If you are looking for some of the most popular Naruto fanfiction, you have come to the right place.
Fans of Japanese manga know that Naruto is one of the most popular series out there.
This manga series has 72 volumes that were released over the span of 15 years.
There is also an anime tv series based on the manga that was equally as popular as the books.
Because of the size of the fan base and the popularity of both the manga and the anime, there is a massive amount of fanfiction based on Naruto.
Keep reading to find out more about this fun and interesting genre.
1. Of Harrowed Hearts
This first Naruto fanfiction is the most popular on our list.
It has nearly 900,000 hits, so it is clear that Naruto fans are loving this story.
There are 37 chapters in this story, but none of them are too long, making it a pretty simple read.
In this story, each of the main characters makes a huge discovery.
Each of these discoveries is unique, and they each help the character in immeasurable ways.
- Naruto discovers the true meaning of the word “monster”.
- Sasuke discovers the difference between power and strength.
- And Sakura discovers that there is greatness in being herself.
As you read this story, you will grow and change alongside each of these characters.
The author is an excellent writer, and they bring life to each character in unique ways.
They are able to stay true to the characters as we know them, while also giving them a personal twist.
This is an excellent story that you will not want to miss.
2. Reverse
In this slow-burn romance, we see what would have happened if the time-traveling Kurama (from the next story we will discuss) was actually Kurama.
As you may expect, time travel plays a large role in this story, but don’t worry, it is not so much time travel that you will get lost.
The author does a great job of keeping things straight and helping the reader understand what is happening.
And be sure to read the content warnings before diving into this story.
3. Backslide
If you are going to read the previous story, then you should definitely read this one first.
It is written by the same author and both of these stories play off many of the same alternate universe realities.
They make the most sense when paired together.
There is plenty of time travel in this story, as well, but this one has a less dense plot than the previous one.
A lot of fluff in this story, which can be a lot of fun if that is what you are looking for.
There is romance, humor, and sweet moments of friendship to be found in this story.
If you are looking for something lighthearted and fun to read, this story is a great choice.
4. What Once Was Will Never Be
Next up in our list of Naruto fanfiction is another mature time travel story.
In this story, Kurama attempts to send himself and Naruto back in time one day, but he overshoots it by just a bit.
Though time travel is a fairly common plot device in Naruto fanfiction, this author does it a bit differently from many other writers.
In this story, we see the lasting and massive effects of time travel and how they change the trajectory of the future.
With over 500,000 hits and nearly 4,000 comments, you can rest assured that this story is a popular one.
It will have you on the edge of your seat, and you won’t be able to put it down anytime soon.
5. Hear the Silence
This story is a bit different from the others we have seen so far.
The author of this story has incorporated many of their own original characters, and they really add a lot of depth to the story.
These original characters give new life to an already exciting story.
The author has done a great job of making these characters seem like they belong in the world.
They do not stand out and they do not seem out of place like many original characters often do.
As per the author’s summary, this story is about falling down and getting back up again.
It is a dark story that revolves around child soldiers, suffering, and loss.
It is, however, a well-written story that will leave you with tears in your eyes.
6. Stormborn
Next up is an explicit story that features Naruto seeing flashes of an unknown past.
Due to the nature of this story, it can seem fairly disjointed at times.
The author enjoys writing fluff and romance, so there is a lot of that here.
This story is not without substance, though.
There is still a lot to enjoy in this story if fluff is not for you.
There are 34 chapters in this story and each of them brings something new to the table.
It has nearly 43,000 hits, so it is very popular among fans of Naruto fanfiction.
7. Soulmate Story Collection
As you may have guessed from the title of this story, this is a collection of shorter stories rather than one long narrative.
There are 223 chapters in this collection, so there is plenty of fun content to read through.
The author of these stories takes suggestions from their readers for situations and relationships that they want to see.
Some of them are rather unique and different, and some of them are more typical.
Regardless of the prompt, the author does a great job of giving it their own personal touch and bringing it to life.
If you are looking for stories about certain pairings of characters, this is a great place to start.
Each chapter is titled with the names of the characters involved, so each story is easy to find.
It is a great way to dive into Naruto fanfiction.
8. Hiding in the Leaves
This alternate reality story is a bit different from many of the others.
It is much deeper and has a lot more hidden meaning than most of the other stories in this genre.
There is very little fluff, if any, to this story.
We see many different characters in this story who are all a bit morally grey.
They have a hard time making the right decisions, as is human nature.
This story spans many years, and we get to see the characters grow up and change throughout the years.
As of 2022, the author is still posting fairly regular updates, so there is a lot of content to enjoy.
This story has nearly 200,000 words and thousands of comments raving about the author’s storytelling abilities and characterizations.
This is a great story that you won’t want to pass up.
9. Pulling My Weight
Next up is a wonderful “what if” story that answers the questions of many Naruto fans.
In this story, we get to see what could have happened if Sakura’s talents had been recognized early on.
Sakura decides to take matters into her own hands when she realizes that she is way behind in her training.
She changes her own destiny after a visit to the library where she meets someone who helps her on her journey.
We get to see into her head and how she makes decisions and comes to terms with her reality.
It is a really interesting side of her that we don’t always get to see.
There are a few mature scenes and themes throughout this story, but the author indicates when those will be happening, so they are fairly easy to skip over.
This is a great story that offers a new perspective and it is a real treat to read.
