One possible plot could be that Naruto sacrifices himself to save the village from a powerful and ancient evil. He uses all his chakra in a last - ditch effort to seal away the threat forever, leaving the village in mourning but also in a state of safety. Another plot might involve Naruto being poisoned by an enemy who has infiltrated the village. Despite the efforts of Sakura and the others, they can't find a cure in time, and Naruto succumbs to the poison. A third idea could be that in a battle against a new, incredibly strong foe, Naruto is overpowered and killed, which then spurs the rest of the shinobi world to come together to avenge his death.
Fanfictions about Naruto being neglected and nearly dying can be quite intense. Some might depict him being pushed to the brink by the lack of support from the village. For example, he could be deprived of proper training or basic necessities. However, these situations usually lead to Naruto's character growth in a different way than in the original series. He might form unexpected alliances with outcasts or find new powers within himself.
For Hinata, it would be a crushing blow. She loved Naruto so much. She might withdraw into herself at first, overcome with grief. But then, she could find the strength within herself to carry on Naruto's legacy, especially for their son, Boruto (if in a post - Naruto - has - a - family scenario in the fanfiction). Shikamaru, being Naruto's friend, would feel a deep sense of loss. He would use his intelligence to try to figure out what led to Naruto's death and if there was any way to prevent it in hindsight. And the other members of the Leaf Village would be in a state of shock and mourning. Naruto was their hero, and his death would make them question their safety and future without him.
One popular 'Naruto almost dies' fanfic could be where he's facing a super powerful, new enemy that no one has seen before. This enemy has unique abilities that quickly overpower Naruto. Maybe it's a rogue ninja with the power to drain chakra at an extreme rate, leaving Naruto on the verge of death as he tries to fight back.
Well, Kabuto can be a major antagonist in such fanfictions. Since he has a vast knowledge of jutsu and was once allied with Orochimaru, he could be the one causing Naruto to almost die. He might use his medical ninjutsu knowledge to create some sort of deadly virus or poison that specifically targets Naruto's unique chakra system. Additionally, Pain is also a common one. His Rinnegan abilities give him the power to cause a great deal of destruction. In fanfictions, he could be more ruthless in his attacks on Naruto, getting him to the brink of death.
Sakura would likely be devastated. She has always cared for Naruto, even if her feelings have been complex at times. Her crying shows the depth of her fear of losing him. It could make her feel guilty for not being strong enough to protect him.
In many 'Naruto Almost Dies' fanfictions, one plot twist could be that an unexpected ally turns out to be the one endangering Naruto. For example, a character who was thought to be on Naruto's side has been secretly working for an enemy organization all along. Another plot twist might be that Naruto's own powers backfire on him. His Nine - Tails chakra, which is usually his strength, could suddenly become uncontrollable and start to harm him instead of protecting him. And sometimes, a character from Naruto's past that was forgotten or thought to be dead resurfaces and is the cause of his near - death situation.
Sure. The characters are a huge part of Naruto Shippuden fanfiction. Fanfic writers use the characters to attract readers who are fans of those characters. They might focus on a character's backstory that wasn't fully explored in the anime and expand on it. Also, the interactions between characters in the original show give fanfic writers ideas for different scenarios in their stories.
By their unique abilities. Naruto's Rasengan, Sasuke's Sharingan, these abilities can be the starting point for many fanfiction ideas. Writers can think about how these abilities could be used in different battles or situations not shown in the original.
One of the most popular is 'Naruto Shippuden: Sakura Hiden - Thoughts of Love, Riding Upon a Spring Breeze'. It's popular because it shows Sakura in a new light, with her own adventures and growth.