Lee, wanting to assist Gaara in his fight, attacks Kimimaro, but his body's too weak and Gaara tells him he's only getting in the way. Gaara attacks him with his sand burial technique, but Kimimaro survives by hardening a layer of bone under his skin. Kimimaro remembers how he grew up in a cage because of his kekkei genkai, and the battle that killed all of his clan. It was Orochimaro who took him in and gave him a purpose. Kimimaro advances his cursed seal to the first then the second state and continues to fight, much to Lee and Gaara's dismay. All the while Naruto continues his relentless search for Sasuke.