Next chapter of Blood is Thicker Than Bone. As it draws near, tensions are rising and rumors are spreading over the past events as The eve of the Chunin Finals draws near. Naruto ponders what will happen and Kimimaro finds himself facing a dilemma.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

The White Haired teenager was thrown down hard onto the floor and a heavy foot was placed on his throat cutting off his air.

"I am so disappointed in you Kimimaro-kun." The golden eyed man said standing on his throat. "To think you of all people would go and jeopardize my plans. Your dear friend had to be moved and put in a more secure base since the racket he made since you weren't around to calm him down was heard all over." Orochimaru said and a scowl formed on his face as he added more pressure. He brought up his hands and formed seals and Kimimaro let out a cry as the markings from his Cursed Seal of Earth activated and spreaded across his body and face. "I see you have regained some of your strength though," Orochimaru said coldly looking down at him.

Kimimaro didn't say anything as the markings on his body receded. Brought back by the Sound Four and Toshihiro before his master Kimimaro was being punished for his disobedience.

Orochimaru reached down and pulled him up by the throat bringing him face to face. "After all I've done for you, took you in, gave you a reason to live after your clan was destroyed, this is how you repay me?" He snapped and threw Kimimaro against the wall. Kimimaro slid down the wall and began coughing and clutched at his chest.

"The disease is still within you I see? Even Konoha couldn't cure your sickness." Orochimaru said his arms folded across his chest, in the room with him was The Sound Four, Kabuto, and Raiga looking on. Whilst the others looked on amused Tayuya was the only one who winced at what he was being put through.

Kimimaro stopped coughing and looked up at him. He was stronger, stronger than he had been in months yes but the disease was still within him, He had drunk a single drop of Naruto's blood and even though he had been healed somewhat he wasn't fully cured. Naruto's blood somehow had a healing effect on him. Perhaps if he had had the strength and drank more of his blood when he had the chance the disease would've been fully destroyed.

"Tell me," Orochimaru said to him. "What purpose was there in going to the Leaf Village? One last look at the flowers they grew? To see the carved Kages in the Mountains? Or some other reason for going off on a fools' errand? Give me a reason I shouldn't have you sacrificed this instant to Manda."

Kimimaro didn't respond as he looked up at him. Before when he looked at him they where looks of loyalty and admiration as well as zealously. Now they where glares of anger.

Orochimaru's jaw trembled in rage and he thrust his hands out and shot out several snakes from his arms which ensnared him and pulled him up from the floor.

"I will give you a chance to redeem yourself with your life," Orochimaru said to him. "When we attack Konoha you shall lead the attack as planned." He said to the Kaguya as his Snakes crushed his ribs with their tight grip. "You will fight and kill as many of the Leaf as you can before you die, and you will also kill Naruto Uzumaki as well! You will kill your last remaining family."

Kimimaro's eyes widened at what he said. He was to kill his Cousin?

"No-" He started to say in protest but Orochimaru activated his seal forcefully and he cried out in pain and agony. His skin started to turn a brown color and his eyes became dark and pupils became yellow, his screams and cries became more primal and feral as Orochimaru forcefully caused him to go to the Second stage as his body transformed.

"You will do as I command!" Orochimaru snarled in fury at him. "Or I will keep you alive and torture you so harshly you will cry out for death a thousand times before I decide to end your miserable existence." He said and deactivated the seal and his snakes dropped Kimimaro to the floor in a semi conscious state his body returning to normal. "Take this fool and lock him up." He ordered Kidomaru and Jirobo who went and took Kimimaro out of the room.

"Move forward with my plan, nothing will stop the attack from happening!" He said to all in the room.

"Oh, and Raiga." He called out to the Swordsmen who was leaving. "I have another job for you. You, Kabuto, and Kimimaro dragged by a rope across his neck if necessary, will escort me to my meeting with the Kazekage. I'll have some use of your twin blades during it. And Ranmaru's eyes as well just in case."

