After spending a short while in the lounge watching over Gaara, Naruto emerged quietly. He closed the door with careful gentleness, then went to assist Nine-Tails and Sasuke with meal preparations.
Cooking for such a large gathering presented genuine challenges. After all, they needed to feed an entire crowd of friends properly.
After receiving Naruto's instructions, Sasuke went to locate Nine-Tails. He found the miniature fox standing among the cattle herd, holding what appeared to be a pictorial manual titled "Bovine Heat Management." The Nine-Tails was seriously supervising the bulls' work performance.
"Kurama, Naruto wants us to select two cows, two sheep, and two pigs as ingredients for this morning's lunch."
The moment Sasuke finished speaking, every bull currently working trembled in unison. They immediately began laboring with dramatically increased enthusiasm.
Ignoring the bulls' transparent anxiety, Nine-Tails nodded acknowledgment. "No problem. Sasuke, help me with the selections. Since we're already here with the bulls, let's choose from the cattle first."
Setting down his pictorial manual, Nine-Tails approached each bull individually, conducting thorough inspections. Finally, he pointed at two particularly robust breeding bulls. "Those two will do perfectly."
The two selected bulls startled with visible shock, their eyes widening in bovine horror.
Sasuke looked at Nine-Tails' choices with obvious confusion. "But these two bulls are incredibly strong and work extremely hard. Look at their excellent physical condition. They're clearly prime breeding stock. Why would you choose them specifically?"
Regarding Sasuke's legitimate question, Nine-Tails explained with surprising patience. "Sasuke, don't be fooled by surface appearances. Our ultimate goal involves expanding the herd population, correct? Therefore, the process itself doesn't actually matter. However, these two bulls are enjoying that process FAR too enthusiastically. So despite appearing to work hard, their actual productivity falls significantly below other bulls' output."
Hearing Nine-Tails' explanation, understanding dawned across Sasuke's features. "You're absolutely right. Let's take those two, then."
Recognizing they couldn't escape this fate, the two chosen bulls immediately broke formation and attempted to flee. But Nine-Tails couldn't possibly allow their escape. He leaped forward with decisive speed, delivering one punch to each bull. Both collapsed unconscious to the ground.
"Excellent. Now let's check if any sheep are suffering from heatstroke." After completing the cattle selection, Sasuke followed Nine-Tails toward the sheep pasture.
When they reached the flock, the sheep noticed Nine-Tails and Sasuke approaching. Panic rippled through the entire group, though they desperately tried not to show it. Every sheep began grazing with exaggerated intensity. After all, eating substantial amounts demonstrated healthy bodies free from heatstroke and similar conditions.
Sasuke surveyed the flock carefully. "Nine-Tails, it appears there aren't any sheep currently suffering from heatstroke."
Nine-Tails conducted his own inspection, finally agreeing with Sasuke's assessment. "You're correct. No heatstroke cases present. This creates difficulties. I may need to disappoint Naruto's specific instructions."
Hearing the Nine-Tails' words, the sheep collectively relaxed. The grass in their mouths suddenly tasted even more delicious! Freedom seemed within reach.
But in the very next second, Nine-Tails' following statement obliterated their premature relief. "Since there are no sheep with heatstroke, we'll simply find two sheep suffering from internal injuries instead. We must fulfill Naruto's orders properly."
"Sheep with internal injuries?" Sasuke scratched his head, processing this alternative criterion.
Nine-Tails turned toward Sasuke, his expression transforming into something distinctly devilish. "You're absolutely right to question that. Actually, we can't definitively know if they possess internal injuries without proper examination. So we'll need to open them up and check directly. If we discover they genuinely have no internal injuries, we'll simply rescue them afterward through medical treatment..."
The sheep's collective expressions could only be described as: (Nervous laughter intensifies)
"That makes perfect sense." Sasuke gave Nine-Tails an approving thumbs-up, completely missing the absurdity.
The sheep were duly selected. Unlike the bulls, stunning them proved unnecessary. Nine-Tails simply lifted one sheep in each hand, their eight legs dangling and kicking frantically in the air.
"Let's proceed. Only the pigs remain now."
As Nine-Tails spoke, he began running along the mountain path carrying both sheep. Their bleating "baa baa baa" sounds echoed with unmistakable distress.
"Why do they sound so miserable?" Sasuke jogged alongside Nine-Tails, keeping pace. "If they don't have internal injuries, they'll be released safely."
