Another possibility is a new character created specifically for this fanfiction. This character could be someone who discovers the abandoned Rinnegan and has to decide what to do with it. Their journey of understanding the power and the implications of its abandonment could be the central plot, making them the main character.
Sasuke could also be the main character. Given his connection to powerful eyes in the Naruto series, if the Rinnegan was abandoned, Sasuke's role would change significantly. He would have to re - evaluate his own power and place in the ninja world, which could make for a really interesting story with him as the main focus.
It could be an unknown Uchiha who was overlooked in the main story. Maybe they were born with the Rinnegan but due to some political unrest in their village, they were forced to hide their power and were thus neglected. In the fanfiction, they could come out of hiding and shock everyone with their Rinnegan - based abilities.
Madara Uchiha could also be the main character in this type of fanfiction. Although in the original story his actions are mostly related to his grand plans for the Ninja world, in a fanfiction, it could be explored what would happen if he decided to leave Konoha specifically because of his Rinnegan and the power it holds.
It might also be Itachi. Imagine a scenario where Itachi's actions before his death somehow lead to his Sharingan being abandoned or lost in a different way than in the original story. This could open up a whole new narrative about his legacy and the impact it has on the Naruto world.
It could be Sasuke. Since he already has the Sharingan and later acquires the Rinnegan, he has a natural connection to both powerful eyes. A story could focus on his further adventures and how he uses the combined powers of the eyes in different situations.
It could be Sasuke. If he were to turn to the dark side in the fanfiction, his Rinnegan powers could be used to destroy Konoha. He has the potential to be extremely powerful and if he has some sort of vendetta or is influenced by some dark force, he might take his anger out on the village.
Sasuke could be a great main character. He already has the Rinnegan in the Naruto series. Imagine him in the Avatar world, using his Rinnegan - enhanced skills to learn about the elements and become an avatar - like figure, but with his own dark and brooding personality.
It could be a rogue ninja from a neighboring village who wants to obtain Naruto's Rinnegan for himself. This ninja has been secretly observing Naruto and sees the potential of the Rinnegan. He then tries to hunt Naruto down during his banishment to take the power.
Lucy could be a great main character. Since she has a collection of celestial keys, the Rinnegan could give her new ways to interact with her spirits. For example, she might be able to use the Rinnegan to enter the spirit realm directly without using the keys, or enhance the power of her spirits when they are summoned. It would be an interesting twist on her character and her abilities.
The Sage of Six Paths himself could be the key character. Since the Rinnegan was originally his power, he could appear in the fanfic in some form, like a spirit or a time - traveling version of himself. He could then directly bestow the Rinnegan upon Naruto, seeing Naruto's potential and the need for such power to maintain the balance in the ninja world.
One possible reason could be a search for power. The character might feel that Konoha doesn't offer enough resources or training opportunities for them to fully explore the potential of the Rinnegan. They may believe that there are other places in the Naruto world where they can gain more knowledge and power related to their special eye.