Shortly afterwards, Tayuya was walking by herself when she passed a lone figure seated on a bench by himself. She noticed how the bison mask wearing Sound Nin appeared downtrodden.

"Alright Toshihiro, what's wrong?" She asked him.

"Kimimaro-san…punished, Orochimaru-sama…angry." The scarred ninja said to him talking in his strained matter of speaking.

Tayuya crossed her arms as she looked at him. "Can you blame him? The idiot nearly ruined Orochimaru-sama's damn plans." She said and Toshihiro frowned at her. "It's a big gamble he has this planned attack with Suna and if it fails we'll all most likely be dead. Kimimaro will probably die in the invasion though, Konoha will most likely be wiped out."

"Konoha…Orochimaru-sama's home?" Toshihiro asked her.

"Yeah it was, but then things happened and he left the damn place." She said with a shrug. "Now he wants to destroy it, as revenge for refusing to let him take the position of Hokage."

"Dosu, Zaku, Kin…Sacrificed?" The ninja said to her and she frowned.

"They will be, Failure in Otogakure means death Toshihiro, you know that and I know that." She said sternly though in truth she knew they didn't have a chance at succeeding in their mission to kill Sasuke and even if they did, they'd still be killed by him although even more brutally. "You may not like it but those who fail must redeem themselves with their lives, I'd do the same as well if I ever failed in my mission and somehow lost to some scum. Kimimaro is expected to do the same thing as well with what he did disobeying his orders. This will basically be a suicide mission for him." She said and walked away.

"I fight…protect Kimimaro-san." Toshihiro proclaimed watching her leave and stood up with his double voulge in his hands. "Defeat Leaf….Glory to Sound!" He said and twirled the weapon overhead and slashed with it. "Save…my friend!" He exclaimed gripping it tightly.

At Konoha…

Naruto sat by himself on a stump in an empty field, with him was a small toad named Gamakichi who was one of Gamabunta's sons he had summoned. Every now and then he would absent mindedly toss it a piece of candy which he would snatch up and ate. For the first time since he had discovered his Kekkai Genkai, he was wearing his traditional orange outfit instead of the clothes he had gotten.

(Man things always go from bad to worse, just my luck.) He thought to himself thinking of last night. He thought he finally had it, a way to cure his cousin. Kyuubi had told him how to save Kimimaro and he had rushed to the hospital and managed to convince him to agree to it.

Kimimaro had drunk his blood but Naruto didn't knew if he was healed or not as the moment he did a group of ninja he didn't recognize appeared bursting through the doorway and immobilized him and kept him from doing anything. By the time Kakashi had cut him loose they where gone and so was Kimimaro, the group having taken him. He didn't know who the group where or what they wanted with his cousin, but whoever they where they hadn't been found. He didn't get the chance to see if he had recovered. For all he knew Kyuubi could've been lying to him as the group of Ninja appeared before he could see what would happen.

Tayuya however had been one of the group, as he had spotted her amongst them before they had trapped him to the wall. What was she doing with them? Was she a spy all along? Playing him for a dope all this time? He wanted some answers but so far nothing had come up, no one could find their tracks or where they had come from. Vanishing into thin air as fast as they had appeared.

"On the day of The Chunin Finals, Sound will…"

Sound will what? What did Kimimaro mean when he said that? Was the Sound Village up to something? What where they up too? They where just a small village from what he had heard and a new one at that, only able to send one team to the Exams. Would could they be planning. And who was that snake like man during the Forest of Death, he somehow knew about his bloodline and about Kimimaro as well? No one had seen the man, departing from Konoha like a ghost. And the Seal he gave Sasuke, Jiraiya had told him it was called a Cursed Seal and was a vile thing that drove people to madness. Yet at times he had noticed on Kimimaro a similar one on his as well.

(How stupid could I've been? Not once to even think about asking his sickness or that?) He thought angrily and tossed Gamakichi another piece of candy. (If I had actually done something instead of ignoring it like an idiot I would have known, hell I could've prevented what happened!) He thought to himself and scowled.

