Here we are with chapter 2. Training is going well, and people who deserve a beating will get it. Keep in mind these first chapters are just laying the ground work for the kind of hero Izuku will be later in the story. Also I have decided that the ship will be Izumomo, I know it makes no sense in canon but this isn't canon is it? plus as far as fanfics are concerned it's my favorite ship and I plan on having a lot of fun with it. For those worried about power scaling trust me it's one of my pet peeves to when it's not right. that shouldn't be an issue here. My Izuku will not just have the power but also the control and technique of various martial arts to go with his strength, stay tuned to find out. And BEGIN!
Chapter 2: Conviction
It's been a full year since Izuku's new training with the masters on top of his morning routine and in the beginning it was complete agony! He had his usual training in his disciplines twice a week, spent over an hour practicing and refining what he learned after each lesson and then he had training with the masters. He had grasped the basics of Michiko's super speed technique pretty quickly, now it was just about making his legs strong enough, which was easier said than done. She hit him with various leg strengthening exercises as well as exercises to increase his perception because according to her "what's the point of being fast if you can't see where or how fast you're going? With all the speed in the world you're still a slowpoke if your brain can't keep up." It was brutal work but the results of his effort were taking shape.
His training with Keizo was also coming along well, at the start after training with Michiko the last thing he wanted to do was a bunch of jumping and acrobatics but he had to admit it was pretty fun. Something else he also enjoyed was the dummy mob, it was a dozen or so spinning Wing Chun practice dummies lined up beside and behind each other with a space between each two just wide enough for a person to get through. The key is to hit, block and counter the dummies to make it through the other side without getting pummeled, hit in the nuts or losing a tooth, the latter almost happening on more than one occasion and he's taken his fair share of nut shots because a countering kick was too slow.
Regardless of the pain after each and every day, Izuku embraces every second of it, never once complaining and looking forward to the next day with a smile.
Izuku Midoriya, now 11 years old, had come a very long way in the 4 years he'd been training at Rising Sky, while not a black belt in any of his disciplines he was more than able to hold his own against students who were and even beat them. He's been on quite the roll as of late as he hasn't lost a spar in over a year, and it's even more impressive considering he only fight's those 2-3 years older than him. In every discipline he studied by now he was the most skilled person in each class and everyone knew it. The quirkless boy has defeated so many of his senpai that many of them grew a new respect for him, some of them admittedly laughed when he told them we wanted to be a hero. But after facing him many of them realized he just may be able to do it. This was the general thought of most of those who knew of his condition, but there was one who definitely didn't share that sentiment.
It's Wednesday in Michiko Tabihara's karate class.
Izuku and another boy, Akaza Soyama age 14 take stances. Akaza is a muscular boy with short pink hair that's fluffed out with yellow eyes.
The two eye the other for a good five seconds before slowly itching towards each other. Akaza made the first move throwing a series of punches which Izuku skillfully dodge before retaliating with some of his own. One of his punches connects with the older boy's lower chin, Akaza throws a right punch in retaliation, Izuku dodges grabbing his wrist pulling himself to his side then landing three hard blows to his side before getting behind him finishing it with a kick to his lower back sending him to the ground.
Akaza get's back up, frustration clearly on his face.
They start up again. Akaza charges at Izuku throwing more punches, Izuku blocks and counters most of them but several connect with his face and shoulder, he jumps back in time to avoid a kick. Akaza's punches are strong but he shakes it off. Izuku strikes back as his opponent comes with more punches which he skillfully blocks, using this to create an opening Izuku gets close enough to land seven fast, heavy punches to Akaza's lower body blocking his right counter with his left hand, Izuku gives one final chop to his right side then jumps back to avoid the left fist coming at him.
Akaza, clearly in a lot of pain after that one refused to back down, and the murderous look he shot Izuku didn't go unnoticed by their master.
