Nezu peered at Izuku, "I've seen an alarming trend with your quirk, which I wish to explain to you now."

Izuku couldn't guess which direction Nezu was going, since One For All was such a mysterious power; He simply nodded for his principal to continue. Nezu presented him with an expensive silver phone. Lit on its screen were photos of the Sports Festival, he began to explain, "These are two occasions your quirk activated itself: First when you were inches from the arenas' boundary and second when you were a moment from confessing One For All's existence. It's too convenient to be random and too specific to be instinctual. One For All potentially has intelligent thought, separate from your own mind."

The young teenager lent back in his seat, clenching his hair. The adults waited while he processed this new concept. Sure, Izuku accepted he didn't know everything about One For All, but this was a level of eerie he wasn't prepared for. Izuku muttered out, "Pardon me for repeating you, Principal, but are you saying One For All is a sentient quirk?"

Thankfully All Might was there to back him up, "It's creepy when we say it aloud, Nezu, but we've known this for a long time. One For All stores the memories of the previous holders. I've seen the seven of them in my visions. Why are we doing this on the same night as the traitor investigation anyway? I think the kid been overwhelmed enough."

Tsukauchi sighed, not wanting to disagree with his friend, "As far fetched as it is, All Might; If this quirk is capable of controlling its user, we may have a new traitor suspect on our hands. We can't afford to dismiss any possibilities. This is All For One we're dealing with."

All Might's sunken eyes widen in horror. Izuku had never seen the expression on his mentor like that before. The retired pro uttered, "My master, Nana Shimura is among the spirits inside One For All. Are you saying she'd help the man who killed her?"

Izuku wanted to vocalize his agreement but kept his mouth shut in case he said something ignorant. He was still a high schooler amongst experienced professionals. Honestly, he was barely keeping up with the conversation. Nezu spoke up since Izuku didn't take the chance, "I'm interested that you phrased it as 'spirit', All Might. How do you know that's correct? Is it the real Nana or something else entirely? Quirks are a primitive science and One For All has broken our every understanding. It's truly alien. We can't say what motivates such an inhuman creature until we study this. That's what I propose."

Tsukauchi then added, "We can't deny this research has been needed for a long time, All Might. Even without the traitor angle, One For All has started injuring and controlling its users - It has to be questioned if One For All is safe for a tenth or eleventh user."

Conflicted, All Might glanced over to Izuku. Even if he was in High School, he wasn't so young where he didn't understand what was happening. He gave him a determined look, signalling he was ready to do what it takes. All Might crossed his arms, saying to Nezu, "Frankly, I don't think we need to bother, but if it's necessary for peace of mind, then fine."

Having All Might settled, Nezu and Tsukauchi could focus their attention back on Izuku. His mind was numb with wariness. Of course, Izuku would cooperate in any way he needed to catch the traitor - But he wholeheartedly wasn't it anymore. In a situation where he had to distrust everyone, his own self-assurance had been his anchor. Now that simple luxury was being pulled into question. The mere thought that another force could've used him to hurt his friends... If it was true, was it his fault? Could he have stopped it if he paid attention?

Tsukauchi spoke up, "Midoryira, I'm sorry we're throwing these wild theories at you. We have to play it safe with the seriousness of the situation. The chances of One For All being the traitor are a hundred to one, but we still need to check. Would you be alright helping Nezu do research on your quirk?"

Izuku had already decided his answer before the detective had to ask, "I'm honestly finding this hard to believe. But if I can do more to protect my friends from a potential traitor, then I'll do it. If it turns out to be true and I allowed myself to be used as a villain's pawn, I'll never forgive myself."

The adults shuddered at the dark words coming from his mouth. All Might placed an urgent hand on Izuku's shoulder, "Slow down, kid. It's innocent until proven guilty. One For All has done so much good for the world, we can't let one rumour stop that unless it becomes undeniable. Hell, even by the worst luck it's true, you're not responsible. Even a pro couldn't have predicted it."

