Minato stood before the reinforced door, the defeated forms of Nemoto and Katsukame at his feet. There was no time to waste. He pulled his hand back, chakra swirling intensely as he formed a Rasengan. With a silent burst of power, he slammed the spiraling sphere of energy directly into the door. The reinforced metal shrieked and buckled, then exploded inwards with a deafening CRUMP, revealing the sterile, horrific scene within.
Inside, a chilling tableau unfolded. Several doctors in white coats, their faces hidden behind masks, were hunched over a table, their instruments glinting under the harsh fluorescent lights. And on that table, strapped down, was Eri. The tiny, three-year-old girl was terrifyingly still, a faint, sickly glow emanating from her horn. Tubes and wires, horrifyingly small, were attached to her frail body.
Minato's blood ran cold. The sight of the innocent child, reduced to a mere experiment, ignited a cold fury within him. He moved.
The doctors barely had time to register the sudden intrusion. Minato, a blur of silver, took them down with ruthless efficiency. Each strike was precise, incapacitating, delivered with the amplified strength of Sage Mode, ensuring they wouldn't be getting up for a long time. They crumpled to the floor, unconscious.
He rushed to Eri's side. Her small body was still, her breathing shallow. Her face was pale, and her eyes, thankfully, were closed. They had likely given her anesthesia to keep her subdued during the experiments. Minato gently placed a hand on her tiny shoulder. He had prepared for this.
He activated the Flying Thunder God Technique, teleporting himself and the unconscious Eri to a pre-arranged safe house: a secluded, nondescript room he had booked in a hotel under a false name, far from the compound. He gently laid Eri on the clean bed, pulling a blanket over her. Her breathing was soft, steady, but the faint tremor in her small body spoke of profound trauma.
He couldn't stay. All Might would need him. With another flash, Minato teleported back to the Shie Hassaikai compound, materializing on a distant rooftop to assess the situation.
Below, the battle raged. All Might, in his muscular form, was locked in a brutal exchange with Kai Chisaki. The ground beneath them was torn apart, a testament to their destructive power. The two titans paused, mid-clash, as Minato, still in his Tobirama Senju transformation, teleported near All Might, coming into their view.
Chisaki, momentarily startled by the sudden appearance of a new, powerful figure, stopped his assault, his eyes narrowed suspiciously at the stranger. All Might, seeing his mysterious benefactor, knew the meaning of his presence.
Minato approached All Might, his voice low but clear. "She's safe."
All Might's tense shoulders visibly relaxed, and he gave a small, weary nod, a flicker of profound relief crossing his face. "Thank goodness," he breathed, a genuine weight lifting from him. "You truly are a miracle worker."
"Will you continue fighting and arrest them?" Minato asked, glancing pointedly at Chisaki.
All Might, panting, shook his head. "No. Even if we defeat them, young man, we can't legally arrest them. Not fully. Not right now. There isn't enough publicly admissible evidence against them for the full extent of their crimes regarding Eri to stick. They're too deeply entrenched, too careful."
Minato understood. While they had witnessed the child's abuse, proving it in a court of law without revealing his own vigilante activities, or even Eri's unique Quirk prematurely, would be difficult. The goal was to rescue Eri, not to dismantle the entire Yakuza organization in one fell swoop.
"Let's go," Minato said, his decision made. He gently touched All Might's shoulder.
The world blurred. In an instant, they were gone from the chaotic battlefield, reappearing in the quiet hotel room. All Might's eyes immediately fell upon Eri, sleeping peacefully on the bed. He approached, his expression softening with a mixture of concern and a fierce protectiveness. He clenched his fist, the sight of her frail form filling him with a renewed surge of anger at her tormentors.
"Now what?" All Might asked, turning to Minato, his voice strained.
Minato's expression was grim. "I cannot take care of her, All Might. She has a Quirk called Rewind, which will revert back time, making anyone she touches older to younger. And she still can't control it, largely because of the mental trauma she's endured." He looked directly at All Might. "She needs to heal, and she needs to be in the presence of someone who can cancel Quirks. Someone who can help her control it, or at least suppress it until she's stable."
All Might listened, his eyes widening with understanding about the immense power of Eri's Quirk. He nodded slowly. "I will take care of her," he declared, his voice firm with renewed purpose. "I know a person who can cancel Quirks. His quirk could be exactly what she needs."
"Good," Minato affirmed. "Now, listen carefully. Make it a stalemate with Chisaki. You both walk away, him keeping quiet about this encounter, and you keeping what happened with Eri a secret. Don't let many know of her Quirk; it is a very powerful Quirk, and if the wrong people get information about it, that will endanger her life." He added, his voice serious, "And, this is crucial: check if there are any trackers on her body. Overhaul is meticulous, and he won't give up easily."
All Might nodded, absorbing every word. "I will ensure her safety, young man. You have my word. But... who are you? And why are you doing all this?"
Minato met his gaze, a hint of something ancient and knowing in his transformed red eyes. "That, All Might, is a secret for now. But know this: I act for the future. For the children. And for the peace you tirelessly fight for." He paused, a subtle shift in his aura. "Well, from here on, she is your responsibility. You'll ensure she gets the care she needs."
With that, Minato's form shimmered, and before All Might could voice another question, or even offer a final thank you, the Silver Flash vanished, leaving the Symbol of Peace alone with the sleeping child, a new, heavy, and infinitely precious burden.
All Might POV
The silver flash vanished, leaving me alone in the quiet hotel room with the sleeping Eri. I stood for a long moment, just gazing at the small, fragile child. Her peaceful slumber was such a stark contrast to the horrors she must have endured. A fierce protectiveness welled up within me, hot and strong. I would keep her safe. I had to.
My hand trembled slightly as I pulled out my phone. I needed help, and there was only one person I could fully trust with something this delicate, this... covert. I dialed Nezu's number.
He answered almost immediately, his voice calm and measured, as always. "All Might? Is everything alright?"
My voice was low, urgent, almost a whisper compared to my usual boom. "Nezu, I need your help. I can't explain everything over the phone, but... I rescued a child. Her name is Eri. She was being held captive by Overhaul. They were... experimenting on her." The words tasted bitter in my mouth.
There was a pause. Even Nezu, with his preternatural calm, seemed taken aback. "Experimenting on a child? All Might, that's... horrific."
"It's worse than you can imagine," I continued, my voice strained. "She has a Quirk, Nezu. A powerful, dangerous Quirk. It's called 'Rewind.' She can make people younger, revert them in time. And she can't control it. She needs help, Nezu. She needs treatment, and she needs to be kept safe. Secretly." I emphasized that last part, remembering the Strangers warning.
"Understood, All Might," Nezu replied, his tone shifting to one of decisive action. "I will make preparations immediately. I will come to your location personally. Do not let any outsiders know about this, All Might. This needs to be handled with the utmost discretion."
"I'm sending you the location now," I said, my voice firm. "And I need Recovery Girl. Eri needs her healing touch. And Nezu... this child... she needs our protection. She needs a chance at a normal life. Undetected."
"I understand, All Might," Nezu assured me. "I will be there as soon as possible. Stay put, and keep her safe."
The call ended. I looked down at Eri again, my heart heavy with the weight of this new responsibility. I had a new mission now. A mission not just to defeat villains, but to protect an innocent life, to shield her from the darkness that sought to exploit her. The Silver Flash had made it clear: this was my responsibility now. And I would not fail her.