Hey Everybody! Welcome back to the fifth edition of the UA Sports Festival Arc. This will conclude the Arc and send it into the internship.
Anyways, I've been getting reviews saying Naruto is an 'edge lord' for hurting his opponents needlessly. In anime, stronger fighters love to toy with weaker opponents, whereas Naruto in Flash shows no mercy to any opponent he faces. For our favorite blonde, his calculating mind takes no chances with any opponent.
As for the pairing…well….I haven't decided yet. For me, the pairing can make or break a story, so I want to do it right.
I got a review saying I misread the cavalry battle and to rewrite it. To that person, I understand what I did, this is Fanfiction and I can change certain aspects of the anime to fit my needs. If you have been reading, you'll have seen my subtle changes to things Present Mic says or the students say. Frankly, copying and pasting Canon is time-consuming and dissatisfying to my viewers.
Thank you all for the reviews as well, I always enjoy reading them.
Without further adieu, welcome to Chapter 5 of Flash
Chapter 5: Who Stands Atop?
With the coming of the final rounds, UA's top first years were on full display. As viewers from all across Japan continued to tune in, the finalists readied themselves for their fights.
The Sports Festival was mostly overlooked for being a generally competitive event with few conflicts. Many looked forward to the friendly atmosphere, while others sought entertainment in the battle rounds.
Heroes and Fans alike strove to connect with Japan's future protectors, making sure the future was in good hands. As new generations came and influenced society, most if not all of UA's alumni contributed widely in the field. Ever since the founding of the institution, none had the widely successful output of high ranking Heroes as much as UA.
Currently, 3 of the 4 finalists, already showcased abilities on par with the highest tiers of sidekicks. Such promise from first year students was not unseen, but the fact that UA was grooming Top 10 successors so early was unheard of. Not that the media or witnesses could argue…
Shoto Todoroki, the Half Hot and Half Cold Quirk user, was amongst the most powerful in Japan for his age. His Brute Force was overwhelming, even for some low ranking Heroes. Such power combined with the best of both his Parents' Quirks, was only destined to become stronger. Of course, as he continued his career and sharpened his battle tactics, Todoroki had the potential to be the Number One Hero.
Katsuki Bakugo, the Explosion Quirk user, was also amongst the strongest of the new generation. Arguably, the ashy blonde already had an excellent repertoire of skills ranging from Strength to Endurance. This hidden skill set was comparable to low ranking Heroes, but as his time at UA continued, Bakugo would only continue to improve. However, such a skilled student was often underestimated because of his superior persona that kept many distant. His potential was only stunted by his emotions, in which many felt would decay the promising UA Hero student if handled incorrectly.
The last candidate for the highest intern draft count was, surprisingly, Naruto Uzumaki. Coming into the Sports Festival, the masked blonde was an unknown, just another face in the crowd. The Teleportation Quirk user came seemingly out of nowhere to include himself in the 'strongest student' talks. With his stunningly perfect victories in the Finals, many were left atonshined by his capabilities.
Compared to Bakugo and Todoroki, the masked blonde showed few abilities. However these abilities were extremely polished, leaving many Heroes to question what else he had in store. His attentiveness and intellect left many questioning as to why he wasn't known before.
And so, with the announcement of his ex-Villain status, many were left seeking more answers to his sudden appearance. Conclusively, the overall emotionless, but lazily demeanored young man, would have the watchful gaze of Heroes seeking a wonderfully sculpted student to cultivate even further.
Waiting Room 1-C
Naruto sat quietly at one of the few lonely tables that littered the rather bare room. When Shinso and him had miraculously passed the qualifying rounds, management hastily set them up with what looked like a smaller Locker Room. Bottles of water, small electrolyte infused capsules, and sports drinks lay to his right, soaking rings into the foldable plastic tables.
The masked blonde slouched in seat, silently contemplating the way he wanted to beat Katsuki Bakugo. Someone like the ashy blonde thought themselves to be better than those around him, however, defeat in itself for the Exploding boy would be enough. As he had depicted even before the Sport Festival, Bakugo hated being anything but first.
But…things were going to be different for this match. Whether those around the ashy blonde admitted it or not, Bakugo was deceivingly cunning and capitalized on mistakes ruthlessly.
For the strategy Naruto was implementing, he would have to get the exploding blonde riled up. Attacking head on was a known factor of the raging 1-A student when met with something unsatisfactory to his standards. Such emotional distress was evident in the Obstacle Course and the Cavalry Battle where he completely disregarded his surroundings in order to pursue Todoroki and Midoriya, and then Team Monoma in the second round.
Nevertheless, a 100% foolproof plan was never truly 100%. Considering Bakugo seemed to think best on his feet and fought well even with a fluctuating temperament, thinking two or three steps ahead never hurt.
"Let them hear you! From Class 1-A, the Half and Half Gladiator, Shoto Todoroki!" Present Mic echoed. Naruto could feel the vibrations of cheers throughout his locker room, notifying him of the first semi-final match.
"He's fast and he's furious! From Class 1-A, the Iida Dynasty Turbocharger, Tenya Iida!" Thunderous applause shook the locker room foundation.
For the first fight, Naruto was expecting a decent squabble. Todoroki lacked the speed and agility of Iida, which gave favor to the blue haired student, but Iida lacked ranged attacks, therefore giving advantage to Todoroki.
It could go either way, but Todoroki was more cunning than people gave him credit for. Iida was destined to make a mistake thinking his Turbo was unchallenged because of its speed. So…he would expect Todoroki in the finals, but a tad beaten down from an altercation with Iida.
"Fighters Ready?!…Go!" Although Naruto was inside and away from said battle, he could envision Kayama-sensei cracking her whip quite clearly.
Just thinking about the woman made him sigh. 'Troublesome woman.' He lazily shook his head as a sense of deja-vu washed over him.
"Young Naruto…" Suddenly, Naruto's eyes widened a fraction at the unexpected voice. To his right, stood the Number One Hero, All Might.
"All Might-sama…" The blonde bobbed his head at the man respectfully. Even though Naruto had a dislike of poser Heroes…All Might was a true Hero…that was indisputable.
The burly man laughed with his fists driven into his hips, posing. "Haha, I was just checking in on you like a normal person!" A large thumb extended in his direction, leaving the boy to look uncomfortably at the gesture.
The blue eyed Uzumaki looked quizzically at his superior. "Oh…well…I'm alright All Might-sama." The blonde stoically concluded, getting a sweatdrop from the 220 cm man.
"I see. I hate to resurface this, buy well…why didn't you react to those bashing your name? Doesn't it hurt? Maybe even a little?" The usual enthusiastic voice, lowered considerably as the man stared seriously at the boy.
Naruto would be lying to say he didn't feel a bit perturbed, but knowing Nezu had planned his uncovering, lessened the drawback. "Of course it does, however, I won't let my emotions blind me. It sounds awfully cliche…but a few words won't stop me from reaching my goals…I have too much to lose by giving in to those who know nothing of my past." The stoic blonde said impassively.
All Might nodded, a wave of respect for the UA student washing over him. "Yes, you are correct. Your past is your own and so are your ideals and dreams…I've been told that you do not like the majority of Heroes, yet you are choosing to be one…is this a part of these goals, Young Uzumaki?" The broad shouldered man asked dignantly.
The masked teenager sharpened his visible features, a look rarely seen on his person. "Yes. I've only shared my aspirations with a few others and I like to keep my outlook on life private. Yet, remembering what I strive to become, there's no better person to speak on this with." Naruto folded his hands over his knees.
"Why is that?" All Might raised an eyebrow, revealing a pale blue orb.
The Teleportation Quirk user lowered his gaze to the concrete glazed floor. "When people see you, many fawn over the fact that you're the Number One Hero or that your fame reaches far and wide. Many fawn over your presence, comparing you to a God or a man who can do no wrong. I too respect you above all Heroes, but not for surface level reasoning, no, All Might is a symbol that keeps society running. You are a man that can force change because above all else, you do not protect out of Fame or Fortune. The people of Japan place you upon the highest of pedestals, thinking you to be the bearer of righteousness. However, these people have it all wrong…you are the foundation of Hero Society, a Pillar of Peace that you solely constructed with your own hands." Naruto returned his eyesight to the man who amusingly reacted to his explanation.
"I too will be a Symbol someday. I too will be a Pillar, but…in my own way. That's why there's no one better…because nobody else has accomplished what I seek, except you." All Might nodded with an unnoticeable emotion marred on his chiseled face.
All Might's eyes widened at his words. 'It can't be…' The burly man reminisced on his exact words to his Master all those years ago.