Izuku violently flinched. He thought he'd been numb when in reality he was building emotions below the surface. Finally, his barriers broke. It all came out at once. Struggling to wipe away the heavy tears building up, Izuku choked amongst his sobs, "I guess so. I'm already worried sick and nothing has even been proven."

Seeing the student under such stress, Nezu didn't see any use in continuing. He silently signalled for the meeting to draw to a close. The stools scraped against the wooden flooring, as Tsukauchi lifted the tiny principal to the floor. All Might almost looked defensive of Izuku as he escorted him away from the pair and out of the kitchen. As they left, the detective tipping off his hat apologetically, "It's best you get some time to process all this. We'll find a better time discussing this."

Like the professionals they were, Nezu and Tsukauchi calmly continued to discuss amongst themselves. While he didn't mean to be rude, Izuku accidentally overheard the detective, "My team won't be told the details on One For All unless it's absolutely necessary, but this is a new avenue you've opened up, Nezu. Does anyone else have a sentient quirk we need to consider?"

Not to eavesdrop more, Izuku stepped out into the hall, preparing to unite with his fellow students. Observing the area, it gradually seemed to revert back to their normal lives. The students were uneasily beginning to gossip. The TV had switched on, blaring the sounds of an action movie. If he ignored the few officers shuffling round the entrance, Izuku could almost trick himself into thinking the traitor never happened. In a few minutes, he'd have to return to this normalcy.

What excuse could he make, without making 1-A suspicious the principal had called him? Before that was necessary though, All Might lingered in the kitchen's doorway. Still, within the privacy of the kitchen, he still wanted to talk. Now the chance had presented itself, Izuku released he wanted that too. Despite his vast fanboy knowledge of his idle, Izuku still didn't know a single case, where All Might was betrayed. Was he that lucky or had he hid it from the public?

All Might did his usual self-blame, "I'm sorry I couldn't warn you about their theories, Midoriya. I should've known my old friends better and predict they'd jump ahead."

Izuku didn't give the statement much thought, knowing his mentor too well by now. All Might always blamed himself, even for things outside of his control. Izuku pressed on with his burning question instead, "All Might, I can ask - Has anyone betrayed you in your career?"

All Might gave his usual long-winded answers, "I've been doing this for thirty years and I've seen too many colleagues slip into villainy. But if that experience has told me something, no two betrayals are the same. The actions and intentions are always different. I can't tell you how to feel about any traitor, Midoryia, though if it helps, I'll tell you my experiences. I always look at the bigger picture - Once I get an idea of the real person, I decide whether they're worth cutting out or not."

It took a while for the words to sink into Izuku's mind. He gave a saddened sigh, "It's a nice thought you managed to reconnect with some of your old enemies, but I don't think I'd do the UA Traitor. They set us up to be killed from the start. If I visited them, it would prove they won - They manipulated me into caring for them when they never did for me."

As Izuku and All Might spoke, they hardly noticed Tsukauchi slipping between them, waving at Mr Aizawa to do something. They paused out of curiosity, as they approached Tokoyami on the sofa. It was too far away to make out what they were saying. Though their exchange finished quickly. The bird-headed boy abruptly stood, following behind them. All in the direction of the kitchen. He folded his armies intensely like a self-hug. What business did the adults have with Tokoyami of all students? Yet at the same time, Izuku hadn't expected to be picked out either. All because of his quirk-

A black line was slithering down the side of Tokoyami's back like a snake. Suddenly, it flared up into five talons! Before Mr Aizawa could turn around, Dark Shadow's massive hand grabbed his whole head, slamming it into the floor. There was a sickening loud thud, as his skull bounced like a human body shouldn't. Red splattered the carpet.

Screams erupted, as the safe haven of the UA dorms was marked with blood. Quirks activated. Batons were drawn. Fists raised. Every weapon was directed at Tokoyami. The students froze up. Their friend was an enemy. What were they meant to do?

