In such a fanfic, perhaps Kushina manages to break free from the afterlife's constraints. She could use some sort of ancient jutsu that allows her to return to the living world. Then, she starts her journey to find Naruto. Maybe she disguises herself as an ordinary traveler at first to observe Naruto from afar, seeing how he has grown and all the hardships he has faced. Once she reveals herself, Naruto is initially shocked but then filled with joy at the thought of having his mother back.
Well, it might be that Kushina's spirit is trapped in a limbo-like place. She makes a deal with a powerful entity in this fanfic world. The deal is that if she can complete a series of difficult tasks, she can be reunited with Naruto. So, she battles dark spirits and overcomes various challenges. When she finally gets to Naruto, she uses her motherly love to heal some of the emotional wounds Naruto has carried from his difficult life.
The Akatsuki could be antagonists. They might see Kushina's return as a threat to their plans. Since Kushina is a powerful Uzumaki, her presence could disrupt their schemes related to the tailed beasts. They could try to stop her from reaching Naruto or even try to capture her for their own purposes.
The plot could be that Kushina wants Naruto to reunite with his father. She could use her spiritual connection to Naruto to plant the idea in his mind. Naruto then embarks on a journey to find out more about his father, Minato. Along the way, he discovers secrets about the past, including how his parents really met and fell in love. This could also lead to him unlocking new powers related to his family lineage.
One possible plot development could be that Kushina's spirit somehow manages to break through the boundaries between the afterlife and the living world. She then tries to communicate with Naruto, perhaps through dreams at first. This could lead to Naruto starting to search for a way to bring her back permanently, involving him in some sort of ancient and dangerous ritual that he discovers in some long - forgotten scroll.
In a 'konoha wants naruto back fanfic', perhaps there's a prophecy that says only Naruto can save Konoha from an impending doom. The villagers, who once shunned Naruto, now understand his importance. They start a campaign to bring him back. Tsunade could be leading this effort, offering Naruto things like a proper apology for how he was treated in the past and a high - ranking position in the village.
One possible plot development could be that Kushina uses her influence within the village to start a formal request for Naruto to be returned from the ANBU. She might gather support from other characters who also care about Naruto's well - being, like Iruka or Jiraiya. This could lead to a series of political discussions within the village leadership about the role of the ANBU and whether Naruto's skills are better utilized elsewhere.
Another aspect could be the emotional impact on Naruto. Having his mother back would be a huge boost to his mental state. He's always longed for family, and Kushina's return would fill that void. It could change his perspective on life and make him even more determined to protect the village and his loved ones.
A simple plot could be that Kushina's spirit appears to Naruto and tells him about her wishes for him. He then sets out on a journey to fulfill those wishes, facing various challenges along the way. For example, he might have to battle an old enemy who is trying to stop him from achieving what Kushina wants.
Some members of the ANBU themselves could be antagonists. They might think that Naruto belongs with them and that Kushina is interfering in their affairs. They could try to keep Naruto in the ANBU by any means necessary, including using force or setting up traps for Kushina when she tries to approach Naruto.
Kushina could also seek the help of other powerful shinobi. For instance, she might ask Minato for assistance. Since Minato was Naruto's father and also a very skilled ninja, together they could come up with a plan to reunite with Naruto. Maybe they would use some sort of space - time ninjutsu to get closer to him.
One possible plot could be that Naruto is somehow sent back in time and meets his mother Kushina. He gets to know her as a person, not just as the mother he never really knew. They could train together, and Kushina could share some of her unique Uzumaki clan techniques with Naruto.