Chouji could also be a great unexpected character. Usually seen as the food - loving and somewhat laid - back ninja. But in the fanfic, he could have trained intensively in a new form of his clan's jutsu. His new - found power and his ability to use his size and strength in unexpected ways could make him shine during the Jounin exams.
Iruka could be an unexpected character to shine. He's often seen as more of a teacher figure, but in a fanfic, he could enter the Jounin exams. His knowledge of the students and his own ninja skills, which might be underestimated, could give him an edge. He could surprise everyone by using creative teaching - inspired tactics in the battles.
One possible plot twist could be that a previously underestimated ninja reveals extraordinary skills during the Jounin exams. For example, a shy and quiet character who has been in the background suddenly shows mastery over a rare and powerful jutsu. This would change the dynamics of the competition as other competitors would have to re - evaluate their strategies.
Kakashi could be an obvious choice. He's already a well - known and highly skilled jounin. His Sharingan and his laid - back yet effective teaching style could make for an interesting story as an elite jounin.
Kakashi could still be an important ally even though Naruto has become a Jounin. Kakashi has a wealth of experience and knowledge that Naruto could still learn from. He could offer advice and assistance when Naruto faces tough challenges in his new role.
Maybe he would have mastered some new wind - style jutsus. For example, he could create more complex and powerful wind blades that can cut through even stronger defenses. Since he is at the Jounin level, his chakra control would be much more refined, enabling him to perform these advanced techniques.
Sasuke would be a very interesting character. His quest for power and his complex personality would add a lot of drama. He might be willing to do whatever it takes to pass the Jounin exam, even if it means going against his friends or the rules.
Well, Asuma is also a character that shows up a lot in these fanfics. His relationship with his students and his smoking habit give fanfic writers a lot to work with. And then there's Kurenai. Her genjutsu skills and her role as a female jounin can add unique elements to the stories. There are also some original characters created by fanfic authors that sometimes become popular within the 'naruto jounin fanfic' community.
It could be the identity of the person he falls in love with. If it's someone who is completely different from what he thought his ideal partner would be, that would make it unexpected.
In the fanfic, Naruto might use intense physical training like running up mountains. This helps build his stamina which is crucial for the exams.
One common theme is self - discovery. Since backup jounins are often in the background, these fanfics usually explore how they find their own strength and purpose. Another theme is loyalty. They have to show loyalty to their village and comrades even when they are not in the spotlight.
In this kind of fanfic, one interesting storyline could be Naruto facing new and more powerful enemies as a Jounin. He might have to use his unique skills in more strategic ways. For example, his shadow clone jutsu could be used to deceive opponents on a much larger scale.