Yo.
Been a while lads.
I know you all missed me. I missed me too.
But I am back and I brought a chapter with me too!
Now just a small heads up, nothing too exciting happens in this chapter as we're just planting the seeds for new trees to sprout, so in here, we're just laying the groundwork for what we'll be having in the next chapter and future chapters.
Please enjoy.
Start:
Approximately half an hour had passed since the event—now rapidly gaining notoriety as the Mass Underwear Incident—had plunged U.A. University into controlled chaos. The sheer absurdity and scale of it were unprecedented, even by U.A.'s high standards.
Every single building had been affected. Thousands upon thousands of pieces of underwear had descended from hidden compartments within ceilings and vents, burying classrooms, hallways, offices—even cafeterias—in a kaleidoscopic flood of embarrassing garments. Such a peculiar prank had never been witnessed before, let alone executed on this scale.
A state of emergency was quickly declared, and Power Loader's tireless creations—small robots designed specifically for campus maintenance—mobilized immediately, tirelessly collecting and disposing of the absurd amount of scattered lingerie and boxers. It was a sight both comical and horrifying, robots methodically scooping up bras and briefs as if they were fallen leaves in autumn.
Meanwhile, rumors spread through the campus like wildfire.
Students everywhere speculated endlessly, forming clusters around hallways, courtyards, and even restrooms, feverishly debating potential culprits. The primary suspect on everyone's lips was unsurprisingly Sukuna.
Despite no solid proof linking him to the crime, most found it hard to imagine anyone else capable of orchestrating such an elaborate prank.
Yet doubts lingered. Sukuna had always made theatrical announcements after his pranks, making sure everyone knew precisely who was responsible. The fact he didn't do so this time was somewhat concerning.
Still, logic rarely stopped gossip, and the masked villain remained everyone's favorite scapegoat for this bizarre event.
Though some still voiced their uncertainty about Sukuna's involvement.
"This doesn't match Sukuna's style at all," one third-year girl murmured skeptically to her friends near the central plaza. "He always announces his stunts or leaves some flashy clue behind. This feels too random, too... anonymous."
Her friend shrugged uneasily. "Maybe he's changing tactics? Trying to catch everyone off-guard?"
"Could be someone else entirely," another chimed in. "Copycat villain, maybe?"
So yes… pretty much the entire school was gossiping about the underwear incident and there was seemingly no end in sight for this topic of conversation.
Simultaneously, the faculty—including Mirko—had convened in an urgent meeting to assess the chaos and potential threats, leaving Class 1-A temporarily unattended in their homeroom. Left to their own devices, the students seized the opportunity to engage in their own frantic gossip.
"Whoever it was, they're either completely insane or an absolute genius," Kaminari remarked with a bemused grin, arms crossed behind his head as he leaned back in his chair.
"Definitely Sukuna," Ashido insisted confidently. "Only he could pull off something this absurd."
"I'm not convinced," Midoriya murmured thoughtfully, tapping a pencil rhythmically against his notebook. "Sukuna always likes recognition. This seems too subtle for him considering his lack of announcement."
"Subtle?" Uraraka laughed incredulously. "There's nothing subtle about thousands of flying panties."
The laughter rippled through the class, tension easing slightly, though an undercurrent of anticipation lingered. Bakugo sat with fists clenched, clearly irritated by the disruption, though he held his tongue—barely.
Another thirty minutes passed, slowly draining the initial excitement into boredom and frustration. Students sprawled lazily across desks, some fidgeting anxiously, others glaring impatiently at the clock, clearly agitated by the delay in their much-anticipated trip to the USJ.
Naruto himself who had enjoyed listening in on the gossip and even partaking into it with certain characters in his class, found himself growing bored at the lack of any new activity.
So much so that he was actually tempted to have his alter ego create another surprise prank.
Though such an idea opened another range of possibilities that he had briefly considered in the past but not too deeply.
Should he start having Sukuna make more surprise appearances in U.A?
Should he target a few specific students?
And if so, then who?
Immediately one person popped to mind and Naruto subtly turned his head and gaze to the left to look at the most explosive personality in class, barely suppressing a wicked grin as ideas upon ideas flowed in mind.
So much devastating potential…
And just like that, it was decided, Sukuna could certainly starting make more appearances in U.A.
Make life more fun.
People needed it. Himself included of course.
Though none needed fun and relaxation as much as Naruto's next target.
