Chapter 4: Go Beyond! Displays of power!
Five Months Later…
Izuku wondered if heroes really had to dodge punches everyday. From his research, they did. However it didn't seem like his current predicament would be something any hero would face.
"You need to DODGE Izuku! Don't let Itsuka land a single hit on you!"
Easier said than done. He glared at Yamato who was standing off to the side with All Might. The two were whispering about the sparring match. Turning back to the fight, Izuku was met with Itsuka's fist hitting his stomach.
"GWAAAK!" He yelled out as he hunched over. The girl pulled her arm back and panicked as she tried to help him back up.
"Oh! Izuku! I'm sorry, I thought you were ready!"
The boy simply groaned in response. Five months into this training and he still couldn't beat the martial artist. Even with detailed instructions, he was still unsure about a lot of what he was doing.
The positives were that he and Itsuka had grown closer. He'd finally made a friend that didn't want to burn him or his stuff! For Itsuka however, the feeling was a… well, watching the boy workout and sweat all day had left its mark.
Yamato groaned loudly. All Might chuckled as he took the ten thousand yen bill from the man.
"Alright. Kendo, over by Toshinori. Izuku. You and I will spar. Well… I'm actually going to teach you via Trial by Fire." The white haired man spoke as he approached the boy.
Izuku looked up to see Yamato using Essence to change some garbage bags into metal… and then into armor. He already didn't like this.
"I will be fighting you using something I haven't used in a while. However, do not think my lack of practice will be any help to you."
Yamato helped Izuku into the armor pieces. They were light, heavy enough to block a few blows, but light enough to allow someone his size to dodge an attack. Izuku wondered what he would be using against him.
"Take this," Yamato handed him a metal Bo staff, "Protect yourself. We practiced Bo staff moves with Kendo remember? Use what you know, and your instincts. Defend yourself."
Yamato patted the boy on the head. A small smile gracing his face. He walked to the other side of the makeshift arena. Toshinori and Kendo talked about what would happen… but neither were prepared for what happened next.
Yamato quickly raised his hand in front of him. A bright light shone from a long curved figure. Yamato grabbed one end of the light and pulled.
"Come forth! Nagareboshi!"
Everyone's eyes widened when Yamato pulled a broken sword from the light. Yamato just looked at the sword in sadness. He then grabbed the hilt, feeling the weight of his dear friend.
"Toshinori, if Izuku yells for you to stop the fight… Do what you need to."
The skeletal man nodded. He hoped the boy wouldn't need help… they had kept his secret for five months. Would today be the end of it?
"Are you ready Izuku?"
"Yes, Sensei."
Yamato nodded. He lowered into a combat stance. His eye flashed a crimson red before he disappeared.
Izuku panicked as the man literally vanished! He looked around until he heard a WOOSH above him.
Start: Yamato's theme (Undefeatable - Sonic Frontiers)
The sword slammed into the staff with such strength the boy thought he would crumple. A loud clang echoed from the contact. But as quickly as he appeared, Yamato vanished.
Toshinori tried his best to keep up with the man but even he had trouble spotting him.
Izuku heard a battle cry behind him. The world slowed down and he saw Yamato charging, his sword raised. The boy swung the staff and blocked the attack. His heart was pounding.
Yamato jumped back and laughed, "Good! AMAZING! More! MORE!" He shuffled from side to side before sprinting straight at the boy. Izuku attempted to strike but missed when the man jumped into the air. He flipped before falling straight down towards Izuku. The boy sidestepped the attack, only to be blown away by the shockwave.
Catching his footing, Izuku's face took on an expression of determined excitement. Seeing Yamato's sword stuck, he charged the man. Yamato noticed this and blocked his attack with both hands.
"Yes! You're doing good! But I want to see MORE!" Yamato shoved the staff upward and slammed his palm into Izuku, sending him flying backwards.
The staff was sent flying as well. Izuku only had his fists… well he needed to adapt his style! So the boy sped towards his mentor and punched him square in the face.
Yamato flew into a huge trash pile. Everyone thought it was over until he started to laugh maniacally. Garbage glowed before it started floating. Izuku got into a ready stance.
"Yama-"
"Don't stop him Toshinori-Sensei!" Izuku yelled. He was determined to prove himself to his teachers. Itsuka looked on in concern for her crush friend. She blushed as she amended that thought.
