One possible plotline could be that Naruto is pushed to the brink during a fight against a powerful and sadistic enemy. Maybe this enemy has been targeting his friends one by one, causing Naruto to gradually lose his sanity as he tries to protect them. He might start using extremely violent and uncharacteristic jutsu, taking risks that he normally wouldn't. Another plotline could be that Naruto is under the influence of a dark genjutsu during a fight. This genjutsu twists his perception of reality, making him believe that his friends are actually enemies, and he goes insane trying to fight them off.
In a 'naruto goes insane fighting' fanfic, perhaps Naruto has a hidden dark side that gets unleashed during a particularly intense battle. For example, if he faces an opponent who has a connection to his past traumas, like the Nine - Tails incident. The stress and memories could drive him crazy, and he could start fighting in a wild and uncontrollable manner. He might not be able to distinguish between friend and foe, and his friends would have to try and bring him back to his senses while also dealing with the threat at hand.
One possible plotline could be Percy having a series of traumatic experiences that gradually drive him insane. Maybe he loses his friends one by one in tragic ways, and the cumulative grief and guilt push him over the edge. Another could be that he is exposed to some dark magic that slowly corrupts his mind, making him lose his grip on reality.
The Akatsuki as a whole could be the opponents. Imagine Naruto facing multiple Akatsuki members at once in a fight. The combined threat of their different powers and their goals of capturing the tailed beasts could be overwhelming for Naruto. They might use underhanded tactics, like threatening to kill captives or using mind - control techniques on Naruto's friends. All of these things could make Naruto go insane as he battles against them, trying to protect what he loves.
In some cases, it could be a new and powerful enemy. This enemy might have the ability to manipulate chakra in a way that affects Naruto's mind. For example, they could send out waves of negative chakra that slowly erode Naruto's mental state. Over time, these attacks make Naruto go insane as he struggles to fight against this unseen and insidious force.
One possible plot could be that Naruto is constantly ostracized by the villagers even after all he has done for them. The years of being treated as an outcast and having his good intentions misconstrued finally push him over the edge. He starts to see the villagers as the real enemy and decides to use his power not for their protection but to make them feel the pain he has endured.
One possible plot could be that Naruto is pushed over the edge by the constant betrayal he faces. For example, if the village he has always protected turns against him due to false accusations of being a threat. He might start using his powers in a more erratic and dangerous way, not caring about the consequences. This could lead to a showdown between him and his former friends who now see him as a menace.
In this fanfic, it could be a fight in an alternate universe where Naruto and Hinata belong to rival clans. Their clans' long - standing feud forces them to fight each other. However, during the fight, they start to realize that the feud is baseless and they might even develop a new understanding of each other and their clans' history.
It could also be due to personal relationships. Perhaps some of his closest friends get caught up in their own lives. Like Sasuke might be on a long - term mission and not be there for Naruto, and Sakura might be too busy with her medical studies. So Naruto, who is used to having a support system, suddenly feels alone and neglected.
A possible plotline could be Naruto using his wall - passing ability to infiltrate enemy strongholds undetected. He could gather crucial intelligence or set up surprise attacks. For example, he might slip through the walls of Orochimaru's lair to rescue someone or find out his latest evil plans.
Madara Uchiha could also be a likely cause. If he somehow managed to return or had a long - planned scheme that involved breaking Naruto's sanity. He was a very powerful and devious foe who could use his knowledge of the ninja world and its powers to target Naruto's mental stability.
A plotline could be that Naruto is exposed to a powerful genjutsu that makes him lose his grip on reality. As he tries to fight it, he gradually goes insane. He could start seeing hallucinations of his worst nightmares, like the death of all his friends. This could cause him to lash out at those around him, thinking they are part of the genjutsu, and his actions would be very different from his normal self.