This was my second Naruto fanfic, and overall, I was fairly satisfied with it.
That said, there were still many issues I didn't handle well, such as the approval system and the problem of Naruto not needing approval. Naruto becoming a rogue ninja and leaving the village was also a major issue, causing the follow-up subscription numbers to plummet after the paid release.
However, when I got to the Chunin Exams, I managed to win quite a few readers back.
Naruto's story could have more or less ended there, but I kept writing for over another month. It was a little self-indulgent, I suppose, but at least I wrapped up the ending.
After finishing this book, I don't plan to write any more conspiracy-theory Naruto stories. They're not only too depressing, but they also leave very little to write about later on. I'd rather have some fun with it.
As for the next book, barring any surprises, it should be an original work, though I'll probably use a different pen name.
After all, according to the traditions of the Naruto fanfic community, you write one Naruto fic, then one original work, sacrifice the original work, and it gives your new book a nice boost. I'm thinking of giving it a try.
Of course, that was just a joke.
The main reason is to refresh my mind. Writing the same kind of story all the time can make the satisfying moments feel stale. Some parts that should have been satisfying got skipped because I'd written them too many times and no longer found them satisfying myself. (It was really hard to deal with.)
That's it, then. I'm off to binge-read some novels.