Often, Naruto's relationships with other characters are explored further. He might have deeper conversations with Sasuke, trying to convince him to come back to the village for good. His bond with Sakura could also develop in different ways, perhaps becoming a stronger friendship or even something more romantic in some fanfictions.
In some fanfictions, after Naruto defeated Pain, the village started to rebuild immediately. Naruto became a hero not only in name but also in the hearts of every villager. People looked at him with newfound respect and admiration.
In a 'naruto after pain fanfic', Naruto is key. However, characters like Tsunade are important too. She can lead the medical and administrative aspects of the village's recovery. Then there are Naruto's friends like Kiba and Choji. They can help with the physical tasks of rebuilding, and also in the security patrols around the village to prevent any new threats.
Naruto could also be more focused. The experience of the Pain invasion made him realize the importance of being fully present and concentrated during battles and training. He might have less of his usual goofiness and be more serious about his growth as a shinobi.
One possible plot could be Naruto and Ino working together to help rebuild the village after Pain's attack. They might bond over their shared experiences and grow closer as friends or even develop romantic feelings. They could also be involved in training the new generation of shinobi to prevent future attacks.
The Akatsuki remnants could still pose a threat. Members like Sasori or Deidara might have had backup plans or followers who now want revenge for the Akatsuki's downfall. They could target Naruto specifically, seeing him as the one who brought down Pain and disrupted their plans.
One possible plot could be that the village, still shaken by Pain's attack, blames Naruto for not preventing all the destruction. They think he has some hidden connection to Pain and turn on him. Naruto, heartbroken, decides to leave the village and find out the truth about his past and the Akatsuki on his own.
In a 'naruto after pain fanfic', a great plotline could be the political changes in the Hidden Leaf. Naruto might get involved in restructuring the village's leadership and security systems. He could also encounter new enemies who see the village as vulnerable after Pain's assault. And there could be a sub - plot about how the other ninja villages react to the Hidden Leaf's situation and Naruto's growing influence.
Maybe Orochimaru's former followers who are still lurking in the shadows. They see Naruto as a threat and Hinata as an easy target to get to Naruto. Another possibility could be some power - hungry shinobi from other villages who view Konoha as weak after the Pain incident. They might target Naruto and Hinata as key figures in Konoha's future to try and undermine the village's rebuilding efforts.