The final match was Shikamaru's fight. His opponent was Kirigakure's famous prodigy, Chojuro, one of the Third Batch of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and the third wielder of the Twin Blades, Hiramekarei. The Nara Clan, meanwhile, was renowned throughout the Ninja World for its intelligence.
Everyone was looking forward to this final match. From the beginning to the end of Shino and Kankuro's fight, there had been a brief lull in the spectator stands above.
That was because of those two and their fight.
Anyone with eyes could tell that Kankuro wasn't taking it seriously, and neither was Shino. Although Shino still maintained a proper standard of combat, everyone agreed that the two were "putting on a show." As a result, few people paid much attention to their match.
Ino and Hinata were both there. Choji, thirsty after eating Potato Chips, took a drink of water and said to Shikamaru:
"You're up for the last match, Shikamaru! Your opponent is Chojuro from Kirigakure. I heard he's their prodigy, and he's got two really powerful swords! Give it your best!"
Shikamaru leaned back in his seat and rubbed his temples, looking resigned. "What a drag... Why are there so many fights in the Chunin Ninja Exams? I just want to finish early, go home, and sleep."
Despite his words, his eyes quietly drifted toward the Kirigakure competitors' area. There, a boy with neat, short blue hair was looking down as he ran his fingers over his weapons: a pair of swords wrapped in layers of white bandages. Even from a distance, their extraordinary presence was palpable. They were among Kirigakure's seven great blades, after all.
Shikamaru knew they were Chojuro's Twin Blades, Hiramekarei, one of the signature weapons of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. For Chojuro