He could become more empathetic. After seeing the suffering in Wave, Naruto might be more in tune with the pain of others. So when he meets people in similar situations later, he can better understand their feelings.
In some fanfictions, Naruto might develop a sense of determination that is tinged with a bit of anger. Anger at the injustice he saw in Wave. This newfound determination drives him to get stronger not just for himself but also to prevent such tragedies from happening again. He becomes more resolute in his pursuit of power and justice, and this emotional change can be a major factor in his character development.
One possible change is that she becomes more self - reliant. In the Wave arc, she saw the limitations of her own abilities. So in fanfictions, she might start to focus on self - improvement. Maybe she begins to practice her combat skills more rigorously, so that she can hold her own in battles without always depending on Sasuke or Naruto.
Well, one reason could be that he's kidnapped by a secret organization. They might see his potential and want to use him for their own evil plans.
Well, in certain fanfictions, Naruto's view of the ninja world as a whole can shift after the Wave arc. He might start to question the traditional ninja values. Since he witnessed the greed and corruption that led to the problems in Wave, he could strive to change the ninja world from within. He may begin to form his own ideas about what it truly means to be a ninja, which could be different from what he was taught at the academy. He could try to promote peace and cooperation more actively, rather than just following orders blindly.
One common change is that he becomes more serious. He realizes the gravity of being a ninja. For instance, he may not joke around as much during missions.
It might be related to a connection with some powerful entity in the Wave arc. For example, if there's a secret shinobi from the past whose power is tied to the Rinnegan and Naruto somehow forms a bond with that power source, it could lead to the awakening. Also, the intense emotions and challenges he faces in the Wave arc might be a catalyst, pushing his chakra to a new level and awakening the Rinnegan.
Naruto may turn more cautious. The Sasuke retrieval was a dangerous and complex situation. In fanfiction, it could make him think twice before jumping into action. He may analyze situations more carefully to avoid potential disasters. For instance, he won't be as quick to engage in a fight without considering all the possible outcomes. This is a big change from his usually head - first approach. He may also become more protective. Having almost lost Sasuke, he could be overprotective of his friends and the village, constantly on guard to prevent any harm from coming to them.
In some fanfictions, Naruto might become more strategic during the Wave arc. He could learn from his mistakes faster and start to think several steps ahead in battles, instead of just charging in blindly like he sometimes does in the original story.
In some fanfictions, Naruto might focus on improving his chakra control. He could practice by trying to walk on water or climb trees without using his hands, just like he did during his early training with Kakashi. This would help him become more proficient in using his chakra for various jutsus.
In this fanfiction, perhaps Naruto discovers a dark secret about the Wave mission that the higher - ups in Konoha don't want him to know. And when he tries to expose it, they make it look like he's betraying the village to the Wave people, leading to his betrayal.
One possible reason could be a sense of being undervalued. Maybe he felt that his teammates didn't fully appreciate his efforts during the Wave mission. For example, if Sasuke got most of the credit, Naruto might feel pushed aside.