I opened my eyes and looked up towards the ceiling of my bedroom. I had the strangest nightmare as I sat up in my bed and looked around to see Haku resting in the corner with tired, tear-stained eyes, and felt pain come from within my chest. I looked down at my chest the best I could to see bandages wrapped firmly around my body covering a large wound. I held my head as I thought back to my nightmare and realized that it wasn't a nightmare, I really did die. Haku opened his eyes and upon seeing me awake hurried to my side and hugged me gently. This was strange behavior for him as he had never shown any emotion to me before today, but I liked it, I wrapped my arms back around Haku and hugged him tightly. I hissed as I caused myself pain but didn't let go of Haku until he did. I smiled apologetically at him and looked over as Kabuto and Zabuza entered the room talking until they noticed that I was awake. My brows furrowed as they joined me at my bedside and I looked at Kabuto with a glare.

"You. What're you doing here?" My voice was much stronger than I thought it was going to be as I spoke to them for the first time since my injury.

"Ah, so he does speak." I glared at Kabuto but he held his hands up in defeat, "I'm here because I overheard your father paying Kakuzu for your murder. No one in the Otogakure knows that I'm aware of your position and I chose to keep it that way." My glare softened as I looked at him.

"Why would you save me, Kabuto? If my father finds out then you'd surely be punished." He nodded.

"I'm well aware of the consequences but Riku, I loved you. You are the best brother that I never had. Haku and Zabuza love you too despite what you believe about them." Zabuza nodded softly as I looked at him.

"I love you guys, I'm sorry that I'm a pain in the ass." Zabuza chuckled while Haku sighed with relief.

My face darkened as I looked at Kabuto, "I need you to do me a favor. Sabotage my father in any way that you can because that bastard deserves to die, but I will do that myself. I just need help from the inside." Kabuto nodded.

"I will. Riku, Orochimaru's current body is dying and he is expected to be at his weakest towards the end of next week. That will be your time to get your revenge if you don't he'll be twice as strong as he is now which will make it more difficult." I nodded.

I grabbed Haku's shoulder and forced myself to stand up despite the pain in my chest. Haku placed his arms around me as I stumbled to keep me from falling as he helped me over to Kabuto who took me in his arms willingly.

"How often can you visit me, Kabuto?"

"I don't know. Hopefully once a week but I don't want your father getting suspicious of me so maybe less." I nodded and wrapped my arms around him.

"Thank you, big brother." Kabuto rubbed the back of my hair and smiled down at me.

"I've gotta go okay? I'll be back as soon as I can be."

"Okay, please be careful." He nodded as he left after handing me back to Haku. I yawned despite having already slept plenty so Haku helped me back into my bed.

"Get some more rest, we'll be in our rooms if you need us." I nodded and laid back in bed to sleep some more. I had a bad feeling in my stomach as I closed my eyes to sleep and I knew that my world was going to be changing, which judging by this feeling wasn't going to be a good thing.