Perhaps Naruto meets some outcast ninjas in the Cloud village who have similar experiences to him. They form a kind of alliance. Together, they try to change the situation in the Cloud village and also work towards Naruto's return to Konoha. They might face a lot of difficulties and challenges from the traditional forces in the Cloud village.
One important character he could meet is the Raikage. The Raikage might initially be hostile towards Naruto due to his being from Konoha, but later sees his potential. Another could be Killer Bee. Maybe Killer Bee becomes Naruto's mentor in some ways, teaching him about the power of the tailed beasts in the Cloud village's perspective.
Well, one possibility could be that Naruto in the fanfic has to face a lot of discrimination in the Cloud village at first. But then, he gradually shows his strength and unique charm, making some friends who help him grow stronger. Maybe he also discovers some secrets about the Cloud village that are related to Konoha.
Obviously Naruto is one of the main characters. He is the center of the story as he is the one exiled from Konoha.
Another plot might be Naruto's journey of self - discovery during his exile. He could be exploring new jutsus and powers that he didn't have the chance to in Konoha. For example, he might discover a hidden power within himself that is related to an ancient ninja clan. This could lead to him becoming much stronger and more confident.
Iruka could also be important. Since he was one of the few people who showed some kindness to Naruto in the original story. He might feel guilty about Naruto leaving due to neglect and set out to find him. His presence could add an element of emotional depth to the story as he tries to make amends.
In many 'Naruto Exiled from Konoha' fanfictions, the Akatsuki members could be involved. They might view Naruto as a valuable asset now that he's an outcast from Konoha. Naruto could either befriend some of them, like Pain, who sees Naruto's potential and decides to help him in his exile, or he could be constantly on the run from them as they try to capture him for their own purposes.
In this fanfiction, Naruto might find allies among the shinobi who were also wrongly exiled from their own villages. They would share a common bond of being outcasts and would fight together against the system that exiled them. Additionally, there could be some rogue ninja with a sense of justice who believe in Naruto's cause and decide to stand by his side in the war.
Another character could be the Nine - Tailed Fox. Kushina was once the jinchuriki of the Nine - Tailed Fox. When Naruto meets his mother, the topic of the Nine - Tailed Fox might come up. Maybe Kushina could tell Naruto some secrets about controlling the Nine - Tailed Fox's power that she learned during her time as its jinchuriki.
The important characters would start with Naruto. Then, any of the other Jinchuuriki that the author decides to include. For example, if the story is set in a certain time period, we might see the Jinchuuriki from Naruto's generation more prominently. So, characters like Gaara and Killer Bee would be very important. And there could be some new or less - known Jinchuuriki introduced to add more depth and variety to the story.
Maybe Naruto would meet some young Uzumaki clan members who look up to him. They would be inspired by his strength and his will to protect the village. Naruto could then take on the role of a mentor, teaching them the values he learned in Konoha and also some of his own ninja techniques.
The main characters would most likely start with Naruto. His character would be central to the story. Alongside him, we might see the Hokage at the time also playing a role. Additionally, there could be a group of shinobi who are specialized in dealing with demons that Naruto teams up with. And perhaps some of the villains or demons themselves could be considered main characters in a sense, as they drive the conflict in the story.