Two figures stood slightly apart from one another. The backspace of Mustafu lay behind them in an etherly glow, matching perfectly with the steady river drifting idly in front of them.
"I want to be a Symbol…someone the citizens of Japan can depend on. I want to be a Pillar for this peace I will create, but…in my own way." A scrawny blonde with shoulder length, wavy hair held the straps of his backpack. In front of him stood Nana Shimura, who looked amusingly in his direction, a slight smile adorning her beautiful face.
The caped Hero faced her body towards the Quirkless boy who showed unmatched conviction. "Then that is what you will become…Toshinori-kun…" She grinned widely at the frozen boy, who's face lay blank.
"However, there is something I must give you to ensure this reality happens." The muscular woman held her hand away from her body. An unimaginable plethora of colors shined brightly in her palm, reflecting hypnotically off his blue orbs.
…That day changed his life forever. The day Yagi Toshinori birthed the Symbol of Peace known as All Might.
It was like fate's destiny happening so unexpectedly, as if One for All was calling out for a worthy vessel…it was the same feeling he felt when he met Midoriya for the first time.
"Then…" The Number One Hero paused, "…that is what you will become Young Uzumaki." The Eighth Successor plastered his Heroic smile on his features, watching with the same amusement his Master must have had.
Naruto froze on the spot. All Might believed in…him? The long blonde haired man meant what he said…he could tell. "There is no other way for me anyway." The emotionless blonde straightened his wavering eyes.
"Tenya Iida cannot continue! Shoto Todoroki moves on!" Present Mic blasted loudly throughout the stadium.
"Haha, you'd be surprised. Get ready…this is the first step towards that goal. Good Luck, Young Uzumaki! We'll talk more some other time! Haha!" The Number One Hero left the masked blonde to his own devices before his match. Comically, a dust cloud erupted from where All Might took off.
In the Arena
Todoroki and Iida expectantly had their scuffle. Even so, Shoto showed exemplary control over his Quirk, cornering the Engine Quirk and leading to his victory.
The masked blonde walked towards the Center Stage where a scowling Bakugo was waiting. There was no doubt in his mind that the ashy blonde would last longer than his previous opponents. Without the use of his main and most powerful components of his Quirk, the blue eyed teenager would be left with his other abilities. Not to say his other skills in his arsenal weren't strong on their own.
As the blonde Uzumaki glanced lazily at the surrounding fans and Heroes, he couldn't help but notice people hanging off their seats in anticipation. It seemed many were excited to see how the ex-Villain went up against the Top UA student in combat.
"HURRY UP YOU LAZY BASTARD!" Naruto's crowd watching was interrupted by the now violently fuming 1-A student.
Stepping up the concrete steps onto the stage constructed by Cementoss, Naruto couldn't help but inwardly scoff at the Explosion Quirk user's impatience. Of anything, the red eyed miscreant looked dead focused upon the match…he wasn't going to be underestimated this time.
"Holy! We are about to get lively with this next matchup. From 1-A, the Number One entree from the UA Exam, Katsuki Bakugo!" The spiky blonde haired boy grinned ceremoniously.
"Annd…standing with his hands in his pockets again…From Gen Ed, UA's Masked Man, Naruto Uzumaki!" Present Mic sweatdropped before picking his usual boisterous commentating up once more.
The crowd's thunderous calls were heard miles from the stadium as the sounds of hollering only grew.
Bakugo got into a fighting stance at the signature announcement of Midnight. "Fighters Ready?!…Go!" Katsuki charged at the blonde, as Naruto released his hands from his pockets.
Closing in with Bakugo's starting right cross, his sweat glands rumbled in preparation. The blue eyed teenager crouched into a counter defensive position, ready to aim the Quirk elsewhere. "HA!" The 1-A student blasted his palm's nitroglycerin reaction directly at Uzumaki's face.
Swinging his head backwards, Naruto avoided the blast that fired past his blonde locks. His right hand cut into the fold of Bakugo's elbow, redirecting the rest of the shot outwards.
The ashy blonde swung his left palm towards the midsection of Naruto, but before he could blink, the UA clothed legs of Uzumaki wrapped around the extended limb. Locked in at the shoulder, Naruto used the momentum of his falling avoidance to launch the Exploding Quirk user in a suplexing motion.
As his frontside faced the cement, Bakugo tucked his right limb into his side. With his freed right hand, the aspiring Hero propeled his body back to a standing motion, relatively unharmed from the counter. His body language read murderous to Naruto, but a hint of disturbance betrayed his red eyes.
Charging in once more by launching his body forward with his palms facing behind his person, Bakugo aimed a sweeping leg kick at his opponent's masked face. However, even with the speed that would dominate others his age, Uzumaki easily ducked, keeping his head focused on the exposed back of Katsuki.
Using the Exploding boy's monstrous agility against him, Naruto aimed a double legged mule kick at his lower back. Even so, reading that he was in a compromising position, Bakugo shot his exploding palm at Uzumaki's legs to create space.
Katsuki succeeded in doing so, although Naruto had already recognized the countermeasure. Both jumped back a good distance away from each other, one glared menacingly while the other pointed his own outstretched hand.
The masked blonde was holding back considerably, what he had planned for the raging UA student would come indiscriminately. Luring Bakugo into a false sense of complacency would seem cruel, but he felt the urge to measure his opponent's strength. In which, Bakugo was excellent for their age, far above any of his peers, yet he still lacked the composition to match him evenly.
'Shinra Tensei' The pang of anti-gravity riveted the front section of the UA Arena, getting most to shiver at the sound. Looking across at Bakugo, Naruto could see the distinct satisfaction present in his features. As the wall of convulsion drew closer, the spiky haired blonde raised both hands at the invisible wall.
"HA!" Explosions met the Uzumaki's anti-gravity, resulting in a shockwave that cracked the cement beneath their feet. Smoke wafted in pillowing motions, escreating into a lackluster mushroom shape.
The ashy blonde's appendages stung involuntarily at the brute force needed to break through the invisible Quirk. The impact of said confrontation slid him back a few feet as he dug his heels in for traction, making sure to steady himself.
As the dust and debris cleared, Bakugo stood with a few abrasions scattered throughout his form. The slight tension in his forearms alerted the blue eyed Uzumaki to over expulsion or a drawback from meeting 'Shinra Tensei' head on. His UA gym uniform was ripped with holes near his wrists where the impact was the most unrelenting.
"That was weak! Your Quirk stands no chance against my own!" Bakugo bluffed handily, although Naruto remained impassive, raising his hand once more.
'Again?!' The ashy blonde readied himself, palms dripping with nitroglycerin.
'Bansho Tenin' Bakugo's eyes widened as he was pulled off his feet. He had planned for this move, but the force was still extremely resistant, making sure his limbs were ineffective as his neck cranked at the force.
The masked teenager was sure Katsuki would expect his heel kick in which he delivered to Ashido, so he adjusted accordingly.
The Exploding Quirk user started firing off explosions at Naruto's legs, knowing he couldn't move his limbs in order to directly fire at the Uzumaki. Expecting such an action for the swearing boy as he neared, Naruto jumped off his left leg while simultaneously raising his right.
Within a split second, Naruto delivered a heavy boot to the chest of Katsuki Bakugo, effectively knocking the air from his lungs. However, unexpectedly to the 1-A student and the surrounding Heroes, the ex-Villain used the motion of his sweeping leg kick to land another hit to his jaw. (Itadori Double Kick)
Bakugo's head snapped vehemently, in a strangely identical movement to the Acid Quirk user that fought Uzumaki before. Blood shot out of his mouth, plummeting beads of sweat and intermixed toxins to his right.
'Guhh!' The ashy blonde gasped for air still dazed from the hit. Uzumaki's kick sent him spiralling towards the white boundary, but he righted himself in the air, even in his unsteady form.
"What an insane kick! Did you see that?!" Present Mic rocked Eraser Head's chair. The crowd cheered crazily below, awe prone on their faces with the well placed hit.
Aizawa, albeit annoyed with the eccentric mohawk Hero, nodded before picking up his own mic. "Uzumaki's skills in hand-to-hand combat keep shining through, even as a Pro Hero, they're nothing to scoff at." The Erasure Quirk user said monotonously through his mummified wrappings.
Not allowing his opponent to regain his bearings, Naruto jabbed Bakugo in the face, leaving the blonde to grit his teeth in pain and throwing an uncoordinated left hook in response. Unfortunately, the red eyed teenager missed marginally, getting an uppercut to the chin for his efforts.
