Neji could also be a rival. Given his own prodigious abilities and his belief in the fixed nature of one's fate, he might see Naruto's rapid progress as a threat. He could challenge Naruto both physically and philosophically, believing that Naruto is overstepping his supposed 'limits'.
A new character could be introduced as a rival. Maybe a foreign ninja prodigy who comes to the Hidden Leaf Village. This character could have different techniques and a different upbringing, and they would clash with Naruto over various matters, such as who gets to take on the most difficult missions or who is the more talented ninja overall.
Sasuke could be a major rival. Even if Naruto is a child genius, Sasuke's natural talent and his drive for revenge could put him in direct competition with Naruto. They might constantly try to outdo each other in training and in battles.
Sasuke could be a rival in this fanfiction. Sasuke has always been strong in fire - based jutsu himself. He might see Naruto's claim as the master of fire as a challenge and want to prove his own superiority. Another could be some of the members from other ninja villages who have also mastered powerful fire techniques. For example, a ninja from the Hidden Rock Village who has a unique and powerful fire - based kekkei genkai.
Sasuke could be Naruto's main rival in the 'naruto is a gamer' fanfiction. Just like in the original Naruto story, Sasuke is always competing with Naruto. In the gaming world, they might compete for the highest score or to be the first to complete a difficult level. Their rivalry could drive them both to improve their gaming skills rapidly.
Sakura could be a main character. She might be the one who discovers the abandoned child and tries to figure out what to do. Kakashi could also be involved. He has a history with Naruto and might be torn between loyalty to Naruto and doing what's right for the child. Sasuke could be another character. He might return to the village and get involved in the situation, either to help or because he has his own motives regarding Naruto's actions.
Another possible rival could be a new character, perhaps a transfer student from a different wizarding school. This student could have unique magical abilities that Harry has never encountered before. They might be very confident and arrogant, seeing Harry as the main obstacle to their victory in the competition.
In a football - related fanfiction, it could be Dash Baxter. Dash is always competitive and might see Danny's sudden improvement in the sport as a threat. He could try to expose Danny's secrets to get him off the team.
A self - proclaimed 'collector' of rare pokemon could be a rival. This person has a huge collection of non - shiny but very rare pokemon and sees Ash's shiny pokemon as the ultimate addition to their collection. They would stop at nothing to get their hands on at least one of Ash's shiny pokemon. And of course, there could be other trainers who simply can't stand the fact that Ash has such an amazing ability and they don't.
It could be an original character created by the fanfiction writer. This character could be from a minor clan in the Naruto universe but has extraordinary intelligence and potential.
Another possibility is that it could be a reimagined version of Kakashi. He is known for his intelligence in the original series, but in this fanfiction, he could be even more of a silent genius. He might have some hidden knowledge or abilities that he keeps to himself and only reveals at crucial moments to turn the tide of battle or solve a major mystery within the Naruto world.
It could be someone who is jealous of Naruto's hidden genius. Maybe a fellow ninja who senses that Naruto is hiding something and wants to expose him out of envy. This person might try to undermine Naruto at every turn.
Often, Sasuke can be a rival for Naruto in many fanfictions during the Chunin Exams. For Ino, Sakura could be a rival as they both have a competitive streak. In some fanfictions, there might be other characters from different villages who also pose as rivals for them during the exams.