Well, in certain fanfiction stories, Naruto realizes that he has to depend solely on his inner strength. So, he delves deep into his own chakra reserves and tries to understand and control it better. He could also study old scrolls by himself, learning forgotten techniques and using his own determination and willpower to adapt them to his fighting style, which gradually makes him stronger on his own.
In many Naruto fanfictions, Naruto might push himself by over - training. He could be constantly trying to master new jutsus at a faster pace. For example, he might practice a new Rasengan variation until he's completely exhausted, not giving himself a break. He may also push himself in terms of physical endurance, like running long distances with heavy weights.
One common way is through self - imposed challenges. Naruto might set difficult tasks for himself, like climbing a really steep mountain using only his chakra control. This helps him build both physical and mental strength.
In some versions of fanfiction, Naruto might use a new and powerful sealing jutsu that he has either created or learned specifically for this purpose. It could be a jutsu that combines his Uzumaki heritage's sealing knowledge with his own unique chakra control.
Well, Naruto has a lot of ways to defend himself in fanfiction. One of the main things is his ability to sense danger. This comes from his training as a ninja. He can then quickly counter - attack using his ninjutsu skills. For example, he can create multiple shadow clones to confuse his enemies and then attack from unexpected angles. His connection with the Nine - Tails also gives him extra strength when needed, which is a great asset in defending himself.
In some fanfictions, Naruto might push himself beyond the limit by tapping into new and undiscovered chakra sources. For example, he could access a deeper level of the Nine - Tails' chakra in a more controlled way than in the original series, allowing him to perform extremely powerful jutsus that would otherwise be impossible for him.
In some fanfictions, Naruto might distance himself because he discovers some dark secrets about the ninja world or his own past. These revelations could shock him so much that he needs time alone to process and figure out how to deal with them.
Perhaps in the fanfiction, Naruto discovers some dark secrets about his past, like his family's involvement in something he considers immoral. This new knowledge could make him question his own identity and lead to self - hatred. He might feel that he's a product of something bad and that he can't escape this 'taint' no matter how hard he tries.
Maybe he's under extreme stress and feels hopeless, like facing impossible challenges or losing someone dear.
Often, he first has to face the challenges of survival alone. He may encounter various new enemies in the outside world. For instance, he could run into rogue ninjas who see him as an easy target because he is alone.
In some fanfictions, Naruto might get injured by Nagato's powerful jutsus. For example, Nagato could use his Chibaku Tensei in a more unexpected way, catching Naruto off - guard and causing him physical harm. Maybe Naruto tries to approach Nagato too quickly to reason with him and Nagato, in a split - second decision, uses a blast of Shinra Tensei to push Naruto back, resulting in Naruto getting injured as he crashes into surrounding debris.