Whom speaking off…
Bakugo finally seemed on the verge of explosion, no pun intended, his eyes narrowing dangerously. But before he could unleash his pent-up irritation, the classroom door swung open sharply, commanding immediate attention.
Kirishima, however, couldn't help himself. Raising a hand uncertainly, he blurted out what everyone was thinking. "Sensei, was Sukuna responsible for this?"
Mirko's red eyes narrowed sharply, a vein throbbing visibly at her temple. "That's currently an ongoing investigation," she snapped, voice tight and irritated. "No more questions on that."
Her tone was harsh enough to silence Kirishima instantly, who sank sheepishly back into his seat, scratching his head nervously.
The momentary silence was interrupted as Iida raised his hand with almost robotic precision. Mirko acknowledged him with a curt nod, prompting him to speak with his typical earnestness.
"Excuse me, Sensei," Iida began formally, glasses glinting sharply. "What does this mean for our scheduled training session at the USJ facility? Is it still going to occur today as planned?"
Mirko sighed, folding her arms beneath her ample chest as she delivered the unwelcome news. "Unfortunately, due to today's unforeseen development, your USJ trip is postponed. You'll be going simultaneously with Class B at a later date."
A chorus of disappointed groans and intrigued murmurs swept through the room. Kaminari leaned forward eagerly, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Class B, huh? This might actually turn out better than expected!"
Midoriya nodded thoughtfully, curiosity evident on his face. "It'll be interesting to meet the other hero class properly."
A few more murmurs followed.
And truthfully, even Naruto found himself curious at the prospect of meeting the other class of heroes.
Mirko clapped her hands sharply, recapturing everyone's attention instantly. Her fierce gaze pinned them down, leaving no room for further chatter. "Just because we're not heading to the USJ doesn't mean you get to slack off. You're still gonna train, just somewhere else."
The class perked up, some confused but most curious.
"What kind of training, Sensei?" Uraraka ventured cautiously.
"Different kind," Mirko answered bluntly, her lips curving into a smirk. "We'll be conducting today's exercise at Ground Gamma. Class B will also be there, so you'll get your introduction early."
The room buzzed briefly with excitement at the news, their earlier disappointment quickly shifting to anticipation.
Mirko pivoted toward the door, her muscular legs confidently carrying her forward. "Enough questions. Follow me. Move your asses, let's go!"
With characteristic authority and no patience for stragglers, she exited swiftly, leaving the class to scramble after her, excitement mingling with curiosity about their upcoming joint exercise with Class B.
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At that exact moment, miles away from U.A., the USJ was deathly silent.
Tomura Shigaraki stood hunched in the center of the artificial plaza, gloved fingers raking aggressively over the pallid skin of his neck, leaving red, irritated welts beneath his nails. His pale eyes darted erratically from one empty corner to another, a sharp contrast to the confidence he'd carried moments earlier when he had arrived, certain of bloodshed and chaos.
Instead, he'd found silence. Emptiness.
His frustration was palpable, radiating off him in violent waves. The large, unsettling hand obscuring his face did nothing to hide the rising agitation.
"Where the hell is everyone?" he rasped, his voice brittle, dripping venom as he scanned the lifeless training facility. "Kurogiri! Why is nobody here?!"
Standing serenely beside him, the misty apparition that was Kurogiri observed quietly. His wispy form shimmered calmly, the only sign of any unease being the slight flicker of purple-black smoke that trailed from his otherwise composed figure.
"I don't know," Kurogiri replied evenly, his voice deep and measured, eternally patient despite the escalating tension radiating from his leader. "Perhaps there was an unforeseen complication."
"Complication?" Tomura spat the word as if it were poison, scratching harder at his neck, leaving deeper marks in his pale flesh. "You mean they knew we were coming. That little rat betrayed us."
Kurogiri inclined his shadowy head slightly. "That is not confirmed. It's equally possible the school merely changed their schedule due to unrelated circumstances."
Tomura turned violently towards him, hands twitching uncontrollably, eyes glaring daggers through the slits between his mask of dismembered hands. "Unrelated? We had inside information! Precise details! Everything was planned perfectly! Someone will pay for this!"
From behind them, murmurs rose among the gathered low-level villains they'd recruited for the assault—petty criminals and thugs who now shuffled uneasily, growing restless.
"Hey, boss," one of them called nervously. "We gonna wait here forever? Ain't nobody here."