Yamato re-emerged and pushed both his hands forward. The mountain of trash exploded outward, all of the debris was turned into projectiles. Izuku had to dodge them all in order to get a hit!
At least that's what he thought until Yamato appeared before him. They both punched and their fists connected. The shockwave from the contact blew the trash storm away.
Toshinori stood with his mouth agape at the power these two displayed. Itsuka was just as in awe.
Yamato was grinning ear to ear. He had used his power to fling the trash away, yes. But that shockwave meant that Izuku was strong on his own.
He swore, at the moment of contact, Izuku's eyes had changed to a dim gold. A sign of Willpower Enhancement.
Izuku continued to throw punches. His form gradually improving into a boxer stance. Yamato was forced to block with his forearms, a surprising turn but a welcome one. He needed to reverse the attack, so he went low and swept the boy's legs. Izuku fell before rolling out of the way of Yamato's downward punch.
The boy quickly recovered and attempted to do a jumping high kick, he landed on Yamato's solar plexus, knocking the wind out of him. It didn't take the man long to recover but it was time Izuku needed to breathe. He assessed the situation and found that Yamato would attack more openly if Izuku's defense wasn't clear.
Yamato charged, but this time he was coated in a golden electricity. The arcs flashed and struck at any metal that was touching the ground, but it didn't burn or heat it up. Instead the metal was turned to wood or another organic compound.
"Look at that, you made me enter overdrive. Amazing Young Izuku! Let's finish this!" Yamato shouted before he moved faster than Izuku could perceive. A kick to the back of the knee had the boy fall onto the knee. He felt his armor shatter from a punch to the chest and a kick to the back.
He landed a few feet away but had the willpower to stand back up. Yamato knew it was over. He swerved around the boy's attempt at a revenge punch and repeated the kick to the knee.
But the fight was not done yet. Yamato still needed to show him the gap in their skill. The man dropped and sprung into a backflip using one hand. He landed in front of Izuku and preformed a Karate chop. It stopped just shy of the boy's neck, but the wind generated from the attack was very noticeable.
"Game over."
End Yamato's Theme
"That was fun Izuku!" Yamato shouted cheerily. He wiped his nose as a trickle of blood had started to flow.
"I'm still not good enough to beat you Yamato-Sensei."
Yamato lightly slapped the boy on the head. Izuku winced and looked up to see his mentor's ear to ear smile.
"I've told you time and time again. You won't beat me until you've trained for a few years. Now let's go get the facts from Toshinori and your little girlfriend."
Izuku started to blush and sputter, "G-g-g- Girlfriend?!"
Itsuka heard the word and tomatoed right up. Toshinori chuckled before mumbling something about young love.
Yamato reached his hand down, offering to help Izuku up. The boy grabbed the hand and he was yanked to his feet.
The two walked over to Toshinori and Itsuka, they had stars in their eyes as the sparring duo was standing before them covered in dirt and bruises.
"Alright, Toshi, let's hear it!"
"Right, Young Midoriya! You prefo- Ah- Ah- AACHOOO!"
"Shit."
"I second that."
A cloud of smoke had poofed from Toshinori. When it cleared, it was ALL MIGHT!
Itsuka started to have a freak out. 'All Might?! Is he an imposter?! Where did the skeleton man go? Am I on something?!!'
Izuku's eyes widened, "Uhm… Uh."
Yamato Sighed while All Might rubbed his head. The bulky hero had definitely made a mess this time.
"Itsuka," Yamato started, "Yes, that is All Might. No you're not crazy, no he's not an imposter."
Yamato paused, he looked at All Might.
"You know the jig is up. We have to tell her. It's either that or you make up a lie and possibly alienate her from the kid." He said to the bulky man. Obviously he couldn't talk with his mouth right now so he used the Nano-machine communication channel.
All Might slumped. He had been dreading this, of course all the dust had forced a transformation. Damn it, he should've been more careful.
The mountain of a man opened his mouth to speak, "Yes. I am All Might. I am training Izuku to be my successor."
Itsuka's brain exploded at the thought. Izuku was going to be the next number one?! She looked at Yamato who, despite stuffing four tissues up his nose, was still bleeding. He gave her a shaky thumbs up.
