The Okami Hero: Amaterasu
Arc 5: Eight Serpents
Chapter 8: Calling in the Cavalry
[Tuesday19thApril 2281]
[Police Station, Musutafu]
Toshinori Yagi sat at a borrowed desk in the Musutafu Police Station, surrounded by dozens of Police Officers from both Musutafu and Corusantu, all waiting around in full riot gear while nearby, the Heroes of U.A did their paperwork, trying to keep up with their teacher work for U.A while awaiting the moment their strike team could mobilise against the Shie Hassaikai.
Everyone was tense, waiting for even the slightest clue or scrap of info to lead them to the Shie Hassaikai so they could rescue the kidnapped Izumi Midoriya. Principal Nezu was working with the Musutafu and Corusantu Police Chiefs to go over what they'd managed to dig up on the Yakuza Group, but progress was slow going. So far, all they'd managed to do was assemble the strike force and set up a signal redirect for Izumi's phone, so the moment it made a call, it would go straight to the strike team no matter whose number was entered. Izumi's foster mother Sakuya Konohana had told them about the GPS feature of her daughter's phone as well, so they were prepared to lock onto it the moment it was switched back on.
Sakuya and the rest of Izumi's friends and family had started almost living at the Police Station following Izumi's kidnapping. Most of them weren't allowed to directly help the investigation, since the majority of the Konohana Household were technically not employees of the Hero Commission, but Sakuya, the Onikawa Brothers, Tenji Iida, Ryuko Torikago, and Hawks (who'd rapidly finished his drug bust in Hokkaido and flown home after hearing about Izumi's kidnapping) were all helping in every way they could. Thanks to them, the Shie Hassaikai Strike Force now included the full might of U.A High School, the Musutafu Hero Commission, the Musutafu and Corusantu Police Forces AND two Top Five Heroes in the form of All-Might and Hawks. Even Ingenium and his Hero Agency; Team Idaten, had been brought in to help by his cousin Tenji.
The rest of Izumi's friends and family, the ones who weren't allowed to help, made themselves useful in any other way they could. This usually involved doing odd jobs such as fetching paperwork, cleaning the Police Station, making coffee, and going on food runs.
Everyone was working hard to find and rescue Izumi, who'd been missing for four days now.
In that time, Sakuya Konohana had privately approached Toshinori to point out to him that among her staff, only she knew that he wasn't All-Might's manager, but All-Might himself. Toshinori had felt foolish to not have remembered that the Hero Commission President would obviously remember his real name, but rather than be upset with the Number One Hero, Sakuya had been worried by how much he'd atrophied due to his injuries. Sakuya had her personal Doctor, Doctor Tanaka, examine him again and take over his care. When All-Might softly protested, Sakuya pointed out that if his health got in the way of saving her daughter, she wouldn't forgive him, and that one of the best things she could do to help Izumi right now was to look after the man who had the best chance of defeating her captors. Sakuya even had her cook, Doi Nazo, preparing special meals for him that were nutritious and easy on his heavily damaged digestion system.
Toshinori found he quite liked the Konohana Household Members… which made him feel awful about his misgivings over their missing Young Lady.
All-Might was the Number One Hero and the Symbol of Peace, the Top of the Hero Leaderboard in Japan, the USA AND the EU, and ranked in the Top Ten in every country to have its own leaderboard. All-Might was literally the Number One Hero in the world… and yet he'd been brought low, left weakened and emaciated with a daily time limit of three hours for his Hero Work, and all because of one man.
The World's Greatest Villain: All for One.
A man characterised by his cruelty, his cold intelligence, and his quirk, which shared his name. A quirk with the power to steal and use other quirks. All for One had crippled All-Might in their last fight five years before, a fight in which the Villain had lost his life. Before All-Might defeated him, All for One had stolen countless quirks, ruled Japan's Criminal Underworld for decades, and killed Toshinori's mentor and mother figure; Nana Shimura. All-Might had been so relieved when the man died, even though it had cost him much of his strength.
But then he'd learned of Izumi Midoriya, Quirk: Okami, a unique quirk that allowed Izumi to produce ink that could cast a variety of different effects, almost like she had multiple quirks. And what was one of those different effects? The power to take and use other quirks.
