Kimimaro (君麻呂, Kimimaro?) is the last surviving member of the Kaguya clan (かぐや一族, Kaguya Ichizoku?). When his war-loving family went off to die in battle, Orochimaru took Kimimaro into his custody so that the Kaguya bloodline would not be completely lost. Because of this, Kimimaro develops the belief that Orochimaru is the only person who cares for him, and as such stops at nothing to ensure his master's ambitions become a reality. His clan's genetic ability, Shikotsumyaku (屍骨脈, Shikotsumyaku? lit. "Dead Bone Pulse"), allows Kimimaro to manipulate his skeletal structure. He can grow extra bones and have them sprout from any part of his body, which he can then remove to be used as a melee weapon. Kimimaro can strengthen his bones to steel-like quality, making him virtually immune to most types of damage. It is for this reason that Orochimaru selects him as his future host body, though Kimimaro falls ill and is left unable to fulfill this purpose. When Orochimaru is left in need of a new body Kimimaro, ignoring his illness, goes to fetch Sasuke Uchiha for his master's use. He is drawn into battle with Rock Lee and Gaara in the process and, just as he is about to kill them both, dies of his illness