Another idea is that Naruto has a dark secret regarding his past training. Maybe he had to do some unethical or dangerous things during his training with Jiraiya that he's ashamed of. This could include using forbidden jutsu or making deals with dark entities in order to gain power, which would be a huge shock to his friends and the village if it ever came out.
They usually deal with disturbing themes. Such as violence, manipulation, and psychological abuse. In 'We Need to Talk About Kevin', the story revolves around a mother trying to come to terms with her son's violent actions. It makes readers confront the darker aspects of parenting and human nature.
The dark secrets can add a lot of tension to the plot. If Naruto has a secret related to an evil organization, it could make his friends and allies question their trust in him. They might start to suspect his every move, and Naruto would have to struggle to prove his loyalty while also dealing with the truth of his situation.
One dark secret could be a character's hidden past of having committed a crime they've never been caught for. This can add a layer of mystery and moral ambiguity to the story.
One of the dark secrets is that in some of the original fairy tales that Disney stories are based on, there are much darker and more violent elements. For example, in the original 'Snow White', the queen not only tries to poison Snow White but also demands her heart and liver as proof of her death. Disney had to tone down these elements to make the stories more suitable for a younger audience.
Dark psychology fiction novels often feature complex and morally ambiguous characters. These characters may have hidden motives, like in 'Gone Girl' where the characters play mind games with each other. They also tend to explore the darker aspects of human nature, such as envy, greed, and revenge. Another characteristic is the use of unreliable narrators, which makes the reader question what is really true in the story.
Another theme is the past haunting the present. In many 'dark secrets novel', something that happened long ago, like a crime or a family scandal, resurfaces and affects the current situation. It's like in 'The Secret History' where the past actions of a group of students come back to haunt them in the present day. It creates a sense of mystery and dread as the characters try to deal with these resurfacing secrets.
Not entirely. However, the vast majority are negative. A dark family secret could be misinterpreted as something more sinister than it really is. For instance, a family may have a secret about a member who was born out of wedlock long ago. While it was a big deal to keep it a secret in the past due to social pressure, it's not as bad in modern times. But still, these secrets usually involve some form of discomfort or wrong - doing in the context of their time.
Dark secrets add depth. For instance, if a main character has a dark secret, it makes them more complex. Readers become more interested in understanding their motives. It also creates suspense. As the secret is gradually revealed, the reader is kept on the edge of their seat.