The silent gust of wind carries itself through the trees of the land of rice. The last kaguya member carries himself, with each step as silent as the last. His emotional disposition, as it has always been, shows an air of calmness. As though there is not a shred of discharge to be had from his psychological nature. Questions seem to arise beneath the sun as it silently burns his pale skin. Why does this young soldier of orochimaru walk alone, why has he left the dark comfort of Orochimaru's so called hidden base. What makes him move about the earth as though nothing disturbed his calm advance.

The natural pathway broke off as Kimimaro found himself upon the top of a cliff. Before him he saw much of the land of rice, and he could not help but look out upon the land as the sun ripped any shade from his vision. In what was an unaccountable amount of time for the pale stricken shinobi, he finally tilted his head to what had truly drawn him from the darkness. And this was but a simple flower seeming to almost float away if it had not been attached to the ground by it's green stem. With a bend of his knee, he grew close enough to gently grasp underneath the petals of the flower. His eyes were not stern, or held in reminder to the warrior seen during battle. Here beneath the silent sun, near the flower pushed by the whisper of the winds, he was purely locked in himself. He did not need be useful, he only wished to admire the grace of the flower.

After some time his thoughts finally grew disturbed by his inability to be useful to his lord. What I am doing, How long have I been here.. he asked himself not really looking for an answer, more or less attacking himself for the possibility of being a failure. He quickly moved away from what had grasped his attention, and his thoughts continued to rush. I must get back, before anything happens.. As he trotted toward the side of his lord, he calmly fought with himself. Kimimaro berated himself for the time spent admiring the flower, his body was numb to feeling as he broke through any brush within his path back to Orochimaru.

The day was bright and the sun was warm. Its light cast a harsh reflection off the pale skin of Orochimaru. Even in his own village, he usually spent the majority of his time in his private quarters, which partially extended underground, so every once in a while, he felt it was important to walk the streets of his beloved Sound Village. If for no other reason, he could observe and keep a close watch on what its inhabitants were doing.

He had many subordinates, but only truly had confidence in a small handful of them. Kabuto was one of them; he knew that the medical ninja would be loyal to him until his dying breath. The only other subordinate that he truly had the most confidence in was Kimimaro, the sole survivor of the Kaguya clan. Kimimaro had been with him for years, and the Sannin knew that he lived and breathed only to serve him.

It was almost funny that someone like Kimimaro served under Orochimaru. He had known him since he was a small child, and he had an air of gentleness about him that couldn't be shaken. He was brutal in battle, but also showed a sort of courtesy and kindness to his opponents that the rest of Orochimaru's subordinates-- and himself-- would never show to anyone. It was one of the qualities that made Kimimaro so powerful, and one that also made him weak.

His need to keep Kimimaro around, as well as his usefulness were decreasing more and more each day. It wasn't that Kimimaro wasn't a strong soldier; he showed more talent than the majority of his other subjects. But he was afflicted by an illness that would one day take his life, sooner rather than later, and Orochimaru had long-since known that his days were numbered. Kimimaro knew it as well.

So it was important to seek him out and give him what could be one of his final missions. Each order Orochimaru issued to him ran the risk of being his last, for he had been living on borrowed time for a long while now. If he were to die soon, he could prove to be useful to him one last time.

To his luck, the Sannin spotted Kimimaro approaching the village in the distance. Orochimaru's usual cold smirk crossed his face as he slowly walked toward one of his favorite subordinates. "Kimimaro-kun. I wish to speak with you."

Kimimaro pounced from tree limb to tree limb, his slow crescendo marked the intensity of his thoughts from his subconscious. At this point he no longer thought. His movements were purely moved by his intent to return to his master. Moment within his stride to back to his base an overwhelming feeling washed over him. He couldn’t help but feel as though his master needed him, as though his need for him had reached him telepathically.

Brush raked aside as Kimimaro emerged from the trees. Before him, not far in distance, his master Orochimaru smiled intently at his return. The sound shinobi landed with a cloud of dust over taking the view of his feet. The wind picked up the dust, created by his impact, and started to spread it across the small scene of Kimimaro and Orochimaru’s unplanned meeting. Almost immediately the snake sannin spoke with a chill that would terrify most, but simply moved Kimimaro like no other could. “Kimimaro-kun I wish to speak with you”

Kimimaro did not bow like others might, or even nod to respect his higher authority. It was simply known, Kimimaro’s servitude was never in question. His loyalties extended to all around through ways unseen by the eye. An aura made from pure loyalty literately surrounded the shinobi. And as the two stood in silence, He awaited his masters words.

Quiet as always huh, Kimimaro-kun? Orochimaru's lips curled into an even bigger smile as he turned and began to walk back toward the village. He didn't wait for Kimimaro to follow him, knowing that his loyal subordinate would catch up with him without a word. "I have an important task for you, Kimimaro-kun. I am sure that you have heard of the great-- now extinct-- Uchiha clan from the Land of Fire. Have you not?"

[OOC: I apologize for this being short, he'll go into more detail in later posts >__<]

Kimimaro moved instinctively as Lord Orochimaru turned to make his motions toward the village. He did not rush, he did not move quickly, he merely moved in unison with his master. As he had done since he was of such a young age. "I have an important task for you, Kimimaro-kun. I am sure that you have heard of the great-- now extinct-- Uchiha clan from the Land of Fire. Have you not?" Orochimaru spoke to him knowing his answer, but still wanting some sort of answer from his subordinate. "I have heard of the copy ninja kakashi, and if i remember correctly.. Did you not have a fascination with one such ninja from this clan?" He spoke trying to recall the events of Orochimaru's past. "The clan in my memory is not fully extinct." He started to think to himself. He saw the direction this conversation was going, knowing his master had a mission for him made it easier to discover the intent behind this discussion. He assumed to himself that his master had business with one such ninja.