They ready themselves again, this time Izuku made the first move he opened up with several punches and chops that Akaza dodges or blocks, Izuku speeds up his attacks and several find their mark from his opponents face, to his chest, to his ribs. Akaza tries to counter with a left punch but Izuku swats his hand down with his right and with that same hand strikes his chin with his wrist, with him stunned Izuku hits him with a back kick to the gut sending him to the ground.
Akaza starts coughing on the ground while Izuku remained in his stance prepared for him to get back up but he didnt and Tabihara sensei called the match.
"All right everyone just as always keep in mind that your effort is your own, what you put in is what you get back. Like all activities you need a level of natural ability but..." She pauses looking right at Akaza," that's not all that matters. Continue to train and work hard and don't be afraid to help each other.
OSS! Was the collective of the entire class
Upon the dismissal of the class Tabihara sensei needed to have a good chat with one of her more hot headed students. It wasn't the first time she had seen that look on his face when it looked like he was going to lose a fight. There are certain standards here at Rising Sky, there is a certain character that the martial artist's the dojo produced had to have. There are essentially 2 types of martial artist's in this world, the type that stays calm in a fight who rely on talent and training, and those who lose control and forget all their training in their rage. These types are called Asura, they pursue strength merely to be strong and to destroy their enemies by any means. Though she's always known that Akuza was a hot head, he's always been one of her top karate students for years, honestly he was her best until Izuku's progress over the past year.
Catching up to the pinkette.
"Yo Akaza let's have a little chat.
"About what?" The boy asked, annoyed.
"Oh I'm pretty sure you know exactly what this is about." she responded not caring for his attitude.
They go to the office in the back and close the door. The master sits behind a computer while the kid sits in a chair. "So you wanna tell me what that look from earlier was about? You know, the one you gave Izuku like you wanted to tear his head off? She said with false sarcasm.
"It's nothing I was just mad."
"Really, was it just about losing a fight?" She asked, curious about his answer.
The boy took a second to ponder his words, after a moment he continued. "I just don't get why we are not allowed to use our quirks when we fight. I mean we're training to defend ourselves in real life situations, we would almost certainly use our quirks. Especially for those of us with physical, flashy quirks?"
"So basically what you're saying is you wouldn't have lost to Izuku if you were allowed to use your quirk.
His eyes visibly darkened at the mention of the quirkless prodigy.
"It has nothing to do with him. I just feel I can't fight to the best of my ability without my quirk.
"Well there's nothing wrong with wanting to incorporate your quirk with your fighting style, but do that on your own time. Martial arts and quirks are both tools, and a tool can be strong or weak depending on the user. You can't say I'm not strong enough because I can't use my quirk if you're also going to neglect training.
"You just don't get it." He said, frustration in his voice
"What do you want? Just what exactly do you want to do with the strength you've gained? She asked, her purple eyes piercing into his soul.
"I want to be strong, the strongest in Japan. I want to be able to live how I want and do what I want. That's how the world works." He said, his gaze never breaking her's.
"Are we done? I do have other things to do today." He said, clearly annoyed. "Yeah, we're done, you can go. She said almost sad.
After Akaza left Michiko could only look back on the past five years he's been her student, he was a rough kid who came in everyday as if he had something to prove. He loved to train but he loved sparring matches even more especially when a win was earned and he utterly despised losing, still does. He was always rough around the edges but she didn't really notice his change until a year ago, thinking back on it there was a shift in him the first time he lost to Izuku.
Izuku was doing some light training hitting a wooden post keeping his body warm for his Taekwondo class in a half hour. He felt a presence on him. Upon turning to his right he saw Akaza Soyama walking towards him.
"Hey Midoriya, getting in some extra work?
"No, I'm just keeping my body warm until it's time for my next class. Izuku said, honestly shocked he'd come talk to him.
"You study more than one discipline?" he asked curiously
"Yes, several. I joined the dojo in order to get the strength, skills and training to be a hero.
