There's also the possibility that it could be a transformed or reimagined version of an existing main character. Maybe Naruto himself could be in a situation where he is banished and has to take on the role of a mercenary. This would be a very different take on his character, having to survive in the outside world without the support of the village, relying on his wits and new - found mercenary skills.
It could also be a minor character from the original Naruto series who has been given a new backstory. For instance, a character who was only briefly mentioned in the anime or manga but now has a whole new life as a banished mercenary. They could have been wronged by the village in some way and are now out for revenge or redemption.
It could be an original character created by the fanfic author. This character might be a skilled fighter, maybe with a unique weapon or fighting style, like using a special kind of kunai combined with lightning - based chakra attacks.
Well, in some fanfics like this, the banished mercenary might have unique abilities that set them apart. For example, they could have a special chakra-based power that was feared or misunderstood in the Naruto world. This could lead to them being banished unfairly.
It could be an original character. For example, a ninja who was born into a minor clan but had great potential. However, due to political intrigue and jealousy from a major clan, he was framed and banished. He then became a mercenary to survive. Another option could be a character who was once a part of a secret ninja organization and was banished when he disagreed with their methods. Now, as a mercenary, he returns to the Naruto world with a vendetta against those who wronged him.
The main antagonist could be an old - school ninja who believes in the traditional and often harsh ways of the ANBU. They see Naruto's actions as weakening the village and set out to oppose him at every turn, trying to bring back the old ANBU regime.
It could be an original character. For instance, a ninja who was wrongly framed for a crime and banished. They would then be the focus as they navigate their new life as an assassin.
Danzo might be the main villain. He's known for his underhanded tactics. He could have banished Naruto to create chaos and then sent his Root agents to destroy Konoga for some political or power - related reasons. He might see Konoga as a threat to his control over the village in some way.
Another option could be Kakashi. Suppose he is banished because of some incident related to his Sharingan. He has so much history and experience, and seeing him outside of the village structure, relying only on his Sharingan and his wits, would make for a great story. He could also have flashbacks to his past experiences with the Sharingan while dealing with the challenges of being banished.
It could be the very people who banished Naruto in the first place. They might fear his new - found power and try to stop him from returning to the village or from getting revenge. They would likely use underhanded tactics to try and take him down.
Perhaps Danzo could be the main antagonist. He was always a bit of a shadowy figure in the original Naruto series. In this fanfic, he might see Naruto and Sasuke as a threat to his own control over Konoha. So, he uses his influence to have them banished. He could be secretly working with external forces to further his own agenda while keeping Naruto and Sasuke away from Konoha.
Danzo could be a great antagonist. He might see Naruto's new married status as a threat to his power - he could spread false rumors that lead to Naruto's banishment. He would then try to eliminate Naruto and his wife to ensure his own control over the village remains unchallenged.
Well, Naruto himself could be a really interesting take on a banished prodigy. Imagine if things had gone differently in the village and he was banished. It would be a huge change from the original story. Shikamaru is also a possibility. He's intelligent and has a lot of potential. If there was some sort of political or power struggle within the village that led to his banishment, it could make for an engaging fanfic. Also, Hinata could be a unique choice. Her shy nature but hidden strength could be explored in a banished prodigy storyline.