Sound Four

Sound Four
The Sound Four (音隠れの忍四人衆) were Orochimaru's elite bodyguards (Sakon and Ukon are counted as one entity due to their kekkei genkai). Each was given a cursed seal by Orochimaru. They were all defeated and killed by Naruto's friends and Gaara's siblings in the Sasuke Retrieval arc. Kimimaro Kaguya was a part of the group for a short time, since he was stronger than all four combined, and was intended to be Orochimaru's next host, but an unexpected illness prevented him from participating normally. All five repeatedly refer to their opponents as "trash".

The Sound Four were all talented in barrier jutsu. When first seen the four use Four Violet Flames Battle Encampment (四紫炎陣) to create a box-like barrier around the area of Orochimaru's battle, causing anything that touches to burst into flames. To prevent themselves from being attacked and thus bringing down the barrier, the Sound Four created the same barrier around themselves. When the group later fetches Sasuke Uchiha, the four use Four Black Fog Formation Seal (四黒霧陣) on him to put him into a coma, preventing his death while his cursed seal advances. When Sasuke is put into a barrel while his seal advances, Sakon puts a seal on the barrel with Black Sealing Method (封黒法印) to protect Sasuke from harm. As the group later rests, they set up a Barrier Encampment Method (結界法陣) by placing four exploding tags in an array around where they are. When the tags are set, they create an invisible barrier around the area and will detonate should anyone pass the barrier, killing the intruder. Each member of the Sound Four also has a cardinal direction associated with them; this is probably a reference to their positions when performing jutsu as a group.

Jirobo

 * Age: 142 (deceased)
 * Rank: Unknown
 * Gate: Nanmon, 南門, "Southern Gate"
 * Seiyu: Kenta Miyake
 * Voice actor Michael Sorich

Jirobo (次郎坊) is the physically strongest member of the Sound Four, albeit the least powerful, according to the other members of the Sound Four. His strength is so great that he is capable of using Earth Release: Earth Mausoleum Dango (土遁・土陵団子), allowing him to lift boulder-sized rocks with ease and hurl them at opponents. In his level 2 cursed seal state can lift a giant-sized Choji Akimichi. His strength also allows him to use Earth Release: Earth Shore Return (土遁・土陸返し), and by simply striking the ground he can cause a protective wall of earth to rise from the ground in front of him.

In combat, Jirobo uses the Achiever of Nirvana Fist (羅漢拳) fighting style, which focuses on simple physical attacks augmented with his incredible strength. Using simple palm strikes, shoulder thrusts, knee strikes, and punches, Jirobo can easily defeat an opponent in one or two blows. He can also absorb chakra, as seen with his Earth Release Barrier: Dungeon Chamber of Nothingness (土遁結界・土牢堂無). With it, Jirobo can trap unsuspecting opponents in a dome of self-repairing rock, through which he can absorb their chakra as a form of sustenance.

Despite his size, Jirobo dislikes being called fat and when Tayuya uses foul language. Despite this, he proceeded to call Choji fat near-constantly during their battle. Jirobo also thinks of Shikamaru as stupid, and taunts Choji by claiming that Shikamaru threw him away as the least useful member of his team. When in level 2 cursed seal form, his skin becomes red and his mohawk becomes a mane down his back. He is killed by Choji Akimichi with a fatal punch to the chest.

Kidomaru

 * Age: 142 (deceased)
 * Rank: Unknown
 * Gate: Tōmon, 東門, "Eastern Gate"
 * Seiyu: Susumu Chiba
 * Voice Actor: Peter Lurie (anime), Lex Lang (Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 2)
 * Unique traits: Six arms, able to make webs out of a special liquid and chakra, able to excrete a chakra-blocking liquid from his pores that solidifies into a metal

Kidomaru (鬼童丸) is the spider-like member of the Sound Four; he possesses four extra arms and has the ability to make webs. His level 2 cursed seal form makes him even more spider-like; his skin becomes darker, and he grows long, white hair. While in this form he opens the third eye on his forehead (which he normally keeps covered with his Sound headband) to improve the accuracy of his attacks. Kidomaru is an excellent tactical analyst, capable of determining his enemy's weak point quickly and efficiently, and also enjoys playing with his enemies before he kills them. He seems to prefer fighting from a distance, lending him a considerable advantage and allowing him to avoid close-combat. Kidomaru generally sees a battle as a game, and often plays around with the opponent too much because he prefers to have fun seeing the opponent struggle. His speech also reflects this - when battling Neji Hyuga, he, instead of calling Neji "trash", called him a trash character, and claimed that it was his fate to die first. He also analyzes his predicament using the same language as the typical gamer.

