it easy. Don't run too much. Make sure that your jacket is properly closed. Maybe you should take my scarf and—"
"I'm fine Iruka!" Naruto laughed and skipped out of the other boy's hold. "I'll see you later!"
"Hey!" Iruka yelled as Naruto moved on. "I'm meeting Sakura later at the Ichiraku. If you want you can join us."
Naruto waved and held up a thumbs up sign to show his agreement. True to his promise, he did take it easy on the way to his friend's house. Well, easy enough for his hyperactive personality.
As he expected, Hayate-san was profuse with gratitude when Naruto handed out the money.
"It's not much," Naruto said, scratching the back of his head and grinning embarrassedly. The feeling of helping someone else like this was so new that he didn't know how to act.
"Oh but it is!" Hayate-san contradicted in between bouts of coughing.
"Uh well…I gotta go then," Naruto hastily said. He wanted the uncomfortable moment to end fast. "I'm…uhm…ah…meeting some friends. Yeah! That's right! Meeting some friends."
"Yes. Okay. Naruto, I can't say thank you enough. This means so much not just for me but especially for my family."
Naruto beamed, bowed, and hurriedly walked away. A few minutes later he arrived at his favorite restaurant and saw the Umino siblings settling down in a booth.
"Iruka! Sakura-chaaan!"
He stopped short when he saw Sakura's tearstained face.
"What's wrong, Sakura-chan? What happened to you? Who hurt you?"
"It's nothing Naruto," Sakura sobbed out.
"Nothing? Nothing! It must be something! You're crying!"
"Naruto please sit down," Iruka suggested mildly as he cradled his younger sister in his arms.
"Would you guys like to order?"
Iruka smiled at the waitress.
"Just the usual please," he said before turning back to Sakura.
It took several minutes and Naruto's second bowl of miso ramen before Sakura managed to gather herself together.
"Will you tell me what happened now?" Naruto pleaded.
Sakura just shook her head.
"It's silly really and not important," she answered, poking her ramen.
"But if it's Sakura-chan it must be important," Naruto insisted.
"I just—I just did a very foolish thing."
The two boys just looked at her.
"I confessed my feelings to Sasuke Uchiha-san."
Naruto was thunderstruck. He opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out. Sakura looked at him and giggled softly.
"Don't look so surprised. He's been my crush ever since I met him. I saw him during a seminar I attended for our school. I should have known that he didn't feel the same when he couldn't even remember my name. I had to tell him that I'm Naruto's friend before he acknowledged me."
Naruto snapped out of his dazed state.
"What? He didn't turn you down?" he asked incredulously.
Sakura smiled sadly.
"He was very straightforward about it," she said.
"That bastard," Naruto growled.
"Oh! I don't blame him Naruto. He's one of the most eligible bachelors today. I'm sure that he has a lot of women running after him."
"Still! He didn't have to hurt you like that."
Sakura shook her head.
"But it was for the best. It would have hurt me more if he pretended to care. At least he saved me from embarrassing myself further. He was honest and I liked him even more because of that."
Naruto scowled. He couldn't deny Sakura's good sense or Sasuke's honesty. But something about the conversation bothered him more than the fact that Sakura was clearly enamored of Sasuke.
"Are you all right now?" Iruka asked gently.
Sakura smiled at him.
"Not yet. But I will be."
"Then eat! Eat!" Naruto suggested, waving to the waitress to order his third bowl of ramen. "Nothing cheers me up more than a good bowl of ramen! I bet you'll feel like that too!"
It was only late that night when Naruto finally figured out what had been nagging him that afternoon. He hadn't felt jealous of Sakura having a crush on Sasuke. Sasuke's rejection, although predictable, had made a greater impact on his feelings.
January
Dear Daddy Rooster-Head,
I received your wired money for Hayate-san. Thank you! Thank you! As soon as I was out of the infirmary (I got sick (again!) during the holiday but I'm fine now) I rushed over to the bank and took out the money and gave it to Hayate-san. He was so surprised and happy that he couldn't stop coughing. Then again he coughs a lot since he became sick, but anyway…I also gave the money from Sasuke. The bastard saw the notice of the money from you when he visited last Christmas. For some reason he just decided to write out a check. Heh! Guess the guy got bit by the Christmas bug and decided to give some stranger a pitiful amount of money. He didn't even ask who I was giving the money to. Anyway, I felt really happy when I gave the money away. Is that how you feel, daddy, whenever you help someone out? It's like there was this glowing ball inside my heart. I wanted to laugh and blush at the same time because I was happy and embarrassed all at once.
Anyway, I got some studying done during the break too. I also had a lot of visitors this year. Iruka stayed in the dorm to get some studying done so he was almost always with me. Gaara visited me before he went to his house to celebrate New Year's. Sasuke came one day. I guess he was feeling really good that day because he didn't yell at me that much or called me an idiot. I didn't know that that guy could actually get into the whole Christmas spirit. I managed to persuade him to answer a few review questions for me.