All-Might and the Top Ten Heroes had been told of this power before the Government classified it and sealed Izumi's entry in the Quirk Registry. It was standard procedure with incredibly powerful quirks, in case the user became a Villain or was taken captive (which had of course happened to Izumi). After being told about her quirk, All-Might had gained a small obsession with finding out more about the girl. Official government records displayed the different powers the "Okami" quirk could grant, but was any of it true? Those extra powers could have been stolen after all, a way of disguising her true Quirk Stealing Power. But then why register that particular power at all? There was no evidence of people losing the quirks that she could use through Okami, but Toshinori couldn't help feeling paranoid.
Then he'd read the transcripts of Izumi's meeting with the Government to discuss the power, and in the process, he'd learned the limitations of Izumi's quirk taking power.
Toshinori hadn't known what to think… Izumi couldn't take quirks without permission, which surely meant she was no danger, but the memories of the evils the real All for One had perpetrated wouldn't let Toshi rest easily. His own friend, Detective Tsukauchi had vouched that she wasn't lying either, so the limitation was real. In addition, the records the Government had on Izumi's activity painted a very different story of Izumi compared to All for One; there were hundreds of reports from Civilians and Police Officers talking about how Izumi had helped them, doing just about anything helpful that could be done. Toshinori couldn't imagine All for One babysitting children or helping elderly couples with their gardens, and he certainly couldn't imagine the Villain refusing the money and prestige offered for the tasks. But Izumi had refused every reward offered her, and even shied away from the nickname they'd given her; "The Kami of Musutafu"!
Heck, she'd become a Provisional Hero and was expected to become a full fledged Pro before entering High School, thanks to an experimental "Junior Hero Program" that the Commission was testing.
It seemed Izumi shared All for One's quirk but nothing else… in fact Sakuya and Izumi's friends had insisted Izumi's biggest dream was to become a Hero like her idol, All-Might. Sakuya had especially emphasised that point.
She was certainly more like All-Might than All for One!
But the distrustful feelings in Toshinori's heart wouldn't shift. Everything was pointing to the girl being a good person, but Toshinori just couldn't get over her quirk… he felt like a monster for thinking it, but to him it would always be a Villainous Quirk!
Toshinori was once again wrestling with these thoughts and feelings when Sakuya came over and offered him a cup of tea freshly made by Doi.
"Here you go, Mr Yagi. Are you feeling well?" Sakuya asked pleasantly. She was putting on a brave face and keeping busy, to keep her mind from spiralling into worry and fury.
"Thank you, President Konohana. I must give my compliments to Mrs Nazo; she makes wonderful tea." Toshinori smiled, taking a sip, "I'm doing well. The meals you've had her make for me are doing a world of good."
Sakuya smiled pleasantly; "Wonderful! Doctor Tanaka informs me that people who've lost their stomachs like you need a lot of small meals through out the day. Please be sure to let me know if you'd like anything specific, I will pass the request, and your compliments, onto Doi. And please, call me Sakuya. Being referred to as President Konohana all the time is becoming awkward."
Toshinori nodded; "In that case, please call me Toshinori. You and your Household work far too hard for us, Sakuya."
"Nonsense!" The Tree Spirit smiled, "You're all working hard for my daughter's sake. I would be a poor excuse for a mother if I didn't do my part. I may only be a Foster Mother to Izumi and Himiko, but as I cannot have children biologically, I consider both to be my own flesh and blood."
"I-I see..." Toshinori smiled awkwardly. He always felt awkward when Sakuya mentioned her daughters… it reminded him of his negative feelings and the guilt they brought him.
"I'll introduce you to Izumi when we've got her back. She adores All-Might so much, she'll be thrilled to meet his "manager!" Sakuya winked. She'd already promised not to reveal Toshinori's alter ego to anyone without his permission. "Izumi has based her Heroic Philosophy on All-Might. He is what inspired her to become a Hero; she's completely smitten with the idea of a Hero that saves everyone with a smile! I sometimes think he raised her as much as I did, and without even meeting her!"
Toshi chuckled weakly to hide his wince. Sakuya really knew how to twist the knife, and all without realising it. It was getting too much for Toshinori to take… he needed to ask her something.
"Sakuya, if you don't mind me asking… what do you think of your Foster Daughter's quirk? Specifically the Quirk Taking part?" he asked. Maybe if he got the opinion of someone who really knew the girl, he'd be able to put his suspicions to rest.
Sakuya opened her mouth to speak, but was immediately cut off by a shout from a man at a nearby computer.
"Izumi Midoriya's GPS just came online!" he yelled, quickly putting on a phone headset and typing away at the keyboard.
"Get a lock on it now! Everyone, prepare to move out!" Chief Ojiyama ordered.
