Naruto had a lot of free time on his hands. Since he had no guardians to make sure – or care - that he went to school, he played hooky often. He would walk down the streets, peering into store windows, imagining a time when he could enter any of these stores without fearing that he'd be chased out with a curse and a threat.
He stopped in front of a clothing store, attracted by a bright flash of color in the windows. He peered in, trying to see what it was, and his eyes widened when he saw it. It was a jacket, slung carelessly over a mannequin's shoulders, with matching pants belted around its waist. It was orange. It was trimmed in blue. It was hideous. It was lurid and obnoxious. It was a shade of orange that is not found in the natural world. Naruto despised it with every fiber of his being.
It was a set of clothing that screamed for attention. On Naruto, it would have been tantamount to carrying a large "Kick Me!" sign. Having been the recipient of numerous small and transparent cruelties whenever he caught anyone's attention, he had learned to blend into the background. Life was easier if he made sure no-one noticed his existence. He'd borne the brunt of too many sly kicks if he caught anyone's eye, a rough shove when he didn't move aside fast enough, and knocks on the head or a slap on the hand for no reason whatsoever. It was easier to just… be quiet, not attract any attention whatsoever. Occasionally, he wondered why everyone hated him, but he could never find an answer, and thinking without coming to an acceptable, understandable conclusion was too painful. So he didn't think about it anymore. Life was how it was, etcetera, etcetera, amen. And living, no matter how lonely and ugly, was better than the alternative. But it was hard to believe that sometimes.