One popular theme is the discovery of hidden dragon powers. Fans love to see Naruto or other characters find out they have a connection to dragons and develop new abilities from it.
One popular theme is power struggles. In Naruto Ninja Warlord fanfiction, writers often explore how different ninja warlords vie for power, whether it's over territory, ninja clans, or access to rare jutsu. Another theme is loyalty. Characters may have to choose between their loyalty to their warlord and their personal beliefs. And of course, there's the theme of friendship. Even in the midst of war and power plays, friendships can form and change the course of events. For example, a low - level ninja might become friends with a warlord's son and through that connection, influence the decisions of the warlord.
One common trope is the 'S - Rank Ninja as the Underdog'. Even though they are highly skilled, they face challenges that seem insurmountable at first. Another is the 'S - Rank Ninja's Hidden Power'. There's always some special ability that they discover or unlock during a crucial moment. And of course, 'The S - Rank Ninja's Love Interest' is also popular, where they fall in love with someone unexpected.
Ameyuri Ringo is also quite popular. As a strong female cloud ninja, she can be the focus of many fanfictions. Some stories might revolve around her training, her friendships or rivalries within the cloud village, or her participation in important missions.
Shikamaru Nara has a natural affinity for shadow - related abilities in the original series, so he is often a key character in Naruto shadow ninja fanfiction. He could be developed further to be a master of the shadow ninjas. Additionally, characters like Orochimaru can be popular as well. His thirst for knowledge and experimentation could lead to some interesting stories where he tries to control or manipulate the shadow ninjas for his own gain.
Darui is another popular one. His laid - back yet powerful nature gives a lot of room for fanfiction writers to explore different scenarios. He can be the cool - headed leader in some stories or the one who has to overcome his own laziness in others.
Haku is another character that is quite popular. Given his background as a ninja with assassin - like abilities in the original series, fanfiction writers can expand on his story. He could be part of a secret assassin organization or be a target of other assassins.
Genma Shiranui is also a fan favorite. With his unique fighting style, involving his senbon needles, he stands out. In fanfiction, he could be involved in some really intense battle scenes, using his speed and precision to take on powerful foes.
Sakura is often a very popular character in Naruto medic ninja fanfiction. Since she is a medic ninja in the original series, many fanfictions expand on her skills and her role in the medical field of the ninja world. Shizune is also quite popular as she was Tsunade's assistant and a skilled medic ninja herself. Another character could be Kabuto, who, despite his villainous actions, was also a very capable medic ninja, and some fanfictions explore his backstory in more detail from the medical perspective.
Some original characters created specifically for the fanfictions set in the Grass Ninja context can also gain popularity. These characters might be designed to have complex backstories and relationships with the existing Naruto characters, adding new dimensions to the stories.
A really cool fanfic in this genre is 'Naruto: Dragon's Ascent'. In this story, Naruto befriends a dragon spirit early on. This connection gives him unique powers and leads to some epic battles against powerful enemies. It also delves into the lore of dragons in the Naruto universe in a very engaging way.