Stumbling back, Bakugo was getting more desperate seeing as how he couldn't fight while his vision was blurred. 'I have to use that…I'm going to lose if I keep goin-gaah!' The ashy blonde doubled over after receiving a gut wrenching punch to the abdominal region. Saliva dripped from his mouth as a knee was driven into his head with such strength that it knocked him back several feet.
'It *cough* It's now or never! I won't lose to an extra like you!' Bakugo shakily propelled himself upwards and began to spin with practised precision. Black pillages of smoke encircled his rapidly spinning body, creating an epicenter of crackling nitroglycerin.
This Ultimate is called 'Howitzer Impact', the strongest move in Katsuki's arsenal, which involves him taking to the air, and then using explosions to propel himself in a circular motion to create a tornado. The ensuing twister collects oxygen and momentum to fuel the subsequent explosion.
Naruto had pushed Bakugo beyond the point where he felt he needed to push himself to the edge to win. No doubt there was going to be a devastating attack placed solely upon his position. Of course he could've stopped the 1-A student before his 'Ultimate', but wanting to see the victorious maniacal smirk on the blonde's face after he was seemingly 'beaten' would be worth the extended seconds.
"HOWITZER IMPACT!" The large twister came crashing down upon the still form of Naruto Uzumaki who didn't flinch or raise a guard in the slightest. Heroes and fans alike inched out of their seats, waiting for him to do something…but nothing came.
Smirking slightly under his mask, betraying his usual stoic face, Naruto flashed under the blanket of the oncoming attack. Even though he didn't want to use his flash ability…none saw him use it because of the erupting chaos on his previous placement.
A massive wave of explosions rocked the barriers placed by Cementoss who hastily layered the Center Stage to absorb the disturbingly strong Ultimate. Instantly, black smoke riddled the arena, obscuring the vision of the viewers.
The huffing form of Bakugo stood in the middle of his destruction, holding his side, clothes burnt and littered messily. As the smoke from his final and best move in his repertoire, the expectant red eyes expanded to the forehead at the missing body of his opponent. 'How's this possible!'
"…That is an impressive attack Bakugo-san…" A lazy but intrigued voice sounded lowly behind his bent form.
The ashy blonde momentarily forgot his pain in order to twist his form reactively towards the masked bastard, yet his eyes suddenly felt heavy. He briefly recognized a quick chop to his neck, but the darkness overcame his form, and fatigue finally restricted his movements. No amount of screaming belligerently in his head to move would stop his slowly crumbling form as it closed in upon the cracked concrete stage.
Naruto watched Bakugo's torn form sprawled defeatingly on the ground, now hearing the gasps evident in the masses of fans and Heroes who couldn't witness the final clearing because of the dark cloudiness, now saw him above the 1-A student.
The oceanic orbed teenager didn't have a single evidential feature of struggle against Bakugo's mini nuke! The sight of the masked blonde with his hands in his pockets glancing down at the boy face down in the concrete was mesmerizing in itself.
"…uh…I have no clue what happened, but…Katsuki Bakugo is unable to continue! Winner, Naruto Uzumaki!" Even without knowing how the match ended, the fans erupted in pure disbelief.
Although Uzumaki had dominated his fight once again, he was still fighting the Top UA Hero student and came out completely unscathed by an attack that fringed eyebrows in the closest rows!
"Uzumaki moves on! After a small break, Shoto Todoroki and Naruto Uzumaki will face off in the last match of the Sports Festival!" Present Mic exclaimed into his mic, drawing many to situate themselves with food and gambling before the fight.
Top 10 Heroes
The Top Heroes watched as the billowing waves of black smoke began lifting off the Center Stage. The UA teacher and Hero, Cementoss, walls had been all but obliterated in what Bakugo called his 'Howitzer Impact'. Such an attack was a pretty clear indicator that the raging personality, Katsuki Bakugo, was not pulling any punches. Well…it was to be expected seeing as how his opponent wasn't pulling punches either.
Naruto Uzumaki had dominated once more in this battle, while the 1-A student fought more tenaciously and longer than his classmates, the fight still didn't break the one minute mark. The masked blonde had Bakugo scrounging for hits, though the red eyed teenager never landed one.
Finally, as their view cleared up, standing adjacent to the unconscious Bakugo, was Naruto Uzumaki looking the same as he did as he started. His aloof expression would look innocent without the context of this certain situation.
"Are you serious?! What part of his Quirk protects him from something like that?! We only got to see the aftermath…" Bunny Hero Mirko whined playfully at the sight of Uzumaki looking expressionless as always. Not a spec of foul play or struggle riddled his form, leaving the impression that he had something else hidden in his arsenal.
Still, there was no doubt in any of their minds that he wouldn't use the smokescreen to cover an ability he didn't want discovered. The fact that this ability kept him completely unscathed was frightening. Regardless, Bakugo's 'Howitzer Impact' was fairly strong, it wasn't an end all Ultimate.
"Splendid…truly splendid. Beating the Number One UA First Year in under a minute is an incredibly impressive feat for one of this age. I am curious as to how he avoided the impact completely, nevertheless." Best Jeanist crossed his legs, looking intriguingly as a stretcher was on stand-by faster than the other matches. Uzumaki was making the health officials sweat as well it seemed.
Crust teared exaggeratingly, "Such a captivating sight…the irony of audience's cluelessness, yes, it is as if we are watching a Spearshake's play, eagerly awaiting the unknown." The man dramatically wiped his comical wisps of tears to the side.
Down below, Keigo observed the UA section reactions to seeing their top student beaten. In 1-A, many stared on unbelievingly, not a reaction so far-fetched seeing as how Bakugo's final attack didn't land even after directly hitting Uzumaki head-on. It seemed the students substituted talking, for gawking at the usual victorious ashy blonde getting carried off by the medical team. It was probably a massive hit to their pride to see another one of their best, if not the best, be bested by someone they had thought below them not too long ago. Suddenly, Bakugo's previous redhead opponent and the Midoriya kid ran off to the medic on stand-by as their classmates yelled after them.
1-B…was a different story. Though the shocking surprise was evident on their premature faces, a hint of pride swelled the majority at seeing another one of their rivals drop in battle. And…one was cackling madly, the Copy gaki if he remembered correctly.
"Bakugo-kun still showed very impressive strength, I don't believe the loss will hurt his stock as an intern. But, I do believe someone like him who's pride runs on their Hero capability, will not be satisfied in the slightest." Ryuko Tatsuma placed her hands in her lap, the others around her nodded agreeingly. Losing a fight was always damaging for a Hero, but for someone like Katsuki Bakugo who thrived in the combat environment, the loss would hurt more.
Gang Orca added with his arms crossed, "Yes, Uzumaki-kun was too much of a match for Bakugo-kun, but the boy's ingenuity with his self-created Ultimate definitely shows his extraordinary potential." The large Killer Whale head shaped man said lowly, but his hint of admiration was not lost on the others. Gang Orca really was a big softy sometimes.
"I mean there's still Endeavor's son after all, but I'm not sure if it will be a different turn out. I think Bakugo and Todoroki are about even in terms of strength, soooo…" Remi Usagiyama, or Mirko, said, looking in all directions for a certain fiery red haired brute before she spoke.
Keigo scoffed, "You better hope Endeavor never hears you say something about Shoto. The big guy is extremely territorial about his son being the strongest of the new generation." The Red Winged Hero sighed at the end, leaning his head backwards in a napping motion. He really respected Endeavor, maybe the same as All Might, but the man needed some parenting guidance.
"Nowwww…the final showdown of this year's UA Sports Festival! This is for the 24 million viewers at home…make some noise wherever you are! Yeah!" The UA Teacher and Commentator, Present Mic snapped their attention back to Center Stage. The Top Heroes swore they heard the Stadium creak under the unrelenting cheers from their attendees.
The Final Match had come at last.
Center Stage
Todoroki entered from the 1-A Locker Room directly after his encounter with his old man, Endeavor. The large man was ecstatic for him to 'finally be over his tantrum' following the events of his match with Midoriya. At the time of using his left, Shoto was relieved in a sense to finally use his flames. The tempting coat of blistering heat almost overtook his will to only use his mother's side, and now more than ever, he wanted to show that he could go to the top without his old man's fire.
Endeavor stood a section up in the stands with his arms crossed, hawking his greatest masterpiece's movements. Uzumaki would be a great test for Shoto to use both sides on, the boy was strong and a great obstacle for his offspring to maneuver. Of course he had already filed for Shoto and Uzumaki to become interns for his agency, though Uzumaki came only during the Cavalry Battle. The powerful Heroes he could cultivate if he landed both…yes, they would be Top 10 Heroes in 5 years minimum.