Kidomaru's webbing is made of a special type of liquid that is created by infusing body liquid with chakra. He can increase the strength of this webbing by infusing additional chakra into it during its creation, allowing him to create webbing as strong as steel. The more basic form of this webbing is excreted from his mouth, and he spits it directly from there during combat. With Spider Sticking Spit (蜘蛛粘吐) he can spit a narrow stream of webbing to grab opponents, allowing him to swing them around in a circle. He can use Spider Web Flower (蜘蛛巣花) to fire concentrated balls of webbing at opponents to stick them to nearby surfaces or Spider Bind (蜘蛛縛り) to create a large web array that catches multiple opponents at once. If need be, Kidomaru can spit his webs into his own hands with Spider Web Unfold (蜘蛛巣開), allowing him to capture opponents with greater accuracy. Spider Cocoon (蜘蛛繭) allows him to encase an opponent in his webs and immobilize them, while Spider Web Area (蜘蛛巣域) allows him to cover a large area in his webbing for defensive purposes. Should this webbing be moved at all, Kidomaru can immediately sense intruders and allow him time to act against them.

Kidomaru can create a stronger, golden webbing called Spider Sticky Gold (蜘蛛粘金) that hardens upon contact with oxygen to metal-like quality and is impervious to chakra. Kidomaru can fashion this substance into kunai or he can excrete it from his pores to create his Armor of Sticky Gold (粘金の鎧) to give him a temporary defensive measure. He also uses the substance for his Spider War Bow: Terrible Split (蜘蛛戦弓・凄裂), creating a bow and arrow of his own design. This ability acts as his trump card, as he can use it to attack from long distances and can create uniquely shaped arrows to fit the battle he is in, such as improving its speed, accuracy, or power.

Kidomaru is defeated and killed by Neji Hyuga; Neji is able to send chakra through a web string attached to his final arrow, wounding him, and then finishes him off by striking him in the face and upper chest with a Gentle Fist-style attack.

Sakon and Ukon
Sakon (左近) and the older Ukon (右近) are twin brothers who share positions in the Sound Four. "Sakon" means left and "Ukon" means right, which is also the side of the face that each has his bangs fall on. To further help distinguish between the two Sakon wears beads around his neck and Ukon has a somewhat deeper voice. With their Soma no Ko ability, Sakon and Ukon are able to merge with the bodies of others. Ukon generally uses this ability to remain within Sakon's body where he sleeps, having his head protrude from the back of Sakon's neck. Because Ukon spends so much time within his brother's body he is not use to moving about on his own and tires easily when separated, forcing him to return to Sakon to regain his energy after a short time. Despite this, Ukon is a valuable asset in battle for Sakon, as his arms and legs can be used to strengthen Sakon's attacks as well as block attacks that Sakon cannot. When in their level 2 cursed seal form, each is given increased healing abilities and armor as well as becoming ogre-like in appearance.
 * Age: 142 (deceased)
 * Rank: Unknown
 * Gate: Seimon, 西門, "Western Gate"
 * Seiyu: Shunsuke Sakuya
 * Voice Actor Brian Beacock

Sakon and Ukon are very twisted and enjoy bad-mouthing the opposition. Orochimaru notes Sakon to be the fastest and strongest member of the Sound Four, traits Sakon is very proud of. When in battle Sakon likes to prolong the fight by toying with the opponent and all the while use unnecessarily powerful techniques. This tendency of Sakon's causes him to slow down the rest of the group whenever he gets interested in an opponent, making him severely more flawed than Jirobo or Kidomaru. Ukon is able to counteract this flaw by being more impatient and hasty than his brother, causing him to quickly end battles while Sakon is still trying to have fun. Sakon and Ukon fight and almost defeat Kiba Inuzuka and Akamaru. Before they can finish the two off, however, Kankuro arrives and kills them both by navigating them into one of his puppet's torso and stabbing them several times, saving Kiba and Akamaru.

