Naruto: Jinchuriki of the Six Paths by X009

Chapter 1

Naruto looked up from his place on the ground in disbelief at the sight before him. Sasuke, his teammate and rival... for whom he shared a mutual hatred was riddled with senbon needles, they covered his arms, legs, and torso and five were lodged in his neck. The Uchiha coughed up blood as the life giving fluid flowed from all his wounds. Sasuke felt his body getting colder... weaker... and both boys were absolutely certain he had no chance of survival.

"What's... with that look... loser?" Sasuke asked as he turned his head and looked down at the blond.

"Why?" 'You saved me.' Naruto said/thought as he ran through all the events of the day in his mind. How he had woken up that day in wave to find his team missing, how he saved Inari and his mother from those two thugs. Then when he arrived at the bridge he, even he had to admit this was stupid in retrospect, announced his presence and then entered the dome of ice mirrors Sasuke was fighting the imposter hunter-nin in. Maybe, if he had concealed himself or done something different, Sasuke wouldn't be...

Sasuke thought of all his interactions with Naruto before then. He was an annoying fool, deserving the title of dead last and it was irritating that the blond seemed to think of himself as his rival. But as annoying as he was, he had saved him, likely at the cost of his own life. He didn't know why, it was just instinct. 'Maybe...' he thought to himself, briefly remembering his family. 'It's because I didn't want to lose someone again...' Much as he hated to admit it, Naruto and Sakura were the closest things to friends he had.

"I hated you..." Sasuke said.

"Then... why... why did you save me?" Naruto asked. "I never asked for your help!" the blond yelled, refusing to accept that someone else gave their life for him.

"I don't know." Sasuke admitted. "My body just moved on it's own... idiot."

A moment later, the black haired boy was unable to stand anymore and fell backwards. Naruto caught him and Sasuke began to say what he believed would be his last words.

"That man... my brother... I told myself I wouldn't die until I killed him." Sasuke told the blond, shocking him. "Don't let yourself die too..." the boy's eyes closed and he became still. Naruto's eyes widened and tears began to flow from his eyes.

"He landed a blow on me without flinching... and died protecting you..." Haku said as he got himself off the ground. "To protect a precious person, knowing it was a trap, he was still able to jump in... he is a shinobi that deserves respect." he said on one knee. "Is this the first time you saw a friend die?" he asked, now standing. "This is the way of the shinobi." he said as he entered a nearby mirror.

"Shut up..." Naruto said quietly. 'Sasuke... I hated you too... and yet.' Naruto thought as he felt a stinging sensation in his eyes, far more intense than what would normally accompany tears. 'I won't forgive you!' These were his last thoughts before his mind blanked out.

A few moments later Naruto gently laid the seemingly dead genin on the ground, his eyes hidden by shadows. He stood up and remained stationary, displaying no visible emotion.

Haku's eyes narrowed behind his mask. The boy's demeanor had changed entirely.

"What's wrong? Have you given up?" Haku asked hoping Naruto would give up. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped behind his mask when the boy raised his head and glared, revealing his eyes. His once blue eyes had turned entirely purple, marked with concentric rings centered on his pupil like ripples in a pond. 'Wha-... what? A dojutsu? But... I've never heard of one with this description... and as far as I know, Konoha only has the Sharingan and Byakugan.'

The now purple eyed blond stared at him, his face emotionless and his eyes deathly cold.

Kakashi and Zabuza continued their own battle. Despite his words that he believed in his students, which were largely true, the copy ninja couldn't deny that he was worried. The two were fresh out of the academy and while they both had a lot of raw talent, the imposter hunter ninja had obviously received training for many years from a ninja of the same caliber as him and he knew little of the boy's bloodline. Even if Sasuke awakened his own bloodline, it would be at its lowest level and at best allow him to follow his opponent's movements.