"Tomorrow marks Three years since I've been in this world," Kuin mused aloud, sitting alone at a park bench, his fingers drumming idly on the wooden table. "I wonder what would happen if I did this." He enveloped his hand in chakra and tapped the wall, his eyes fixed on it with curiosity. After waiting a few seconds, nothing happened.
"Damn, so I guess shock wave magic is off the table. Next on the list is... oh, wait. I've tried everything." Kuin threw his clipboard at a tree in frustration. "Goddammit! There's nothing to do in this godforsaken village!"
His attempts at exploration had been met with adult hostility and even violence. The village seemed determined to keep him confined and isolated.
As Kuin pondered his situation, he spotted a child on a swing nearby. "You there! Entertain me! Or say something interesting, I don't care!" he called out, frustration evident in his voice. The child fled, seeking refuge with his parents, who glared at Kuin with disdain.
"Well, screw you too, assholes!" Kuin picked up a rock and hurled it after the fleeing family. He sighed, slumping against a tree. "At least you won't leave me, right, Gunther?" He pulled out a penguin plushie and began mimicking a conversation with it.
"Maybe I'm going crazy," he muttered to the plushie, his isolation weighing heavily on him. "They do say humans are social creatures, and I've been isolated for as long as I've lived here."
Kuin continued to lament his situation until the setting sun bathed the sky in a purplish-orange glow. "I think it's about time to head back home now," he said, rising from his spot. "Hopefully, by the time I get there, everyone else will be asleep. I really don't want to deal with those... people today."
Upon returning, he was greeted with all his belongings strewn haphazardly on the ground. It was another instance of mistreatment, and Kuin couldn't help but feel a sense of resignation.
He gathered his belongings into a makeshift knapsack and approached the door. To his surprise, it was locked. Kuin thought it strange, given that it had always been unlocked before. He reached into his pocket and retrieved a ring of keys he had taken earlier. After a series of unsuccessful attempts, he realized that none of the keys fit.
"This has to be some kind of mistake," he muttered, his denial still intact. He headed to his red-marked window, intending to climb inside. However, it remained firmly shut.
Kuin's shoulders slumped as reality set in. He was kicked out and now had to survive on the streets, in the body of a toddler. "This day just can't get any worse," he lamented, but he was soon proven wrong as raindrops began to fall on his head.
"Spoke too soon, I guess. Better find some shelter before the storm gets any worse." He lifted his makeshift knapsack and sprinted toward the heart of Konoha.
Thirty minutes later, after several failed attempts to find shelter, he found himself standing outside Ichiraku's Ramen. The name sparked a vague memory, but he had no time to dwell on it. He entered, hoping for refuge.
"Safe!" Kuin exclaimed, plopping into a chair. The shop owner had his back turned, washing dishes. The aroma of ramen wafted through the air, and the rhythmic sound of raindrops on the roof created a relaxing ambiance.
"Just give me a few seconds, and I'll—" Kuin's words were cut short as a large thunderclap was heard outside Despite the sound the sky appeared clear, as though the clouds had parted some time ago.
"Strange, wasn't it just raining?" he muttered, unable to shake the eerie feeling that something was amiss.
Kuin quickly calculated his meager savings, which amounted to 1,000 ryo. "Don't have much money, but this might be my last warm meal for a while," he thought. "Let's see what that can buy me."
After perusing the menu, he decided on Onomichi ramen and asked for a glass of water. The ramen shop owner turned around, his hands still wet from washing dishes. His smile was friendly as he spoke. "Great, just let me dry my hands off. That'll be 900 ryo, kid."
Kuin counted out the money and placed it on the counter, his eyes on the prize. He couldn't help but feel a pang of hunger as he waited for his meal.
After what seemed like a long wait, the shop owner finally approached him with a bowl of ramen. "Here you go, kiddo."
Kuin nodded his thanks and eagerly began to eat. As he savored the taste, he noticed the sound of rain outside continuing to fall, making the streets wet. The shop owner began to share a story about teaching his daughter to read, but Kuin's focus remained on his meal.
With each bite, Kuin's hunger waned, replaced by a growing unease. The sensation in his stomach nagged at him, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something was not right.
When he finally left the shop, he was greeted by the unexpected sight of cloudy skies, despite the sky being clear earlier. "Weird, wasn't it just clearing up?" he muttered, oblivious to the reason of the strange turn of events.