Chapter 71: The Dances

Zoro once again ran towards Kimimaro despite the bone spikes protruding from his body. Every time he tried to strike him on of his bones got in the way… he finally jumped back.

"So then…" said Kimimaro, "Are you having a hard time?"

Zoro glared at Kimimaro… he was able to cut though bone before, why was he doing different.

"Did I forget to mention that I have full control over my bones, that they are now harder than steel?" asked Kimimaro.

Zoro's eyes went wide.

"Dance of the Larch!" said Kimimaro.

Kimimaro seemed to get more serious with the attacks. Kimimaro aimed each spike at Zoro at one point, he used his sword block, but it was wasn't enough, the spikes hit him quite a few times and seemed to be growing too… the wounds didn't' matter, he could barely feel them any ways.

Zoro once again aimed an attack at Kimimaro… but the bone spike once again stopped him… this time he found that sword of his swords were stuck in the spikes and he couldn't get them out.

"I'm sorry about that." Said Kimimaro in an emotionless, slightly sarcastic way, he then aimed his fingers at Zoro's face, "Finger bullet drill!"

Zoro managed to dodge, but one the bullet like bones did graze his cheek. Zoro did not once let go of his swords, Kimimaro glared at him, so he punched Zoro in the gut… however he made the bones in his fist harder than steel used much force in the punch… so much that Zoro was forced to let go of the swords in his hand and was sent flying into a tree.

"What the…" muttered Zoro getting up.

That's when all of the bone spike seemed to retreat back into Kimimaro body, he picked up the swords and tossed them away.

"Only trash needs this many swords…" muttered Kimimaro.

"Trash… is that what I am to you?" asked Zoro getting up.

Kimimaro stared at Zoro, he had many wounds on his body. Kimimaro was wondering how could he even stand.

"Perhaps you might be better than trash… but all useless opponents are…" said Kimimaro, "Dance of the Willow!"

That's when two blades extended from both his palms and he began to move swiftly and gracefully Zoro with only one sword could only block. He eyed his swords.

"I have to get them so I can fight back." He thought.

Zoro began to run towards to where Kimimaro threw his swords, but Kimimaro jumped in front of him and aimed more attacks at him.

"You really think I'm going to just let you get your swords?" asked Kimimaro.

"I didn't think it would be that easy." Said Zoro blocking each attack.

"I am the leader of the Sound 5, the strongest member in all of Sound, I have sworn my body and soul to Lord Orochimaru." Said Kimimaro.

Zoro managed to jump back and blink was what he said… and the way he said… it sounded like well…

"Do you have sex with him?" blurted out Zoro.

"What! Who told... I mean! That is a lie! I don't sleep with Lord Orochimaru!" yelled Kimimaro.

Zoro could help but to sweat drop… he knew that was a lie, but didn't want to go in further as it sounded… well kind of sick, after all Kimimaro had to be younger than himself, he looked about Luffy's age, maybe even younger… if he was having sex with Orochimaru then… that would be sick… easily since he knew that Orochimaru was definitely an adult…

"So that Orochimaru guy… he's a…" said Zoro.

But before Zoro could finish that sentence, Kimimaro jumped at him and managed to get a few good hits in.

"No one calls Orochimaru that and gets away it." Said Kimimaro glaring harshly at him, "Well Anko got away with it… but that doesn't count…"

Elsewhere in the forest Anko sneezed, "Why do I have the feeling that one of them mentioned me as the lone example the only person to accuse that bastard of being that…" thought Anko.

She continued her search for someone when she found Naruto.

"Hey! Anko!" yelled Naruto.

Anko threw a kabob skewer at him, "Don't be so loud… I bet the other members are still looking for us."

"Oh right!" yelled Naruto, "Hey Luffy!"

Anko twitched slightly but decided not attack him when Luffy showed up…

"So I'm guessing you're the real one." Said Anko.