10. An Invincible Summer
The Naruto fanfiction that we will look at today is perhaps one of the best.
It is definitely one of the most popular, with very good reason.
In this story, Naruto is presumed dead at five years old.
However, six months later a little girl with pale hair and blue eyes enters the academy.
As you may have guessed, this leads to a lot of mystery and intrigue.
This is a well written story that contains many unique plot elements.
It is unlike any of the other stories on this list, and it is unlike most other Naruto fanfictions you will be able to find online.
The author has given us a world that is full of suspense and drama, while still fun and happy, as we know Naruto to be.
You won’t want to skip this excellent story.
11. Life as a Nukenin
Let me tell you about a fanfiction story called “Life as a Nukenin” from the Naruto fandom.
In this story, Kakashi wakes up in an alternate dimension where everything is different from what he’s used to.
As he navigates this new world, he faces various challenges and goes on different adventures with familiar faces, including Sakura, Sasuke, and others.
Throughout the story, Kakashi discovers new things about himself and the people he thought he knew so well.
It’s a fun and exciting read with lots of shenanigans and unexpected twists.
12. Trials of Changes
The story revolves around Haruno Sakura going back in time to prevent the 4th Shinobi War and keep her loved ones safe.
She is transported back to her 5-year-old body with all the knowledge and memories of the future.
The challenges she faces as she tries to prevent certain events without altering the timeline too much make her question her own existence.
The story has 50 chapters and over 35,000 hits.
13. Ear to the Wall
This fanfic follows Hatake Kakashi, who wakes up in a hospital bed with his body transformed into that of his six-year-old self.
He soon realizes that he has been sent back in time to the day of his father’s death.
Kakashi tries to adjust to his new reality and prevent his father’s murder while dealing with the emotional weight of his past.
Finally, the story is a compelling exploration of the character and how his experiences shaped him into the person he became.
14. Six Years Too Long
This is a Naruto fanfic where Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, wakes up six years after the Kyuubi attack, realizing that he had not died, and sets out to find his son.
Despite feeling disoriented and confused, Minato is determined to protect his son from the masked man who caused the attack.
As he sets out on his mission, he is shocked by how much time has passed and how poorly the village has treated his son.
The story explores Minato’s journey to reunite with his son and make things right.
15. Traversing Golden Waters
The story revolves around Orochimaru, who one day offers a cup of ramen to a dirty, sun-kissed-haired kid he meets on his way home to Konoha.
Little did he know that the kid was Uzumaki Naruto.
And this story doesn’t have any specific relationship focus, but it involves several characters such as Hatake Kakashi, Namikaze Minato, Uzumaki Kushina, and more.
The fanfic is also still ongoing, with 39 chapters and over 68,000 words, and has garnered over 11,000 kudos and 3,000 bookmarks.
16. A Lack of Wisdom
This is a Naruto fanfiction featuring a grumpy protagonist transported into the Naruto world.
The protagonist is focused on maintaining possession of their life and eyeballs and wants mochi and clean socks.
They are also assigned a troll-dad sensei who is trying to understand them but doesn’t know where to start and two twelve-year-old teammates who haven’t matured yet.
It follows the protagonist’s journey in this new world, and they wish for an unsubscribe button to request a different afterlife.
17. Tobirama Kicks Some Sense Into Konoha
Basically, Tobirama finds himself in Naruto‘s time, and he is not happy with the way the Hidden Leaf Village has lost its way.
He’s also determined to uphold his brother Hashirama’s dream and ensure that no child suffers under the protection of Konoha.
Tobirama is willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that happens, even if it means causing a civil war or burning the village down.
He’s even willing to take care of the children himself if he has to.
It’s a really interesting story with a lot of action and emotion.
18. A Dance of Light and Shadow
This story is about Kakashi, a former Anbu Captain, who is choosing the third member of his team.
He also believes Haruno Sakura has the potential to be a good kunoichi, but he wants another kunoichi to pass his team.
He tells his Hokage, “If you want me to pass this team, get me another kunoichi.”
From there, everything goes differently, and the story takes a canon divergence.
19. Second Bite at the Cherry
In “Second Bite at the Cherry,” a Naruto fanfiction, the story revolves around Sakura, a shinobi who feels inferior to her teammates and decides to take her fate into her own hands.
Through a series of bad decisions, she forms an unlikely team of shinobi to take on impossible tasks such as defeating the Akatsuki, keeping her loved ones safe, and unifying the shinobi world.
The story’s popularity is evident through its high hit count (197,000+).
It’s a well-written fanfiction with an interesting take on Sakura’s character, making it an enjoyable read for fans of the Naruto universe.
20. Homeward
I stumbled upon a Naruto fanfiction entitled “Homeward.”
The story follows Sakura as she is transported back in time and finds herself in a foreign land.
As she tries to find her way back home, she unwittingly begins to make a name for herself, which changes the course of history.
Desperate to return to her own time, she makes a deal that may have significant consequences.
Overall, “Homeward” offers an exciting journey through time as Sakura navigates her way through unfamiliar territory.
Naruto Fanfiction: Conclusion
I hope this article has helped you find some great Naruto fanfics to read!
These 20 are just a small sample of all the amazing stories out there.
So be sure to take a look and find your own favorite among them.
And if you have questions about this topic, feel free to leave a message in the comments below!
Lastly, if you want to read more about fanfiction on this blog, then check out:
