Just then, the surroundings changed again. Tears covered Naruto's face as he looked around.
He was still in Konoha, but Kushina and Minato Namikaze had disappeared, and the sky had turned to daylight. A three- or four-year-old child was walking toward him.
Naruto recognized him at once. It was his younger self.
Little Naruto walked up to Naruto, then turned around, pointed at a pack of tissues, and quietly asked a shopkeeper:
"Sir, can I buy this?"
But the moment the shopkeeper saw Little Naruto, disgust appeared on his face, and his tone was even nastier:
"Get out, get out! Nothing here is for sale to you!"
Little Naruto was shoved straight onto the ground, but he didn't dare say anything. He simply got up, feeling wronged, and walked on with a dejected expression.
The older Naruto was stunned by what he saw. Although he often saw that expression himself, people usually concealed it somewhat, and they certainly wouldn't drive him away so openly with their hands.
Seeing Little Naruto walking away, the older Naruto hurried after him.
Up ahead, three children of the same age were playing. Little Naruto's eyes lit up at the sight, and he immediately started running over to join them.
But as soon as the three children saw Little Naruto, they ran away, saying over and over:
"Monster, stay away! We don't want to play with you."
At this, Little Naruto's excited expression turned dejected again. The sight made the older Naruto's heart ache.
Dispirited, Little Naruto could only return home. It was an old little building, its wooden boards yellowed and rotting. The older Naruto followed Little Naruto inside.
The room was small and very simply furnished, with little more than a bed, a cabinet, and a table.
On the table sat empty instant