Chapter 1 :The beginning
Before I begin my actual comment, I would like to apologize in advance for my inadequate level of English proficiency. I am not a native speaker of the world's current lingua franca which unfortunately leads to me making numerous embarrassing mistakes being made whenever I attempt to communicate using this language. Whenever I am reminded of how I lack the ability to convey my thoughts in an eloquent manner, I feel as though I have committed a cardinal sin, as though every English teacher in the world is simultaneously shaking their head and sighing due to how utterly disappointed they are at me.
Although I know that saying sorry to those of you who are reading my comment will not change the fact that I fail miserably to write and speak perfect English, I am writing this as a way to deter a certain type of people who cannot stand poor English (Also known informally as Grammar Nazis) from mocking me by posting unwanted and unnecessary comments detailing my every blunder. In my humble opinion, making grammatical errors should be perfectly acceptable as native speakers should not expect non-native speakers to be able to communicate in their second or third languages eloquently. If you are able to completely understand what the other person wrote, is there really a problem with what they've written? No, because the entire concept of communication is the exchange of information between other intelligent beings, which means that no matter how the exchange of information is made, as long as the information is accurately shared there is not a fundamental issue with their ability to communicate. To see it in another way, remember that someone who isn't fluent in English is fluent in another language. When you think about it this way, isn't it impressive for someone to speak a second language in any capacity? Having empathy and respect are qualities that are sorely missing for far too many people these days, especially on the internet.
That being said, I am aware that not all netizens who correct others are doing it to ridicule and shame. There are some who do so with the intent to help others improve and grow. However, displaying the failures of other people publicly will cause the person who is criticized to feel negative emotions such as shame and sadness due to the fact that their mistake has been made obvious which severely undermines the point they were trying to make in spite of their unfamiliarity with the English language. In most circumstances people are not looking for language help when they post anything online. Most people just want to enjoy themselves and have a good time on the internet which is why I would not encourage correcting other people regardless of your intentions. If you really do want to help others with their spelling or grammar, I would highly recommend you to help via messaging privately because not only will you not embarrass anyone, you can also go more in-depth with your explanation which I'm sure the other person will greatly appreciate if they want help, but I digress. I know that I've written a bit of an essay, but I hope I've made my points clear. I'd also like to thank my editor (Chat-gpt) for this as I've mentioned before English isn't my main language, and I used gpt to touch up my grammar. Ok are the AI haters gone? Good then let's start.
Gasps and panting echoed from a narrow alleyway as it neared its end. A young, petite, almost feminine boy ran swiftly down the dark path, unaware that he was about to reach a dead end. Thank Kami I outran that plump merchant, Naruto thought with relief as he began to slow down. In his hand, he clutched a rather fat wallet, almost as if wallets had started to take after the appearance of their owners. He laughed at the thought, though his chest burned with exhaustion. He had nearly expended all his energy fleeing from the merchant's bodyguards, who, as it turned out, were well-trained chunin.
Naruto glanced down at the wallet, his eyes gleaming as he loosened the binds. Not bad for a day's work, he thought, a sly grin spreading across his face. The memory of what had led to this moment flashed through his mind. Ever since being kicked out of the orphanage, Naruto had learned quickly that the world wasn't as cheerful and safe as he'd once thought.
Konoha, especially the part where he lived—the Red Light District—was far from the picturesque village he'd imagined. He had taken off his rosy-tinted glasses long ago. Crime was rampant here, and justice rarely followed. He'd witnessed countless acts that went unpunished, leaving his view of the world twisted and his innocence long behind. He had been forced to mature too quickly for some on his age.
A frown deepened on Naruto's face as he poked a finger through the wallet, cursing under his breath. That merchant used a dummy wallet! he realized, his irritation growing. He had expected at least 6,000 ryo—enough to buy 20 bowls of Ichiraku ramen. His disappointment turned to frustration as he glanced down at his knee. The scratch he'd gotten while running had already healed, but the bag he carried was filled with stones instead of the ryo he had counted on.
Naruto tossed the wallet aside as he shuffled out of the alleyway. His stomach grumbled, a harsh reminder of his failure. He winced as the sun pierced his eyes. "Kami, I'm hungry," he muttered. His situation wasn't even his fault. The Hokage gave him enough money for groceries and supplies, yet the civilian shop owners charged him outrageous prices, reasoning that he would misuse the funds.
He had tried asking the Hokage why, but that slippery fox just dodged his questions, claiming the civilians were ignorant. Naruto knew he couldn't complain to the Hokage because punishing all the shopkeepers for the actions of one orphan wouldn't be fair, and the Hokage wouldn't risk upsetting the villagers, who held significant power in the council.
The civilian council had taken control of the village, with more than half its members being civilians now—a stark contrast to the three civilians that existed thirty years ago. They were power-hungry and eager to keep the Hokage under their thumb. Danzo, despite his ambitions, couldn't intervene because his Root organization had been weakened by Han, the council's leader, who hadskillfully undermined Danzo's influence, making it nearly impossible for him to challenge the civilians without drawing unwanted attention to himself.
Naruto stood in the shadows, feeling like a pariah in a village that seemed to hold a deep-seated disdain for him. Ever since he was cast out at the age of five, the dream of becoming Hokage had slipped away, replaced by a harsh reality that felt insurmountable.
At six, he had spent a year grappling with the weight of rejection. The villagers looked at him with contempt, their whispers and furtive glances creating a barrier that kept him isolated. It felt as if the entire village shared a secret that excluded him, leaving him in a constant state of confusion and longing.
He wished he could understand why they hated him or what had happened to his parents. Through snippets of gossip, he learned that ANBU captains had access to the village's secrets. Driven by a desire to uncover the truth and find his place, he vowed to become one of them. Little did he know that this determination would mark the beginning of a journey that would change everything.