He could meet other rogue ninjas. These are ninjas who have left their villages for various reasons, and they might be on a similar journey as Naruto. They could either help him or try to take advantage of his situation.
There's a possibility that he meets other Jinchuriki. Jinchuriki are those who have tailed beasts sealed within them like Naruto. They could be on the run too, or they could be looking for Naruto. Meeting them could lead to a sharing of experiences and knowledge about how to live with the power of the tailed beasts.
He might meet some of his distant Uzumaki relatives. There could be elders or other Uzumaki clan members who have valuable knowledge about his family and their special abilities.
He would surely meet Gaara. Gaara has had his own struggles and he might be able to understand Naruto on a deeper level. They could form an even stronger bond than before, with Gaara helping Naruto hide from those who might be looking for him in Suna.
In a 'naruto runs away fanfic', one possible plot could be that Naruto runs away after feeling misunderstood by the village. He might go on a journey to find a place where he can truly belong. Along the way, he could meet new allies or enemies. For example, he might encounter a group of outcasts who are also on the run from different villages. They could team up and form a sort of 'runaway family' where Naruto learns new skills and perspectives outside of the Hidden Leaf's teachings.
Maybe an organization that specializes in using the Sharrigan for malicious purposes. They don't want Naruto to expose their secrets, so they send their Sharrigan - users to hunt him down. This organization could be made up of power - hungry individuals who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.
She could meet some other super - powered beings who are also on the run from something. Maybe they are former villains who are trying to reform.
He could meet some rogue ninjas. These ninjas might either try to harm him or, in some cases, offer to help him on his journey. They might have their own reasons for being in the area between Konoha and Kumo.
Perhaps he is running away from danger in Konoha. There could be a threat that he believes he can't face directly in the village, and he thinks Whirlpool might offer some sort of sanctuary or a way to become stronger in relative safety.
Maybe he's running away from some kind of danger or threat in his home village. There could be a group or an individual after him, and he believes that Kumo would be a safer place. It could also be related to some political unrest in Konoha that makes him feel like he has to leave, and Kumo seems like a viable option.
Maybe he's running away from the pressure in the village. There are always high expectations on him, and he might feel suffocated and need some time alone to figure things out.
He might meet American witches and wizards. Maybe a young and adventurous wizard who shows him around the American magical world.