Maybe he's running away from some kind of danger or threat in his home village. There could be a group or an individual after him, and he believes that Kumo would be a safer place. It could also be related to some political unrest in Konoha that makes him feel like he has to leave, and Kumo seems like a viable option.
Adapting to a new ninja system could be a big challenge. Kumo may have different training methods, rules, and traditions compared to his home village. Naruto would need to learn and adjust quickly if he wants to survive there.
He could meet some rogue ninjas. These ninjas might either try to harm him or, in some cases, offer to help him on his journey. They might have their own reasons for being in the area between Konoha and Kumo.
One possible reason could be that he feels misunderstood by his family. Maybe they have different expectations of him and he can't bear the pressure, so he decides to run away to Kumo to start a new life.
Maybe he's running away from the pressure in the village. There are always high expectations on him, and he might feel suffocated and need some time alone to figure things out.
One consequence could be that his friends worry about him a great deal. They might go on a search for him, which could put them in danger as well. After all, they care about Naruto deeply and won't just let him disappear without trying to find him.
They might run away to avoid a conflict that their villages are about to be dragged into. Naruto and Sasuke, being the powerful ninjas they are, don't want to be used as tools in a war, so they decide to run away.
He could meet some of Iwa's powerful ninjas. Maybe Onoki, who could either see him as a threat or an opportunity. There might also be some young Iwa ninjas who are curious about Naruto and his abilities.
He might meet some of his distant Uzumaki relatives. There could be elders or other Uzumaki clan members who have valuable knowledge about his family and their special abilities.
Perhaps he is running away from danger in Konoha. There could be a threat that he believes he can't face directly in the village, and he thinks Whirlpool might offer some sort of sanctuary or a way to become stronger in relative safety.