Two days had passed since the mysterious death of Hero Killer: Stain.
The news had spread like wildfire, becoming the hottest topic across all hero forums, morning news reports, and even idle conversations among pro heroes. And at Academy's Class 1-A classroom, the topic had taken center stage.
"Hey, hey! Did you hear the latest? The Hero Killer, Stain, was killed!" Kaminari's voice rang out as he leaned over his desk, his expression filled with a mix of shock and excitement.
"Yeah," Sero replied, a frown creasing his brow. "I heard he was taken out the night of the Sports Festival… Just disappeared."
"They say he was really strong, right? Like—famous even among pro heroes," said Mina, eyes wide with curiosity. "So, how did he die like that? So suddenly?"
Madara stepped through the classroom doorway, his presence immediately commanding attention without him uttering a single word. The lively discussion didn't stop, but it certainly shifted direction.
"Hey, Uchiha!" Kirishima called out eagerly, waving an arm as Madara moved toward his seat. "What do you think? Who do you think killed Stain?"
Madara raised an eyebrow at the red-haired student. He hadn't even sat down yet. Kirishima's face was lit up with childlike energy, as if he were talking about a sports match.
Madara found himself momentarily baffled. I nearly made him cry during our last match… and now he greets me like a friend?
His lips twitched slightly—not quite a smirk, not quite annoyance. "How would I know?" he replied, sliding his bag onto the hook beside his desk. "You seem eager. Why don't you tell me?"
Kirishima grinned. "Easy! It has to be All Might! Who else could take down a villain like Stain?"
"Tch. Idiot," Aoyama said from the back, flicking his sparkling hair. "All Might wouldn't kill. Don't you know professional heroes can't just go around killing villains?"
"No matter who it was," Iida said, adjusting his glasses with a sharp movement, "that person is a murderer. That fact doesn't change, regardless of intentions."
The class went quiet for a beat.
Izuku Midoriya stared at the desk in front of him, muttering, "Seventeen pro heroes dead… twenty-three permanently disabled… That was Stain's track record."
He glanced toward Madara unconsciously. "The one who could defeat him… wouldn't be ordinary."
A chill passed through the room, subtle but palpable.
Before anyone could continue, the door opened with a slow creak.
Aizawa Shouta stepped in with his usual exhausted demeanor, dark circles under his eyes, and scarf trailing behind him.
"Good morning."
The class immediately straightened up, returning to order.
"Today's Hero Studies will be a little different," Aizawa said, scanning the room with half-lidded eyes. "We'll be selecting… your code names."
The room erupted with gasps and murmurs.
"Our hero names?!"
"This early?!"
Aizawa held up a hand. "Yes. The names you choose now might eventually become your professional hero names. While you still have time to change them before you're licensed, these early impressions matter."
He pulled out a remote and tapped the button. The blackboard behind him lit up, revealing a list.
"Before that, here are the results of the internship offers received."
Uchiha Madara: 10,022
Todoroki Shoto: 3,258
Tokoyami Fumikage: 1,234
Bakugo Katsuki: 1,200
Iida Tenya: 908
Yaoyorozu Momo: 203
Kirishima Eijiro: 105
Uraraka Ochaco: 88
Sero Hanta: 52
Kaminari Denki: 50
Gasps filled the room.
"Ten thousand…?!" Uraraka choked.
Kirishima whistled. "No way. I've never seen anyone break five digits before."
"Offices from overseas also submitted applications," Aizawa added, glancing toward Madara with something between concern and reluctant admiration. "This is a first."
Yaoyorozu turned toward Madara, her expression a mix of awe and curiosity. "Madara, that number is astounding. If I had even half your offers…"
"It's like every pro agency wants him," Kaminari muttered.
"Tch," Bakugo scoffed. "They're just scared of what happens if they don't scout him."
Madara said nothing. He simply crossed his arms, expression unreadable.
Aizawa continued, "Don't get too caught up in the numbers. These are simply invitations. You can cancel or decline them before graduation. But regardless, everyone will be participating in a workplace experience."
"Will it involve real villain work?" Tokoyami asked quietly.
"Not quite. After USJ, you've already had your share of chaos," Aizawa replied. "This is more about learning the professional side of being a hero. Daily patrols, paperwork, coordination, media, civil service, and so on."
The students murmured among themselves. The weight of reality was starting to sink in.
"The code names you choose will define your image," Aizawa said. "And once the public latches on, it's hard to change."
Just then, the classroom door slammed open.
"Allow me to assist with this part~!" came a sultry voice.
Midnight sauntered in, hand on her hip, her sharp eyes twinkling.
"I'll be supervising your naming process. And trust me," she smiled, "if your names are stupid, I will reject them."
"Yikes," Kaminari gulped.
"As Aizawa said," Midnight continued, "this is your chance to create an identity. Something that sticks with the people. Think of heroes like All Might or Endeavor. Their names carry meaning."
A few minutes later, Midnight passed out whiteboards to each student.
"Write the name you wish to be known by. If it's acceptable, it'll be recorded in the official training logs."
One by one, students began scribbling.
Iida wrote, Ingenium, determined to honor his brother's legacy.
Uraraka shyly penned, Uravity.
Todoroki kept his name simple: Shoto.
Then, it was Madara's turn.
He took the board without a word, the marker uncapped in one smooth motion. Without hesitation, he wrote two bold characters in sweeping kanji:
Madara
No embellishments. No honorifics. Just his name.
When he held it up, the room fell silent.
"…That's it?" Mina asked.
"Yes." Madara didn't even blink.
Midnight raised an eyebrow. "No title? No theme?"
"My name is enough," he said flatly. "Those who fear it already know it. Those who don't… will learn it."
A cold ripple passed through the class.
It wasn't arrogance. It was certain.
Yaoyorozu stared at him with wide eyes. He truly doesn't hide who he is.
"Well then," Midnight said after a pause. "Approved."
Madara set the board down and leaned back in his chair.
Todoroki looked over at him. "You're not worried about being misunderstood?"
"I don't care if I am," Madara replied. "Let the world make assumptions. I'll correct them with action."
The class eventually moved on, student by student, presenting their names. But the name that echoed longest wasn't flashy or symbolic.
It was just:
Madara.
A name that had already begun reshaping the world.
---
A/N: Advanced Chapters have been uploaded on my Patreon, please do check it out, it will mean a lot to me
Support: patreon.com/Narrator_San