The man at the keyboard began typing frantically and clicking his mouse like a mad man. "I've got a lock on the signal, but it's weak."
"She is no doubt underground somewhere." Principal Nezu said, the Mouse-like creature appearing from the crowd of U.A heroes rushing to leave. "Do you have an address?"
"Yes sir! The signal is coming from a small commercial area in Corusantu. It doesn't match an exact address. ETA 53 Minutes" the Computer Operator said.
Nezu nodded; "The Compound likely stretches out underground. Send the nearest address and the exact coordinates to all members of the Strike Team. Cementoss, we'll need you to open a path into the compound."
Cementoss nodded and everyone's phones bleeped as the messages were sent. "You've already got your orders! All Units, move out!" Chief Ojiyama yelled.
The Strike Team immediately ran from the room, heading for the cars prepared to take them. As Toshinori, Hawks, Nezu and the Police Chiefs began to leave (as they were the commanders of the Strike Team), the Operator suddenly shouted.
"We have an incoming phone call from Izumi Midoriya! She's called 119!" the Operator said.
"Put it on speaker. Ojiyama, take the call." Nezu ordered.
Chief Ojiyama took the headset from the Operator and put it on while the Operator pressed a few buttons on his keyboard, putting Izumi on speaker so they could all hear her while ensuring only Ojiyama could speak to her.
Izumi's voice came in loud and clear;
"Hello, Police? This is Izumi Midoriya, I've been kidnapped by a Yakuza Group called the Shie Hassaikai, along with a small child! They're torturing us; please send help!"
One of the Maeda Maids screamed in horror, dropping the coffee she'd been delivering, while Himiko and Katsuki turned deathly pale. Of the members of their Household, only Dabi and Hawks stayed calm, though the former was bearing his teeth with anger and the latter's feathers were flaring out, itching to be released to wreak havoc upon the Yakuza. Toshinori's heart sank, but he stayed to give support to the Konohana Group. In Hero Form, he could be at the coordinates faster than the Strike Team anyway and he didn't want to risk attacking the compound alone, for fear of the girls being hurt. The Yakuza might take them hostage while All-Might was smashing apart their forces, but with the entire Strike Team at his back, they'll all be too busy to think of the girls! Little did he know, but Hawks was lingering for much the same reason, being perhaps the only Hero present who was faster than All-Might.
Ojiyama kept his cool. "Izumi, please stay calm. This is Musutafu's Chief of Police; Tetsuo Ojiyama. A team of Police and Heroes are already on route to your location. They'll be with you within the hour; All-Might will be with them, as will Hawks, Ingenium and all the Heroes of U.A."
"All-Might!? Oh thank goodness… Eri, we'll be fine now; the Number One Hero is coming!"
Her voice was filled with so much hope and relief that it made Toshi feel worse about his suspicions. It would hurt her deeply to know her Idol had such suspicions towards her.
"Are you in a safe location? Can you hold out?" the Chief asked.
"Yes Sir. They kept us locked in a room, and me in a quirk restraint that stopped all my powers."
Sakuya gasped and began rapidly sending messages to people with her phone. All-Might didn't realise it, but Sakuya knew that if Izumi had been restrained from ALL her powers, then Demons must be involved and her allies within the Strike Team had to be warned.
"I've gotten free of the restraint and we're currently hiding in the bathroom connected to the room we were placed in. It can't be locked, but they can't see us with their cameras, so they don't know we're free yet. They'll come for us the moment they know you're here."
"Don't worry, we'll ensure your safety. Izumi, I know this is difficult, but any information you can give us will be extremely valuable to the Strike Team. Can you give us any details on your captors? Their names, appearances or quirks? Anything will help." Ojiyama said.
"Yes sir. Their leader is named Kai Chisaki. He uses the name Overhaul, and its also the name of his quirk. Anything he touches with his hands can be deconstructed and reconstructed according to his will, even people. If he touches you, he'll destroy you instantly. He has short brown hair and gold eyes. He wears a green coat with purple fur at the top and a red and gold mask like a bird's beak over his nose and mouth." She explained.
Ojiyama nodded; "Good work Izumi. Anyone else?"
"Beneath Overhaul, he has a group he calls his Eight Bullets, but I only know a few of them. One is a massive muscly man named Rikiya Katsukame, but I don't know his quirk. Next is Hekiji Tengai and his quirk is Barrier, it lets him make golden spheres around himself that are as strong as steel, he dresses in a Yukata. Third is Shin Nemoto, whose quirk forces you to tell the truth. He wears a completely black Plague Doctor's outfit, so I don't know what he looks like. There's also a man who goes by Chronostasis, but I don't know his quirk or if he's considered a Bullet too. He wears a full face plague doctor's mask and a white rain coat, so I don't know what he looks like either. That's everything I know about the members."