His tone suggested he genuinely believed this outcome was possible.
Meanwhile, Haku sat on a stool beside the pigsty, singing gentle songs to the pigs. He genuinely enjoyed this comfortable, peaceful existence. What he didn't particularly enjoy was the man processing manure in the adjacent area.
Here on Naruto's farm, Zabuza found his status meant absolutely nothing. This very morning, Sasuke had beaten him severely again under the pretense of "exchanging training techniques." His face remained thoroughly bruised and swollen.
Suddenly, distressed sheep bleating carried from the distance. Haku turned his head toward the sound. He spotted Sasuke running down a mountain path, accompanied by two sheep suspended in midair. The animals screamed mournfully while their eight legs paddled desperately back and forth.
After descending to flat ground, Haku finally saw Nine-Tails beneath the sheep. The miniature fox was carrying both animals overhead. Nine-Tails' small size compared to the substantial sheep created a visual resemblance to an ant holding lion heads.
However, the sheep's cries grew increasingly loud. Haku glanced at the sleeping pigs nearby. In a flash of movement, he appeared directly before Sasuke and Nine-Tails, blocking their path.
Both stopped as Haku spoke with polite urgency. "Sasuke-kun, Nine-Tails, please quiet those sheep immediately. Their noise will wake the pigs, which disrupts optimal conditions for meat growth."
Actually, two pigs had already awakened. They grunted and stood up, looking around with confused irritation.
Nine-Tails recognized the validity of Haku's suggestion. Everything served the farm's proper development. He immediately applied what he called "physical hypnosis," causing both sheep to fall unconscious instantly. The blessed silence returned.
Haku released a relieved breath. "Sasuke-kun, are you selecting pigs as ingredients?"
Haku had worked on the farm long enough to understand Naruto's prodigious appetite. Moreover, Naruto regularly invited friends for meals, utilizing local resources during these gatherings.
"Yes, Haku-san. Please take us there quickly. Naruto specified we should choose two pigs that dislike sleeping as this morning's ingredients." Sasuke's request came with complete sincerity.
"Of course, Sasuke-kun, Nine-Tails. Please follow me." Haku led the way toward the pigsty.
As they approached, Sasuke noticed Zabuza working nearby. He offered a cheerful greeting. "Hey, Zabuza! Good morning to you!"
Zabuza glanced at Sasuke's friendly, smiling face and merely grunted in response. He immediately returned his attention to work, keeping his head down. He was holding a grudge and had no intention of forgiving Sasuke before today ended.
Sasuke had business to conduct, so Zabuza's cold shoulder didn't particularly concern him. Upon reaching the pigsty, Sasuke surveyed the situation and smiled with satisfaction. "Perfect timing! How convenient. There are exactly two pigs that aren't sleeping."
Throughout the pigsty, thousands of pigs lay sleeping peacefully. Only two remained standing upright, clearly awake.
Hearing Sasuke's declaration, those two pigs experienced profound regret. Wouldn't pretending to sleep have been simpler?
But circumstances couldn't be reversed now. In their next life, they vowed to become pigs that slept so deeply they'd never wake for anything.
After selecting all necessary ingredients, Sasuke addressed Haku and Zabuza with casual friendliness. "Haku-san, Zabuza, remember to join us for lunch later. Naruto specifically mentioned you should both come."
"Certainly, Sasuke-kun. We'll be there." As Naruto's friends, Haku and Zabuza naturally wouldn't be excluded from such gatherings.
When they brought the ingredients back to the preparation area, Naruto arrived to assist with processing. He handled the pigs while Sasuke and Nine-Tails dealt with the sheep.
Naruto was efficiently butchering pigs. Sasuke and Nine-Tails were slaughtering the sheep nearby.
After opening one sheep's abdominal cavity and removing all internal organs, Nine-Tails and Sasuke conducted thorough examinations. They checked every organ carefully, looking for any signs of pathology. After considerable time spent investigating, both raised their heads simultaneously. They looked at each other with identical expressions.
"It appears neither sheep possessed any internal injuries whatsoever," they announced in unison.
"What a shame. Can't rescue them after all." Sasuke sighed, his tone carrying genuine regret as though this outcome was truly disappointing.
At precisely that moment, a Root operative wearing a standard mask approached. He walked directly to Naruto, stopping at a respectful distance. His posture conveyed formal deference.
"Naruto-kun, this is Lord Danzo's letter of apology."
He extended an envelope with both hands, bowing slightly as he presented it.