Unlike his peers, Kimimaro did not find pleasure in battles or killings, regarding his strength merely as an opportunity to be useful to someone. He remained consistently calm, taciturn, and utterly composed, devoting himself entirely to the task at hand. Deep down he was a gentle person — as a child he avoided causing pain to those not involved in his battles, and treated flowers with tenderness. This inner warmth was especially evident beside Jugo, whom he knew how to restrain in moments of uncontrollable rage, becoming his true friend. After meeting Orochimaru, his entire being was filled with selfless devotion to his lord, turning service into the sole justification of his own life. He did not object to becoming a mere physical vessel for Orochimaru, perceiving this as the highest form of service. When illness deprived him of such value, Kimimaro silently wept, feeling the collapse of the last meaning. Nevertheless, even on the brink of death he forced his body to move by sheer will alone, continuing to fight with frightening inexorability. Gaara compared his gaze to Sasuke's eyes — the eyes of those desperately seeking proof of their own existence. He was quick to judge and could not tolerate "trash" ninja, sometimes threatening to kill even comrades if they failed a mission. Yet within him lived a peculiar sense of honor: he halted the fight to allow Lee to drink medicine, though unaware of the flask's true contents. Kimimaro hardly ever displayed emotions, but should anyone doubt his faith in Orochimaru, icy fury bordering on obsession would overtake him. Calming Jugo, he would say that Sasuke would become his legacy, and in these words sounded a barely perceptible sorrow of parting. Even resurrected against his will, he continued to act with the same fanatical single-mindedness as in life. In the end, his personality was defined by a painful need to attain a supreme purpose capable of filling the void of absolute loneliness.
