Basic Linux???

So I decided that I wanted get Linux and give it a shot because i’ve heard that it’s pretty good. However when I went to download it I found out that there are hundreds of versions of it, and to be frank I want the basic one, not one thats been altered by someone I want the basic one so I can alter it my self. My only problem is that I can’t find the basic one, now I didn’t really look to hard. So if someone could help me out I would really apprciate it.