He might become a simple farmer. Just imagine Naruto living a peaceful life in the outskirts of the village, growing crops and taking care of livestock. It would be a far cry from his ninja adventures, but he could find contentment in the simplicity of nature and the fruits of his own labor.
In some fanfictions, if Naruto doesn't become a ninja, he could turn into a traveling merchant. He would journey from one village to another, trading goods and making friends along the way. He'd learn about different cultures and customs, and his charisma would still make him a well - liked figure, just in a different way than if he were a ninja. His travels could also be filled with various adventures, like dealing with bandits or finding rare treasures in far - off lands.
Naruto might be a storyteller. He has many experiences and a vivid imagination. He could sit in the village square and tell tales of heroism (not necessarily ninja - related) to the children, passing on values like courage and friendship through his stories.
He could develop cooking skills. Naruto loves to eat, so it's possible that he would focus on learning how to cook delicious meals. He might even open his own little restaurant in the village, serving up his favorite dishes and becoming known for his unique recipes.
One possible reason could be the fear of losing his loved ones. In the original Naruto story, many ninjas sacrifice a lot, including their lives. Naruto might have seen this and decided he doesn't want to put himself in such a position.
He might become a simple farmer. Without the ninja path, Naruto could focus on growing crops and living a peaceful rural life. He would be away from the battles and politics of the ninja world, and just enjoy the simple pleasures of nature.
One possible reason could be that he has seen the darker side of the ninja world. Maybe he witnessed too much death and destruction during his missions and decided he no longer wanted to be part of it. Another reason might be that he has other dreams that he realizes are more important to him than being a ninja. For example, he could have a passion for art or music that he wants to pursue instead.
One possible storyline could be that Naruto decides to focus on traveling the world instead of becoming Hokage. He could use his skills to help people on a more individual basis across different villages. He might learn new jutsu from various shinobi cultures and become a sort of wandering hero.
Maybe they don't like fanfiction in general. It could be that they prefer the official, canon Naruto story. Fanfiction can vary greatly in quality, and they might have had bad experiences with some poorly written Naruto fanfictions in the past, which made them dislike the whole concept of Naruto fanfiction.
One idea could be that Naruto discovers a new passion for art and decides to pursue that instead of being a ninja. He could start by sketching the landscapes he sees during his travels, and eventually move on to more complex paintings. This would lead to him leaving the ninja world behind as he focuses on his newfound love for art.
Maybe Naruto teams up with some non - ninja characters. Together, they could come up with new ways to solve problems in the village that don't require ninja skills. As a result, he gradually changes the view of the village towards non - ninja activities, which is a significant development in the fanfiction.
Maybe Naruto just sees Sakura as a friend. He might have a different idea of his ideal partner and Sakura doesn't fit that. His feelings for her could be purely platonic.