EXTRACT FROM THE JOURNAL OF DARREN "CORNELIUS" SARUTOBI
Ⅰ
The memories of who I was before my life in Konoha were shrouded in darkness. A six-year-old boy, lying unconsciously on the shore, was the only thing I knew when it all began.
I was thought to be dead at first. It seems to be due to how pale my skin was. But I was struggling - to hold on to this single life. The rescuers quickly carried me to the hospital and soon began the treatment. They were just in time to give me a second chance to stay further away from the embrace of death.
While waiting for me to be fully recovered, the local analysis team soon salvaged the items scattered at the beach. They couldn't quite figure out what I had: a flintlock pistol, a compass, and a map showing an entirely different continent. The analyst quickly came up with two possibilities.
One: the son of a wealthy merchant.
Two: a spy from another Hidden Shinobi Village.
The hypothesis that I was a spy from the Hidden Mist Village (霧隠れの里) was strong at first. But they soon discarded it, as it was deemed impossible for a Mist Shinobi to send a child alone to infiltrate Konoha（木の葉）. Despite their reputation for brutality as the Bloody Mist（血霧の里）, it was unlikely that they would stoop so low to resort to such tactics. Eventually, they concluded I was the son of a merchant from a distant land.
Ⅱ
I eventually woke up to the sun shining on my face. The overwhelming brightness made me gently get up from bed. Gazing into the distance, I noticed an elderly man standing near the entrance.
He wore a white cloak and a strange hat with the letter '火,' which meant 'fire.' He seemed important and dignified, and I sensed he had been through many battles and ruled the village for decades. He was smoking a pipe to relieve his stress.
He had an authoritative air, but his kind expression made me feel like I was meeting my long-lost grandfather. He introduced himself as Hiruzen Sarutobi (猿飛ヒルゼン), the Third Hokage (三代目火影) of the Hidden Leaf Village, and then asked for my name in return. I replied that my name was Darren, another thing I could remember.
He sat on a chair beside the bed and explained how lucky I was to be saved. It was a matter of a few minutes for me to be brought back to life. A miracle, he emphasized. But not so for the others. It was unfortunate that their bodies were not to be discovered. But not so for the others. It was unfortunate that their bodies were not to be found, leading him to believe that the ocean waves had already gobbled them up.
Hearing this, I felt mixed - happy that I was alive but sad for the others who could not make it. I couldn't help but think that something should have been done to save those people. I wished I could have done something to help them escape so that I wouldn't be the only survivor.
But how could I? It would only get in the way of a six-year-old with no experience rescuing people. Powerless is the word I hate. It describes how small I am.
Blaming myself for doing nothing, a pat on my head from the third Hokage helped soothe my guilty feelings. I looked up and saw him smiling warmly.
"Life can be cruel at times, my dear boy. Yet, dwelling on what we could have done does not serve the purpose well. Instead, we must embrace the lessons of our past experiences. Let them illuminate a future where we endeavor to improve ourselves and our actions. With optimism as our guide, we press onward, recognizing the past as a valuable teacher."
Optimism. A powerful tool that keeps us positive even in the toughest of times. A driving force to move forward. Being so preoccupied with the past and blaming yourself will not change anything better. Try to look ahead to the future and do whatever you can to make a difference in the present. I had found a purpose - to be strong and become a hero so that I could help people in need. Saying it out loud now makes me feel embarrassed, but it has become the root of my motivation.
Then, in a sudden moment, my life changed forever. The offer to join the Sarutobi Clan and be taught how to become strong and help others was a turning point. The Third Hokage saw my pain and offered me a chance to start anew in Konoha, to no longer feel the loneliness of this strange land. This was more than just a new beginning; it was a chance to become a hero. Without hesitation, I accepted, eager to move forward and make a difference.
"Yes," I softly replied. The Third Hokage then brought a warm embrace as he welcomed me into the family. "Welcome to the Konoha Village." From that day onwards, I became Darren Sarutobi (猿飛ダレン)