Did you like your present? I'm sorry if it's crooked. I'm not really into the whole knitting thing but I gave it my best.
Oh! I forgot to tell you about the teacher-student conference we had last November where we talked about our plans for the future. The teacher assigned to my class was very encouraging. She said that I looked like I was heading towards what I really love and that I should continue walking the path that I've chosen. She was really enthusiastic about my published work. She even joked that she should get my autograph before I become famous so that she could have something valuable in the future. Then she made me sign something. Hehe, she really embarrassed me at that time.
Seems I keep going into embarrassing events these days. But I'm happy about it. And teacher made me realize that I really can be somebody in the near future. And it's all thanks to you, daddy.
Naruto
Dear Daddy Sharingan Rooster-Head,
Finals are coming up. I'm cramming up everything that I've learned for three years. My head feels like it's about to explode.
Also commencement exercises will be on March 1. Iruka's whole family will be there. Neji has asked some of his snooty clan members to come, including Sasuke. So, you will come too right? I mean you're my only family right now so you will be there right? I'll probably be receiving some honors and stuff so I need a parent-person there with me. Just tell me what you'll be wearing so I can put you in the reserved section for parents. And also so I can wave at you properly. It would be really awkward to wave to someone else's parent thinking he's you.
Please come. I'll show you just how much I've grown since you took me in under your wings.
Naruto
March 20
Chidori Farm
Dear Daddy Rooster-Head,
Why didn't you come to my commencement ceremony? I'm really disappointed. You would've been able to meet the entire Umino family. Even grandpa and grandma Umino were there. They were really proud of Iruka. They kept hugging him and kissing him. And when they saw me, they hugged and kissed me as if I were part of their family. They were really a warm family.
In stark contrast, the Hyuuga clan was so serious and snotty. Neji's mother and father came. And some cousins. Sasuke too. Although, since he's one of the most distinguished alumni of the school, he was given a special chair on the stage. When I came up to get my diploma and some medals I'd always see him smirking down at me. Hmp! Bastard!
After all the stuff I packed my bags, hugged Iruka, Haku and Inari really tight and jumped the fastest train to the Chidori Farm. I'm sorry if I didn't tell you. I had planned to say it during commencement but since you didn't come, there wasn't time for me to tell you.
I'm going to stay here while I study for my uni entrance exam. I know I have a scholarship standing by so I really wanna make it to a good university. I spoke with the magazine's head honcho and he said that it doesn't matter which uni I get into. So long as I maintain a good grade, they'll support me.
Iruka is also studying for uni. He might visit one of these days just to get away from his noisy family.
Anyway, farm news now. The greatest, most shocking news would be that Ino and Shikamaru are getting married! I don't know what Ino did or if Shikamaru got amnesia but those two are getting married in a month.
Weird right? I mean those two can barely stand each other and now they're getting married. How surreal is that?
Then next news, Sasuke's coming to the wedding. I don't know how Tsunade and Jiraiya managed to twist his arm and get him to agree to attend. I bet they had to blackmail him or something.
All activities are focused on the wedding right now. But it's still more peaceful than the whole dorm during exam week.
I'm in charge of keeping Shikamaru from bolting. I'd actually push him to run away if Tsunade hadn't threatened to kill me if Shikamaru disappeared. It's a very tiring duty. It's only eight o'clock and I'm already sleepy.
Good night daddy,
Naruto
April 10
Dear Daddy Rooster-Head,
Well the wedding went off without a hitch. Everything was great, the weather, the food, even the guests, which weren't that many to begin with. Just close friends and family.
Sasuke's still here though. He's been acting way stranger than usual. He keeps asking random questions and never listening to my answers. I wonder if he's coming down with something. I hope not. I hate getting sick and I don't like people getting sick either even if that person is Sasuke bastard. Although Tsunade doesn't seem to think the asshole is sick, her being a healer and all I guess she'd be the first to know if he's got some disease or something. Hmmm…Tsunade and Jiraiya are going out tonight. I think I'll corner Sasuke and ask him what's wrong. Yeah, that's a good idea. Get straight answers from that jerk so I can stop wondering. Not that I'm worried or anything. He's still a bastard after all.
Good night daddy,
Naruto
Putting his plan into action, Naruto followed Sasuke to the garden after dinner and demanded that the other man tell him what's wrong.
"You're driving me crazy with all these angstsy weirdness so just tell me what's gotten your panties all in a knot!"
Sasuke froze under a cherry blossom tree. Naruto opened his mouth to yell some more but Sasuke mumbled something he couldn't hear.
"Eh? What did you say?"
Sasuke whipped around. Naruto took a step back when he saw Sasuke's eyes. In the dim moonlight the other man's eyes seemed to glow red.
"I said I can't stop it," Sasuke said. "I tried to stop it. I've struggled against it. But my feelings can't be repressed anymore."
"Eh? What're you talking about now?"
Sasuke's eyes pinned Naruto to his spot.
