Disclaimer:I don't own BnHA or Naruto.
Chapter One: 柔
Yawara (柔, also called pasak or dulodulo in Filipino martial arts) is a Japanese weapon used in various martial arts. The Yawara originated from the use of Kongou, a Buddhist symbolic object, by monks in Feudal Japan. The yawara takes the form of one or two small, thick sticks that protrude about an inch from each side of the hand. They are usually used in pairs to initiate throws, bone breaks, and pressure point strikes. - Wikipedia
The light of the morning sun peeked through the windows of the train wagon, bathing it in warmth. The passengers – tired, sleepy, exhausted, a rare few excited – crowded the place, leaving not a single inch unoccupied. Students were wearing school uniforms, while older passengers mostly opted to stick with a more formal style for work.
The person to his right chattered on, his agitated frame literally bouncing back and forth. They wore the same uniforms, both spotting the same bright blonde hair. The height difference was also almost nonexistent. Their eyes, on the other hand, were nothing alike – the eyes of the boy next to him were blindingly golden, while his were cerulean.
"…It said in the interview that two years ago the practical had students against robots – legit robots – in some type of a maze, where they needed to collect some treasures or somethin'… it was just so awesome, bro! For real, they always have robots in the entrance exams one way or another, that's just so great! But the treasure hunt… a bit too "Indiana Jones"-ey, nah?" The older of the two went on and on…
Oh, and yes. The duo was brothers with a mere difference of a year between them, two teens of fourteen and fifteen, both hyped up due to the upcoming event. With the older being all babbly, the younger one hummed in response, seemingly the more placid of the two. At first glance, he was merely standing there, talking to his brother, but in if one paid closer attention, it was clear how his eyes danced all over the wagon, taking in – reading – every single person inside.
A woman, middle-aged, neat attire, expensive perfume, no ring – tanned mark where it should be –, long fingers – yellow marks between index and middle fingers –, timid nail polish, composed make up – slightly caked concealer covering the dark circles under her eyes –, short hair, stern expression, eyes glued to the phone screen, typing strenuously. Divorced, workaholic, strict, reclusive, active smoker, worn out.
Then there was the trio of students, all chatting vigorously about their quirks and application to Yuuei – more like the entrance exam. Two of them confessed that they bore little chance – weak academic performance alongside with generally weak quirks left them with little to no chance, but "trying's always worth it, ne?"
On the other hand, the third one – teenage girl, pink skin and hair, black sclera and antennas – was definitely the leader of the group, having a much better academic level, plus her quirk…
"Psssst," he called his brother, "see the pink girl?" He gestured with his thumb as discreetly as possible, "she's of real competition. Apparently, her quirk allows her to create acid from her skin. The other two next to her are taking the exam as well, but she seems more competent in addition to them having weaker quirks."
His brother was… flat out staring at the girl. Biting his tongue order to stop the rising hand halfway to his forehead, he "accidently" stepped onto his brother's foot. Hard.
"Ouch!" That's what his idiotic sibling gets for sabotaging his reconnaissance hobby, that baka!
Sighing, he smirks at the squirming idiot that managed to attract the attention of half of the wagon. No matter how silly, no matter how much older, he'll always love and cherish his older brother. He'll always protect him, no matter what.
-AlWayS pRotEct, hOKaGe'S dUTy-
He felt his arm be grabbed as he shook his head of the dizzy thoughts, only to be pushed out side the wagon by the grinning blond.
"Common, Minato, all the best seats are gonna be taken if we don't hurry!"
The academic portion of the exam was easy enough for Minato to finish the whole thing in less than fifteen minutes. As he exited the classroom (leaving a rather bewildered examiner behind), he stayed outside, waiting for his brother to finish. Shortly after him, Ingenium's brother (the boy was almost a carbon copy of the pro hero) exited, followed by a violent-looking ash blond and a timid freckled boy.
It took Denki two fucking hours (if it was not for Minato's heavenly patience…).
He felt his eyes roll as they entered the enormous auditorium. Denki was rather silent, having most of his energy drained after the written exam. They took seats closer to podium, waiting for everyone left to enter. It didn't take long, and by then the proctor of the practical part – pro hero Present Mic – went into the explanation of this year's exam.