The lazily swaying Naruto Uzumaki entered from Gen Ed's miniature Locker Room. Many would think that he was acting so casually because of his already landed Hero Course position thanks to previous win. But, the hands in pockets act was actually how he was the majority of the time, regardless of the scenario.
The decibel level rose to deafening levels as their fight was set to begin. Both stoic teenagers stared instinctively at each other, one with a boring gaze that slightly perturbed the other. The gentle breeze eased the peltering heat that caressed the ground level, leaving both competitors' hair to ruffle randomly.
"Ah yeah! Let's get this baby going! He's had some tough battles, but his solidity has yet to disappoint! From Class 1-A, the Freezing Hot, Shoto Todoroki!" Present Mic rumbled, getting a dangerous glance from Shoto after hearing the 'Hot' part.
Aizawa leveled his own mic to his face, "Todoroki has proven himself one of the strongest with his Ice and Flames, not many can match his forceful attacks that have rummaged through all of his opponents. His skills definitely improve as he fights, leaving him to be consistently dangerous to fight an endurance battle with." The Eraser Hero praised his arguably strongest student, drawing much to agree with his analysis.
"Thank you, Eraser Head! Todoroki's challenger has dominated his way through the final rounds, winning all rounds in under a minute! He's completely taken the UA courses by surprise, from Gen Ed, the Inevitable Imperial, Naruto Uzumaki! Yeah!" Present Mic screamed heartily through the surrounding sections.
The montone commentator to the left of the Voice Quirk user felt the urge to intervene once more. "Uzumaki has used every advantage he could scavenge to pull himself through the early rounds. His tactically sound mind left many of the Hero Course students to dismiss his presence as a fluke, allowing him to sneak through the Obstacle Course and the Cavalry Battle. His intelligence is thoroughly compatible with his impressive Quirk, showing his impactful potential by beating two Top 5, 1-A students, in the single combat rounds." The man said boringly, but the hint of pride was not lost of some who knew the Hero. Hizashi, his oldest classmate and fellow teacher, wrapped an arm around his shoulder and stuck a thumbs up at the camera recording them.
Midnight stood with a hand on her hip, looking over both boys. "Fighters Ready?!" Both nodded minimally. "Go!" The snap of her whip overtook the starting bell.
Shoto started the match with his direct Ice Attack, pointing and scurrying at the masked blonde. Expecting such a straightforward forward assault, Naruto side flipped into a sprint, kicking up dust in his wake headed for the heterochromia eyed boy stomping his right foot again.
Shards of Ice raced indiscriminately at the blonde, who repeated his previous movement. The approaching icicles couldn't keep up with the fluent agility of the blonde who easily avoided attacks that his classmates had tremendous trouble with.
The shuffling footsteps of the masked blonde alerted the 1-A student to throw up a barreling ice wall, trying his best to keep the distance between them. Todoroki knew he didn't want to engage the blonde in hand-to-hand combat knowing that the blue eyed Gen Ed student had beaten Bakugo, who was probably the best hand-to-hand combat specialist in their year.
Distance battle was his major strength, thus, limiting Uzumaki to fight his own Quirk with his 'Gravity Manipulation Quirk'. Forcing the masked blonde to use his abilities against his Ice would only lead to his victory knowing his ice could prevent such attacks at a moment's notice.
The problem was that Uzumaki was luring him into attacking gaps with his ice that he didn't want to. He knew he couldn't compete up close with the Gen Ed student, Iida was proof of that weakness, but he still kept to his strategy of distance endurance.
The towering blades of ice began to block Todoroki's view of the blonde because of the thickness of his Quirk. Standing in a ready stance meant for defense, his right heel was raised so that the ball of his foot was prepared to draw a protective barrier.
'Bansho Tenin' The pang he had studied from the masked blonde's match with his match with Ashido and Bakugo, alerted him to tie his body down to the cement ground. Ice enshrouded his legs to prevent his body from being pulled against his will. The force of the Quirk made his upper body feel as if someone was trying to forcefully drag his body out of a tight spot, which made him grimace because of the strain.
Todoroki's ice had kept the teenager stuck in place, but Naruto had predicted such a plan. The way Shoto was using his ice suggested his want to keep Naruto away, of course, that was the right choice. But, Naruto didn't lack strength from any measurable range like the red and white haired teenager. Also…flames had yet to be used, and the collection of frost on the heterochromia boy's right side was evident enough.
He wasn't Midoriya. He didn't care if Todoroki used all his strengths or not, none of that was his concern. His only objective was to win, and if Shoto held back his true power, then he would take advantage of such as his opponent.
Over the first twenty seconds of the match, Todoroki had unknowingly created a semicircle of ice, trying to limit Naruto's fighting capability to a test of endurance. This meant either Todoroki was disregarding his one ability he had only shown once against Tokoyami, or he deemed it not as threatening as 'Shinra Tensei' and 'Bansho Tenin'.
From where he was perched upon a shard of ice, the blonde could see Todoroki discreetly looking for him. He didn't need to search long as Naruto dropped from above and landed in a crouch. His back was to the semi-circle of Ice, Shoto had created trying to keep Naruto from getting up close. Now if only Todoroki fell for his ploy…
Seeing Uzumaki begin to sprint once more after appearing from above his wall, Shoto erected a barrier of impossibly sharp ice shards to seperate them once more.
'Amenotejikara' Naruto switched places instantly with Todoroki, locking him in a ring of ice that his attack forged. Now would be the test of whether Todoroki would use his flames or not to melt his way out.
Shoto instantly felt his body being constricted tightly, panicking momentarily as he sought to block Uzumaki's approach. Suddenly, he felt as if he blacked out, having the feeling of disorientation as he reappeared in the position Uzumaki was once in. His different colored eyes widened upon the realization that the masked blonde used the 'switch' mechanism of his Quirk.
All around him were peaks of Ice he had created throughout the fight, encircling his form like a small ravine or pit. Immediately noticing the irregularities of his Ice attacks leaving gaps for attacks from above, Shoto found he had been lured into a trap of his own creation.
The masked blonde completely cornered him…and the fight had just begun.
Out of seemingly nowhere, a fist connected to his cheek, leaving the 1-A student to stumble to his left. Todoroki felt the stinging pain in his cheek, but chose to ignore it in order to shoot a random structure of ice in the opposite direction from where the attack came from.
Shoto began to feel the coldness of his unrelenting attacks begin to take effect on his body. The more he attacked without his left side, the more his body would shut down with the drawback of his right side's continuous usage. Fortunately, he had been in this position before with his Quirk and dealing with the cold was child's play.
Clamoring of steps against his ice ran behind his form, getting the Half and Half user to turn and force a protective barrier hastily. Todoroki relaxed into a stance, waiting for the masked blonde to go through or around the wall.
An unexpected boot connected to his ribs from behind, causing the heterochromia teenager to grip his right side. He was panicking about not being able to see the blonde's approach, Shoto knew he heard Uzumaki coming from behind, so how could he have been hit from another blindspot?
"Is Uzumaki using Guerilla Warfare tactics?! Todoroki can't seem to locate him!" Evidentially, the crowd could see the blonde stalking Shoto like a predator to its prey. He weaved in between the holes of ice in order to hit the Half and Half user from his deceiving blindspots and then jumped and flipped away, hiding once more.
From what the Heroes in the stands could observe, Uzumaki was using the isolation of Todoroki in the center of his pit to his advantage. The masked blonde was ingeniously using the echoing reflectiveness of Shoto's ice to force the 1-A student to guess where he was coming from.
This left many to question why Todoroki wasn't using his flames to remove himself from his compromising position. If he kept letting Uzumaki do as he pleased, the fight would end quicker than the blonde's semi-final match.
As the hits from all over reigned down upon his weakening body, Shoto stubbornly refused to use his left side. The intervals between shots to his body were quick and unpredictable, leaving him no options to choose from.
In those half-delirious moments of being beaten in different directions, he remembered his mother's face that fateful day. He felt as if he was betraying her when he used his right side…everytime he was tempted to edge his way out of a scenario that called for his fire…that horrified face holding the kettle of boiling water reminded him…
…he couldn't use his left side. Not until he came to peace with himself…
…he only needed his right side, his Mother's side, to be a great Hero, no, the best Hero…
With a newfound confidence, Todoroki erected himself and the surrounding ice around his form into the air above the pit, creating a large platform of ice.
