A Naruto fanfiction can be sad when it delves into the sacrifices Naruto has to make. He gives up so much of his personal life and relationships for the sake of the village and his friends. If a story highlights how he loses his close friends, like Sasuke in some darker interpretations, it can be extremely sad. Additionally, if it shows Naruto being misunderstood by the people he's trying to protect, that also adds a layer of sadness. For instance, if the villagers still don't trust him despite all his efforts, it can be a very tragic situation for Naruto.
One aspect of Naruto's sad childhood in fanfiction could be his loneliness. He was shunned by the villagers because of the Nine - Tails inside him. In many fanfictions, authors explore how he coped with this isolation, like finding solace in small acts of kindness from a few people, such as Iruka - sensei.
Unfulfilled dreams can also be a theme. Naruto has always dreamed of becoming Hokage to gain the respect and recognition of the village. If in a fanfiction, something prevents him from achieving this dream, like an unexpected injury or a political conspiracy, he would be extremely sad. He has put so much effort and hope into this dream, and to see it slip away would be a huge blow to him.
The theme of hope against all odds is also present. Despite his sad childhood, Naruto in fanfiction always has that glimmer of hope that things will get better. He believes in himself and his future, even when no one else does, and this is something that fanfic authors like to emphasize.
There's a fanfiction called 'A Sad Ending for Naruto'. In this story, Naruto fails to save Sasuke in the end, and he has to live with the guilt and the loss. It's really heart - wrenching as it portrays Naruto's pain and despair. And 'Naruto's Solitary Sorrow' is also a sad one, where Naruto feels like he's truly alone even after achieving so much, as he realizes the cost of his journey has been too high in terms of relationships and personal losses.
Betrayal can also be a big theme. Maybe in fanfiction, Naruto is betrayed by someone he thought was a close friend, adding to his already heavy burden of sadness. This could be a new character or an existing one taking a different path in the story.
One aspect of Naruto's sad life in fanfiction could be his loneliness as a child. He was shunned by the villagers, which would have had a deep impact on his psyche. In many fanfictions, this is explored further, perhaps with him having even darker thoughts during those times.
One popular 'naruto is sad' fanfiction might be the ones where Naruto is left alone in the village after Sasuke leaves again. In these stories, Naruto feels a deep sense of loss and loneliness. He has worked so hard to bring Sasuke back, and when that fails, it shatters his spirit. He might be seen sitting alone on the Hokage monument, looking out over the village that he is supposed to protect but feeling empty inside.
In many Naruto and Sakura sad love fanfictions, their relationship is often filled with unrequited love. Naruto has long loved Sakura, but Sakura's heart was initially set on Sasuke. This creates a lot of heartache for Naruto. For example, in some stories, Naruto tries his best to protect Sakura, but she still only has eyes for Sasuke, leading to many poignant moments of Naruto's silent suffering.
The theme of loneliness can also be prominent. Naruto, despite being surrounded by friends, can feel lonely because the person he loves doesn't love him back. And Sakura might feel lonely in her own pursuit of Sasuke, realizing that Naruto was always there for her but she didn't see it. These themes all contribute to the overall melancholy of Naruto and Sakura's love in fanfiction.