One popular 'badass naruto harem fanfiction' is 'Naruto: The Harem King'. It shows Naruto in a more powerful and charismatic light while building his harem in an interesting way. The story has great character development for not only Naruto but also the girls in his harem.
I think 'Naruto: The Elemental Master' is a top - notch fanfic. Here, Naruto gains control over all the elements in a very unique way, which sets him apart from his canon self. The story has great pacing and the fight scenes are beautifully written. 'Naruto: Reborn as a Jinchuriki' is another good one. It gives Naruto a new perspective as he is reborn with the knowledge of his previous life. And 'The Legendary Naruto' is a fanfic that really amps up Naruto's badassery. It has him facing god - like enemies and coming out victorious through his sheer will and newfound powers.
In the Naruto x harem fanfiction, Naruto is a badass because of his combination of raw strength, strategic thinking, and his heart of a hero. He's not afraid to go against the odds and always finds a way to come out on top for himself and his harem.
Another theme is the idea of revenge. If Naruto has been wronged in some way in the fanfiction, he might turn evil and badass as he seeks revenge on those who have hurt him. This could lead to some intense and dark storylines where he goes up against his former friends and allies.
Well, for one, seeing Naruto as a badass is always cool. It's a different take on his character. And the harem aspect adds an element of romance and relationship drama. For example, in some fanfictions, Naruto has to balance his ninja duties with the feelings of the girls in his harem, which makes for an interesting plot.
You can start by looking on fanfiction.net. It has a large collection of Naruto fanfics, and you can easily search for the ones that seem 'badass' by using relevant tags or just by reading the summaries. There are often reviews as well that can give you an idea if it's the kind of badass story you're looking for.
One 'badass naruto fanfic' could be where Naruto masters a new and extremely powerful jutsu early on. For example, he might learn a space - time ninjutsu that allows him to instantly teleport across the battlefield, catching his enemies off - guard. This would completely change the dynamics of his fights and make him seem even more badass.
A really beginner - friendly fanfic is 'Naruto and the Lost Puppy'. It has a simple plot about Naruto finding a lost puppy and going on a small adventure to return it. It's cute and shows Naruto's kind heart. 'Naruto's First Mission Mishap' is also a good choice. It's about Naruto's first real mission going wrong in a humorous way. And 'The New Ninja in Town' is a fanfic that introduces new characters along with Naruto in a way that's easy to understand for those new to 'Naruto' fanfics.
Obviously, Naruto is the main character. He's the one who is going to transform into this badass figure. Sasuke might also play an important role. He could be Naruto's rival - turned - ally or vice versa. Their relationship always adds depth to the story.
A 'badass but not godlike naruto fanfic' is interesting because it focuses on the development of his character in a more believable way. He doesn't just magically become super - strong. He has to train, make mistakes, and learn from them. For example, he might have to figure out new jutsu through trial and error, which is much more engaging than having some pre - ordained god - like power.