Fans screamed in excitement at seeing the UA Hero student finally able to find a way out. "Todoroki has taken the fight to the skies! He basically reset the Center Stage floor fifteen meters in the sky! Is he crazy?!" Present Mic observed the humongous barges of ice holding up the flat platform higher up in the arena. Todoroki was resetting the fight with a base that fit him best.
Naruto leapt upwards landing on the icy floor. His opponent was huffing, but the glint of determination and renewed vigor shone through his mismatched eyes. For a moment, the blue eyed teenager thought the 1-A student would give up.
"I know what you're trying to do, Uzumaki. It won't work, it never will." Todoroki shot a straight forward attack, his voice carrying throughout the front rows.
Hidden behind the frontal construct was a hidden shard of ice, aiming directly for where he had avoided the first pillar. Naruto could hear the crowd cheering the Half and Half user on excitedly.
Unable to move his body quick enough, Naruto raised his palm in a familiar gesture. 'Shinra Tensei' The anti-gravity slammed into the jagged points, although they didn't shatter, the attack was stopped abruptly.
As the fans started getting louder, Naruto realized Shoto had used a wave of ice to surf around his form and attack his back side. The blonde turned his body ninety degrees to raise his other palm at the incoming pillar. 'Shinra Tensei' The ping spewed throughout the stadium, louder than his previous time.
The brute strength behind Todoroki's attack was noteworthy, but ultimately still not enough to fluster his stance. "Do as you wish, it makes no difference to me." He blankly stated with an emotionless tone.
Naruto jumped at another ice structure charging at his chest, seeking to impale. As time continued, the speed and height of Todoroki's constructs were slowly losing ground, signifying his frostbite taking over. The masked blonde front flipped over sharded pieces closing in on his form, leaving him on the upper side of the structure.
Using his momentum, Naruto planted his feet before shooting towards the slightly iced over stature of Shoto Todoroki. Using his arms to propel a spin, Naruto twisted clockwise and swung a downward leg. (Leaf Hurricane)
Shoto's now cold limbs struggled to respond to the abnormal speed in which Uzumaki had come at him with…his flames would be able to keep him away! He extended his left arm to fire his flames at the blond…
…and then out of the corner of his eye, Endeavor stood smugly, ready for him to release his flames against his foe...
…No…he already promised himself he wouldn't…
Without the use of his flames, Naruto's heel blasted through the guard and connected with the top of his head. The immeasurable pain his head was pounded with completely overrode his adrenaline and folded his upper body.
Just like Uzumaki's opponents before, Todoroki was going to end up the same. Though as darkness began to shut his already slowly imploding body, he smiled…
Not because he lost, no, he was upset he was going to lose, but in the end, Shoto stayed true to himself. Even with the temptation of using his old man's flames to combat, he refused even as he was bitterly defeated.
Todoroki's body collapsed onto his knees, falling sideways onto the ice platform as they gave out. Naruto was standing to his right, gazing passively at his downed opponent.
Silence reigned briefly, the sound of Present Mic echoed dignantly, "Todoroki is down! Todoroki is down! Winner by Incapacitation, Naruto Uzumaki!" In 58 seconds the fight was over, just six seconds longer than Katsuki Bakugo. The medical team had an on-sight Hero fly them up to collect Shoto who laid unconscious next to the masked blonde.
"Naruto Uzumaki wins the Sports Festival in a flashy last dance! Coming in, Naruto wasn't even ranked in the Top 50, but today he's walking out number one! Please gather the students for the medal ceremony!" The UA sections began to clear, though 1-A was slower on the get up. A depressive atmosphere was showering the entire group, leaving many of the other students to give them a wide berth.
After a short period of time, Cementoss and the UA crew began to chisel down the ice structure as Todoroki was being carted off. Endeavor followed closely behind, giving Naruto a smoldering gaze out of his peripheral vision.
The media swarmed into the front rows, all preparing for the podium address, in which All Might would be designated to handle. Fans cheered the Gen Ed boy's name in excitement as his masked face was being plastered all over the front pages of Tweeter, Headpage, and Instathought.
Nemuri watched him slouch with his hands in his pockets, obviously off put by having to sit still while people snapped pictures and videos of him. The dark purple haired woman was going to save him from all the flashing lights, and maybe steal a few of those cameras for their attention.
Midnight gathered at Naruto's side, sitting a tad shorter in height. "You did amazingly Naruto-kun, I'm so proud." She smiled genuinely at him, giggling at the constipated furrow look on his face.
"Thank you Kayama-sensei." He responded blandly, receiving a pout from his brief 1-C teacher.
The expressionless boy looked away, ignoring her the best he could. "No no, that just won't do…c'mon, I'm trying to congratulate you, don't be rude mister." She lightly slapped his cheek, turning his head back to her deceivingly blue eyes.
The woman pointed her red crested nail into his chest, "You're welcome anyways, though…maybe you were expecting a different gift…" Nemuri seductively pushed her assets together, trying to fluster the boy. Surprisingly, a tint of pink danced across his cheeks, though barely visible because of the black compression mask.
Outside the Stadium: Heroes on Patrol
Mt. Lady angrily looked at the screen, seeing the old hag using her seductiveness on Uzumaki. She was wayyy too close for her liking. "What does that old bat think she's doing?! That's borderline rape! Get your saggy granny tits away from the kid! I saw him first!" The beautiful pale blonde woman pointed her fingers belligerently at the screen shown outside the stadium.
Kamui Woods sweatdropped at his partner's display. 'Why is Yu mad, she does the same exact thing…' He shook his masked head disappointingly.
Back in the Arena
"Ohoh, so that is what you wanted…let me see what I can do Blondie-kun…" The seductress's nail traveled up to the underside of his chin, before purring lightly with her lips pursed. Her teasing was unfortunately interrupted by the other students starting to fill out the field.
Seeing her predicament, Midnight dropped her finger, much to the silent relief of the oceanic orbed teenager. "Oops…maybe some other time…" She brought her finger up to her lips, winking with a sultry grin.
As she walked away swinging her full hips, Naruto cursed himself as he followed the movement unconsciously, gaining a beaming smile from Midnight as she looked over her shoulder.
'What the hell just happened ?' The short but weirdly hot experience made his normally stoic cheeks red.
"Why was Midnight-sensei feeling you up?" The familiar voice of Shinso spoke with a hint of jealousy. The purple haired boy's usually disinterested bagged eyes were now curled to his forehead.
How was he supposed to answer that? She came out of nowhere and looked him up and down hungrily. "I…don't know." He hung his head slightly, leaving the Brainwashing Quirk user to gaze weirdly as he now mimicked his pocket action.
"Well…she kind of does that to everyone, but normally half-jokingly. That was…something else." Shinso judged. The masked blonde next to him curiously mused in his head on the reason.
1-B flooded into the group next to Gen Ed. Itsuka waved happily in his direction, giving him a smile. The Copy Quirk user next to her gave him a smug smirk and nodded in the direction of 1-A.
The clouded atmosphere around 1-A almost dropped the temperature. Some of the students glared at him, while others nervously hid behind their classmates like he was going to attack them next. It seemed the Hero Course students didn't like the fact that he hurt their classmates and friends, not that it was personal or anything.
He couldn't see their Top 2 students, so Bakugo and Todoroki were probably still recovering. But in the next few minutes, he didn't doubt Recovery Girl would have the boys functional enough to receive their medals.
1-C encircled around Naruto, congratulating and thanking him for representing their class. Shinso's performance was great, no one would disagree, but Naruto's was beyond stellar. He surpassed everyone's expectations and took out Endeavor's son and the Number One UA Hero student in the finals. Never before in the history of UA had a Gen Ed student won the entire thing, the only one who came close was Shouta Aizawa, but even then, the now 1-A teacher only reached the semi-finals.
Naruto straightened his vision at the commentators' booth. Seeing Aizawa in his mummified form looking down at him gave the blonde a semblance of pride. The blue eyed Uzumaki saw him give a small nod of acknowledgement, causing Naruto to grin unnoticeably under his mask.
All of this was made possible by one of the people he respected the most in this world. This truly was the only chance he needed, and he had accomplished his mission Nezu and Aizawa had given him behind closed doors.
…a single day was all that was needed to completely reroute his path, where that unfavorable direction would have kept him churning on that dark road of despair.
"Ah! Todoroki and Bakugo are finally able to join the last charade! Thank you Recovery Girl!" The leathered jacket man to Aizawa's right pointed towards the two bandaged boys, one with a face of confliction, and the other…well, his rage was barely being contained on the tattered Exploding Quirk user's face.