"So… he's… you're…"
Izuku spoke up finally, "Please Kendo! Keep this a secret! All Might is putting a lot on the line for this and I want to make sure he doesn't have problems because of me!"
The girl's brain tried to process the request from her crush. Wait! No! Friend! AAAAGH!
The redhead just nodded quietly, silently agreeing to keep quiet.
All Might sighed and turned to his co-teacher, only for Yamato to start to sway back and forth. He fell to his knees and clutched his head, grunting in pain.
???? ??/??/?? - Yamato's POV
I'm somewhere familiar yet different. I don't know this place.
It's as if a battle of untold power was held here. Trees are aflame and debris litters the landscape.
"Stand proud, Yamato. You are strong."
A voice pierces my ears. I look up, only to see a silhouette. A white coat on them as they raise a blade to my face. I can feel my heartbeat quickening. I try to activate some kind of power but I feel it fade away.
"It is enough that you were able to wound me. I am thankful to lose my life to such a warrior. Despite your origins, you are the strongest I have faced. Still, I see it as unfair to let you walk away without a gift."
The cold steel slashed upwards. What was two became one. Neurons flashed in panic as numbness set in. One second later, the burning sensation of a destroyed ocular nerve.
I feel my mouth open, air rushes out. A scream. The figure places the blade on the ground before tossing the coat onto my body. The article covers my badly destroyed armor. It's warmth soothes me but also does nothing to halt the blood seeping from my socket.
"To think… YOU would take… my place…" The voice said as the figure fell onto its own knees, "My successor… stand… proud…"
The Beach
Everyone crowded around the downed man as he shakily breathed. His eye had shifted to a bright white during that vision. Looking around, he knew it wasn't a good idea to start talking about his past. No, he needed to ruminate on this a bit.
"I'm alright, just a bit too much blood loss. Overdrive really hits me hard. Bursts veins in my head, mostly my nose and ears." Yamato laughed out. Nobody laughed with him. They were definitely worried. He waved them off and stood up slowly. He patted All Might on the shoulder before turning to face Izuku.
"Now... lets discuss the results."
"Yes... uhm..." All Might clammed up. He didn't really know where to go from that. He just saw his friend collapse, sweat and go pale. What the hell was he gonna say next?
Yamato waited... and waited... finally, the big guy opened his mouth to talk.
"Young Midoriya, I saw that you took time to analyze Yamato's attack pattern. Did you also notice that he was moving based on your form?" The pro-hero asked. Izuku looked confused, had he seen Yamato change his attacks? Then he remembered how he caught Izuku's attack before reversing it. The boy nodded at his teacher.
"Yeah, I tried to follow you but even I had some problems. In a fight with a villain, you'll need to make sure that you're using moves that can't be easily read." Yamato piped up. The boy followed along, noting to train with Itsuka and figure out a way to be less telling in his attacks.
Izuku and Itsuka were ordered to continue cleaning the beach. The teens immediately got to work. In five months they had cleaned more than half the beach. All Might and Yamato were proud of these kids... they'd be the best heroes of tomorrow.
All Might hit Yamato on the back, the man stumbled forward as All Might let out his signature laugh. Yamato grumbled as he remembered the promise of a dinner between the giant, him and an old friend.
"If you eat me out of house and home, I'll sue All Might's Agency." Yamato spoke without a joke or lie.
All Might gulped as he tried to nervously laugh it off.
Meanwhile, the two teens had a discussion of their own.
"Izuku... are you okay? I saw how rough Yamato-sensei was on you... I know we're training to be heroes but you didn't even use your quirk!"
Izuku jumped a bit. So Itsuka noticed that. Sure she knew he was All Might's successor, but she didn't know about the quirk. He needed to think of an excuse. Then he remembered what All Might and Yamato said to say in these situations.
"Uhm... my quirk requires me to build up a lot of energy. It takes multiple years before I can use it... It should be usable by the entrance exams."
"Hmm... okay. Well... I'm glad you're okay." She said before hugging the boy. His body twitched a bit as he both fought and complied with the urge to hug her back. In the end, he gave in. Far away the white haired man yelled a HELL YEAH!
It was a strange feeling. But Izuku wouldn't trade it for anything. He was happy to have a friend like her. He hoped they would become heroes together.