Another grumbled, arms crossed, eyeing the deserted landscape suspiciously. "Did we seriously waste our time for nothing? Nobody's even around."
A vein bulged violently at Tomura's temple. He spun around, his voice shaking with barely restrained fury. "Shut up! All of you, just shut your mouths before I turn you into dust!"
The cluster of villains immediately silenced, shrinking back with wary glances. Tomura's breathing came raggedly, shoulders heaving as if he'd run a marathon. His hands resumed their twitching and clawing, a nervous habit growing more violent with each second.
"Kurogiri," he hissed, turning sharply again, eyes narrowed dangerously. "We should kill that spy. Slowly. Painfully. He needs to learn what happens when he fails us."
"Perhaps," Kurogiri calmly reasoned, his dispassionate voice cutting smoothly through Tomura's raging thoughts, "that course of action would be premature. Eliminating our only link to information within U.A. could harm future operations. This is merely a setback."
Tomura's fists clenched tight enough to creak, his knuckles bone-white under the strain. "A setback?" he snarled incredulously, voice cracking as he forced out the words. "This was supposed to be a message! A bloodbath! And now look at it—we're standing here like fools in an empty playground."
The silence hung thickly between them. Kurogiri allowed the pause, knowing Shigaraki needed a moment to vent his anger before logic could take root.
Finally, Tomura took a shuddering breath, grudgingly regaining some semblance of composure. He straightened slightly, eyes narrowing in bitter calculation. "Fine. We won't kill the spy yet. But I want answers. And consequences."
"Understood," Kurogiri responded placidly, his demeanor unchanged. "I will ensure we receive a thorough explanation."
Another hesitant voice piped up from the restless group behind them. "So… uh, boss? Are we leaving, then? Or—"
Shigaraki whipped around again, an aura of pure malevolence rolling off him like a tangible force. "Would you like to ask anymore stupid questions? You do remember what I did to your friend, yes?"
The reminder caused many of the villains to sweat, gulp, and even backpedal as fear rose within them.
Seeing as they got the message. Shigaraki turned away from them again, voice dropping to a low whisper only Kurogiri could hear. "We'll regroup. And when we do, they'll pay tenfold for this humiliation."
"Of course," Kurogiri agreed smoothly, placating the young leader's wounded pride. "The advantage remains ours. Patience will serve us well."
Tomura glared hatefully at the pristine and empty USJ one final time, his nails leaving crescent-shaped marks in his reddened skin. With a disgusted snarl, he finally gave a curt nod.
"Get us out of here, Kurogiri."
"Understood," the misty figure intoned.
Kurogiri's swirling darkness expanded rapidly, engulfing them in an eerie shroud of shadow. The gathered villains hurriedly stepped forward, eager to leave the bizarre emptiness behind. Within seconds, the USJ stood vacant once again, leaving behind nothing but silence and a lingering air of frustration, anger, and thwarted plans.
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Naruto stood calmly at Ground Gamma, an expansive training field cluttered with urban-styled buildings and terrain designed specifically to mimic real-world hero engagements. The afternoon sun bore down gently on the open area, reflecting softly off metal barriers and concrete walls as Class 1-A assembled alongside their Class 1-B counterparts for the first time.
Mirko stood confidently at the front beside Vlad King, whose stern expression revealed no sign of leniency.
His towering form contrasted starkly with Mirko's smaller yet powerfully built figure, her arms crossed firmly as her eyes surveyed both classes critically. She wasted no time, stepping forward decisively to address the gathered students, her voice booming clear across the training ground.
"Listen up, everyone!" Mirko called, silencing any lingering murmurs instantly. "Due to today's... unexpected interruption, we're adapting quickly. Since the USJ is off-limits, you'll undergo joint combat training right here."
Vlad King stepped forward next, his deep, commanding voice resonating clearly. "Today's exercise will emphasize adaptability and teamwork. Each of you will form squads of four, composed equally of two students from Class 1-A and two from Class 1-B. You'll engage in direct combat against another squad, with the objective of capturing and imprisoning your opponents."
He pointed toward two clearly marked structures in the distance—identical metal buildings that were far apart in distance, but clearly marked and designed to serve as secure holding areas. "Each squad has an assigned prison. To achieve victory, your team must capture every opposing squad member and lock them within your designated prison. Remember, your prison is specific to your squad; you can't simply imprison them in your opponent's facility."
Mirko's fierce gaze swept across the students. "In short, win by overwhelming teamwork, or lose by being careless. No room for mistakes out there."