Nezu quickly typed up all the information and sent it to the Strike Team Members while Chief Seido began checking her computer for information on Katsukame or Chronostasis.
"You've done wonderfully, Izumi. The information you've given us will be extremely helpful. Is there anything else you can tell us?" Ojiyama asked.
"Yes Sir. The reason I was kidnapped was to use my healing ability on Eri, the child they held captive, whom Overhaul was experimenting on. Her quirk is called Rewind, and Overhaul was gathering cells from her to create a drug capable of rewinding the human evolution that resulted in quirks. His goal is to destroy all Quirks." Izumi reported.
Everyone in the room paled; was Overhaul insane!? That would be a disaster for the whole planet!
"Do you know if he succeeded in making any of this drug?" Ojiyama asked urgently.
"I don't think so, but I'm not sure. I'm sorry but… I used my quirk to take Eri's quirk for myself. I had Eri's permission, and I've given it back now that I'm free from the restraint, but I needed to do it. Overhaul was torturing her to get her cells, so I made a deal with him."
Toshinori's heart nearly stopped; so Izumi had taken a quirk… she'd had permission and given it back but that didn't change the fact she'd taken it.
"What was the deal?" Ojiyama asked.
"Overhaul needed cells with the active Rewind Quirk in it, which is why he tortured Eri. I took the quirk so he would take the cells from me instead." Izumi explained.
Sakuya nearly collapsed. Dabi had to catch her and lower her gently into a seat. Himiko was grinding her teeth and clenching her fists so tightly that her nails were cutting her palms, while Katsuki actually had to shove his hands into cups of water to stop himself exploding. Toshinori's jaw hung open.
Ojiyama gulped; "Are you alright? Are you hurt at all?"
There was a pause, then Izumi reluctantly answered; "Overhaul tortured me every night. Today was the fourth time. I'm okay, I can endure it, but I had to do it. I couldn't let him hurt Eri any more!"
Toshinori felt his suspicions and worries die in his chest. Izumi Midoriya had taken All for One, an evil and irredeemable quirk… and used it to save someone. She'd taken someone's quirk so she could take their place in the torture they were suffering. He felt like a fool… he'd acted like a rookie and had mistaken a person for their quirk. He'd forgotten the first lesson taught in U.A's rescue classes, the very lesson that Space Hero: Thirteen still taught to this day; a quirk that can save can also kill and vice versa. Hell, All-Might had proven that by using his own "Heroic" quirk to kill All for One.
There was no such thing as an evil quirk… only evil people.
"There's more. I need you to contact President Konohana of the Hero Commission and tell her what I'm about to tell you." Izumi's voice said, lowering to a whisper, "The Shie Hassaikai are being sponsored by an extremely powerful "Villain" known as Yamata No Orochi. He is the real Villain behind the Reaper Attacks, and he had 88 of his creatures in the Yakuza Base. I managed to kill one, but he still has 87 more."
Sakuya almost screamed while the entire Konohana Group paled drastically. There was some more frantic messaging between Sakuya and her people, while Toshinori and the Police Chiefs gasped.
"Are you 100% certain? Are you SURE this Orochi is the Reaper?" Ojiyama asked urgently.
"Yes sir, I'm 100% sure. My mother was a victim of him, and I was beaten by one of his creatures, the same one that took my Mom's s- vitality. That was the creature I killed. They're invisible to 90% of people, but President Konohana can help."
Ojiyama turned to Sakuya, who nodded and mouthed that she'd already sent along orders to her people. Coming to a decision, Toshinori patted Sakuya on the shoulder; "Your daughter has the heart of a Hero. She'll be fine. I've already alerted All-Might, but I'll go and make sure he's on his way."
Sakuya smiled weakly, her face pale and her hands shaking as Toshinori ran from the room. The moment he was out of sight of both people and Cameras, he ripped off his suit to reveal his Hero Costume and allowed his quirk to imbue him with its power. In a burst of steam, his body swelled into the form of All-Might.
"Izumi Midoriya, I am on my way!" All-Might declared, leaping onto the roof tops and beginning his trip to Corusantu. He had about 45 minutes to get there if he was to arrive with the Strike Team, and then he'd have just over 2 hours of time in his Hero Form; more than enough to crush the Yakuza.