(OCC: Finals and such have kept me busy.)

Orochimaru was pleased to hear that Kimimaro had at least heard of Hatake Kakashi, the famous Copy-Cat Ninja, who possessed the Uchiha's precious Sharingan. But he was even more pleased with he mentioned that the Uchiha clan wasn't entirely extinct. It was something he hadn't been expecting to hear from someone so young, and someone who had been kept as sheltered and caged as Kimimaro had for most of his life. Most foreign shinobi did not know that there were still remnants of the Uchiha clan in existence.

"Very good, Kimimaro-kun," Orochimaru praised his faithful servant. "Your words are correct. There is a living remnant of the Uchiha clan... a sole survivor of the massacre. He is a young, gifted Genin who should be entering the Chuunin Exams fairly soon. His name is Uchiha Sasuke. Do you know why I tell you this?"

[OOC: No worries, I'm the same ^^]

(OCC: I was really talking about Itachi Uchiha. And the fact that the two characters have had a run in, not kimimaro but Orochi. Assuming he knew something about the event. I've been quite busy with school, so I guess I just didn't clarify this well enough.)

Kimimaro continued to follow Orochimaru as he spoke to him. He did not understand exactly what the mission would ask of him. But, he knew now his first thoughts were correct. Though he had not expected a genin to be a part of his master's plans. The original man to have been in his first thoughts for Orochimaru's mission. Though the name continued to elude him, due to this being such an insignificant part of Kimimaro's past. The process at which he had learned the knowledge of the mans name, if he had every truly heard the name. Does not seem to be the case.

He finally spoke up as his master asked a question once again. He did not willing wish to speak, but he knew Orochimaru wanted some sort of discussion to take place. It was not as though Kimi did not enjoy his time with Orochimaru, it was the only time he felt needed. For so long he has felt as though the world was about to fail him, his need was growing weaker and weaker with every single mission. And the chance of his death grew closer every passing day. He could not take it any longer, whenever he felt the opportunity to be needed. His mind would begin to wander, growing anxious to the idea of fulfilling another reason for living.

"No Lord Orochimaru."

[OOC: Ugh, sorry about that. Don't know why I didn't stop to think about Itachi.]

It wasn't often that Orochimaru preferred his subordinates to remain silent when he addressed them rather than acknowledge that they were listening to everything he said, but with Kimimaro, he made an exception. His young prodigy was so calm and quiet, and had been so his entire life, that it was simply in his nature. Orochimaru knew that even if he didn't speak to let him know he was listening to what he said, he was still listening. He always remained silent until the Sannin was done speaking.

"I am certain you know of Uchiha Itachi. He is a member of the criminal organization Akatsuki and is responsible for the massacre of the entire Uchiha clan. He is also responsible for the state of my current body," Orochimaru told Kimimaro. He could still feel the paralyzing effects of Itachi's genjutsu, and the hot, searing pain of the kunai knife he had used to slice off his hand. "Uchiha Sasuke is Itachi's younger brother. He killed everyone in the clan except his younger brother. Sasuke is filled with hatred for his older brother. Do you understand what I am saying, Kimimaro-kun?"

"I am not sure why your exactly telling me this." He sat and thought about the words his master was giving him. He seemed to be slowly explaining the background behind his mission. Although he was unsure if he really needed the information to complete the mission. He paused and hoped his master would further explain the reasoning behind the words he was sending to him.

(OCC: Sorry about the length, and the time that has passed since my last post. I've been busy along with extremely slow internet.)

(OOC: No worries, I didn't give you a lot to work with!)

"I tell you this, Kimimaro-kun, because as I am certain you know, hatred fuels vengeance, and with vengeance comes terrible, great power. I have no doubt that Sasuke-kun, as an Uchiha and younger brother of the great Uchiha Itachi, possesses extraordinary talent and potential. But I have yet to see in him action. If Sasuke is as strong as I hope for him to be-- and even stronger if I choose to grant him the gift of the Curse Mark-- I plan to take his body. That's where I shall require you, Kimimaro-kun. I will need you to help me fulfill this destiny."

The teenage kaguya son sat listening to his master. Faithfully he listened to the words that he had to give to him. He did not speak back for most of his long winded speech. Kept to himself as he would in this situation many times before. But after some time he finally spoke up, and said something back to his master. "The only question that comes to mind is when..?"

Orochimaru's pale lips curled upwards into a pleased smirk. Kimimaro never ceased to amaze him with his undying loyalty. He never questioned his master's plans or orders, and the Sannin had no doubt that the gifted young man would jump off a cliff if he simply asked him to. "Soon, Kimimaro-kun. As I'm sure you're aware, the Chuunin Examinations are drawing close in Konohagakure. I have no doubt that Sasuke-kun will be participating. I plan to infiltrate Konoha, under the guise that I am one of the participants from the Hidden Grass Village. I will take one of their bodies, and I will make contact with Sasuke-kun during the second part of the exam. There, if I see that he is fit for the gift of the Curse Mark, I will grant it to him. Soon after, he will seek us for power. When we begin our invasion of the Leaf, I will be sending the rest of the Sound Four to retrieve Sasuke-kun. That is where I will need you. I will need you to stay near the Sound Village in order to dispose of any meddlers who attempt to bring him back to the Leaf."