"Yeah…" said Naruto with a nod, "Are you?"

"Yeah…" said Anko.

"So you beat up who ever went after you?" asked Naruto.

"I got the weakest guy anyways…" said Anko with a shrug.

"Um… Kit… you have to tell her about your opponent." Sighed Kyubi.

"Why?" asked Naruto.

"Because! The Emo kid's in danger because you and your brother technically fought one guy!" yelled Kyubi.

"Oh right!" said Naruto with a laugh.

"We fought the creepy twins." Said Luffy.

"What… you two took on the creepy twins?" asked Anko.

Both of them nodded…

"Oh man… that means That Emo Penguin Head is a target of one of the Sound 5… we have to find Zoro right now and tell him." Said Anko.

Both Naruto and Luffy nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile Zoro was cut up in several place and still blocked the attack… that's when found an opening to distract him… he managed to punch Kimimaro in the gut… he wasn't expecting it and sent flying. Zoro took this chance to pick his swords back up.

"That was unexpected." Said Kimimaro getting up, "You really think that you can beat me?"

"Will you stop repeating yourself! It's getting annoying!" muttered Zoro.

"Fine…" said Kimimaro.

Kimimaro then ripped his spine out, which became some sort of new weapon while another one great back immediately. Zoro noticed that the spine's protrusions were longer and shaper than normal.

"Dance of the Clematis: Vine!" said Kimimaro, he used his spine chain staff and wrapped it around Zoro tying him up, Zoro only glared at him.

"Dance of the Clematis: Flower!" That's when bones began to coat his opposite arm, it began to take the form of a giant drill that sort of resembled a flower.

"These bones are the strongest bones I can make… there is no escape from this. Die!" yelled Kimimaro.

Kimimaro aimed his attack at Zoro, he tried to think of something… that's when it came to him… he used all of his strength to move enough to throw Kimimaro balance… he tripped slightly, which loosened up the spine chain and creating an opened with Zoro. Zoro managed to get free and cut off Kimimaro arm and the drill that was attached to it. Kimimaro couldn't help to look at Zoro.

"How…" said Kimimaro.

"What do you mean how?" asked Zoro.

"You're a pirate aren't you… you must give your loyalty to your captain, do you not?" asked Kimimaro, "I tryst that you give you your life for him, am I right?"

"That's none of your businesses…" growled Zoro, "And why are you asking."

"What makes you so strong?" asked Kimimaro, "Is it strong your captain?"

Zoro realized he meant, "I'm not gay…" he muttered, "And I don't have sex with my captain…"

"So if it's not for your captain, why do strive to become strong?" asked Kimimaro.

"I'm doing this for my dream. I made a promise to a friend a long time ago that one of us would become the great swordsman in the world. There is no way am I giving up my dream." Muttered Zoro.

"So you're a true swordsman." Said Kimimaro.

Zoro's eyes widened at Kimimaro arm began to grow up, bones, skin… everything. It all began to grow back.

"What the…" muttered Zoro.

Kimimaro humorous then came out of his shoulder he took it out and it took the shape of a bone sword, "In order to respect your goal, I will give you a swordsman death."

"So I'm not trash anymore, am I?" asked Zoro.

"No… you are something more useful…" said Kimimaro.

Zoro smirked… this was going to be an interesting fight after all.

Meanwhile in the Sasuke noticed it was too dark, he could barely see anything… that's when he began to dig though his pockets and found a matchbook.

"Why do I have this in my pocket?" he thought.

He shrugged and lit one, he found a torch nearby so he grabbed it and lit it. He continued on his way to find the scroll… still unaware of the spider on his back leading Kidomaru to him.

Next Time: Zoro and Kimimaro's battle continue... With Kimimaro respecting Zoro's skills as a swords man and him having swordsman skills, what will happen? Will Zoro loose to Kimimaro or will Zoro managed to beat Kimimaro's strange abilities? Find out next time!