Seems like this year luck was on Denki's side, with its goal being to basically incapacitate robots. Many students were sweating by now, obviously anxious about the upcoming exam, while others were eager to start. The more arrogant ones were even grinning (or, in his brother's case, luckier ones).
Himself, Minato was formulating a plan. It was not the best conditions for him, but he was anticipating robots, so it was nothing to be startled by. All he needed to do was damage the controller, cut the power, render useless their movement ability or destroy the whole robot. For the first two he'd need to take down at least one of each kind and find them (going by a rough estimate, he'd aim for the head and middle). He'd have to take into consideration the time limit and manage to set traps as he took down robots.
Good thing he was quick.
"PLUS ULTRA! BREAK A LEG, EVERYBODY!" With the booming exclamation of Present Mic's, numbers started appearing on the desks just as to both sides of the podium, numbers lit up above the gates, ranging from one to eight. Taking a look at his number – four – and Denki's – seven –, Minato picked up his bag and, looking his sibling straight into the eyes, he proclaimed, "We'll see each other on the winning side." With that he stood up and prepared to leave as a body hit his.
"Thank you, brother," came the muffled voice, "luck to you too." The last thing he saw was Denki flashing him a grin before his own lips twitched.
Luck, huh?
-gOod luCK, hUh? -
The crowd left little to no place to move. Among the whole competition, the only one he recognized was the arrogant ash blond guy, who was snarling at anyone that'd come too close – or just close.
Out of the bunch, there were many that'd seemed competent enough to prove themselves as great learners, but, by the looks of it, people were here for fame and glory. The stance, the manner of speech, the arrogant, if nervous, expressions – they'd come into heroics without grasping the meaning of the profession in general.
Minato couldn't say he felt disgusted with them, no, but people didn't become pros without growth. Many – take Endeavor – didn't even trouble themselves with fans and good attitude, but others just wanted treasures that came with the profession.
It did rub him wrong, though.
"Whatcha waitin' for? There is no count down in real battle!" The command broke him out of his stupor and with that, the game was on.
His hand went for the knife holster and, with a precise movement, he sent a single throwing knife up. It sliced the air and, as it reached ten meters, the sealing pattern on its handle glowed and he teleported to its side right before thrusting it again. This time, though, he changed the trajectory, going for straight alongside the road with a thirty-degree angle upwards to keep himself out of harm's way and have a broader vision spectrum.
The first robot he encountered was one that offered two points. It was about to attack a girl, who froze in her tracks. In a split of a second, Minato sent another knife aiming at the robot's head, while he sent two more knives – one at said girl, another a hundred feet away from the robot.
The first knife barely reached the robot before Minato flickered to the girl's side and, grabbing her by the hand, teleported both of them to the third knife before leaving the girl and teleporting to the robot.
He grabbed the knife as its blade just started piercing the cheap steel – no wonder, the school wouldn't be allowed to spend tons of money on an exam – and slashed, pushing it deep into the robot's eye and out through the side.
The light in the second eye flickered out soon enough.
It all happened in a matter of seconds.
"BLEGH!"
Oh… that's the girl he saved, puking her guts out after being teleported. Well, even his quirk needs a minus, huh?
"Sorry," he muttered as he swung the knife, disappearing from sight once again. Taking to the sky, he continued chasing robots in conjunction with saving the teens that experienced complications during their battles.
Light flickered out of yet another robot's eyes as it went limp. "Thirty-four," he gasped and tried yet again to ignore the explosions coming from the ash blond that went totally berserkers, cutting throw the robots like no sweat. Jeez, what a monstrous power! If only he'd been quieter…
Nonetheless, Minato pushed forward. He aimed at three other robots – two one-pointers and a three-pointer, positioned close to each other – and sent the knives at them. With that, he took the forth knife out and spun it, leaving it just where he was.
He teleported to the robot to his left and wrapped wire – thank goodness this place imitated a locality, making finding some wire a piece of cake – around its torso before propelling a kunai – smaller than his usual throwing knifes without a seal on its handle – with the wire attached to it to the furthest robot, grabbing the knife that pierced the robot and teleporting to the fourth blade. He watched the first robot's limb pass where his head was moments ago as the second robot maneuvered out of the knife's and kunai's ways, both limbs lifting. That's when Minato flickered to its side and wrapped the wire around it and grabbed the knife out of the thin air, teleporting to his initial point yet again. The third robot, being dangerously close to the wire, got the blade stabbed into his eye and a flash flickered out of rip, catching onto the wire. Needless to say, the robots got fried right up.