"Naruto! I like you. A lot. I want you to live with me."
To say that Naruto was astonished was an understatement. He was flabbergasted. He was thunderstruck. He was so shocked that his mind became blank.
"I can't ask you to marry me," Sasuke continued. "So I'm asking you to live with me. I'm rich so I can send you to school. You won't have to worry about your future. And we manage to have fun and not kill each other most of the time."
"You're crazy," Naruto rasped out.
Sasuke grinned dully. "Yeah I guess I am. You just have that effect on people you know. You drive them completely batty."
"I knew it! You must be really sick. Don't worry I'll ask old Tsunade to take a look at you. Why don't you go to bed?"
Naruto moved forward to grab Sasuke's hand and guide him back to the house. He tried to drag the other man but Sasuke resisted.
"Naruto."
Something in Sasuke's serious voice frightened Naruto. He let go of Sasuke's hand but the older man took his in turn.
"Look at me Naruto."
The blonde shook his head.
"Naruto!"
"Why are you saying such things this now?"
"Neji…"
Naruto whipped around to stare at Sasuke.
"Your asshole cousin?"
"He—he said some things. He made me realize that well, I dunno, I care about you. More than any one else in my life. Ever since that accident, I have distanced myself from people. Even those of my family."
"That incident?"
"My family was killed in an accident. That room in the Hyuuga mansion. The one reserved for the heads of the family that you used during Christmas. That used to be my parents' room. It hadn't been used since they died."
"So that's why they made so much fuss about it? About me?"
"Yes. Neji, he…my whole family knew that I was headed towards self-destructing. Neji is an asshole but he cared, cared enough to notice that I was less tormented whenever I'm with you. He may not have used the best method to make me realize the fact but at least he tried. That's more than I can say for the others. I tried to prove Neji wrong. You should know already that denial is one way of life for the average Uchiha. But like I said I can't stop what I feel."
Sasuke tightened his hold on Naruto's hand.
"Wait this is all wrong." Naruto tried to shake off Sasuke's grip. "I'm a guy, you're a guy. This—"
"I don't care about that!" Sasuke cried out. "I don't care about your gender. I don't care that you're an orphan. I don't care if you got a scholarship from unknown benefactor. I know you're way beneath my status in society. Do you really think it's easy for me to accept that I like someone so much that I'm willing get into a relationship that is so against my will, against my reason, and against my character?"
Naruto bowed his head, his hand becoming lax.
"What did you say?" he asked softly.
"You know that my family is of a noble lineage. It's steeped in tradition. But I'm willing to fight them. For you. And I know you want me too, Naruto."
"What?"
"You can't deny that you don't feel that electrifying sensation whenever we're together. Even an idiot like you can sense that right?"
Naruto tensed before his other arm blurred and smacked Sasuke's face. Sasuke staggered back releasing his hold on the blonde.
"What the hell was that for?"
"You know," Naruto's voice quivered with barely suppressed rage, his hand clenched tightly at his side, "I should have known right from the start that you'd be nothing more than a rich bastard who doesn't really know what it's like to love someone."
"What? Haven't you been listening to what I've been saying?"
"And have you?"
Sasuke touched his sore cheek. He was completely baffled.
"Have you been listening to your own words at all?" Naruto continued. "Have you been listening to yourself say how little you think of me? How you hate what you're feeling and you'd do anything not to be in this situation? How you've bribed me with your money just so I'll agree to your proposal?"
Sasuke scowled.
"I didn't say that I hate what I'm feeling—"
"But that's what you meant! Do you really believe that I'd want to be with someone who really just loves himself? Someone whose world can only contain just himself?"
"Naruto I think you're overreacting again—"
"I hate you Sasuke Uchiha!"
"Wha—hey are you rejecting me?"
Naruto's blazing eyes met those of Sasuke's.
"Shocked, Uchiha? Someone as lowly as an orphan is actually rejecting you. Stop fooling yourself Uchiha. You don't really like me. I don't even know what made you think that you wanted me. I know! Maybe you just want me like a new toy, hmm? Being a businessman you like acquiring stuff right? Yeah I guess that's the reason."
Naruto turned around and started walking away.
"Go back to where you belong Uchiha. Go back to the women who would willingly die for you. Go back to the high-society people who are your equal."
He dashed back to the house. Sasuke continued to just stare into nothing as Naruto's words tumbled inside his head. The wind blew by and the beautiful sakura blossoms swirled around him. Some clouds hid the moon from sight. Darkness enveloped Sasuke as he continued to brood inside his head.
ARC: Thanks for all your wonderful reviews. I've fixed chapter 15 a bit thanks to your comments. I'm sorry this is kinda short and angstsy and bad. But don't worry, I believe in happy endings so please look forward to that. Besides, it's all Sasuke's fault! The bastard!
Next up, the stirring finale! Naruto writes everything that's happened to his daddy sharingan and gets his most fervent wish in reply: he'll finally get to see his benefactor in the flesh! Stay tuned!
Dragon