The two tunneled into their classmates' rows, causing most to fret over their injuries, but more so Todoroki than the ashy blonde who threatened to fight Kirishima and Kaminari. Both students glanced in Naruto's direction, whereas Todoroki's expression held the same, Bakugo was glaring laser beams for eyes through his form, trying to make him explode with his feral scowl.
"Now…the man, the myth, the legend, All Might, will be conducting the podium positions!" Present Mic motioned to the flying man jumping erratically from his high-rise booth. The tremor of his laughs sounded intensely through the rows of fans, leaving most to stand with untamed excitement.
The burly blonde Hero landed confusingly soft on the ground after dropping from such a height. "I Am Here…to award the Top 3 UA Students!" To his right, three cases opened, revealing three classification medals identical to Olympic tokens, though instead of the rings, the symbol of UA stood out most prominently.
Cascading applause reigned in comfortably, giving the Number One Hero time to speak. "In Third, this student showed tremendous potential and heart with a widely versatile and powerful Quirk, from Class 1-A, Katsuki Bakugo!" Said boy scoffed, receiving anything but first place was enraging. 'I want to wring that blonde bastard's neck! Raaahhh!' His eyes glazed over in pure unchallenged anger.
All Might wrapped his hands around the blue and red ribbon, walking steadily towards the ashy blonde with his usual smile. "Young Bakugo, you've done very well, do not allow your emotions to betray your efforts. I hope to see you become a great Hero one day, so don't be ruffled, for I see a bright future! As your teacher, I am proud to have you as my student! HAHA!" The boy begrudgingly accepted the medal by leaning forward. It seemed All Might's word calmed the boy to his usual look of anger riddling his face. The bronze medallion swayed slightly from his upwards movement, getting the piece to shine befittingly.
Walking back towards the silver case, the UA students swooned over All Might wearing his Silver-Age costume. "In Second, this student showed great strength and a destiny for greatness with his opposite elements operating simultaneously, from Class 1-A, Shoto Todoroki!" Shoto contemplated his resolve as All Might closed in with his medal, but knowing what he was going to do directly after the festival lightened his rather vengeful feelings towards Endeavor.
"Young Todoroki, you are a wonderful student and an even better Hero candidate. I hope to work alongside you in the Future as you climb your way through UA and the Hero world. Stay true to yourself and your powers, only then will you never lose your way." The Symbol of Peace praised the obviously distraught boy caught in a web of family affairs. Shoto was going to become a great Hero, of that, All Might had no doubt.
Todoroki stood on the second placed podium platform, proudly beaming with a facade of stoicism to cover his small smile. He watched the overly large man return towards the last and final case with a prideful smile.
"And In First, this student showed Intelligence and Skill beyond what was expected of him, from Gen Ed's 1-C, Naruto Uzumaki!" Thunderous chants and cheers showered in, causing the camera crews of Japan's top News Stations to flash lenses and reporters to the front rows to capture the unforgettable moment.
The bright blonde haired Hero reminisced the small conversation he had with Naruto. 'I too will be a Symbol someday. I too will be a Pillar, but…in my own way…' The elements of his own conviction shone brightly in a person who was betrayed and left for the dark…just like himself. '…that is what you will become…' His master's words echoed in his mind.
All Might observed the boringly lidded blonde, standing idly with his hands in his pockets. Even so, his sky blue eyes betrayed his determined and respectful eyes. "Young Uzumaki, you've earned your spot in the Hero Course with your own undying conviction. This World, this country, these Heroes…including myself…turned our back on you before." Cameras zeroed in on the Symbol of Peace. The UA students gazed at the melancholy expression on the blonde Hero's face, wondering what All Might was talking about. "Even as the entirety of life's misgivings piled upon your restless shoulders, you persevered. However, your story is far from over, and…I have the utmost respect for you, Young Uzumaki. In the future, I, All Might, will be waiting for you to become a great Hero, a Hero that will rock the confines of Society!" Shouts of encouragement embodied the entirety of UA Stadium. All Might gripped Naruto's shoulder, smiling proudly. The students of UA witnessed the scene with many surrounding questions. Heroes turned their back on Uzumaki? Misgivings? Utmost Respect?!
The Number One Hero knew something about Naruto Uzumaki, possibly something catastrophically evident in the masked blonde's past. To them, the undeniably brutal, now Hero student, was an entire mystery that they weren't entitled to know. What had Naruto Uzumaki said or done to get the 'utmost respect' from fucking All Might?!
Izuku watched shockingly as All Might, his Master, spoke with the same shockingly serious tone as the day he bequeathed One for All to him. Was he being replaced for betraying his mentor's wishes with performing to his standards?! How could he blame him though…he messed up so much during the Sports Festival that he hadn't beseeched All Might's wish for him to have his 'I am Here' moment.
However, just like the rest of his classmates, Midoriya wondered about the blonde's past. How could he ignore the part about how Heroes supposedly 'turned their back' on him? Heroes always saved people, they always protected, so what was so discerning about Uzumaki's past that All Might himself was regretful?
Top 10 Heroes
"The hell is going on here? I don't like being kept out of the loop." Mirko squinted suspiciously at All Might and UA. The secretiveness of Uzumaki's past did not sit well with her.
Keigo nodded in agreement, much to the Bunny Hero's shock. "All Might told us he was an ex-Villain, that he was desperate over everything. It's probably nothing exaggeratingly shocking, but what else could they still be keeping from us?" He said, locking his eyes onto the masked blonde.
Man, he really wanted Naruto Uzumaki as an intern, but if the guy had major baggage…that would really take away from his free time.
10 Minutes Later
UA began to clear the stadium of fans and visiting Heroes. The outing for the Hero school had been one of their best of all time, raking in insane viewership and tons of funding for school programs. All of it was ingeniously planned by Nezu, even if most teachers at UA were reluctant about his reasoning previously.
After the USJ incident, Nezu formulated his plan to show a strong and united front to the 'League of Villains' while also helping provide his students and teachers with funds for their future endeavors towards Pro Hero-ship. His answer came spectacularly, falling right in his mouse-bear-dog lap.
Naruto Uzumaki, would show his caliber of skill whilst being announced as an ex-Villain. Thereby showing the 'League of Villains' that UA had completely snagged a future powerful Quirk user turned from the life of villainy. Regarding funds and viewership, just the presence of the blonde's engagements and the development of an underdog…the maniacal side of Nezu cackled madly at the perfectly orchestrated management.
…and everything went off without a hitch, though massive hits to the pride of 1-A suffered primarily. 4 of their Top 10 students were handily defeated by a single person, none even lasting more than a minute. Most of the UA staff hoped that the embarrassing defeat would stir determination in their students to never leave such an outcome again.
Now they had to prepare for the intern draft, where most if not all of 1-A and 1-B would find Hero Agencies.
Class 1-A Internship Draws, Two Days Later
The solemn mood of 1-A had lessened over the couple days they had to recover from the Sports Festival. Some of the injured students such as Todoroki and Bakugo had been restored to their full form by their local Recovery Girl.
"Ahh! I'm just so excited, I wonder if I'll get any offers although I didn't make it far!" Toru squealed while talking to the other girls in 1-A. They all sat in a circle around their desks talking excitedly about their chances to attend Hero Agencies.
Mina giggled while interlocking her fingers, "Don't worry Toru-chan, I got beat pretty badly but even I have a chance!" The pink skinned girl reassured the invisible girl happily.
"At least your performance was better than Jamming-whey over here." Jiro pointed her thumb to the Electrification Quirk user behind her, resulting in giggling girls and a crying Kaminari at the girls thinking he's uncool.
Momo had her legs crossed in a sophisticated position with her back ridden of any slouching. "Many of our matches will be a setback, regretfully mine as well, I would prepare for lower tier Agencies…but I can't help but hope for a chance with a Top 10 Hero!" She giddily trailed off her serious notion with melodic giggles.
"Well, let's do our best then if it does come to that!" Uraraka raised her fist, puffing her cheeks with determination to be a better Hero. The remaining girls looked at each other and did the same as well, striking poses and imagaining taking down Villains within the next week…
…Aoyama just thought they were practicing their Hero poses, so he joined in as well.
Aizawa walked into the scene of his female students all raising their fists, albeit annoying, it wasn't his first time witnessing their weirdness. "Sit down." The Erasure Quirk user had students immediately scramble to their desks knocking into each other chaotically. When they were finally settled in, Aizawa displayed each student's alloted internships to choose from. "As I'm sure all of you know, internships are next week. This means choosing an agency to intern for which will help you experience how the real Pros operate. I'd recommend picking wisely, all of you need to improve on something with your Quirk and/or your Physical or Mental applications. Now, I'm going to read off your names and the number of agencies to pluck from. I will also notify you of Top 10 Hero agencies in these announcements." All of 1-A inched out of their chairs, wanting to get the Agencies they were striving for.
