After showering and changing into clean clothes, Zabuza and Haku finally arrived at the main house. Zabuza had scrubbed himself thoroughly, and his clothes were fresh and free of any agricultural odors. Haku, as always, looked immaculate despite having spent the morning with livestock.
Naruto sensed their approach before they reached the courtyard gate. He immediately set down the serving platter he'd been arranging and headed outside to greet them.
"Haku, Zabuza! You're here!" Naruto's smile was warm and genuine as he met them at the entrance. "Come in, come in. We've been waiting for you."
"Naruto-kun, you're too polite," Haku said with a slight bow.
"Seriously, Naruto-kun, you're always so considerate of us. We're really grateful." Zabuza's tone was sincere, carrying none of his usual gruffness.
And he meant it. Living and working on Naruto's farm had been... good. Better than good, actually. Naruto consistently included them in gatherings, made sure they had good food, treated them like valued members of the household rather than just employees or former enemies.
It felt like friendship.
Moreover, Naruto had promised to help Zabuza with his goals regarding Kirigakure. That made them allies, partners working toward a common purpose. The feeling of having someone in his corner, someone he could trust, was something Zabuza hadn't experienced in years.
Honestly, Zabuza really liked it here. The only downside was Sasuke, who used "sparring practice" as an excuse to beat him up regularly. If not for that, this place would be perfect.
"Come on in," Naruto said, gesturing them inside. "We're all friends here. No need to be formal."
The two followed Naruto into the dining area, where they were immediately absorbed into the gathering. Most of Naruto's friend circle already knew them from previous visits, but the person they gravitated toward was Shikamaru. As farm director, he'd been the one to teach them the finer points of livestock management, and they'd developed an easy working relationship.
Within minutes, the last dishes were being brought out, and everyone settled around the large dining table that had been set up in the main room.
Seventeen people and one fox sat around the table in a cozy press of bodies and conversation. Akamaru, being a dog, was relegated to a bowl on the floor near Kiba's feet. The puppy didn't seem to mind; he knew that if he was patient and well-behaved, bones and scraps would come his way eventually.
Naruto sat at the head of the table, his position as host and farm owner. His eyes swept across the gathered faces, and warmth flooded his chest.
Sixteen friends. All of them here because they wanted to be, because they valued his company as much as he valued theirs.
Sasuke sat to his right, family in all but blood. Hinata was to his left, her presence a constant source of comfort and joy. Neji was nearby, his usual stern expression softened in the relaxed atmosphere. Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino represented his oldest friend group. Sakura, Kiba, Shino, and the others had joined over the past year. And now there were new additions: Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara from Sunagakure.
Every face held a smile. Every person here had chosen to come, to be part of this circle.
"Everyone," Naruto said, his voice carrying clearly across the table, "please eat. Don't hold back."
As one, everyone brought their hands together in a gesture of gratitude.
"Itadakimasu!" The word echoed around the table, reverent and unified.
Gaara followed along, mimicking the gesture a half-second behind everyone else. This was his first time eating with so many people, his first time being part of a group meal like this. The experience was simultaneously thrilling and terrifying.
Part of him wanted to embrace it fully, to dive into the warmth and camaraderie. Another part wanted to retreat, to hide from the vulnerability of being seen and accepted.
But he stayed. And as chopsticks began moving and conversation picked up again, Gaara found himself slowly relaxing into the rhythm of it all.
This, he thought, was worth protecting. Worth fighting for.
An hour earlier, while Naruto's friends had been gathering at the farm, Orochimaru had slipped out of Konoha unnoticed.
The moment the village gates were behind her, the beautiful woman in the cherry blossom kimono reached up and removed the face she'd been wearing. The delicate features of Tsukisha Hime melted away like water, revealing the pale, snake-like visage beneath. Orochimaru's true face, complete with golden eyes and purple markings, settled back into place with practiced ease.
A figure dropped from a nearby tree branch, landing in a crouch before straightening. Kabuto Yakushi adjusted his glasses, his expression carefully neutral.
"Orochimaru-sama, your summons was urgent. What's happened?"
Kabuto had been confused by the sudden call. He'd only delivered his morning intelligence report a few hours ago, updating Orochimaru on the Sunagakure spy network's latest information. For Orochimaru to contact him again so soon, with such urgency, suggested something significant had changed.
"Kill." The word came out cold, sharp as a blade, accompanied by a surge of killing intent that made the air feel heavy.
Kabuto's heart skipped a beat. He'd been with Orochimaru long enough to recognize this mood. When his master spoke in that tone, with that particular edge of murderous intent, someone was about to die.
"Who?" Kabuto asked, keeping his voice steady.
"Rasa."
The name hung in the air between them. The Fourth Kazekage. One of the Five Kage, leader of Sunagakure, wielder of the Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai (Jiton).
