Well, perhaps in the fanfic, Naruto wins because of unexpected alliances. He could form a temporary alliance with an unlikely character, like Gaara. They might realize they have more in common than they thought and team up to overcome the challenges in the Chunin Exams. This would be a great plot development.
Well, a great plot twist might be if the Chunin Exams were revealed to be a front for something else entirely. Like, the real purpose was to test the loyalty of the villages to the Hidden Leaf. So, some of the tasks and battles were actually designed to see who would side with the Leaf in a potential conflict. Or perhaps a character who was thought to be weak turns out to be a super - powerful ninja in disguise, and they start to turn the tables in the exams.
In the fanfiction, a plot twist could be that there is a hidden rule in the Chunin Exams that only Naruto and Tenten figure out. This rule could be something like a special task that, if completed, would give them an automatic pass to the next round. They have to work together secretly to achieve this task, all while avoiding suspicion from the other competitors and the examiners.
One possible plot twist could be that Mei is secretly working with an enemy ninja clan during the Chunin Exams. She acts as if she's just a normal participant, but in reality, she's gathering information for the other clan. Naruto, being the perceptive guy he is, starts to notice some strange behavior from Mei. He then has to decide whether to expose her right away or try to find out more about her motives first.
Well, one possible plot twist could be that Konan is secretly working for an enemy during the Chunin Exams but is actually double - crossing them. This would add a whole new layer of mystery and danger to the story.
In this fanfiction, a really interesting plot twist could be that Naruto's Zanpakuto is actually a sentient being that has its own motives. During the Chunin Exams, it might start communicating with Naruto, but not in a straightforward way. It could give him cryptic hints through dreams or strange sensations when he holds it. This would add a whole new layer of complexity to the story as Naruto has to not only deal with his opponents in the exams but also figure out what his Zanpakuto wants.
One interesting plot twist could be that Naruto discovers a hidden power within himself during the Chunin Exams that no one expected. Maybe it's a new form of chakra or a special jutsu he can suddenly use.
Maybe Sakura gets poisoned during the exams, but instead of being a setback, it actually enhances her abilities in some strange way. Her body adapts to the poison and she gains new powers, like increased speed or strength. This completely changes the dynamic of the exams for her and makes her a more formidable competitor.
One exciting plot twist could be Sakura secretly training a new jutsu and using it to save Naruto during a tough battle in the Chunin Exams. This would show her growth and also add a new dynamic to their relationship.
Maybe Pakura gets involved in a conspiracy during the Chunin Exams. She discovers that some rogue ninjas are planning to disrupt the exams by using forbidden jutsu. Naruto, being the hero - type, teams up with her to stop the villains and save the exams. This would lead to Naruto learning some new combat skills from Pakura along the way.
A cool plot twist could be that when they travel back, they find out that someone else from the future has also come back and is actually causing more chaos. Maybe it's a villain who wants to change the past in a way that benefits them even more than Orochimaru's original plan. Another twist could be that Naruto and Gaara accidentally change something that has a much bigger impact on the future than they expected, like causing a different person to become Hokage.