Akaza only smiled, "Yeah I heard you wanna be a hero but come on!" he said in a smug patronizing tone. You're quirkless, you don't seriously think you can be a hero just because you're good at martial arts? Fighting against someone hand to hand vs fighting a quirk is a different ball game don't you think."
Izuku took in the older kid's words before responding to the words he's heard so many times. "I firmly believe I can be a good hero. I can help and save people with a smile just like All Might, I'm fully aware there are powerful villains in this world but that's why I train so hard, to be what I wanted Tabihara sensei made it clear from day one I'd have to work harder than anyone else."
"So let's have a quick spare? You've got time right?" He said in a goating and patronizing way.
"Yeah, let's have a quick spare. I've got half an hour before my next class." Izuku said fire in his eyes.
The two boys walked to a forested area behind the compound. They found a wide open clearing surrounded by trees. The ground was flat and it wouldn't be a problem staying grounded. They step in walking about ten feet away from each other and since Izuku was already warm he gave Akaza a few minutes to warm up.
Soyama, Izuku thought, "He's been my senpai since I joined the dojo, we haven't really talked or had any real interactions outside of sparring and talking about fighting. He was also one of those who usually lived at the dojo during summer break and he always trained hard. He has a really strong quirk that'll hit me hard if I'm too careless so I better keep on my toes."
"You know the only reason you've ever beaten me is because I'm not allowed to use my full strength. You, walking around feeling so satisfied with yourself after a win thinking that you're strong when the environment makes it look that way. When in actuality you're just a quirkless weakling. Weakness completely disgusts me, the weak have no rights! All they can do is be hopelessly crushed by the strong! So when I see a quirkless weakling like you feeling himself because of how strong he only thinks he is, it really pisses me off." He said, those last words laced with venom.
"Soyama." Izuku begane, I'm still not entirely sure what I've done to make you so angry at me. All I've done is train hard everyday in order to be what I want to be. I've gained a lot of strength over the four years I've been training at the dojo and I'm not as strong as I want to be... But I'm getting stronger all the time! You said the weak have no rights, that they can only be crushed by the strong. Well…" He looks at his open palm and makes a fist, "From day one the strength I gained here was meant to protect the weak from the strong that want to hurt them! I'm sorry if that upsets you but I will never apologize for that.
Akaza only chuckled at his response "A weakling's delusional nonsense, it really isn't funny anymore. You can't help or save anyone when you're weak! " He said taking a karate stance as the greenette did the same.
The two boys stare each other down, the tension in the air was almost palpable as two waging ideals were about to clash. Inching closer to each they lunged at the same time with Izuku scoring the first strike, he landed several hard hits to Akaza's face, the older boy tried to counter but his punches were deflected creating an opening for Izuku to hit him with a high kick that sent him ten ft in the air.
"His punches are brutal and his leg power is insane! Was the older boy's only thought.
Spinning to correct himself in the air he cocks his fist back and throws a punch in the direction of Izuku, a ball of air comes flying at the younger boy's head at high speeds, he shifts his body to the right just able to dodge. His blast left a noticeable imprint on the ground where it landed.
Akaza lands, "Since your such a nerd for quirks I'm sure you know about my quirk Air blast, I'm able to gather the air around me and fire it as a ball of compressed air." he ended this explanation by sending a barrage of air punches at Izuku. The green boy dodges as he does; he also hears the sound of the missed shots slamming into and splintering the trees behind him, letting him know it would be a bad idea to get hit by one of these. Ten seconds of rapid fire he finally gets a break and takes this moment to blitz his opponent, he was on him faster than Akuza expected the two exchange a flurry of punches, both punching, blocking, dodging, countering. Izuku blocks a right punch with his left, using the same move from earlier as Akaza tries to hit him with a left he swats his hand down with his right then strikes his chin. Izuku chops a pressure point in his right shoulder with his left hand. Centering himself putting all his momentum into one punch he slams his right fist into his senpai's gut, still standing but holding his stomach and arching his back in pain Izuku delivers a flying kick to his chin, taking him a couple feet off the ground and landing hard on his back.