Gamakichi hopped up and got on top of his head the orange toad looking around for more candy he had. Naruto allowed a smirk to show as this was the toad's way of cheering him up.

He heard footsteps and turned his head around thinking it was Kakashi or the Pervert. Instead it was two shady men in black walking towards him.

"You Naruto Uzumaki?" One of them asked.

"Yeah, that's me."

"We're here with a proposition for you." The second one said. Naruto slowly raised an eyebrow. "You see bets are being wagered in the Finals and a lot of money is being tossed around, our boss is putting nearly a quarter of his fortune on Sasuke Uchiha. If Sasuke doesn't win that would be a grievous blow to his organization." He continued and Naruto recognized them as similar to some of Gato's thugs back in Wave, apparently their boss had illegal operations. "But he also has a side bet on Neji Hyuga, your opponent you'll be facing. He didn't put nothing on you as the odds are a million to one you even lasting two minutes."

"Don't see what this has to do with me." Naruto said to them Gamakichi had hopped off his head and was hiding behind the stump.

"It's simple," The first one said. "Even if Sasuke doesn't win if Neji wins he'll still make a profit, so for that he wants you to dropout, give the match to him. Be a sport and let him advance to the next round. We'd…hate to get rough with you and make you understand your place." The two said and each revealed a Dao sword underneath their coats.

Naruto smirked in amusement at them. "I'd say your boss is going to have to get rid of a couple of his piggy banks, as he's going to lose a lot of money." He said and turned around his back to them and tossed Gamakichi another piece of candy.

"Suit yourself!" The man shouted and they charged him and drew out their blades and went to slice him in two. Naruto was ready and caught their hands surprising them and then threw them to the ground. The thugs got up and went to attack again when Naruto disappeared surprising them, he then reappeared above them and kicked them both in the chest dropping them to the ground and losing their weapons. He then leaned down and held his arms out and two bone blades shot out of his wrists near their throats, inches away from puncturing them as he glared at them.

"Get lost…" He ordered and got off them and they turned and fled wanting nothing more to do with him. Naruto paid them no mind and picked the Dao Swords up, these would be in better hands donated at the Weapons shop then it would some thugs.

Gaara had also been approached by two men as well but unlike Naruto he was not as merciful, he had crushed and killed the two who had ordered him to drop out of the Finals without batting an eye. Their deaths had done little to satisfy the killing lust he had that was growing with each passing day as the demon within was getting restless. Soon he would unleash him upon all of Konoha if necessary.

"What is my purpose?" He asked himself

His…father The Kazekage was here as well, the one man he hated more than anything, even more than the beast within. The man would be meeting with the other conspirator as well for the planned attack tonight, none of it mattered to Gaara he didn't care why they wanted to attack Konoha, whether to punish the Suna Daimyo or for whatever reason he didn't care. He learned long ago to keep his heart closed and empty without any feeling towards anyone, even his own brother and sister.

That way, he'd never go through the anguish he went through in his youth ever again.

It was better that way.

Or so he believed…

Later that night…

"Jiraiya what have you heard?" Sarutobi asked the old man fingering his pipe looking at his student. With him in the room was Kakashi as well The Jonin looking on.

"Whispers…" The Toad Sannin said standing by a fire not feeling the warmth of the hearth. "I'm afraid something's about to happen. Something that'll endanger Konoha."

"What did you find at Rice's borders?" Kakashi asked him.

"I'm afraid that one of the Seven Swordsmen of Mist is working for them." Jiraiya said to them all telling his tale. "I didn't catch his name but he wields the Kiba Blades, the weapons formerly wielded by Ameyuri Ringo capable of conducting lightning with them. I managed to give him and his goons the slip but couldn't find anything out beyond that. I'm afraid Sound is mustering something up, something big. With what Kakashi told you as well, I'm afraid our worst fears are all but confirmed. Orochimaru has his own village"

Sarutobi frowned and lit his pipe. "Any word on what happened to Kimimaro?" He asked them.

