Maybe Naruto hides his genius to avoid unwanted attention. He might be afraid of being targeted by enemies or those who would use his abilities for bad. For example, in the original series, he already had a lot of people after him because of the Nine - Tails. By hiding his genius, he could be trying to keep a low profile and train in secret to become even stronger without interference.
Perhaps he has hidden the full extent of his Sage Mode abilities. He might be able to stay in Sage Mode for a much longer time than he has shown so far, or have some other undisclosed powers within that mode, like the ability to sense enemies from much greater distances.
Well, one possibility could be that Naruto is hiding his true identity or emotions. Maybe he's on a secret mission and the mask helps him blend in or deceive the enemy. He could be using it as a form of protection, not just physically but also emotionally.
One possible reason could be that he is on a secret mission and doesn't want to be recognized. He might be infiltrating an enemy organization or spying on someone. Another reason could be that he has some new power or mark on his face that he wants to keep hidden until he fully understands or masters it.
It could be someone who is jealous of Naruto's hidden genius. Maybe a fellow ninja who senses that Naruto is hiding something and wants to expose him out of envy. This person might try to undermine Naruto at every turn.
One possible reason could be that Naruto is hiding his face to conceal his emotions. In SasuNaru fanfiction, their relationship is often complex and full of unspoken feelings. Naruto might be afraid that Sasuke will read his true feelings if he shows his face. For example, if Naruto has developed deeper romantic feelings for Sasuke, he may not be ready to expose them, so he hides his face as a form of self - protection.
Naruto might end up feeling extremely lonely. His family has always been an important part of his life. Without their support and presence, he could become depressed or start making even more reckless decisions. Also, if his family tries to search for him, they could get into danger themselves in the process, which would be an unintended consequence of his hiding.
He might want to protect himself. If others know how smart he is, he could become a target. Enemies might see him as a greater threat and go after him more aggressively.
Perhaps in this fanfiction, Harry hides behind a mask because he wants to experience life in a different way. He might be tired of all the expectations that come with being Harry Potter. By wearing the mask, he can interact with people without them knowing who he really is, and he could discover new things about the wizarding society and its inhabitants. He could also be using the mask as a form of self - discovery, to find out who he is when he's not 'Harry Potter'.
Perhaps Sakura is dealing with family issues. She could be hiding the pain of having a difficult family situation, like an overbearing parent or a family member with an illness. In the fanfiction, she might focus on her school or ninja work to distract herself from her family problems.
Another possibility is that Naruto has a plan that requires him to keep his skills hidden from everyone, including Hinata, for a while. He could be waiting for the right moment to reveal them and use them to surprise and save the day, especially when it comes to protecting Hinata from a big threat that he anticipates.