He caught up with the convoy carrying the Strike Team in mere minutes, and ended up standing atop one of the vans to conserve stamina and ensure he didn't arrive early. People cheered as they saw him pass, their Number One Hero, knowing that no matter what was happening; All-Might would save the day.
What followed was one of longest drives of All-Might's life. He couldn't remember the last time 45 minutes felt so long! Hawks finally caught up not long after All-Might did, flying high above the convoy with an uncharacteristically grim expression on his face. Finally, the convoy reached Corusantu and then the area above the Shie Hassaikai Compound. It was just like the Operator said; they were in a small commercial area with several office buildings for various small businesses, each walled off in their own little area. However, the signal Izumi's GPS gave off was smack in the middle of the road.
Immediately, All-Might took command of the Strike Team. "Cordon off this area! No one is to enter or leave this street until we've recovered Young Midoriya!" he ordered.
The Police immediately obeyed, parking their vehicles to block the roads and getting men in riot gear to block the smaller access and exit points. The Heroes and remaining officers quickly set up an Operational HQ for the raid and a medic station for the injured, then arranged themselves into squads and prepared to invade. Once everyone was in position, All-Might looked to Cementoss.
"Cementoss, you know what to do. The signal is coming from directly below us!" All-Might said.
Cementoss placed his hands against the ground and flexed his fingers; "One entryway, coming up!" he said, focusing intensely. With his quirk, Cement, he could freely manipulate any cement-based materials, such as concrete, with only a touch of his hands. The concrete road began to melt at his touch, and with a wave of his hand, several feet of the stuff was pulled away, leaving a gaping hole that led straight to the Shie Hassaikai's Secret Compound.
The "room" they'd busted into was actually a stretch of the underground base's corridors with a few terrified Yakuza passing through., some of whom attacked and some who fled into the tunnels. The few that attacked immediately had their quirks temporarily erased with a single glance from Eraserhead, then knocked out by Vlad King and Hound Dog, whom jumped into the hole.
"This isn't a room. The kid must be on a lower level." Vlad shouted to the surface group.
Cementoss frowned; "I can feel the complexity of the tunnels. If I dig down another level, then I may collapse the whole thing. Hundreds could die, including Midoriya and the other captive."
All-Might nodded; "Reshape the concrete you moved into stairs; we'll use this as our entry point and sweep the whole place!"
Cementoss obediently warped the concrete into a set of stairs, so the police wouldn't have to jump down. All-Might then turned to the Strike Team; "We're taking the whole group down! Nezu has sent you all the updates on the enemy Midoriya provided. "
"Everyone, we're dealing with both the Yakuza and the Reaper here." Hawks shouted, "Only 1 in 10 people can see the Reaper's minions. You've all been assigned to a squad led by someone who has been confirmed to be able to see them, so follow and obey them! If you can see these creatures as well, then fight to kill; they aren't people and will not surrender to arrest, kill them without consequence." Hawks commanded. Strictly speaking, killing the Demons would just mean they would come back later, but without Izumi fighting at their side, they couldn't permanently kill the creatures anyway.
The squads quickly rearranged themselves so their Demon-seeing Leader stood at the front, each one marked with a cherry blossom patterned armband. Among them were the Onikawa Brothers, Hawks, and Ingenium (whom didn't know about the Demons, but could see them according to his cousin Tenji).
All-Might nodded approvingly; "Good. Young Midoriya and the other captive child are the priorities! Move out!"
And with that, the Shie Hassaikai Compound Raid began!
[Moments earlier, with Overhaul]
Overhaul had been in his office with Chronostasis, going over the progress they'd made with the Quirk Destroying Drug, when the whole compound suddenly began shaking.
"An earthquake?" Chrono wondered aloud, steadying himself as the sudden shaking stopped.
Once it had stopped, the Yakuza Boss's phone rang and Overhaul narrowed his eyes, looking at the caller ID. It was a call from the Surveillance Room. "What is it?" he answered.
"Boss! We've got big trouble! A whole army of Cops and Heroes just busted through the ceiling in one of the top floor tunnels! They've got Cementoss, Vlad King, Hound Dog… some guy with scarves… and like twelve other heroes! And… oh shit, All-Might and Hawks are here!"
Overhaul paled; two Top Five Heroes complicated things. He needed to secure his research and his test subjects, then get out.
"Sir, some of our men in the lower levels have gone missing, and others have reported that monsters are running out from the off-limits area! We've also lost the video feed from the Old Boss's room."