"No, I'm afraid not," Kakashi said. "We don't know who these men where, they must be exceptionally skilled in order to infiltrate the village as well as the Hospital without being detected. They trapped Naruto to the wall and took Kimimaro's body. One was claimed by the nurses to have six arms and was like a spider considering he used a type of web to trap people including Naruto."

"During my travels one of my spies did report that Orochimaru was spotted with a spider like ninja as well." Jiraiya inputted. "Coincidence, I think not." He said dryly as he had guessed the Snake was wanting him back, even sending his own men to Konoha and attack the Hospital to get him.

"I see…Orochimaru must've been wanting him back." Sarutobi said and noted Kakashi's surprised look. "I suppose I must tell you now, Kimimaro was a ninja under the employ of Orochimaru before I contacted him and convinced him to train Naruto. He is also Naruto's only remaining family left as they are cousins."

"What?" Kakashi said in surprise at what he was hearing. "Orochimaru uses other people to be his host and gains their abilities when he does, if he possessed him and he had Shikotsumyaku as well than that means-"

"Orochimaru could not possess Kimimaro," Sarutobi interrupted. "The boy has sadly a fatal disease, any attempt to do so would only put the disease on him as well. One reason I wanted them together was so Naruto even if for a week would know what it's like to have kin and family." He said to him. Kakashi didn't say anything, this kind of info he kinda would've wanted to know beforehand instead of being left in the dark and left to his own guesses.

"And so he turned his attention to Sasuke." Jiraiya muttered outloud. "Couldn't get Shikotsumyaku so he goes with the next best thing, we all knew the Sharingan was something he desired even before he went crazy. To master every Jutsu and find the Hidden Truth of the World." He said disgust in his voice. He remembered his attempts to save him and stop him from going down the path he went but to no avail. It was his hardest battle and his greatest Shame what went down between them.

"What now? Should the Finals be postponed or cancelled while we look into this? During that time things can get pretty hectic and it'll be easy to not notice everything that's going on." Kakashi asked The Hokage who stroked his chin and thought it over in his head.

"No, doing so could halt any chance of discovering what it is Orochimaru plotting. Plus I think this is the chance to trap a thief in his own traps. We stay nonchalant for now, pretend as if nothing's happened. Act like a dragon with his eyes half closed pretending to be asleep but ever watching. I will double the guards and ANBU at the exams and lookouts. I trust you'll lend me some of your Toads for this to help some of Enma's children as well. They can keep an eye on Sasuke as well without him noticing." He said to Jiraiya who nodded in agreement "Suna has tried to improve our relationship with our village these past couple months despite the formerly hostile actions of the Kazekage between Sand and Leaf, they could aid us in case anything happens. Should anything happen we'll be ready for it and not be caught off guard. No matter how strong Orochimaru has become, he cannot defeat us no matter how many people he has tricked into following him."

Kakashi and Jiraiya nodded at the Hokage in agreement. Putting their trust in him as he had lead them through many a potential crisis.

Meanwhile…

A group of four entered the hidden room the building had. All wore hoods to cover their faces except for the leader of the group who had entire his face covered with a wooden mask showing nothing not even his eyes.

In the room waiting for them was a red haired man along with a pair of Suna Ninja, He looked on as the group made their way towards him one of the group pushing the other in front of him to keep him moving. He wore the robes of a Kage and a hat covering his head as well.

"You're here at last," The Kazekage said to him and the masked figured bowed and kneeled before him. "I was afraid you wouldn't come." He said with a smirk.

"Forgive me, we shall commence the attack on Konoha during the exams, the moment your son prepares to fight Sasuke." The masked figure said his face muffled. "With this we shall both achieve our goals."

"Yes, Konoha shall be punished for crippling Suna's economy and the Wind Daimyo shall learn to trust his own ninja." The Kazekage said as it was a big gamble he was taking aligning Sunagakure with the man. But worth it if he could restore Suna to greatness seeing how his hopes to turn his son into the ultimate weapon had failed.

