4 short scenes during Naruto's childhood

by lorelei2876

A series of 4 short stories about Naruto, the meaning behind that foxlike grin, the orange jumpsuit, and what happens during the darkest, loneliest part of the night. rated T for one bad word.

2. Chapter 2

Naruto hated orange with a passion. When he found the clothing jumbled into a crumpled shopping bag in front of his apartment, he understood completely what the gaudy jacket and pants symbolized. The outfit – unworn and unused - had been a donation from the local clothing store. Nobody in town had wanted anything so loud and garish. So, of course, it meant that it was just good enough for someone like Naruto. It was a brashly colored reject from a pile of cast-offs thrown into a pile on his doorstep.

So Naruto wore the clothing with pride, sewing on his spiral symbol painstakingly, sometimes painfully as he pricked his clumsy fingers repeatedly. The clothing that was a mark of the town's contempt now represented everything he wanted: Recognition. Acknowledgment. Acceptance. Respect. Orange was the banner he waved in front of the townspeople's eyes, an eye-searingly brazen challenge of "Ignore ME, would you? Let's see you try!"