Three stories that inspired me in regards to Naruto (and are good reads as well)

Destiny is a Hazy Thing
by Calanor
This is the fanfic that made me look underneath the underneath in regards to canon events and how they could be interpreted as something far more sinister.

A World Full of Monsters
by Fahad09
This is where I learned about self-serving SI's, and how just a bit of greed can go a long way. (Also funny as hell for something so dark.)

First Try
by Lucillia
This is a brilliant take on Naruto, and opened me up to a more competent Naruto, also quite interesting.

SPOILERS AHEAD

A general spoiler warning, all the Naruto stories use the same basic premises, that while canon events happen, the reason why they happen is usually rather grim, as it is a world of violence and death.

AN for Shadowed Sun

I had actually planned for this to be a 'OP-Naruto-curb-stomps-while-on-Team-7' type of story, but then i realized that Naruto with just basic competence would be quite a bit OP, as she has an insane drive to succeed and would know how. I also realized that Naruto dropping the idiot mask, would have very little patience for Sasuke and Sakura, one would disparage and belittle her, the other would abuse and ignore her. So her patience ran out. Kakashi's take on it is written out in the story, and doesn't need repeating.

AN for What Foxes Do (Potential Spoiler Warning)

SO Minato is a girl, yes, but she's eight a kid, and as such it can be hard to tell, she also wears t-shirt and pants in neutral colors, and her hair is quite short, making it almost impossible to tell.

A lot of things happen in the background that Minato doesn't know about, and as always, she has the devils luck.

On Minato being a girl in the first place. I am taking Sai's 'Dickless' nickname very literal.

That was the 'Secret Document Retrieval Mission' that tanked Mizuki's reputation, maybe it still does?

Hana's nose is good enough to tell Minato is a girl, so she isn't guessing.