Excited chatter rippled through both classes, though curiosity and anticipation remained dominant as everyone processed the unusual format.
Naruto listened passively, arms crossed comfortably, his bright blue eyes quietly taking in the assembled students of Class 1-B. They stood noticeably separate from Class 1-A, each sizing up their counterparts with equal curiosity and uncertainty.
A sudden voice pierced through the murmurs, brash and dripping arrogance.
"Excuse me, but isn't this arrangement unnecessarily restrictive?" Neito Monoma, infamous within Class 1-B for his outspoken and somewhat abrasive nature, stepped forward confidently, one eyebrow raised in exaggerated skepticism. "Wouldn't it make more sense for squads to be exclusively from each class—Class A versus Class B—so we can decisively prove which class is superior?"
Immediately, irritated grumbles rose from Class 1-A, particularly from students like Bakugo and Kaminari, while some members of Class B sighed or chuckled knowingly at Monoma's typically provocative demeanor.
"Here we go again," Tetsutetsu muttered wearily, earning an agreeing nod from Itsuka Kendo, who simply shook her head, mildly exasperated yet resigned to Monoma's persistent bravado.
Mirko's eyes narrowed dangerously, irritation evident as she shot Vlad King an expectant glance. With a weary sigh, Vlad raised one hand authoritatively, instantly quieting the growing tension among students.
"Enough," Vlad commanded firmly, turning his stern gaze directly toward Monoma, whose smirk faltered slightly under the intensity. "Monoma raises a valid question, though perhaps not the way I'd prefer it be phrased."
Monoma simply huffed lightly, folding his arms indignantly.
Vlad King continued, voice steady and professional. "This isn't a class competition, though make no mistake, in the future we will have class competition. But for today…"
His eyes narrowed as he looked over at each student with a deep probing gaze. "It's a joint exercise meant to simulate realistic scenarios. Heroes rarely get the luxury of choosing teammates in the field. You'll often find yourself alongside heroes whose abilities and fighting styles you're unfamiliar with. Despite these challenges, you must effectively coordinate and adapt quickly to neutralize threats or rescue civilians. Today's exercise mirrors those precise conditions."
Mirko stepped forward again, reinforcing Vlad's point with unmistakable clarity. "Exactly. Adaptability is crucial. Villains won't conveniently match your expectations, and neither will your allies. You need to figure it out fast or face defeat."
Normally, Mirko preferred facing whatever villain on her own.
But even she had to begrudgingly admit that there were times that one needed to coordinate and work with others.
She had done so in the past.
And she recognized the efficiency of such a approach when one had competent heroes as allies.
Mirko just didn't like doing it in general since she viewed most of the heroes around her as anything but competent, though there were quite a few exceptions of course.
Grudging acceptance rippled through both classes, the logic undeniable even to the skeptical Monoma, who grudgingly fell silent, sulking slightly.
Vlad King nodded in approval, then proceeded with further instructions. "Due to class size differences—Class 1-B having 40 students and Class 1-A having 38—one squad will contain six members instead of the standard four, comprising four students from Class 1-A and two from Class 1-B."
He cleared his throat, unrolling a sheet of paper. "I will now announce your squads. Once named, assemble immediately in your designated area."
Naruto's focus drifted partially as Vlad began reading off squad assignments, his attention subtly scanning Class 1-B, observing each student discreetly yet intently. Many displayed various levels of excitement, nervousness, or anticipation, each absorbing Vlad's announcements carefully.
He barely registered the first five squads, until Vlad called distinctly:
"Squad 6: Naruto Uzumaki, Fumikage Tokoyami, Itsuka Kendo, Yui Kodai."
Naruto's attention snapped fully back, his eyes shifting toward the two Class 1-B girls stepping forward. He followed Tokoyami as they moved toward their designated area, Mirko directing them sharply with a gesture.
The ex-shinobi subtly observed his new teammates closely, first studying Yui Kodai. Her dark, straight hair framed her face in a sleek bob that ended neatly around her chin. Her expression was neutral—almost blank—large, almond-shaped eyes quietly surveying him in turn, betraying nothing.
She had delicate, finely sculpted features, her lips thin yet pleasant. Her figure, though somewhat petite, was softly appealing, subtly defined beneath her standard training uniform, hinting at a quiet, understated strength and elegance.