Momo tried calling out, "How could you do this to Mr Aiawa-"

Rapidly, she was silenced, as Tokoyami's head tilted sharply, almost unnaturally. It seemed like an invisible force was dragging his neck. Tsukauchi firmly warned 1-A, "Allow the professionals to handle this."

Izuku's throat became raw. He took a step forward. Yet, All Might held Izuku back with his skinny arm, his grip having surprising strength. His mentor was right. With Tokoyami standing motionless, perhaps it wasn't too late to peacefully negotiate. Please, let Todoroki's attack be some reckless mistake out of fear...

The few policemen surged forward, lifting up their battens steadily without sign of hesitation. They formed a circle around Tokoyami, staring blankly at his collapsed victim. Tsukauchi shouted out his orders, "Tokoyami, there's no use fighting. You're outnumbered. Step away from your teacher and put your hands up."

The room held its breath, as they waited for what Tokoyami would do next. While they waited, All Might clenched his fists, fighting the verge to enter his muscle form. It was still early days into his retirement, standing aside must have taken all his will power. Nezu's white muzzle poked around the kitchen doorway. He never looked so much like an animal, on all fours and his fur up on end.

As Izuku himself, he couldn't believe this. He wasn't the closest friends with Tokoyami, but always had the highest of respects for him. Despite his dangerous quirk, he kept a humble nobility about him. His exaggerated gothic persona was just part of his unique charm - A harmless phase in High School. Not for one moment, did Izuku consider it to be genuine?

As the quietness continued to hang for unbearably long, somehow Izuku's analytical mind emerged through the hazy panic. Tokoyami's gaze was directed into nothingness. Did he understand what was happening around him? He was hunched over, shivering, his arms afloat near his chest. Before he attacked Mr Aizawa, Tokoyami's arms had been folded; Not the type of posture Izuku expected of someone preparing an attack...

Nezu concluded before Izuku could, "Hold your advance, Detective. Look at Tokoyami's neck - Dark Shadow is choking him."

Finally, Izuku spotted it: Between the border of his black head and pale neck, was a darker patch than his normal feathers. It had an unnatural flicker to it. Before anyone could respond, a menacing, monstrous laugh came from thin air. It caused a dread Izuku had never experienced before. It wasn't the paralyzing terror of All For One's power. It wasn't the intimidation of Stain's devotion. It was a much simpler one: The fear of the unknown. The fear that their enemy wasn't human.

Like a black noose, Dark Shadow uncoiled slightly from its user's neck, giving itself enough space to manifest its face. It floated like a disembodied head. The voice Izuku so rarely heard, was more emotional than he knew possible, laced with bitter sarcasm, "And here I thought you humans didn't care enough to notice me. You should've done it sooner, before I had to make a deal with the devil."

Tsukauchi raised a shaky baton again, "Why is your quirk acting like this? What are you trying to do, Tokoyami?"

The sentient quirk's glowing eyes widened like waves expanding over the sand. It uttered in an eerily low tone, "You still refuse to see me?"

Dark Shadow loosened its grip on its user. Tokoyami stumbled back several paces, inhaling as much air as possible. With his one opportunity, Tokoyami solemnly pleaded, "I don't know why this is happening- I can't calm Dark Shadow down. Forget about me! Make sure the others are safe- "

His words cut off with a gasp, as Dark Shadow wrapped its long body around his throat once more, "Straight from my other half. I'm in charge. And if you think of coming closer, I will kill him."

Izuku couldn't believe what he was witnessing. This wasn't real, was it? Was Tokoyami tricking them, or did Dark Shadow have its own free will? How did this relate to the traitor? We're they both guilty or did Dark Shadow somehow act without its master's awareness?

Tokoyami's quirk continued to drag him like a ragdoll, pressing his back against a glass panel. It had backed itself into a dead end. Thankfully, it was out of striking distance from the collapsed Mr Aizawa. No longer holding a hostage, the police made no attempts to unnecessarily threaten it. Instead, Tsukauchi took a softer approach, since Tokoyami had threatened suicide. The detective muttered, "Tokoyami, think of what you're saying. You don't truly want to get yourself killed. You're sixteen. A whole lifetime is ahead of you. Whatever actions you've done, it doesn't have to be the end."