"Ok, you're not as weak as I originally thought but no way am I weaker than a quirkless reject like you!" Izuku stayed silent remaining in his stance, after finally managing to stand properly the look on his face was only one he'd ever seen a Kacchan, and it was pure rage.
Facing off once again, Akaza went for a side kick that Izuku blocked but his technique had become sloppy from his anger, this allowed Izuku to land three punches to the face followed by a roundhouse to his left side. It hit him hard, spinning from the impact he pulls his fist back and fires a air punch hitting Izuku's chest at close range.
"Ow! That feels like a bomb exploding off my chest!" he thought, tanking the hit, sliding back and trying to recover. But before he could Akaza was on him again going for a yamazuki, both fist sending air punches connected with his face and stomach. The point blank blast's were intense, sending Izuku flying, he flipped and rolled before stopping a good distance away from his opponent.
Izuku just laid there on the ground, his body aching from the sting of just three hits. "Man, this quirk hits hard!" He thought, he could feel the warm wetness of blood sliding down his forehead and it stung like crazy just to try to move any part of his face let alone talk. "This hurts worse than any of Kacchan's explosions," he said in his head trying to get up but the pain in his abdomen made that very difficult. His stomach was on fire, not just the stinging of his flesh but each breath he took brought a wave of pain with it.
"Been practicing that move for years, wasn't expecting to have to use it on a weakling like you though, you should feel honored." He said as smugly as he could. "What are we done already, I let you get a couple of free shots and you go down with just three blows? What a shame." he said, trying to belittle the younger boy as much as possible when in actuality he hoped he would stay down. His quirk while strong has its limits, his hands go numb the more he uses it or the stronger the blast, and he just hit Izuku with his strongest one so he can barely make a fist at the moment.
Memories of the past four years of training run through the green boys mind. He remember's all the effort, all the training, all the talks he's had with his master's, every good and bad moment until one specific memory popped in, Tabihara sensei telling him he could be a quirkless hero if he trained at the dojo, her smiling face showing absolute faith.
Snapping back to reality Izuku will's himself to stand much to the shock and anger of Akuza."So I was still too gentle with you, a weakling's exercise in futility."
Even with every inch of his face hurting he wills himself to speak, "A hero never gives up, no matter what. This is over." Izuku say's with a fire in his eye.
Yeah, for you." Akaza says with murderous intent as he stretches his left palm out while cocking back his right, wind gathering around it.
Gathering himself, he spent a year on this training, and it was time to put it into practice in an actual fight. Locking eyes with each other, neither backing down, time appears to flow in slow motion.
It happens, Akaza throws his punch and a ball of air is launched at blinding speeds, but not too fast for Izuku to see. In that same moment Izuku Kicks off the ground propelling him forward at a speed faster than the ball of air which he easily dodges. Akaza blinked once and Izuku's face was mere inches from his, before he could even register this Izuku focuses channelling all his momentum in a punch that coonnects with the older boy's solar plexus. The pinkette falls hitting the ground completely unconscious.
Looking down at his beaten opponent he gathers his words, "Tabihara sensei is always saying it Soyama, The effort you put in is what you'll get back. You're right about one thing: You can't save or help anyone when you're weak. That's why I am here and that's why I train so hard. I'll never have a cool flashy quirk like your's, but I can be quirkless and still be strong. Being strong doesn't give you the right to beat down on others and I hope one day you realize that.
"Well said Izuku." A new voice chimed in from out of nowhere. Dropping down from a nearby tree came the form of master Keizo.
"Sensei!" a surprised Izuku stated. "How long have you been here?"
From the beginning, I've been watching your entire exchange. I wanted to see how this turned out, also a master has no place interfering in their student's fight."
"It wasn't a fight, it was just a sparring match that got out of hand."
"It's cute that you think that." The master stated before popping Izuku in the chest.
"OOOWWW!"