Kabuto didn't even blink. By now, he was beyond being surprised by Orochimaru's ambitions. If someone was in the way, if they interfered with his plans, Orochimaru removed them. Simple as that. The target's position or power level was irrelevant.
"Direct assault?" Kabuto asked, already running through scenarios in his mind.
Against someone like Rasa, a frontal confrontation would be difficult even for Orochimaru. The Kazekage's gold dust techniques were formidable, and he had the combat experience of someone who'd led a ninja village through a war. Kabuto's own jonin-level abilities would be useful for support, but in a straight fight, only Orochimaru would be capable of matching Rasa's power.
Orochimaru shook his head, a cold smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Assassination."
That made more sense. Orochimaru was cautious by nature, preferring to eliminate threats with minimal risk whenever possible. Assassination over combat. Poison over blade. Strategic advantage over brute force. It was that careful, calculating approach that had kept him alive when so many others had fallen.
"Rasa has been anxious ever since I cancelled the Konoha Crush plan," Orochimaru said, his voice thoughtful. "He invested significant resources based on our agreement, and now he's left uncertain. Through our spy network, he's learned about Uzumaki Naruto's strength, but he doesn't know the full extent. He's hesitating, trying to decide if attacking Konoha is still worth the risk."
The Sannin's golden eyes glinted with predatory intelligence. "If I contact him now, suggest we're reconsidering the plan, offer to coordinate another attack on Konoha... he'll jump at the opportunity. His greed and desperation will override his caution."
"And we'll be waiting," Kabuto said, understanding the plan immediately. "But we'll need the right location. Terrain that limits his abilities and maximizes ours."
"Exactly. Come, there's someone waiting for us ahead."
Orochimaru took the lead, moving through the forest with inhuman grace. Kabuto followed, his curiosity piqued.
"Who else are we meeting?" he asked.
Orochimaru didn't answer, simply continued forward with that characteristic enigmatic smile.
Ten minutes later, they emerged into a small clearing where a figure stood waiting beneath an ancient tree.
White hair fell around a pale face marked with red dots between the eyebrows and crimson eye shadow on the eyelids. Green eyes, cold and emotionless as a reptile's, fixed on their approach. Even standing completely still, there was something unsettling about the young man's presence.
Kaguya Kimimaro, Kabuto thought, a flutter of unease passing through him despite their being on the same side. If anyone other than Orochimaru-sama could carry out this assassination, it would be him.
"Kimimaro-kun," Kabuto said with a polite nod.
"Kabuto-san." Kimimaro returned the acknowledgment before turning his full attention to Orochimaru. "Orochimaru-sama."
"Have you been waiting long?" Orochimaru asked, studying Kimimaro's face. The young man showed no signs of fatigue or impatience, his complexion healthy despite his chronic illness.
"Not long at all, Orochimaru-sama. You need only send word, and I will come. There's no need for you to make the journey yourself." Kimimaro bowed deeply, the gesture filled with absolute devotion.
"Walk with me. We're going to kill someone."
At those words, Kimimaro began removing his shirt while walking, the movement automatic and practiced. This was his usual preparation for combat. His Kekkei Genkai, the Dead Bone Pulse (Shikotsumyaku), required direct skin access for maximum efficiency. The ability to manipulate his skeletal structure, to weaponize his own bones, worked best without the restriction of clothing.
"Kimimaro, put your shirt back on," Kabuto said sharply.
Kimimaro paused, looking at Kabuto with genuine confusion. "Why? This allows me to enter combat more quickly."
Kabuto resisted the urge to sigh. For all Kimimaro's combat genius, the young man sometimes lacked awareness of context.
"We're conducting an assassination, not a frontal assault. You can't walk around shirtless looking like you're ready for a fight. How are we supposed to catch the target off-guard if you're advertising your intent to kill?"
Understanding flickered across Kimimaro's features. He pulled his shirt back on without complaint.
"Enough."
Orochimaru's quiet command brought them both to an immediate halt. Kabuto quickly surveyed their surroundings, his experienced eye taking in the tactical implications.
They were close to the border with the Land of Wind now, in a region where the landscape transitioned from forest to desert. But more importantly, the ground here was solid rock. Exposed stone formations, minimal sand, hard packed earth.
Perfect terrain for limiting a sand-manipulation user's abilities.
"Now we wait," Orochimaru said, settling into a position of patient observation. "Wait for Rasa to arrive."
Kabuto and Kimimaro exchanged a brief glance before taking up positions nearby. Neither questioned the plan. Kabuto knew that by the time Orochimaru had decided to assassinate someone, every preparation was already in place. The spy network would have sent the message. The meeting location would have been carefully chosen. Every variable would have been accounted for.
All that remained was the execution.
And when the Fourth Kazekage arrived, expecting to discuss renewed plans against Konoha, he would instead find death waiting.