"Thirty-ni-" he didn't get to finish the sentence as an enormous something – the zero-pointer? – came into view, destroying the structures in its way.
Well, if that isn't his cue to flee!
Faster than he imagined was possible, Minato was sending a knife slashing through the skies, teleporting the hell out of there.
His eyes were fixated forward when a cry came, "Help! Somebody! I'm stuck!" His head spun faster than lightening, gaze fixating on a short boy with – are those rubber balls in his hair?
"Tch," came out of his mouth as he sent a knife spinning where he was moments ago and another towards the boy, whose eyes widened at the metal projectile. It was a bare two feet in front of the boy when Minato teleported to its side, simultaneously snatching it out of thin air and grabbing the boy's forearm, flickering both of them back.
The place where the boy was moments ago was swallowed by avalanche of thick rocks and glass.
To think this little guy was there just now!
Speaking of the little guy… He vomited just as soon as they were out of harm's way. Not that it's any of Minato's business anymore.
Just as he was preparing to move again, a grand explosion erupted, sending rubble into their faces. As the smoke cleared, the arrogant-looking ash blond stood there, a wild smirk on his face as the enormous robot stumbled backwards, falling with a great smash. Yay, more rubble.
"THE EXAM IS OVER!" With that, Minato finally allowed himself to slump a bit, letting out a sign of relief.
It was one hell of an exam, that's for sure.
At least he managed to earn points – hopefully enough to pass – and help others out.
- aGAiN -
A couple weeks passed before the results came to their house. The parents were out, both brothers resting on the couch, playing Tekken. The doorbell rang just once before both of them stormed off (none using theirs quirks due to legal reasons) to the door, swinging it open.
"Hi!" The courier squeaked at their agitated expressions before collecting himself (or trying to) and reading, "for Kaminari Denki and Kaminari Minato!"
They slammed the door into the courier's face right after they signed up and snatched the envelopes. It was from Yuuei!
Ripping it open, they took out the two projectiles. The one from Denki's envelope started playing first, with the ALL MIGHT standing there… for two minutes, just smiling.
"Are we on?" At last, he talked! A muffled "yes" came from behind the camera. "Greetings, young Kaminari Denki! Even though you barely managed to pass the academical part of the examination, you've shown an outstanding performance in the practical exam, managing to score thirty-four points! This puts you… at the forty-seventh place, meaning you failed the exam!" That causes Denki's smile to slip, a frown taking its place. Minato's heart swelled as he glanced at his brother, so hurt and broken…
"…BUT that wasn't all! These were only the combat-based points! There was a second, hidden scale to judge you! After all, it's the desire, the resolve to do the right thing that matters the most!
"Young Kaminari Denki, during the exam you not only managed to obtain thirty-four points on your own, but you also expressed you will to save others. What I'm talking about is… the rescue-based factor! You managed to obtain twenty-one rescue points, putting you into the fourteenth place!
"Young Kaminari Denki, welcome to U.A. High School!"
Both of the siblings' eyes were wide in astonishment and relief, the older having slight moisture built in his.
"Minato, I did it. I did it! I did it, bro! Hell yeah!" It didn't take all that long for shock to sink in and turn into joy.
That was, apparently, the second projectile's cue, as All Might's voice boomed again.
"Greetings, young Kaminari Minato! You've displayed exceptional performance in both the written and the practical parts, obtaining the first place in the written portion of the exam and thirty-nine points in the practical part. Considering this, you have passed based on academics solely – the top three in the academical part don't need to have a passing grade in the practical part. But, as it was this year, all three of you managed to receive the highest marks in the practical exam as well.
"While your thirty-nine points puts you in thirty-seventh place, the exam existed of yet another grading scale, one that you participants weren't informed of. This scale measured your decisions, your conviction to the hero profession – the rescue-based scale! You've managed to salvage many other participants, even though most of them got sick due to your quirk, and for that you get extra thirty-one points, putting you into the fourth place!
"Young Kaminari Minato, welcome to U.A. High School!"
- WelCOmE tO koNoHAgAkuRE no sATo-