One option could be Teuchi, the owner of Ichiraku Ramen. Since Naruto loves ramen so much, Teuchi could teach him more advanced cooking techniques for making different types of ramen and other noodle dishes.
Ayame from Ichiraku Ramen could also be a mentor. She knows all about making delicious ramen, which is Naruto's favorite food. She could teach Naruto the secrets of making the perfect broth, choosing the right noodles, and adding the best toppings. Naruto would be eager to learn from her so he can make his own amazing ramen at home.
Iruka - sensei could be a mentor. He's always been like a father figure to Naruto, and he might have some simple but delicious home - cooking recipes to teach him. Also, Kakashi. Kakashi has a lot of life experiences and might have come across some unique cooking methods during his travels. He could teach Naruto how to be resourceful in the kitchen. And then there's the old lady who runs the ramen stand. She could show Naruto the secrets of making the perfect ramen.
Maybe Naruto discovers a rare ingredient during one of his missions. He decides to bring it back to the village and figure out how to cook with it. Along the way, he has to protect the ingredient from other ninjas who also want it for their own purposes. When he finally cooks it, it has a special effect on those who eat it, like enhancing their chakra for a short time.
Well, in this fanfiction, there could be a mentor who is a former Akatsuki member. This person has seen the dark side of the ninja world and can teach Naruto about the true nature of power. Or perhaps a sage from a hidden mountain, who has lived for centuries and has vast knowledge of chakra manipulation and nature transformation. Also, a wandering samurai with a unique combat style could be a mentor for Naruto, teaching him discipline and different fighting strategies.
Sakura could be the one teaching him. She's known for being intelligent and having good domestic skills. She might start by showing Naruto the basics in the kitchen, like how to hold a knife properly and how to chop vegetables evenly.
One interesting plot could be Naruto entering a cooking competition in the Hidden Leaf Village. He might use his ninja skills, like speed and precision, to prepare amazing dishes. For example, he could use his shadow clone jutsu to chop ingredients really fast. His unique style of cooking, influenced by his ninja life, would surprise the judges and the other contestants.
One possible mentor could be Zabuza. Although he was an enemy at first, in a fanfiction scenario, he could have survived and seen potential in Naruto. Zabuza was a master of assassination techniques, and he could pass on his skills, like silent killing and the use of the Executioner's Blade in a more covert way. Also, Orochimaru might be considered in a very dark fanfiction. He has vast knowledge of jutsu and poisons that could be used in assassinations, but of course, this would be a very dangerous path for Naruto to take.
Well, it's possible that Ino could be in Naruto's 'harem'. She is a strong - willed character and has her own unique relationship with Naruto. Another candidate could be Shikamaru's wife Temari. Since she has connections to the Leaf Village through Shikamaru and has had interactions with Naruto, she could be part of the 'harem' in a sense. This fanfiction might play around with these different character dynamics, creating interesting scenarios where Naruto's relationship with Hinata is contrasted with his relationships with these other characters.
There's also the possibility that it's a transformed version of a character we already know. For example, Sakura could be magically or experimentally given red hair, and Naruto, seeing this new side of her, starts to develop romantic feelings. This could lead to a whole new dynamic in their relationships with other characters in the Naruto universe.
One possible plot could be that Naruto discovers a hidden realm where Shinigami exist. He meets a particular Shinigami and is immediately drawn to their unique powers and personality. They start to form a bond as Naruto tries to understand the Shinigami's world and how it relates to his own.