However, Tokoyami failed to respond. The bird-headed teenager was on the verge of fainting. It was Dark Shadows who were free to move: The purple energy that made up its body, viciously crackling. Without a human face, Izuku struggled to get a read on its mood, only guessing it was suppressed anger. Was Izuku witnessing history and seeing the first quirk to be fully conscious?

Mere minutes ago, Nezu had brought up the possibility that One For All had become corrupted. Now Izuku was seeing that become reality, just with someone else's quirk. Izuku almost wished he could take Tokoyami's place in this living nightmare. The utter despair he must having was unimaginable - He couldn't control his own body and he was being forced to hurt his own friends. Izuku wouldn't wish this fate on his worst enemy. Tokoyami was a kid - Dark Shadow couldn't expect him to realize its hidden emotions when the top experts couldn't.

Dark Shadow let out a piercing cry at Tsukauchi, "I have a name, detective. Use it."

The white body of Nezu had subtly slipped in next to Tsukauchi, skillfully nearing without triggering the hostage-taker. The Principal got permission from the Detective to join the negotiation, "I believe my knowledge will be of service here."

After a nod from the Detective, Nezu surprisingly gave a polite bow to the sentient quirk, "It's astonishing how much you've grown into your own person, Dark Shadow. It's been theorised that a quirk could gain sentience, but Society was ill-prepared if it actually happened. We left you lost in the world and I apologize. You've felt forced to lash out violently. Though since we're aware you're here now, I truly believe we can come to a peaceful reconcile. As a unique being myself, society learnt to accommodate me once they listened. We will listen to you too, if you allow us."

Dark Shadow argued back, "I'm not a naive child. Nobody noticed me for sixteen years. Now that I've forced everyone to notice, you'll either imprison Tokoyami or find a way to kill me. My only option is to fight."

Nezu's question struck deep, "How can you fight, if you'll kill Tokoyami on the first day of your discovery? Surely, you'll die too."

Then, the creature screeched out like an eagle, "You think I don't know that? You corner someone with nothing to lose and see what happens!"

It all happened too fast for anyone to do anything. Dark Shadow swirled to its full form, engulfing Tokoyamis whole body like armour. As a mockery of their black abyss technique, Dark Shadow threw them at the window, smashing them in a storm of falling shards. Even as the glass cut deep into the user's body, the sentient quirk pressed on, wrapping its long arms around Tokoyami.

Before any adult could stop him, Izuku's heroes instincts kicked in. He gasped, "You can't do this!"

Blue lightning crackled in the air. He cleared the hall within a single leap, reaching the broken window. Streaming extra power to his arms, Izuku prepared to drag Tokoyami back into the building. As he came within a metre, Dark Shadow abruptly grabbed a handful of broken glass. The sentient quirk didn't flinch with pain, as it threw the shards into Izuku's face. Using his arms to shield his eyes, Izuku had to throw himself backwards.

Scraping across the floor, Izuku dug in his heels to come to a shaky landing. Glancing back, Dark Shadow was already gliding at full speed into the night, Tokoyami's blood trail left in its wake. Izuku was too late. Lowering his hands, he realised it was covered in small splatters of blood. Izuku had hardly stopped himself from getting gruesomely blinded.

"It's not your place to fight a personal friend!", his mentor ordered, rushing over and hauling him by the shoulders. Izuku's heart was in his throat as he stared out into the night sky. Was All Might right? Had emotions around Tokoyami clouded his judgement and make him vulnerable to the glass attack? But- Tokoyami was right in front of him. He could've saved him if he'd done the right fighting techniques.

With the immediate threat of Dark Shadow gone, it was as if 1-A were no longer frozen in time. The volume of the room rose to overwhelming levels. Two or three students collapsed to their knees, uncontrollably crying. While most shouted out their pure confusion:

"This has to be a dream! Mr Aizawa can't be dead!"

