He watched as the proud shinobi of his own village were suppressed in the very swordsmanship they held in such high esteem.
Ao, the shadow guard of the Mizukage, was in a foul mood.
Hiruzen glanced at Kakashi and said with a smile, "Shigure, your swordsmanship seems to have improved quite a bit lately."
Kakashi nodded. "Shigure's talent with the blade is exceptional. But the shinobi of Kirigakure are also highly skilled. This must be the first time Shigure has faced an opponent with swordsmanship close to his own. Otherwise, he would not have relied on sheer force to win."
Kakashi's words were deliberate—meant to save face for Kirigakure.
But Ao only snorted coldly.
"Hmph! Kakashi-san, you place far too much faith in your own ninja. The battle has only just begun. Are you certain of victory?"
"Not yet," Kakashi admitted calmly.
Though Kakashi's intention was to show courtesy, the Mist's representative clearly took no such kindness to heart.
"Chōjūrō is Kirigakure's prodigy," Ao declared smugly. "His kenjutsu is not only formidable—most importantly, he has already mastered the use of the Twin Blades: Hiramekarei, at such a young age. Just watch. The victor may not be from Konoha after all."
The Third Hokage smiled faintly. So he has already mastered Hiramekarei?
No wonder Chōjūrō was permitted to take part in the Chūnin Exam finals. This must be Kirigakure's attempt to demonstrate their village's strength to Konoha.
But unfortunately for them, they still didn't understand the true extent of Shigure's power. Relying solely on Hiramekarei was not enough to overcome him.
Hiruzen said nothing more, his calm expression unchanged. Kakashi, too, fell silent. He understood this was no time to argue—inviting the Mizukage to attend the Chūnin Exams had political weight far beyond the arena.
Boom!!
Chōjūrō leapt forward, the twin blades in his hands flashing as the sealing bandages unraveled completely.
With a wide swing, Hiramekarei erupted in a surge of chakra. A torrent of blinding light shot forth, transforming into a massive slashing wave that tore across the field toward Shigure.
Shigure moved instantly, dodging clear of the attack.
But even before his feet touched the ground again, Chōjūrō was already there, intercepting his landing point.
One strike!
Clang—!! Buzz, buzz, buzz!!
The shock of the impact rang out. This time, the sheer force of the blow sent Shigure's body flying through the air.
Mid-flight, Shigure twisted, using the momentum to land lightly on the wall. His eyes never left his opponent.
The Twin Blades, Hiramekarei...
The sword grew stronger as its wielder fought, storing chakra with every strike. That chakra could then be released in devastating bursts—forming massive chakra blasts capable of incredible destruction.
But in Chōjūrō's hands, Hiramekarei could do even more. He could shape its chakra, molding it into weapons and altering its form mid-battle.
A true child prodigy of the Mist. To command Hiramekarei at this level was no small feat.
"As expected of one of the Seven Ninja Swords of the Mist," Asuma muttered from the stands. "The power of Hiramekarei really is something else."
Ino and Chōji exchanged nervous glances. That sword... it just unleashed chakra directly?!
"That's right," Kurenai explained calmly. "Hiramekarei is one of the Seven Ninja Swords. It can accumulate and release chakra in the form of devastating attacks. It's said that the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist together can annihilate an entire nation in a single night."
"Destroy... a country?!" Ino whispered, her face pale.
The sheer thought was terrifying.
Her gaze drifted back to the arena. Shigure... you'll be okay, won't you?
"You'd better be careful," Chōjūrō said nervously, his voice trembling despite his determination. "Your swordsmanship... I can't match it. But with Hiramekarei... I might be able to defeat you!"
Shigure, who had been preparing his next move, only smiled at those words.
This guy… he can say the most confident words in the most cowardly tone.
"I see."
Shigure nodded as though he had taken Chōjūrō's words to heart.
The next moment, he lowered his stance. Zangetsu in his hand gave a faint ring, as if the blade itself was eager for battle.
"I already understand the abilities of Hiramekarei," Shigure said calmly. "Now that you've released its full power… I suppose I'll have to get serious too. I have a sword style of my own—one that can counter even Hiramekarei."
Chōjūrō's eyes widened in surprise. Self-created… swordsmanship?!
His own kenjutsu was not weak, but he had never forged a style of his own. And to think this Konoha shinobi had?
"You're lying," Chōjūrō said, though his grip tightened on his weapon. "Your swordsmanship can't match Hiramekarei. You'd better use ninjutsu—use your bloodline limit if you have to!"
His voice no longer stuttered. His nerves had settled, his spirit entering the battle fully.
Shigure only smiled. "You'll understand once you see it."
Swish!
He raised Zangetsu, and suddenly, the air around him shifted. Currents of chakra condensed, coiling toward his blade as shimmering droplets formed in midair.
Chōjūrō's eyes widened further. "What… what kind of technique is this?!"
Shigure's left hand closed around the hilt, both hands now steady on the weapon. He drew the blade horizontally to his side, leaned forward slightly, and locked his gaze on Chōjūrō.
"It's coming," he declared.
"My own sword style—Breath of…"
Breath? Chōjūrō thought in confusion. Is this really swordsmanship? That chakra looks more like… ninjutsu!
But there was no time to ponder further. Shigure's eyes slid shut for the briefest moment, his breathing steady.
Third Form — Flowing Dance!
Shigure shot forward like a rushing stream. The ground itself rippled as swirling currents followed the path of his blade.
Not good!
Chōjūrō had never seen such a technique before, but his instincts screamed danger. He poured chakra into Hiramekarei, unleashing a massive blade of light to intercept the strike.
But Shigure's form blurred—afterimages splitting away. He weaved past the chakra slash, his sword arcing dangerously close across Chōjūrō's face.
If Chōjūrō hadn't twisted away at the last second, that strike would have ended it.
But Shigure did not stop.
The instant his feet touched down beside Chōjūrō, his stance shifted.
Fourth Form — Wave Strike!
A barrage of slashes cascaded forward like a tidal wave. Chōjūrō swung Hiramekarei desperately, shaping chakra into protective spheres, using them as both shield and buffer while leaping back to gain distance.
But in midair, one of the chakra spheres detonated with a violent explosion.
Through the burst, Shigure appeared, both hands gripping Zangetsu firmly as the currents surged once more.
"The finishing blow!"
His voice rang across the arena.
Final Form — Flow of Life!
Zangetsu carved through the air, and from its arc a dragon of surging current was born. The dragon twisted and coiled as it rushed toward Chōjūrō, its power doubling with every turn in the sky.
BOOM!!!
The impact shook the entire stadium. Air pressure burst outward, blossoming into a massive flower-shaped shockwave.
Petals of wind and mist scattered across the arena, showering over the stunned crowd in the finals venue.
...
TN:
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