A picture of Aoyama displayed on the screen, "Yuuga Aoyama, 0. For finishing outside of the Top 42 in the Obstacle Course, there are no options for internships for you. Please see me for extra training next week." The long blonde haired teenager lowered his head with a small 'c'est nul', no stars twinkled sporadically like before.
Next was a picture of a cute Pink skinned girl smiling widely, "Mina Ashido, 23.. Many were impressed with your Cavalry Battle performance and your Quirk adaptiveness. Most felt you were stuck with an overwhelming opponent, so there was still lots of interest in you. Your most prominent agencies will be under Cow Lady, Team Idaten, and a small shadowing of Bubble Girl." The Acid Quirk user smiled happily at her choices, plus Bubble Girl was really cute!
The familiar green hair and stretched face of Asui replaced the horned girl, "Tsuyu Asui, 18…Your observers knew you were best in the water, so some viewers marked you for Water Related Agencies. Your most prominent agencies will be under, (Doesn't matter), Team (Breaking the Fourth Wall), and Selkie." Asui's eyes widened at the chance to work with the Popular Seal Hero. She would look over the others, but Selkie was her number one pick as of this moment.
A serious looking blue haired teenager in glasses came upon the screen, "Tenya Iida, 396…Your Quirk drew a lot of attention from higher tier agencies. Many were extremely impressed with pushing Todoroki into a corner and because of that, your intern stock increased drastically. Your most prominent agencies will be under, (Doesn't matter), (Nobody), and (He won't choose this anyway)." Iida narrowed his eyes at his obviously good picks, many of his classmates shared the same opinion, but none of that mattered with his brother's near murderer still roaming Hosu City.
Uraraka's bubbly face happily appeared on the board, "Ochako Uraraka, 40…Many eyes were drawn to your Quirk conjunction with your above average strategy against Bakugo. Though you took unnecessary risks, many were willing to overlook those missteps to help improve your Hero capabilities. Your most prominent agencies will be under, (Noone), (Non-Existent Hero), and Gunhead." The girl grinned widely at the strong and popular Gunhead choice, although she wished Thirteen would have given her a chance.
A normal looking teenager popped up shortly after, "Mashirao Ojiro, 5…you were out of commission for the Cavalry Battle due to Hitoshi Shinso's Quirk, some took pity on you for such and allowed you to intern at their agency due to your previous titles in the Martial Arts. Your most prominent pick will be, Johnny Lawrence: Cobra Kai Hero." Ojiro's eyes twitched at the irony of his best choice.
Kaminari's smirking face replaced Ojiro's plain one, "Denki Kaminari, 31…Heroes scouting you believe your Quirk could be evolutionized under their guidance. Therefore, many Heroes with abilities similar to yours or offering guidance in strategy, asked for you. Your most prominent agencies will be under, (Electric Hero 1), (Heroing for Dummies), and (Chess Hero: Checkmate)." The boy grinned widely before being pointed out by Kyoka that they mostly just wanted to improve his fried brain.
A spiky head of red hair found its way onto the screen, "Ejirio Kirishima, 112…Suprisingly, although your fighting style was as straightforward as your Quirk, a lot of agencies wanted you for your tenacity. Your most prominent agencies will be under, (Meathead Hero), (Meathead Hero 2), Fourth Kind." Ejirio started yelling in excitement at landing one of his favorite Heroes.
An odd shaped head plastered with a shy smile, displayed behind Aizawa, "Kouji Kouda, 6…there's not much to say. Few have a similar Quirk to yours, so the number is low. None are prominent agencies, I'm afraid." The shy and quiet nodded downcasting.
Rikido's big lips were zoomed in on unintentionally, getting an embarrassed reaction from the Sugar Rush user. "Rikido Sato, 21…your reasons are similar to Kirishima. I'm afraid none of your agencies are prominent either." The muscular brown haired teenager sadly looked away.
A masked face with a blue mask appeared quickly, "Mezo Shoji, 45…Team Mineta had done very well in the Cavalry Battle until the last moments. Much of that was due to your near mastery of your Quirk functions, however, there is still much room to grow. Your most prominent choice will be under Gyges." Shoji was amazed to get the Prison Guard Hero, who also had multiple arms.
Next was the emo of 1-A, "Kyoka Jiro, 82…your Quirk has been widely sought after for sidekicks in the Pro Hero world, knowing this, you will have a lot of expectations to meet. Your most prominent agencies are under, Death Arms, (Sound Hero), and (Emo Hero)." She felt easily tempted to pick her favorite Hero she modeled herself after, but she was looking to improve herself, not run off to be a fangirl.
Hanta came up next, "Hanta Sero, 94…Quirks like yours are extremely useful for internships. Many of these Heroes use wire or string for their Quirks. Your most prominent agencies will be under, (Spiderman), (Rope Guy), and (Duct Tape Dude)." He grinned widely at seeing some of his favorites who influenced his moves.
The rare crow-headed student appeared looking menacingly at the camera. "Fumikage Tokoyami, 127…Many were looking forward to you making it to the later rounds. Unfortunately you were matched up with the tournament winner and lost that chance. Your stock lowered slightly, but not too much. Your most prominent agencies will be under, (Pigeon Head Prospector), (Raven Head Revenger), and (Worm Boy)." The sentient Quirk user mumbled something about hating worms.
The handsome face of Todoroki drew some blushing faces from the girl crowd, "Shoto Todoroki, 3978…You displayed excellent skill although coming up short in the end. All were incredibly impressed with your second round battle with Midoriya who had a counter to your Quirk. The calls coming in for you were non-stop, so use your time wisely to short through your choices. You landed 2 Top 10 hero agencies but these firms wanted you the most, Mt. Lady, Uwabami, and Endeavor." Midoriya turned, expecting to see a face of rage, but Shoto was calm as ever, taking it easily in stride. Although getting female Heroes that didn't really fit well with Shoto's Quirk confused him.
With no head in a picture and the only identifying feature being a UA collar, Toru pouted, "Toru Hagakure, 57…Like some here, your Quirk is great for specialization, but over reliance will only lead you astray. You have the power to be stealthy and strong with the right teacher, choose wisely. Your most prominent choice will be, (Vanishing Man: The Visible Weiner Hero)." Toru sweatdropped at seeing her choice.
A familiar frowning face took the place of the invisible head, "Katsuki Bakugo, 3118…Most Heroes believe you to be a Top 10 Hero candidate for the future, don't disappoint. You landed three Top 10 Hero agencies in Best Jeanist, Yoroi Musha and Ryukyu." The savagely grinning teenager almost blew up his desk in excitement.
Ochako blushed lightly upon seeing Deku displayed on the screen, "Izuku Midoriya, 1…All the Heroes that had interest in you disappeared immediately after seeing your self-destructive Quirk. Your one choice is a great one, you might want to talk to All Might about him. Gran Torina is your only choice, but he was a Top 10 Hero thirty years ago so it shouldn't matter." Aizawa received a saddened but perturbed look at only landing a single agency. Many of the others felt sorry for Izuka seeing as how he was probably one of the stronger 1-A students.
…if only he knew Gran Torino didn't have an agency at all.
The class perv followed shortly after, "Minoru Mineta, 26…Your Quirk captured some attention, and some were impressed with your Cavalry Battle performance. Your most prominent choice will be, Mt. Lady." The purple ball head boy drooled uncontrollably, grossing out the others around him.
Finally, the black ponytail girl of… "Momo Yaoyorozo, 175…your recommendation held a lot of ground in the pre-stocks, but with your lackluster decision making, your stock dropped tremendously. Don't let it beat you down, learn from it and make sure it doesn't happen again. Your most prominent agencies will be under Uwabami, Bubble Girl, or your pick of Mandalay or Pixie Bob from the Wild Wild Pussycats." She nodded determinedly, no way was she going to waste her chance to improve after losing her confidence so rapidly.
"Huh? Sensei, why are there 21 slots on the board?" Mina asked after many had their suspicions upon the reason for a 21.