"What the hell is happening?"

"What is Tokoyami doing?!"

While the students panicked, the adults were able to move tactically. Their priorities split two ways, two leaders emerged: Tsukauchi dealt with the police force, while Nezu rushed over to his fallen co-worker. The detective shouted down his radio, "Dark Shadow is loose. Repeat, Dark Shadow is loose. It's already injured a teacher and remains dangerous. Set up a perimeter around the school. The remaining squad here in the dorms will guard the students."

While the police gained their orders, the students couldn't take their eyes off Mr Aiawa. The occasional twitch was the only sign of life. The muscles of his face drooped, like he couldn't sense the chaos around him. With such a harsh concussion, he needed medical care and soon. Thankfully, Nezu was already making that happen, pointing to Iida. The tall boy almost went into a military stance as he was addressed by the principal. The white animal explained, "As the fastest here, can you carry Mr Aizawa to the nurse's office? Can you do that for me? Keep going and don't look back until you're safely there."

While usually eager to follow orders, instead, Iida numbly responded, "Yes sir..."

The flames from his engines exploded to life. He sprinted across the hall, hauled Mr Aizawa onto his back and was out of the door - All happening within a blink. Izuku hoped Dark Shadow wasn't waiting to ambush their journey to the main school. As long as Iida focused on running, he'd be uncatchable for the sentient quirk.

The shocks weren't over, as Kacchan ignited two explosions from the balcony in pure rage. He leapt onto the bannister, balancing on it like a monkey with rabies. His eyes pierced through the windows, waiting to be unleashed so he could hunt down Tokoyami personally. He snarled, "So it's Tokoyami then…Fine! He's done humiliating me! He'll wish he never crawled out of hiding!"

Uraraka dived to defend her friend, allowing her to stand up to the demented boy, "Bakugo, it's not his fault! Dark Shadow is uncontrollable sometimes!"

Kacchan spat back, "Are you seriously falling for that stupid trick? Quirks can't be criminal masterminds! Tokoyami wouldn't overlook his mindless quirk suddenly acting like a person - He's too smart to miss that! He's just been a villain this whole time. He has to be."

Before a violent argument could break out, Tsukauchi rushed into the middle of the room, "I understand this is incredibly confusing, but we must remain calm. Our questions will need to wait until Tokoyami is apprehended safely."

The speech only half worked, as the students kept the mouth shut, but still shuffled around intensely. They all had overflowing emotions, they desperately wanted to realise. Kacchan clenched his fists, tempted to ignore the Detective's orders. Though the Principal was right on it, giving a simple but chilling warning, "You all know personally the dangers Villains pose. Don't walk into their hands. If you try to leave without permission, I will suspend you."

Despite Kacchan towering over the tiny mouse and could blast him away, the Spikely blonde had an unspoken respect for him. Gritting his teeth, he uneasily backed off. No other students dared to move from the walls, which they'd retreated to during the Dark Shadow confrontation. They kept their backs against the walls, as if Dark Shadow would blast through if they moved an inch. The student either remained standing or gradually slid down into a sitting position. They wouldn't utter a word. They couldn't. How could they process what they'd just witnessed?

Izuku noticed Tsukauchi shuffling towards the smashed window, glancing out into the night. The pitch-black night - With no star in sight. There was no light to save them from Dark Shadow's feast of the shadows, transforming him into a terrifying beast. While its prey was trapped in this single building, it could strike back into any direction. Though that was a half-truth. With the blood draining from its master's body, Dark Shadow would be weakened as well. It couldn't reach its full potential.

By now, the police must have radioed for heroes to dispatch against Dark Shadow. How long would it take? Teachers like Vlad King were needed to guard the dorms. Most of the teachers were at the Main campus - Which took serval minutes to travel to from the dorms. In an emergency situation like this, a single minute could be the difference between life and death. Dark Shadow had glided in the direction of the woodland surrounding the Campus, so Izuku predicted its strategy was to hide this out. Dark Shadow had proved alarming intelligence when it targeted Mr Aizawa first - Aware he was the single largest threat to a sentient quirk like itself.