"Now come on, let's get both of you to the clinic." Keizo stated in a calm yet serious tone leaving no chance for debate.
"Throwing Akaza on his shoulders the trio walks to the medical clinic ran by the masters that was just down the block from the compound. Izuku with the exception of a decent cut on his forehead was relatively ok, the master treated the cut, gave him some pain killers and sent him to Taekwondo training.
After Izuku left Akuza woke up, and upon remembering the past events the only emotion on his face was that of complete anger.
"I lost. How did I lose! He angrily questioned himself through gritted teeth.
"Various ways." Keizo casually stated as he entered the room.
"You've got numerous bruises and contusions, you're lucky you're so tough, that kick could have fractured your chin."
The master's words made the gears in his head turn leading to a realization that made him angrier. "You were watching."
"I was. I also heard everything you said. Do you want to explain yourself?" He said in a serious calm tone.
All I did was speak the truth and try to make that idiot realize how weak he really is."
"And yet who is the one in here covered in injuries after their loss?"
"Whatever, he just got lucky." he said with venom as his eyes still excluded anger.
"Is that so, well your injuries aren't that serious so you're free to go." Akaza get's up to leave the room but as he gets to the door.
"By the way, you're expelled from Rising Sky, never return."Keizo said, his tone still calm yet serious.
Akaza turns around to look at the master with a narrow expression that is neither shocked nor angry. "Any reason why?"
"We don't condone your time here, and the path you're choosing to walk for yourself is one we can neither guide you on or watch over you from." Their eyes make contact one final time before the boy leaves, never to return.
Aldera Elementary
It was the final day of classes before summer break and all the kids were looking forward to moving on to having fun in the sun and as for one final assignment the student's in one particular homeroom had to stand in front of the class and say what they wanted to be when they grew up. While some said doctors, teachers, mangakas, there was an unsurprising number of those who said heroes. While that wasn't too shocking, the declaration of one student left the class in a roar of laughter despite the teacher's protest.
"My name is Izuku Midoriya, And I'm going to be a hero!" He said with a wave of enthusiasm. He kept that even in the face of his classmate's resounding laughter at his goals as he returned to his seat.
"Alright everyone I'll see you all in the new semester, have fun and enjoy your break. Their teacher stated before dismissing the class.
"Can you believe what deku said in class today? That idiot is still going on about being a hero." one of bakugou's lackeys, Hashiga, mentioned as a group of four were walking down the street after leaving school.
"He doesnt have quirk but still say's stupid things like that, actually it's getting kind of sad. Teseki said.
"That Quirkless loser's gonna learn one of these days, the only one who's gonna go to the best hero school around is me! He's got a lot of nerve putting himself on the same level as me. Said a arrogant Katsuki Bakugou.
"I don't know." Tsubasa chimed in. "He might not be so weak after all."
" What the hell are you talking about?" Katsuki demanded to know.
"I mean, I was walking with my parents through the trail in the park a few days ago and I saw him in a clearing off the trail practicing fighting moves. He looked really serious while he was doing it too.
This time it was Hashiga's turn to speak, "Now that you mention it I've seen him down there to, but he wasn't doing fighting moves he was sitting criss cross like an idiot."
"So the useless deku thinks he can fight now. "Bakugou's lips forming a devilish grin. "Let me see for myself, show me where you saw him.
Izuku, while normally would be at the dojo his masters had to take a trip out of town and so all classes were cancelled for today. That was why he was here at his personal training spot, just because he wouldn't learn anything new today wasn't an excuse to not practice at all. So here he was practicing his Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu techniques, he was getting in the zone with his warm up exercises and every jab, knee and elbow strike felt great, they were fast and hard hitting and his kicks were even more so. His mind was calm, the sound of the flowing stream close by and the tranquility it brought continued to make this the perfect training spot, his own little sanctuary until it wasn't.
"Oi deku!" Came a voice that the greenette knew all too well.