"The Leaf shall be destroyed."

"No, not destroyed, only punished and wrecked." The Kazekage stated to him. "Once enough damage is dealt we shall pull out and leave, it'll take months, even years for Konoha to recover after so much damage and the potential loss of their Hokage."

"I thought we agreed to destroy Konoha." The masked man said his voice tainted with irritation. The Kazekage frowned at him.

"There's no need to destroy them, simply remind them they are not the power of the world they believe themselves to be." He said and his men stepped forward. "We'll pull out and leave you to face them by yourself if you do not agree."

"I see…forgive me Kazekage." The masked figure said and reached out his hand in submission.

The Kazekage smirked and put his hand in his and the masked figure took it and brought it close to his face.

Behind it, the Sannin grinned.

The Kazekage went to pull away when it was gripped hard surprising him and The masked man pulled out a hidden knife with his other hand and stabbed him in the chest near his heart. The Kazekage fell forward clutching it and one of the cloaked men revealed a scalpel and stabbed him in the shoulder area and back.

The Suna Ninja's tried to rush forward and save him when the other cloaked man charged forward and revealed two blades charging with electricity and fired it at them and killed them.

"In the Wall." A voice whispered to him and he turned and fired more lightning at the wall killing a Suna nin who was emerging from a hiding spot.

The masked figure seeing the other one not having done anything did hand seals and he clutched at his chest, forcefully he stepped forward and stabbed the fatally wounded Kazekage in the neck

The Kazekage, blood seeping from his many wounds fell backwards onto the floor dead.

The masked figure reached up and removed it revealing himself to be Orochimaru. The Sannin cackled. "It appears you weren't needed Kimimaro." He said to the third cloaked member as the men unhooded themselves revealing Kabuto, Raiga and Ranmaru, and Kimimaro. "That went easier then even I anticipated."

"What now Orochimaru-sama?" Kabuto asked him.

"I'll pose as the Kazekage during the exams and ambush Sarutobi when the attack happens." He said getting the robes and hat. "He won't expect a thing until it's too late. Raiga," He said to the swordsmen. "Tell that subordinate of yours to bring Dosu, Zaku, and Kin to me as I will use them for Edo Tensei. We'll head back to Oto for the time being and then move our forces to infiltrate and attack Konoha from three sides." He said to them all in the room. Kimimaro had stayed out of the group looking on as he let out a cough. "The fools are none the wiser and Suna will serve their purpose as well. This shall be the last time the moon gazes down upon Konohagakure." He said and cackled again.

Oh and Kimimaro…" He said and formed hand seals and Kimimaro reached at his chest as markings started to spread. "Remember what you shall do." He said to him. "You WILL lead the attack and slay your cousin, understood?" He asked him and stopped and Kimimaro recovered and coughed a bit.

"Yes…Orochimaru-sama." He said in between gritted teeth forcing to keep his head down so he wouldn't see the murderous anger in his eyes

The next morning…

Naruto sat on the roof of his home looking on as the Sun raise up shining its light on the village. He watched on as it raised up symbolizing the beginning of a new day.

The blonde haired ninja and would be future Hokage sat there as he looked on. Thinking of the upcoming days as the Third round of the Exams where just two short days away. He didn't know what would happen as he looked over to where it would be held at.

"Kimimaro…" He whispered to himself wondering where his cousin was or if he was still even alive.

"Remember our deal." A voice said in his head and he frowned as he recognized it as Kyuubi's. In return for saving his cousin, Kyuubi had demanded that Naruto used his power during the Finals. It was something he was dreading as he feared what would happen once he used it. For all he knew he could go out of control and attack everyone. His frown deepened as he sat cross-legged on the roof looking on.

He leapt down and landing on the ground started to go for a walk as he walked around the village looking around the sights as everyone was getting stuff ready, for some reason despite it he could only fill dread fill his stomach as he looked around the place.

"No way he lasts against Neji," He heard one person say as he walked.