As the deafening silence seemed to hang for eternity, someone broke it. A shockingly calm debate began to happen, as 1-A tried to process their overwhelming emotions. Pride swelled in Izuku, as 1-A was already relying on one another to get through this devasting revelation. Ironically, the traitor had seemed to strengthen their resolve to each other.

Kacchan uttered almost tonelessly, "You guys have to see where I'm coming from. Tokoyami is tricking us! Sure, whatever, Dark Shadow can spit a few phrases like a parrot - But assuming that means it's capable of being the Traitor is too far!"

The next person to speak up had remained quiet up until this point. It was Shoji. Though Izuku knew his commitment made sense. Together at the Summer camp, they'd lured a rampaging Dark Shadow towards light. Shoji had suffered losing an arm for the sake of protecting Tokoyami and their classmates. The multiple armed students mumbled behind his mask, "We can't accuse Tokoyami so easily. He was willing to sacrifice himself for us - He was even told to forget about him. How could he command Dark Shadow with that amount of blood? No - Everything Dark Shadow said, was its own thoughts. That's probably how Dark Shadow leaked info to the League - It can activate while its user is unconscious."

Todoroki covered his mouth, in a thoughtful pose, "If an intelligent quirk orchestrated national crimes, it would be the first time in history. Are we willing to accept such impossible odds? Though I suppose if it had to happen somewhere, it would be UA School, the home of powerful quirks."

Some 1-A members stared around at the conversation as if the debaters had gone mad. Kaminari was the most obviously frustrated. With a surprisingly sound logic, the electric user lectured them, "Are you listening to yourselves? This is something out of a film plot! Not even a consistent one! How could Dark Shadow be allied with the League if it knocked out Moonfish in the Camp?

Leaving All Might's side, Izuku was determined to let his voice be heard. He calmly addressed Kaminari, "And how could Dark Shadow be allied with us, if it chased me and Shoji? It couldn't handle the attack while it was nighttime. It's a slave to its impulses, no matter which side it's on."

Then, Izuku had gained Tokoroki's agreement. The bicoloured teen raised his voice to the whole hall, "That might even tie into its motives. By the way, Dark Shadow spoke, it feels trapped inside Tokoyami. Then, if we consider the fact the League can biologically engineer quirks - It makes too much sense. They could be the only people in the world who can separate Dark Shadow and Tokoyami."

Hearing the dangers Tokoyami could be in, a new conviction was swirling within Izuku. Before he'd been dragged through the window, Izuku had spotted an expression he'd seen too many times in other villain attacks. Someone silently crying for help. Even if the mystery of the traitor muddied the waters, at this time, it didn't matter. All that mattered was to not abandon Tokoyami as he bleeds out from his deep cuts.

As for Dark Shadow itself, Izuku admittedly struggled to find empathy for an inhuman creature. Despite that, Izuku was determined to understand it. As someone aiming for Number 1, he had to save anyone he could, even from the most unexpected of places. He'd rather have Dark Shadow safely contained than destroyed outright. It would be a tragedy if such a unique entity never got the chance to live. For all Izuku knew, Dark Shadow was the age of a child and was lashing out in confusion. It was as much a danger to itself, as it was others. If communication could be set up with it, perhaps it could learn not everything in the world was against it.

In the background, Izuku faintly made out the static of the police radio. No voice was coming out of it. No heroes had contacted Tsukauchi yet. Izuku couldn't wait any longer. He didn't care if Nezu was likely to say no, he had to try. He begged the Principal, "Every second we argue here, another second Dark Shadow gets away! Principal, we have our provisional licenses. Please. We're the best chance of catching them."

Yet, the tiny animal gave Izuku the answer he sought, "Usually I'd say no, but given the immediacy of our situation: I'll put faith in the judgement of my students. If you can remain calm, you can volunteer to go with a police escort; the rest of you remain here."