Turning around he could see Kacchan, Teseki, Hashiga and Tsubasa coming down the hill towards him. "I was so focused on my training I didn't even hear them coming." Izuku thought, upset with himself.
"Hey everyone, what's up?"
"So, here you come down here to practice fighting moves." Kacchan said mockingly.
"Well it's not just my moves I also like to come down here to meditate, This is a very tranquil spot."
"Why do you practice down here anyway?" Hashiga asked.
" Didn't you just hear me say that it's a tranquil spot."
"He meant why are you training at all you useless nerd? Bakugou said, shooting an angry glare at him."
"Why else would I be training? So I can be strong enough to be a hero. I'm strong now, but I've got a long way to go. The training during summer break is always intense but when I'm done I'll be way stronger than I am now."
"Teh, you, strong, what the hell are you even talking about deku? No way in hell is a quirkless loser like you strong! Let's be honest you've been practicing in secret for who knows how long because you think you'll somehow beat me. Guess what nerd, your quirkless ass will never match up to me!" He smuggly yelled. "But if you think you can come on and try it." his hands now forming tiny explosions.
Izuku could only look at his once childhood friend "How does my training to be stronger have anything to do with you?"
All four boys looked at the greenette in shock, especially the explosive blonde. " The hell you just say to me deku?" "Like I said Kacchan, how does my training to be stronger have anything to do with you?" The greenette repeated his previous words with a calm voice and expression. "I started on this journey to gain the necessary strength and skill to be a hero, everything I've acquired up til now was for that goal. None of it was for the purpose of beating someone else, or showing how great I am.
Bakugou was fuming at that response, "You think you're better than me don't you deku?"
"I didn't say that. You came down here to try to pick a fight because you heard I've been training and you need to satiate your ego but that's not something I have any interest in doing myself.
The blonde had had enough of the deku's mouth, he charged at the boy firing off an explosion with his right hand. It all happened so fast, Izuku side steps with the blast completely missing him and using the momentum of Kaachans attack he grabs his wrist with his right hand, hooks his arm past his elbow with his left, he gives him a little spin before sweeping both his legs and slamming him hard on the ground still holding his right arm.
"Kacchan this is stupid why did you attack me?!"
The pain to his pride and body still reeling he uses another explosion forcing Izuku to let go. "So all you can still do is body throws."
"Far from it! But we don't need to fight Kacchan, it's pointless."
The blonde rushes again letting off a flurry of explosions when he got within range. He was so busy in fact he didn't notice the other boy about to launch himself from a tree on his left side.
When Kacchan was about to fire explosions Izuku had jumped to the side of a tree at his two o'clock, he was so fast that not one of the four other boys present saw it. Kicking off the tree he goes flying at the unsuspecting Kacchan, shifting his body he brings his left knee upward and it connects to the side of the ash blonde head.
Izuku looks down at the unconscious boy and sighs. "He's unconscious. Can you three please take him home? I have more training to do." The other three boys did it without question more out of fear than concern for their friend. After they left Izuku had to sit down for some meditation to get his mind right and it took over forty minutes before he could get back to training.
"First Akaza then Kacchan. What is so bad about me wanting to be strong anyway? Why does everyone expect so little of me just because I don't have a quirk? Why do people have to be so mean about it? What's so bad about not having a quirk anyway? That doesn't mean everything, I can be quirkless and still be strong. No matter what anybody says I will be a great hero like All Might, I just have to never lose heart and keep training. I can do this. I know I can."
And that's chapter 2 I hope you enjoyed! So It doesn't cause any confusion the speed technique Izuku uses here is the same one ninja's use in One Punch Man. Izuku at his current strength despite a year of training can only go 500MPH at the fastest, he's not leaving shockwaves in his wake yet. I know the bakugou fight was short but keep in mind bakugou thinks he's the best ever and hasn't trained nearly as hard as Izuku, the fight could have ended faster but Izuku isn't the type to pick a fight but he will end it, you'll see a lot of that. chapter 3 is when his limiter starts to break. see you next time.