Then his gaze shifted to Itsuka Kendo. Her vibrant orange hair cascaded in a flowing ponytail, framing a confident, warmly attractive face. Her blue eyes sparkled intelligently, filled with subtle curiosity and good-natured warmth.
Unlike Yui, Itsuka was clearly more athletically built, her curvy, strong body immediately hinting at an underlying physical prowess honed by consistent training. Her well-toned figure was confidently displayed by the fit of her hero uniform, emphasizing her strong thighs, toned arms, and firm yet appealing curves.
Noticing his gaze, Itsuka smiled lightly, friendly warmth evident as she greeted Naruto and Tokoyami with a casual wave. Naruto responded in kind, offering a relaxed, sincere smile back, while Tokoyami inclined his head respectfully, murmuring softly in his characteristically solemn voice, "Greetings."
Yui continued staring at Naruto and Tokoyami quietly, her blank expression unchanged, though after a prolonged moment she lifted a small, delicate hand, waving slightly before returning to silent observation.
Naruto suppressed mild amusement, appreciating the clear differences in personalities between the two girls. Itsuka clearly comfortable and sociable, Yui reserved yet quietly observant. It promised an interesting dynamic within their newly formed squad.
Around them, Vlad continued calling out squad assignments until finally, all students had gathered accordingly.
The ex-shinobi noticed that squad nine indeed had six members instead of four—Bakugo, Todoroki, Aoyama, and Jiro from Class 1-A alongside Nirengeki Shoda and Neito Monoma from Class 1-B.
Naruto barely suppressed a laugh, feeling a hint of sympathetic pity for the female member of squad nine, though it was drowned by amusement at Jiro's plight, considering she was around so many strong personality including Bakugo's own explosive one.
Talk about shitty luck.
It went without saying, but he was glad that he was in this squad and not squad nine.
Vlad King and Mirko exchanged quick, authoritative nods before Mirko clapped sharply once, immediately reclaiming everyone's full attention.
"Remember," Mirko called sternly, eyes fierce with intensity, "use this as a chance to learn and adapt. Mistakes here cost nothing but pride—out there in the real world, they cost lives."
Vlad added calmly, "Take a moment to introduce yourselves briefly within your squads. Then you'll receive further instructions."
A few seconds later, and pretty much every member of each group began introducing themselves one after another.
Squad six was no exception as Itsuka quickly broke the silence, smiling confidently. "Nice meeting you two officially. I'm Itsuka Kendo. I look forward to working together with you"
"Likewise," Tokoyami replied solemnly, his voice soft yet resonant with a measured gravity. "I am Fumikage Tokoyami."
Naruto smiled faintly, adding warmly, "Naruto Uzumaki. Pleasure meeting you both."
Yui merely nodded silently again, though she spoke quietly yet clearly after a pause, voice neutral yet oddly calming. "Yui Kodai."
Fifteen minutes had passed quickly after that as students from Class 1-A and Class 1-B got better acquainted with one another. Eventually, Vlad King and Mirko stepped forward once more, efficiently recapturing everyone's attention.
Mirko clapped sharply, silencing lingering chatter immediately. "Alright, listen up! We've finalized your match-ups. Squad One will be facing Squad Four, Squad Two will take on Squad Five, Squad Three against Squad Seven, and Squad Six—you'll be going up against Squad Eight."
Vlad King continued smoothly, his voice calm and authoritative. "As for Squad Nine—since you have two additional members, you'll be facing Mirko herself, testing your teamwork against a Pro Hero."
Mirko flashed a feral grin, clearly looking forward to putting her students through their paces. "I hope you kids are ready—I'll be taking this seriously. If you're sloppy, I'll make you regret it."
Most of Squad Nine appeared distinctly uneasy at that prospect—save for Bakugo, whose aggressive smirk made it clear he relished the opportunity to challenge Mirko directly. Monoma, however, looked visibly shaken, having momentarily lost his usual bravado.
Though he regained it just as quick and smirked cockily.
Now Naruto felt even more bad for Jirou, who looked the most nervous out of all of them.
Ouch…
Meanwhile, the first match was swiftly organized. Squads One and Four were quickly ushered toward their respective starting positions, while all remaining students—Naruto's Squad Six included—moved into the designated spectator area.
This viewing area consisted of metal benches beneath large monitors, displaying crystal-clear feeds of the battleground, ensuring all spectators could closely follow the unfolding action. Naruto's squad took their seats, settling comfortably as anticipation and curiosity simmered among the gathered students.
