One possible fanfiction could be where Naruto uses his new jutsu learned during the training period before the Chunin Exams to counter Gaara's sand attacks. Maybe he combines the Rasengan with his shadow clone technique in a creative way to break through Gaara's defenses.
The plot could focus on Naruto's growth. He might enter the fight with Gaara with a newfound confidence. Since he's faced many challenges leading up to the Chunin Exams, he could use his experiences to outwit Gaara. For instance, he could use his quick thinking and agility to dodge Gaara's sand attacks and find an opening to strike.
Well, Naruto could be depicted as being similar to Gaara in their inner strength. Gaara was always strong on the outside but had a fragile heart. Naruto, in this fanfiction, may share that same duality. Maybe he shows Gaara that having a strong will doesn't mean suppressing emotions. He could be the one to show Gaara that it's okay to let others in, since Naruto is always about making friends and bringing out the best in people.
At first, their relationship might be a bit guarded. Gaara, being used to isolation, might be hesitant to open up to Naruto. But as they face challenges together, like fighting a common enemy, they would start to respect each other's strength. Naruto's positive attitude would gradually break down Gaara's walls, and they would become friends.
For Naruto, he could develop a deeper understanding of the pain that Gaara has been through. This might make him more empathetic towards others who seem hostile at first. He might also learn new combat techniques from observing Gaara's use of sand in the heat of the Chunin Exams battles.
One idea could be a story where Gaara travels to different hidden villages in the Naruto world to learn new sand-based jutsu techniques. He meets various characters along the way and has to overcome challenges that test his newfound skills and his friendship with Naruto.
Yes, there are likely such fanfictions out there. Fanfiction often explores alternative storylines and relationships that deviate from the original canon. However, this goes against the traditional pairing of Hinata and Naruto in the original Naruto series.
Fanfiction in this area often delves into the psychological aspects of the characters. Since Naruto and Gaara both have complex pasts, a female Naruto can bring new angles to their interactions. For example, she might be more empathetic towards Gaara's childhood traumas, leading to deeper conversations and a stronger bond between them.