Slowly, the eyes of Class 1-A grew agape. Upon the board was a picture of the Sports Festival Winner, Naruto Uzumaki. His half-lidded oceanic eyes and handsome masked face gained another round of blushes from the girls. "Naruto Uzumaki, a potential 1-A or 1-B student after placing first in the UA Sports Festival. 4217 offers from agencies across Japan after taking out 3 of the Top 5 students of Class 1-A in the tournament round. His Quirk usage and hand-to-hand combat are unmatched at his age, beating all opponents severely where none reached the minute mark. He landed 10 Top 10 agencies in All Might's recommended Sir Nighteye, Endeavor, Hawks, Best Jeanist, Mirko, Crust, Wash, Yoroi Musha, Ryukyu, and Gang Orca. He also landed agencies with the 11th through 29th ranked Heroes." Aizawa watched the deathly silent room of his students look at the board crazily. No doubt it was hard for them to believe, but they needed to see this.
"W-why are you showing this to us, Aizawa-sensei? Is it punishment for losing the Sports Festival?" Iida spoke up for his class, seeing as how he needed to fulfill his role as Class-Rep.
The scruffy dark haired Hero shook his head, "No. I'm showing this to you because I need you all motivated to become better students and future Heroes. 1-A was once the top class of Japan first years a few days ago. Now…you and 1-B are the laughing stocks that had a Gen Ed student embarrass you on live television in front of 24 million people. I didn't show his intern stock because I wanted you to mope, no, use this as fuel to get better and catch up to Uzumaki. I know all of you strive to be the Number One Hero or a Great Hero in general, but if you continue on this UA high-road path, Uzumaki will take that dream away from you…Class Dismissed." Aizawa walked out of the room, never looking behind him to see the reactions of his students.
Couple Days Later
Naruto and the 41 other intern candidates were coming in and out of Principal Nezu's office for hours on end. All had come prepared with top choices of agencies to choose from, expecting to walk out of the UA office with a final choice.
The masked blonde was scheduled later in the day to avoid possible confrontation with some of 1-A's more upset students. The amount of agencies he had to pick from was ridiculous, but he had zeroed in down to a few he was somewhat adamant to work under.
His Gen Ed classmate and possible Hero Course candidate, Hitoshi Shinso opened the oak framed door, giving Naruto a sparing glance. Shinso had a decent 25 offers from some mid and low tier agencies, but it seemed the boy was more motivated to reach an alternative solution.
"What's the verdict?" The blue eyed Uzumaki asked curiously.
The Brainwashing Quirk user stood in front of Naruto's chair as he responded, "Well…I was offered one on one training with Eraser Head here at UA for the week. I took it over the opposing mediocrity I was going to be stuck in. At least Aizawa-san is the competent type that I admire in a Hero." Naruto noticed that the teenager seemed rather happy to be placed with 1-A's teacher. Not that he was judging. Aizawa was a really great option for Hitoshi to improve himself, seeing as how the Erasure Hero had a similar emitter-type.
"Aizawa is the perfect sensei for you. But, I'd rather not have to explain it. You'll figure it out soon enough." Naruto lazily sat his blonde locks against the window behind him.
Shinso grumbled in annoyance, "Whatever. It's not like I was going to ask you anyway. Still, you should make sure not to blow your internship either, Lazy ass." The masked blonde nodded boringly, causing the purple haired teenager to scoff playfully.
The Brainwashing Quirk user strolled off slowly, his footsteps clacking against the tile floor, distancing himself as the seconds went by. Naruto got up creakingly from his sitting position and walked to the room he hadn't visited since his first meeting with UA's principal.
As he opened the large wooden door, Nezu sat taller with a tea cup and reference sheets sprawled across his desk. "Ahh Naruto-kun. It's good to see you, how are you doing?" The mouse-dog-bear cheerfully asked.
"Fine Nezu-sama, it's nice to see you again." The masked blonde bowed sincerely towards the small principal of UA.
The white creature chuckled heartingly, stirring his tea spoon in his cup. "The Sports Festival went well, don't you think so?" Nezu's sadistic started to stir his animal instincts as he smirked slyly.
"Yes. I completed my task as planned, never revealing my true Quirk as you asked. All Might's intervention was…unexpected, but not unwelcome. I was to get Japan's encouragement willingly, but All Might seemed to ease my efforts proficently." The half-lidded blue eyes answered emotionlessly.
"Indeed. You have done better than I could've hoped for, and today's internship choice has reflected proudly on that success. I must say, I am intrigued to hear which route you will be heading." Nezu motioned to the open seat in front of his desk. On the edge of the table was the document needed to sign one's permission to attend a Hero Agency.
Naruto hadn't the need to analyze all his offers, seeing as how he had already picked a Top 5. "I will get started right away then. I have picked five Top 10 Heroes to learn under, not in any order as of this moment." The mouse-dog-bear nodded, getting the masked blonde to continue. "My first choice is Sir Nighteye's agency. He developed Mirio Togata, and as such, I believe he can help me shape into a perfect combatist. Secondly, Yoroi Musha's Agency. His experience and veteran standards would enable me to question for more insight on the Hero society functionality and practicality. My third choice is Mirko's Agency. Her combat abilities are second to none amongst females in the Hero world, that being said, her strengths in speed and power would suit my Quirk very well. My fourth choice is Hawks' Agency. I have been compared to Hawks more than a few times, many believed us to be brothers. His personality and outlook on Heroes and life as a whole, reflect strongly with my own. This gives me not only connections to a possible future Number One Hero, but also the shadowing of a great combatist and intelligent strategist. Lastly, Endeavor was my final pick for an internship. Endeavor is second only to All Might in strength, but he's a more all rounded Hero as a whole. Raw force exponentially conjoined with technical skill offers me a chance to improve and master my repertoire." The blonde explained with brief detail for each of his draft choices.
"Yes I have to agree, you have done well Uzumaki-kun. If possible, I'd like you to narrow it down to three Heroes. Of those three, you should choose the most compatible and theoretically adaptive to yourself." Naruto mused easily enough in his head. He was already sure of his top choice, but indulging in second choices in case the agency he was interning for dropped him unexpectedly.
"Of course, of those original five, I chose Mirko, Hawks, and Endeavor. While Mirko is extremely capable and powerful, her personality conflicts with my own, leaving her to be my third preference. Endeavor is a man who strictly abides by the system and stays stagnant in his ways of reaching obtrusively for the Number One Hero position. Although my respect for Endeavor is fairly high, my ideals don't reflect majorly with him. Therefore, I believe Hawks to be my best choice. There is little to constrict my time as an intern if I'm under Hawks' command. I feel the most strongly about working with him, but if my offer falls through, Endeavor will be my second choice." Naruto preemptively summarized cleanly. Nezu confirmed the choice, already smiling at the choice, thinking it to be best for the stoic boy.
The UA principal grinned happily at his new Hero Course student. "That is a fine pick Uzumaki-kun. Hawks, while unorthodox, still represents the greatness of rising generations. For the Hero you're trying to be, Hawks is the best nomination I'd recommend." He said, folding his hands around his tea cup.
"Now, if you sign here…and here, then you should be all set!" Naruto nodded, picking up the pen placed in front of him. A precise signature smoothly enraptured the document.
…Naruto Uzumaki was officially interning at The Hawks Agency.
Hawks Agency
Keigo sat napping lightly behind his desk. His yellow coated pants were kicked up on the ledge, leaving the Red Winged Hero to breathe deeply. Annoyingly, a knock to his office door alerted the preoccupied Hero to either Ami, his secretary, or one of his sidekicks coming to finish a report.
"Ah, I apologize for disrupting you Takami-sama, but I was just on the phone with UA's principal." Hawks inched up in his comfortable office chair, obviously intrigued. "I bring good news. Naruto Uzumaki will be an intern here next week, Endeavor and Mirko were his other top choices, but Nezu said 'he respected Hawks the most'." The beautiful blue haired woman reported with a smile.
Hawks nodded, a small smirk plastered on his features. 'Respected me over Endeavor, oh man, the big guy would never stand for that.' Hawks comically imagined the reaction of the Number Two Hero.
"That is great news, Ami. Well…let's show Naruto Uzumaki how one of the Top Agencies operates." Takami turned to his secretary stoically, but his long-time secretary knew that her boss was enthralled.
Keigo-sama really wanted Naruto Uzumaki, getting him to intern and flatter his ego was enough to excite the otherwise bored Hero.
End
Woah! Pretty hefty chapter my friends!
I'm zeroing in on a pairing. Not necessarily a harem, but maybe 1-3 girls at the most.
Sports Festival finally ended in style! The small intern arc is now up!
Favorite, Follow, and Review!
I'll be voting on my favorite abilities you suggest. (Ex. Kamui Intangibility)
Peace fool, ya fool!