Yamato's Apartment - 8:25 PM
Table? Check. New bed? Check. Actual food? Check. Giant man made of muscle? Check.
"Um... this is a... nice apartment Yamato." It wasn't, but All Might wasn't going to be rude and risk the ire of the only other person who could contact Sorahiko. Yamato turned to give him the evil eye treatment.
"Shut up. Our guest is almost here. Go out and help him inside."
All Might raised an eyebrow. Who were they eating with that needed to be helped inside. He shuttered as he imagined Sorahiko showing up and beating him up while being carried. The man walked out onto the entrance platform. He waited and, exactly at 8:30, a limo pulled up the street. The man spat blood in surprise as the door opened but it wasn't a man that stepped out... it was a small rodent. Oh god. NO!
"Ah, All Might! Hello! Carry me, please!" The Rodent called out.
All Might descended the stairs and helped the small rat thing into his arms. He returned to the apartment and as soon as he walked in, he was met with an Aroma. It wasn't necessarily pleasant or unpleasant, but it was a smell.
"Ah, Yamato-kun! It's been a while... how have you been?" The Rat-thing spoke.
"Hello Nezu. I've been alright. I'm preparing your favorite... Grilled Carrot Salad."
Nezu's face, despite being rodent-like, visibly scrunched. All Might had to hold back a laugh as he sat the principal down at the table. He proceeded to sit across from him and poofed back into his skeletal form. Yamato quickly scooped up some of the smoke in a jar for "flavor".
"So... why are you here principal?"
"I'm here to answer Yamato-kun's request. I owe him a favor for him tracking down one of the scientists who had a hand in experimenting on me."
All Might sweat dropped at the tone of voice. Yamato hummed away as loud bangs and crashes echoed from the kitchen. All Might swore he heard curses and the sound of hands banging on counters. He snickered at the thought of Yamato, the Silver Knight, stubbing his toe while cooking.
"Dinner is ready!"
Yamato sat two plates with cloches on them. It was surprising when All Might and Nezu removed them to see what looked to be a perfectly cooked steak with a side of butter, lobster and a loaded potato.
The two looked at the man who flexed his hand, a golden flicker of energy flowed between his fingers.
"You didn't..."
"Oh I so did." Yamato replied with a shit eating grin.
All Might and Nezu shared a look. Nezu shrugged and started to dig in. His eyes widened and he started to laugh at the absurdity. It was DELICIOUS! All Might was unsure about eating Essence food. But the food looked... SO GOOD... he just wanted a bite.
Yamato sat down in a seat next to All Might and watched the giant take his first bite. His muscle form exploded out from nowhere and he yelled: "AMAZING!" Much to Yamato's amusement.
"So...Nezu. About my favor."
The principal looked up at him. A calm smile on his face as Yamato poured him a cup of his favorite tea. Little did he know... Yamato just used water and flashed Essence to turn it into tea.
"I want to work at UA."
All Might spat his food out in surprise. Nezu started to laugh maniacally. Yamato just sat there, patting Toshinori's back while waiting for the principals response.
Nezu finally stopped laughing and stared at Yamato, "Why do you want to join UA? I know you have skills in heroics... you're one of three Black-Rated heroes in the HPSC's database... but we already have All Might joining as the heroics teacher."
Yamato met Nezu's gaze. The two locked into a battle of wills. Yamato opened his mouth, "I know how to teach Physics. Plus, this guy isn't a teacher. You need me to help him."
All Might's "Hey!" went unnoticed as the scene shifted. All Might imagined Yamato and Nezu in a poker game. Each one trying to one up the other.
"Call, Aizawa is good enough for the heroics class. He's an underground hero." Nezu said. All Might imagined him with dark sunglasses and a little cap.
"Raise, Aizawa is good, I don't want to teach his class. I want to teach Class 3-A. If I happen to work with All Might as the Foundational Hero studies Teaching Assistant I can help him train his successor." All Might swore that Yamato had ACTUALLY pushed chips forward when he was talking.
The two stared at each other, the battle of wills growing ever fierce. All Might gulped.
"All In, I'll give power loader the schematics to my hover bike."
All Might blinked. Nezu Blinked. What?
"Hover Bike?"
Yamato smirked. He had won. The principal was weak to bribes of technology and information.
"Just say yes, make me the Physics teacher and TA to Aizawa and All Might."