As the first match was about to commence, Naruto relaxed back slightly, glancing curiously at his squadmates from Class 1-B. Itsuka sat to his left, leaning forward intently, blue eyes carefully scanning the screen. Beside her sat Yui, whose expression remained neutral yet undeniably focused, her delicate features almost unreadable. Fumikage perched to Naruto's right, his typically somber aura giving their squad an unusual yet oddly balanced atmosphere.
Itsuka finally broke the silence, her tone friendly yet thoughtful. "So, before our match starts, maybe we should discuss strategy? Do you know anything about the members of Squad Eight?"
Fumikage nodded gravely, his tone characteristically dark yet respectful.
"Indeed. Kirishima's Hardening Quirk makes him an aggressive frontline combatant, resilient against physical attacks. Rikido Sato possesses tremendous strength—his Sugar Rush can quickly turn him into a formidable opponent."
Naruto half paid attention as Itsuka and to a lesser extent, Yui, began explaining the quirks of their two classmates, partially watching the monitor while he was mostly just daydreaming about nothing.
Its not that he was trying to be rude, but the information didn't really help him considering the difference in abilities.
Though he made sure to make the fact that he wasn't fully paying attention very discreet.
And fortunately, the discussion didn't last long as after a minute or two of information sharing, the group's attention soon drifted back toward the large monitor, watching Squad One and Four engage each other strategically.
It wasn't the most exciting match.
At least to the blonde ex-shinobi who grew up in the elemental nation and had seen and been part of many, many battles.
Considering the world he had been apart of, this match right here was pretty much child's play.
Though he still watched for a bit.
The key word being 'bit'.
Slowly, Naruto's attention drifted toward the adjacent spectator area, where Squad Eight sat nearby. The reason being something that he noticed from the corner of his eyes.
He observed Kirishima and Tetsutetsu carefully, noting how they currently seemed to be locked in an intense, silent confrontation, their foreheads pressed firmly together as they glared fiercely at each other.
Naruto stared silently for a brief moment—before abruptly bursting into genuine laughter, unable to contain his amusement.
Itsuka quickly glanced over, her eyebrows rising curiously. "Naruto, what's so funny?"
Naruto continued chuckling lightly, nodding subtly toward Squad Eight. "Take a look."
Itsuka followed his gaze and instantly giggled quietly, eyes sparkling with amusement. Yui, initially reserved, struggled briefly, her blank expression cracking into a gentle smile before she softly giggled as well.
Fumikage observed the spectacle silently, shaking his head slowly, disappointment clear in his voice. "Truly disgraceful. Heroes should embody dignity, yet they indulge in such childish theatrics."
The reason for the emotional amusement, or in Fumikage's case, disgust, became apparent to any observer looking towards the direction of squad nine.
Kirishima and Tetsutetsu—remained oblivious to their audience. They stood, locked forehead-to-forehead, glaring intensely into each other's eyes, utterly absorbed in their heated disagreement.
At first glance, their confrontation appeared oddly intimate—almost as if the two boys were about to kiss passionately and angrily rather than debate strategy. Their similarities only enhanced the comedic effect: nearly identical facial structures, fierce eyes blazing with passion, similarly muscular builds—distinguished solely by their hair color and styles.
Tetsutetsu's silver hair stood wildly spiked, contrasting Kirishima's spiky red mane, yet the overall effect remained strikingly identical. Both were fiercely determined and stubbornly refusing to back down, voices kept deliberately low yet fiercely intense.
"I told you, Kirishima!" Tetsutetsu growled angrily, silver brows furrowed in fierce frustration. "Charging straight at them is our best strategy! No reason to hesitate!"
"That's reckless, Tetsutetsu!" Kirishima fired back, red brows knitted stubbornly. "We need to be smart about this! Squad Six is dangerous, we can't just rush blindly!"
Their voices escalated slightly, foreheads pressing even closer together as tempers flared hotter, completely oblivious to their increasingly entertained audience.
The absurdity of their interaction became impossible to ignore. Mina, watching nearby, finally called out loudly, voice gleefully teasing, "Oh my god, just kiss already!"
Both Kirishima and Tetsutetsu froze instantly, eyes widening comically in sheer horror and embarrassment as they jerked away from each other in simultaneous disgust.
"Gross, no way!" Kirishima shouted, cheeks reddening furiously.
"Like hell I'd ever kiss him!" Tetsutetsu echoed hotly, wiping his forehead as though contaminated.