Overhaul's eyes narrowed. Orochi had let his demons off the leash then, and they were attacking any and all humans indiscriminately, plus they could no longer check on the condition of the Old Boss. He growled into the phone; "Any other disasters to report!?"
"Uh, yeah." the thug answered nervously, "Eri and Midoriya have been in the bathroom since they returned tonight, but Eri just ran out and threw a sheet over the camera."
Overhaul felt a migraine coming on as he threw his phone into the wall with anger; "That brat… I'll deal with both of them once we get out of here." he growled. "Chrono, go secure the brats. Be as rough as necessary and give them both a couple of good smacks to teach them not to cause us trouble. Be sure to avoid Orochi's Demons along the way, I doubt they'll differentiate between you and the Cops. I'm going to the lab to gather the research."
"Got it, Boss. What should I do after I've got the kids?" Chrono asked.
"This base is a bust. Leave everything; the men we've got here can hold the Heroes off and cover our escape. Once you've got the brats, meet me in the lab and I'll open us a path to the sewers; we'll escape through there." Overhaul said, rubbing his eyes in frustration. The mere thought of Heroes in his home was making him break out in hives.
Chrono nodded obediently and headed out; he had some misbehaving children to discipline.
[Meanwhile, with Orochi]
The Eight Headed Snake Demon listened with amusement to the little snakes slithering around him, reporting what was happening in the base. It was no surprise to Orochi that the Police and Heroes had arrived, as he had known of Amaterasu's plan from the beginning. His tiny snake familiars slithered through the walls and vents, acting as his eyes and ears, proving much more effective than Overhaul's silly little cameras. Orochi's snakes had seen and heard all of Amaterasu's plans, from the initial planning meeting with her Poncle Companion (whom Orochi had to order his snakes not to eat) all the way up to the moment the girl had cut off her own foot.
Orochi had been impressed by that, and privately hoped to get the girl to give him her severed foot… Amaterasu would make a wonderful ally, but he still wanted a taste of her sweet flesh.
With a small sigh, Orochi allowed his immense form to turn to smoke and pour into the mouth and nostrils of the meat bag he'd been using as a host. It was humiliating for a Demon General of his status to need such a thing, but his body was large and impressive, too much so for the streets of the cramped Human World… It mattered not; he would be leaving this pathetic hideout today, and abandoning his meat bag disguise as soon as his plan was complete. The Shie Hassaikai were good pawns, and Overhaul in particular was such a useful and rotten human, but the man would need to be sacrificed in order for Orochi to claim a much greater prize.
Overhaul believed that Orochi wanted either Eri or Amaterasu as his 100th sacrifice… a fair belief, as it had been Orochi who'd told him that, but the truth was far more satisfying. The power Orochi would gain from devouring Amaterasu would not be enough to put him above the Evil One, especially when Amaterasu inevitably reincarnated (even he could not permanently kill a God after all) and while Eri would certainly make for a delightful snack, devouring her to enrage Amaterasu into turning into a Demon would just put him at the top of the freshly Demonized Amaterasu's hit list.
No, he planned to Demonize Amaterasu through another method, one which could turn the useful Eri into his ally too. With the Demon Amaterasu on his side, and a loyal human follower with the power to rewind life, including Demons, Orochi would be unstoppable and even the Evil One would be forced to kneel or die.
Orochi cackled as he stretched and warmed up the muscles of his human host. There was a reason snakes like him were tricksters after all! Orochi may have failed to defeat Amaterasu twice before, but third time was the charm, and he was a crafty snake in the grass!
Next Chapter: Fall of Overhaul
To be Released: July 6th 2021
Hehe sorry to end it there! I know we're only just getting started, but I wanted to quickly show some different perspectives before we get into the nitty gritty of the escape/rescue. I'm sure the next chapter will make up for it though ;)
A brief note on All-Might: It probably feels like he changed his mind very quickly about Izumi, but I feel that it fits. In canon, he went from "Quirkless Izuku can't become a Hero" to "Be my successor" in one afternoon after seeing Izuku rush to save Katsuki, so knowing Izumi has AFO but can't steal quirks, is trying to be a good Hero, is inspired by him, and only took a quirk to save a girl from being tortured, is all enough to make him change his mind. And besides, he didn't outright hate or dislike her, he was just suspicious, so I feel it was easier for him to change his opinion.
Happy 4th of July to all my American readers; I hope you enjoy your day!
I hope you enjoyed! Please Comment and Review; it really encourages me!