There's also 'Naruto's Childhood Adventures'. This fanfic delves into Naruto's pranks around the village as a child. It's a fun read as it shows his mischievous side, which was also a way for him to get attention in his own way. It has some really heartwarming moments when the villagers start to see him in a different light.
One aspect of Naruto's sad childhood in fanfiction could be his loneliness. He was shunned by the villagers because of the Nine - Tails inside him. In many fanfictions, authors explore how he coped with this isolation, like finding solace in small acts of kindness from a few people, such as Iruka - sensei.
In some fanfictions, Naruto and Gaara's childhoods are paralleled. Both were outcasts in a way. Naruto was shunned because of the Nine - Tails inside him, and Gaara was feared for the Shukaku. A fanfiction could explore how they might have found solace in each other's similar experiences, had they known about it earlier.
One interesting aspect of Naruto's childhood in fanfiction could be his relationship with Iruka -sensei. In many fanfictions, they have deeper emotional bonds that are explored more in -depth than in the original series. Iruka was like a father figure to Naruto when he had no one else, and fanfictions might expand on how this relationship influenced Naruto's growth during his childhood.
In many fanfictions, their childhood friendship is the foundation. It makes Hinata understand Naruto on a deeper level. For example, she knows his dreams and his pain from when they were young. This understanding helps her support him better as they grow older and their relationship develops.
Friendship is a common theme. In many fanfictions, it shows how Naruto and Sasuke's bond began as kids. It was a unique friendship, full of both competition and mutual understanding.
Another reason is that it allows fans to fill in the gaps in the original story. We only got glimpses of Naruto's childhood in the anime and manga, so fanfiction gives a chance to go deeper. For example, we can see more of his interactions with the villagers and how he coped with being an outcast. It gives a more in - depth look at his character development during those formative years.
The theme of hope against all odds is also present. Despite his sad childhood, Naruto in fanfiction always has that glimmer of hope that things will get better. He believes in himself and his future, even when no one else does, and this is something that fanfic authors like to emphasize.
Common themes in such fanfictions include the exploration of Naruto's pain. His horrible childhood was filled with pain from being orphaned and not having a family. This pain can be a central theme, showing how it affects his actions and relationships. Another theme is the idea of resilience. Naruto had to be strong in the face of a difficult childhood, and fanfictions may expand on how he builds that resilience. And there's often the theme of hope. Despite all the bad things in his childhood, Naruto always had a glimmer of hope, and this can be a significant part of these fanfictions, showing how that hope sustains him through his struggles.
One possible plotline could be Naruto's discovery of his heritage in a different way than in the original story. Maybe he stumbles upon some hidden clues about his father being the Fourth Hokage earlier. Another could be his friendship with Sasuke starting much earlier, like they had some secret adventures as kids that shaped their future rivalry.