Ah Naruto, the series where i ship the most. So i'll break it down into sections.
OTPs (in no particular order)
My top 2 favorites, divided up by pairing type. These are the ones i search for and read tons of. Looking for Doujin of these be they friendship or couple.
Het: KakaRin
To be honest, this for the longest time was just wishing for a proper het pairing for Kakashi since I had no one to ship him with (and at the time hated yaoi), and i did like Rin a lot. It was largely supported for me by fanfics and fanart (mainly
a certain artist was the one providing the fuel)
It has just become so much more to me now that we got to see more interaction with what looks to be genuine affection (be it just friendship or more)
Slash: KakaGai
This one just completely sneaked up on me out of nowhere and now i love it so freakin much. I'm just a sucker for strong bonds of friendship so that's how this one started for me after Gai arrived to back up Kakashi during his fight with Itachi and Kisame. Then very, very gradually i started shipping them, thus the yaoi door was opened.
I've got a long list of good KakaGai fics (both as just friends and as a couple).
FAVORITES (in no particular order)
These are the uber favs, but not as crazy about these as the OTPs, but close. These are also doujin and fanfic searches.
Het: NaruHina
Second het i fell for early on. I think what did it for me were two things:
1.) no one noticed (or cared) about Naruto early on or noticed his struggles (from their age group) except Hinata (though she should have done something back then so he wasn't so lonely).
2.) Naruto was a source of strength for her to latch onto.
They both had to struggle for acceptance and i think that was what drew Hinata to him in the first place. In short, they helped each other grow and that makes the pairing interesting to me
Het: KakaSaku
One word: fanfiction. Just fanfiction, this is more of a guilty shipping that i tend to use as a self insert type deal usually when reading it (Shippuuden and post-Shippuuden fics only). i do enjoy the characters overall as a parental thing when it isn't shippy though.
Slash: KakaObi
As I said above with KakaGai, friendship is a huge thing for me and KakaObi was my #1 favorite friendship since Gaiden that i just latched onto (granted it was mostly Kakashi's dedication to Obito's memory that made me love them). Unlike KakaGai however, i know the very moment this crossed from bromance to full on ship:
Elizarush's doujin.
Note: if you support KakaObi and/or KakaGai, i rec this gender-bender doujin highly
Slash: KakaNaru
I honestly don't know what to say about this one. It still confuses me right now, I have no idea why i'm drawn to it (though i do prefer it parental/friendship and not romance usually, the latter is what confuses me when i do)
Slash: YonKaka
See same deal as KakaNaru.
FOND OF] (in no particular order)
These are just a tad below, trying to find some good fics.
Het: SasuSaku
This was my very first OTP in Naruto, and while it isn't the top one anymore it still holds a place for me. I believe it started under the radar when Sasuke protected her during the start of the wave arc and Sakura's reaction to thinking he was killed. It was during the Chuunin Exam when Sakura yelled at Sasuke that he was a coward that i was sold (both on the pairing and Sakura herself, whom i hated until that point).
Het: LeeSaku
This one is borderline favorite right now. I didn't care for it originally because of how it was first shown (love at first sight is stupid IMO) but it has been growing on me lately and they do look good together.
Het: NaruSaku
It's largely friendship based right now for me, but i do see where it could turn into more (though my love for NaruHina is what's keeping it from going into my favorites). I think what made me open to this pairing was when she was willing to turn her back on Sasuke in order to stop Naruto from hurting himself over his promise to her (granted the way she did it was wrong, but still, her heart was in the right place).
NEW TO: (in no particular order)
These are ones that i'm curious about, but haven't really found any good fics just yet.
Het: SaiSaku
This one is new for me, still looking for good fanfiction
Het: KakaYuu
Never thought to put these two together until i saw the Kakashi ANBU arc, now i can't unsee Kakashi and Yuugao together.
Het: KakaHana
It just works, they're both dog people lol.
Het: SaiIno
Blame the ending of the series, never thought about these two much until then.
CRACK SHIPS
The ships that make no sense but i love anyways
Het: LeeTema
I just... Lee is just a sweet guy and i think he could be a good match for the strong and confident Temari.
Het: DeiSaku
This was a product of a few fanarts and fanfiction
Het: ItaSaku
i'm so sorry Sakura but your personality works too well with too many characters. it was curiosity that made me read just one ItaSaku fic,
Metamorphosis by MitsukiShiroi, which is what started both ItaSaku and DeiSaku shipping for me.