The Past

Synopsis
Kawaki dreams back to his past. He recalls cutting wood for his father, but not making much money out of it because his village had been hit by a recession. His attention was drawn to a seller's goldfish. While he had no money, the seller informed him of a festival where he could see many goldfish for free. One of Kawaki's customers informs the goldfish of Kawaki's background, including how his drunk father beats him and uses all the money Kawaki makes on booze. Arriving home, Kawaki hands his father the booze he bought. The father is dismissive of Kawaki, and prevents him from getting dinner when he finds the pamphlet on the goldfish festival. Kawaki continues to cut wood and use the money to buy booze for his father. One day, physicians show up on his village and ask to draw his blood to see if he has a plague that has been going around the region. Kawaki runs away and bumps into two bigger kids, who make fun of him and his father. Kawaki defends his father, and the kids punch him to the ground. Before they can do more, the goldfish seller threatens them with a staff. The seller says he has a similar background, and offers to take Kawaki with him and teach his trade. He offers Kawaki a tissue to clean up his wound. Kawaki says he can't abandon his father, and rushes back home with a cracked bottle of booze. Delta collects the discarded tissue with Kawaki's blood on it. He trips and the bottle breaks. At home, his father locks him up for breaking the bottle. Jigen arrives at his house and offers money to buy Kawaki. His father agrees, and when Kawaki protests it, his father beats him with a bottle. Jigen gives the father his money and takes custody of Kawaki. Jigen takes Kawaki to the only tunnel leading away from his village. The goldfish seller appears, and revealing himself as a trafficker, wants Kawaki for himself over the trouble he went to get the boy to trust him. Jigen has Kawaki go outside the tunnel, and later emerges alone. Kawaki confesses he wanted a goldfish. He takes him to a Kara headquarter and tells Amado to treat him courteously. He says he'll give him a special present. Kawaki wakes up in the presence of Naruto, Shikamaru, and Konohamaru. Naruto tells him he's in a safe place.