"Yeah, he'll go down without a fight." Another said speaking of his upcoming fight with Neji. Naruto ignored them as he continued to walk. His thoughts weren't on his upcoming fight, instead of the past events, he had wanted answers as to what had happened but was left with more questions and fewer answers. What was it he had meant? What did Kimimaro mean?

"Bring…all three…back to…" He faintly heard a voice say catching him off guard. That surprised him and he looked around.

"What? Ed…ensei?" Another voice said and he almost could recognize it. It was a voice he hadn't heard in months. They seemed to be coming from behind a hotel.

Using his stealth the boy sneakily made his way keeping out of sight. He focused everything on keeping quiet as he saw a pair of bushes nearby and he hide in them. He looked out and what he saw twenty feet away surprised them. He saw a green haired man carrying a kid on his back seemingly arguing about something with another person and Naruto's eyes widened and he had to restrain himself from gasping when he recognized who it was. It was Haku! He hadn't seen him in months! Not since the incident in Wave. He watched on and faintly could make out some of what they where saying as they spoke in hushed tones as if they didn't want to be overheard. Naruto listened in hoping to find out what was Haku doing here and who was that man he was with.

"He's gone insane! This is ludicrous Raiga!" He heard Haku say the boy unaware of him hiding. "Killing his own men?" He said to Raiga who scowled at him.

"Shut up! Mist's done the same thing numerous times fool, your precious Zabuza had people executed as well." The green haired swordsmen snapped at him and Naruto could only wonder what they where talking about. "Bring the girl and those other Sound punks where he'll be waiting on the Exam days. The Snake sees no further use to them." He said and at the word Snake Naruto could only envision that Grass Nin they had fought against in his mind as if feeling the two where one and the same. And what was he talking about when he meant the Sound Team that had attacked them

"I won't do it." Haku said and Raiga grabbed him by the throat and pulled out a blade and held it to his face but Haku glared at him. Naruto was ready to burst out and help him as he had considered Haku a friend when the Swordsmen spoke again.

"You will do this, or else I'll have him sacrifice you as well along with that long haired girl you now seem to fancy." He threatened and sparks appeared on his swords near his face as he squeezed his air out of him. Naruto got ready to make his move when The purple haired boy on his back Naruto saw turned his head towards him and with a bit of suspicion his eyes started to turn red. He looked at the bush and but didn't see anything. Ranmaru shrugged and deactivated his eyes as Raiga dropped Haku.

"If you think about telling anyone this, I'll have you buried and trap underground for so long it'll take days before you finally ran out of air." Raiga warned and disappeared in a swirl of lightning.

Haku looked at the spot Raiga was at a rare look of anger on his face. Ever since he had joined up with Raiga and the Kurosuki family he had tried to steer him in a better direction since Zabuza died, to make amends for his past failure by thinking he could with Ranmaru's help change him for the better after all he's done but this was beyond his limit. First allying with Orochimaru, then the plan to attack Konoha, and now he was going to willingly sacrifice his own ninja?

He had had enough!

Naruto let out a sigh of relief as he had just got out of there using a disappearing Jutsu Jiraiya had taught him during the past month just in time before the purple haired boy looked at his hiding spot and somehow discovered him with those weird eyes of his. He was currently on the roof of another building. Luckily the other two where busy arguing to notice him use it. He never thought he'd see Haku again, not like this. Him working with some psychopathic swordsmen, he couldn't make out all they had said but it involved the Sound Team, two of who where in the Finals. He didn't understand what they where all talking about but after all that had happened he somehow couldn't help but feel as if it was connected to previous events and his cousin as well.

"Every answer I find just leads more to two more questions." He said to himself. If he saw Haku again he'd get the answers out of him as the feminine boy knew something. He didn't know what else he'd find but he knew that something was happening.

Every day lead him to unraveling more and more of what was going on. With Otogakure, That Snake man, Haku, Tayuya, His cousin and others.

And he would find out what it was in two days…

A/N: That's it for this chapter. Review please.