Nezu hummed... on one hand, Yamato was prone to ignoring authority and outright pushing past regulation... on the other, he was pretty good at physics... and he did respect the two heroes... and, he'd like the hover bike...
"Alright. Send the schematics to my computer and I'll hire you."
Yamato grinned victoriously. All Might sweat dropped. Was this a good idea? Nezu hopped up on the table and waddled over to shake Yamato's hand. They shook and it was finalized.
"Thank you for the dinner. It was nice seeing you two again. Please send my regards to your successor Toshinori." Nezu said before he jumped down off the table and left.
Yamato visibly deflated as he let out a groan of relief. How he detested negotiating with Nezu. The last time had him give the rat-thing a video of him dancing in a maid dress. He shuttered.
"I'll... just be going..."
"Alright, I can't wait to work with you!" Yamato replied before bowing to Toshinori.
The pro-hero returned the bow before also walking out of the apartment. Yamato yawned. He wasn't tired, but damn if his brain wasn't trying to find some way to fall asleep. Instead he tapped a button on his prosthetic and shut the apartment's lights off. He twisted the device before disconnecting the nerve-link and placing it on the workshop table.
"Yamato, I am displaying your medical diagnostics. It seems during your training session, you suffered a hemorrhage in your cerebellum. Fortunately, the loophole you installed activated and prevented permanent damage. Your cortisol levels are also high. It seems that you are deteriorating. Perhaps- warning! Incoming trans-universal disruption."
Yamato tried to process the AI's voice in his head before something, or rather someone crashed into him. The person groaned as Yamato helped them to their feet. Examining this person, they were female. She had medium length hair, purple and pink. Her face was rather pretty but had some scarring. The eyes that stared back at Yamato were heterochromatic. One was pink and the other was a light brown. She wore some kind of robe that was colored purple. On it was a patch that was similar to one on Yamato's coat.
"Who are you?"
"Who are you?"
????, Japan
"Azrael, Telikris, Porta. Be ready... we are about to meet someone powerful... perhaps the humans aren't as weak as we thought." Yuutaro uttered out. In the time since consuming the body, he had started morphing the shape into his true form. He had black hair that ran down to his shoulders, the grey skin remained and the veins pulsed with that deep black fluid. Deep purple eyes peered through the darkness of the elevator. Instead of Haruto's homely face, there was the unblemished and handsome face of a 24 - 25 year old. On his hip was a broadsword of unknown material. He wore some kind of cloak that billowed even without wind.
"Please enter this way. Apologies for the wait." Kurogiri said with a bow. The ghostly form greatly intrigued Yuutaro.
The group followed the man towards a cave like room. There, upon his throne, was the commander of the League of Villains. All for One. Yuutaro noted the life support devices hooked up to the villain. Despite this, the ancient evil had shuddered upon laying eyes on the infirm man.
"You hold a great hatred in your heart. Do you also desire to dominate this world?"
"You are correct. Now... why are you before me?"
Yuutaro did a mock bow. He respected the man's hatred but still... he was only human.
"I have come to offer my support in your plans. In return I need information." The Autarch smoothly said. His eyes betraying no lie.
"What information do you require?" All for One spoke, his non-existent eyes trained on the group of beings. He knew he could squash them like ants for trying to bargain with him... but it was very interesting. It wasn't often he got requests.
"I am looking for someone. One is a rebel, I am gathering information we may use to find him. The other is my little brother... Yamato Kimisuya."
An aura of hatred erupted from All for One. Everyone except Yuutaro cowered from the force. The man's eyes widened as he watched the life support disconnect.
"YAMATO. KIMISUYA?!" All for One spat with untold anger. The man who had helped his brother and those... thieves! He thought he killed that man with seven spikes through his torso!
Yuutaro put up a placating hand. He needed to reason with this creature of vengeance. Lest he be struck down before he could regain his full power.
"I understand. He is an annoyance. If you thought him dead, he is not... but I'm willing to let you kill him... I just need his body."
All for One paused, that's it? Just the body and he could KILL that cockroach that ripped out his liver?! That was the deal of a life time!
"I must contemplate... for now, KUROGIRI!" The portal user appeared, he bowed to his master, "Take these guests to our finest rooms. Make them comfortable."
What happens when evil meets evil... nothing good...