Tayuya

 * Age: 142 (deceased)
 * Rank: Unknown
 * Gate: Hokumon, 北門, "Northern Gate"
 * Seiyu: Akeno Watanabe
 * Voice actor: Kari Wahlgren

Tayuya (多由也) is the kunoichi of Orochimaru's Sound Four. As the only sound-using member of the Sound Four, Tayuya uses a flute in battle. Because this is her only weapon, she avoids close combat at all costs. To help her with this, she can summon three powerful demons, which she controls with Demon Flute: Illusionary Warriors Manipulating Melody (魔笛・幻武操曲) by playing specific notes on her flute to achieve specific actions. If the demons aren't enough to keep opponents at bay, she uses her flute to play the War of Evil Men (魔境の乱) and trap the opponent with Demonic Flute: Dream Sound Chain (魔笛・夢幻音鎖). Once trapped in the genjutsu, the target feels as if they are tied with numerous wires, restricting their movement. Soon after, their flesh will begin to melt away from their bones, causing great pain and horror to the target. When in level 2 cursed seal form, her hair grows longer, her skin turns dark brown, and she grows five bone-like horns on her head.

Tayuya is foul-mouthed (a trait for which Jirobo berates her) and ill tempered. She is also very intelligent and can think of strategies and battle tactics almost on par with Shikamaru Nara. Like Jirobo she does not think much of Shikamaru as a leader, believing that he is a fool for sacrificing his friends at each turn. She is almost able to defeat Shikamaru, but Temari comes to his aid. After summoning Kamatari Temari levels the entire section of the forest they're in with slicing whirlwinds, crushing Tayuya under a section of a tree thus killing her.

Kimimaro Kaguya

 * Age: 152 (deceased)
 * Rank: Unknown
 * Seiyu: Toshiyuki Morikawa
 * Unique traits: Shikotsumyaku abilities, highly-skilled and agile taijutsu user

Kimimaro Kaguya (かぐや君麻呂) is the fifth member of the Sound Four, thus temporarily changing their group name to the Sound Five. The original four were forced to accept him against their will, as Kimimaro's combat abilities exceeded all of their combined skills. He was the sole survivor of the Kaguya clan (かぐや一族), which was wiped out when they attacked Kirigakure, seemingly for no reason other than the desire to kill, and were summarily outnumbered. This attack on Kirigakure would occur the same time Zabuza Momochi and Haku are leaving the village. Kimimaro was referred to by Orochimaru as the most powerful member of the clan, causing him to be locked away in a cage for most of his life, only released occasionally when needed to fight. After the deaths of his family he was found by Orochimaru, and developed a strong devotion towards him bordering on religious zealotry, as he saw Orochimaru as the only person who cared for and inspired him.

Despite his abilities and heritage, Kimimaro was not truly violent because he never really knew the outside world. Thus, the only reason he fought was because his clan needed him to do so, and being needed by someone was the one thing he truly desired. These views change upon meeting Orochimaru, where his desires change to serving him and ensuring the continuation of his master's dreams and ambitions. This lack of interest in killing allowed him to form a friendship with Jugo at one point, and his control over his cursed seal impressed the latter. Karin claims that Kimimaro was the only one who could stop Jugo's rampages without getting injured.

Kimimaro's Shikotsumyaku ability allows him to control and grow his own bones at will, allowing him to form weapons for close-range combat. Since he can regenerate and make new bones, he has an endless supply of bones he can use against his opponent. When in his cursed seal level 2 form, his appearance becomes similar to that of a dinosaur, with dark gray skin, six large bone spines on the back of his chest, and a long bone-spiked tail. While he is normally able to evade or block physical attacks with little effort, the level 2 form slows him down and allows him to more easily be struck. He possesses a great deal of control over his cursed seal, as he is able to control its spread throughout his body without fully activating it. Kimimaro's only weakness is a terminal illness that he constantly suffers from (possibly tuberculosis or lung cancer, because of his bloody coughing). The sickness seems to have been recently developed, as he was once a prime candidate for Orochimaru's next host body. He would have participated in the invasion of Konoha, but began suffering from his symptoms after the assassination of the Fourth Kazekage. He is bedridden and on life support by the time of the Sasuke Retrieval Arc, and believes that he is useless because he is unable to become Orochimaru's next body.

Kimimaro dies in the middle of his fight with Rock Lee and Gaara during the Sasuke Retrieval arc. Though he is able to hold off all of Gaara's attacks, and even gains the upper hand near the end, he succumbs to his illness just before he can kill Gaara and Lee with a surprise attack.