Around them, laughter erupted spontaneously among the spectators. Mina's teasing laughter was loudest, echoed enthusiastically by Kaminari and Sero, who clutched their sides helplessly, tears of amusement forming.
Others, however, appeared notably scandalized or deeply uncomfortable. Momo blushed vividly, clearly shocked by Mina's boldness, her hand covering her mouth delicately. Iida fumed silently, adjusting his glasses indignantly, visibly appalled by such inappropriate conduct.
Izuku sat mortified, cheeks flaming crimson, stammering quietly in horror, "D-did she really have to s-say that…?"
Ah Mina… such a funny character.
Naruto found her amusing and when she noticed his attention, he sent an approving thumbs up, causing her to beam and send a thumbs up of her own.
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Not everyone was having such a pleasant time.
At the bar that served as their base of operations, Tomura Shigaraki hunched irritably on a stool, elbows braced on the bar counter as he scratched compulsively at his neck.
His cracked, rough skin reddened further beneath his nails, agitation evident with each ragged breath he took. His crimson eyes glowed angrily, glaring aimlessly at the bottles lining the shelf opposite him as though personally offended by their existence.
"What a waste..." Tomura muttered bitterly, voice dripping with barely suppressed rage. "All that planning, all that recruiting... wasted because of a prank caused by Sukuna."
Behind the bar, Kurogiri polished a glass with a composed, elegant calmness, his form swirling subtly like dark mist, a stark contrast to Tomura's raw agitation.
"I understand your frustration, Shigaraki Tomura," Kurogiri responded evenly, his voice smooth and soothing, an anchor in the storm of Tomura's emotions. "However, setbacks like these are inevitable. We must remain patient and—"
"Patient?" Tomura snapped, voice rising sharply as his nails clawed more aggressively against his irritated skin. "We brought in those worthless idiots for nothing. Resources, information, preparation—all down the drain! Useless pawns, useless spies... everything useless!"
Before Kurogiri could respond, the dusty television perched in the corner of the room suddenly crackled to life, emitting a low electronic hum. Static danced across the screen momentarily before a familiar voice—calm, commanding, almost soothing—filled the room.
"Calm yourself, Tomura."
All for One's voice resonated powerfully, silken yet commanding, instantly drawing both Tomura's and Kurogiri's full attention. Tomura visibly stiffened, anger briefly replaced by quiet reverence as his eyes fixed intently on the static-distorted screen.
"Sensei," Tomura muttered quietly, though his agitation remained evident. "Today was a failure."
"Not a failure," All for One corrected gently, his tone reassuring yet cunningly persuasive. "Merely a test of your adaptability. Setbacks happen, Tomura. True strength lies not in avoiding failure, but in rising above it. You must remain focused."
Tomura grimaced, lips twisting bitterly as he clenched his fists atop the bar, knuckles whitening visibly. "How can I remain focused when everything went wrong? They weren't even there!"
All for One's voice grew more encouraging, yet subtly calculating. "Consider today a valuable lesson. You learned something crucial—the spy's information network isn't flawless. Now you know where improvements must be made."
Kurogiri inclined his head respectfully toward the screen, acknowledging his master's insight. "Indeed. This knowledge will prove advantageous in the future."
Tomura released a shaky breath, frustration slowly easing under his mentor's guiding influence. "You're right. Of course, Sensei."
"Good," All for One said approvingly, voice infused with charismatic authority. "Remember, Tomura—your path to victory isn't a straight line. You must endure such trials to forge true power. Do not waver now; trust in yourself, as I trust in you."
Tomura's gaze sharpened again, rekindled determination glinting within his crimson eyes. His scratching eased slightly, replaced by quiet resolve. "Understood, Sensei."
The television faded back to static, leaving the room in quiet contemplation. Tomura straightened slowly, newfound conviction settling over him as he stared ahead, silent yet steeled with renewed purpose.
Kurogiri watched quietly, confident that their master's guidance had rekindled Tomura's unwavering determination.
It always did.
End.
Hope you all liked the chapter.
It was enjoyable to write.
As you can see, we deviated from canon, which if you've kept up with my other stories, you know I do that a lot.
We will have some canon events, don't worry, but there will be a few events that go differently of course.
More Chapters are posted on my patreon Feel free to check it out lads, here's the link
https://www.patreon.com/c/Demon_Knight939
Anyway, I've said enough for now.
Take care lads.
Peace.