Hey Everybody! Thank you for following, favorting, and reviewing my latest chapter! We have finally hit the 1k mark on follows and favorites, making this story the highest trending story in the MHA/Naruto category!
Last chapter we finished the Sports Festival, where Naruto came out first place and picked his Hero agency.
The Intern Arc will only be a chapter or two, in which Naruto will not have any encounters with Stain. That being said, another one of my favorite Villains from MHA will be introduced in an Original Arc. This Villain has another similar personality and idealistic view to Naruto, making him a perfect appearance.
Anyways, let's get this started! Hope you all enjoy my sixth installment of Flash.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter 6: The Newest Piece
HPSC
A group of men dressed in uniformed suits and ties, sat around a circular crestwood table, all fitted with computers and wires alike. "Hawks landed Uzumaki from UA. He himself stated his profound interest in the boy, so, how do we proceed?" One of the cumbersome workers had his fingers interlaced.
"I see it as a perfect opportunity for our Number Three Hero to introduce his newest intern. I'm sure all of us here were interested in Uzumaki's performance in UA's Festival." Seeing the nods of his fellow colleagues, the man continued, "Hawks is a perfect enforcer, his diligence and altruism in the face of danger and other rudimentary obituaries, makes him a stellar all-rounder. Uzumaki is much different…but…I do believe he fills a role we've been missing for quite awhile. One that needs to be filled again, and quickly." The Vice Advisor spoke, getting reluctant nods from the others of the commision.
Another businessman looked critically disturbed, "You can't be serious?! Do I have to remind you all of the subject we created the last time such a role was befitted to a sole person? Our President was killed! We've already abolished such barbaric ways to protect our Heroes and the public's safety!" The man stood up, extending his arms outward in a placating motion.
"Yes, that is true, but…we can already skip the precursors that we're instated with our previous enforcer. Naruto Uzumaki is strong, calculative, intelligent to the core, and most of all…merciless. The boy is a perfect Hero student to groom for such a position, you cannot disagree with the facts. Whether you want to believe it or not, one day, Japan will need a Hero like her again." The Vice Advisor raised his voice slightly at his fellow committee personnel.
The men collectively nodded in agreement. "I see where you would be hesitant, but I assure you that we will do right with a second chance." The man said respectively, drawing many to adhere to his tone.
"Tell Hawks to bring him around tomorrow at 2:30, I'd like to get to see Naruto Uzumaki in person." The Chairman of the board informed his awaiting assistant.
First Day of Internship
Naruto gazed upwardly at the Fukuoka building. The Hawks Agency was one of the best in all of Japan even though it was only started a few years ago by the once 18 year old Hero. The building wasn't overly large or boastful in any manner, but it did have that professionally constructive build.
It was his first day of his Internship that would last throughout the week. Shadowing one of the Top 3 Heroes was an honor restricted to only the best of Hero candidates going through the Japan Hero system.
Fukuoka was very difficult to commute to, seeing as how the agency was in the southern part of Japan. Not that he would complain about staying the week with Hawks. The 22 year old was, without a doubt, the best choice for his internship.
His skill in espionage was unmatched amongst the top Heroes. Compiled with his high intelligence, Hawks truly was a Hero that Naruto could learn many things from. Regardless of specialization, he still needed to have the 'All-Rounder' skill set for his dream to become a reality. Unfortunately, his time with the Winged Hero would be short, so he would have to soak in all the information he could get.
Stepping into the building, Naruto saw a woman waiting for him. She held a sign with his name on it, printed orderly with UA's symbol next to it. He lazily strolled towards the blue haired woman with his hands in his pockets, carefully glancing at his surroundings.
Seeing his familiar face, the beautiful, but professionally coated woman, waved curtly. "Ah, you must be Uzumaki-san. My name is Ami Fukado, Hawks-sama's personal secretary. Please follow me, I'll lead you to him." She politely bowed to him, leaving him to nod in acknowledgment. It seemed she was slightly off put by his stoic demeanor…or was she somehow comparing him to someone?
With a short nod, Naruto and Ami entered an elevator not far from where she had introduced herself. "Hawks-sama is located on the top floor. We will stop at the development department to get situated with an ID badge, as well as other material you will need for your internship." She pressed on a metal button labeled with an 11. Naruto saw that there were 30 floors in total, meaning the Winged Hero was probably on the highest one.
Finally coming to a stop after a fairly brief escalation, the two occupants entered the 11th floor. A slightly narrow hallway opened up to a large facility that was difficult to view from the identification station placed in front of them. Scanning her hand, Ami motioned for him to follow.
Walking through the small stations of people silently working on blueprint projects on 3-D tablets and computers. The blue haired woman stopped at a desk cleanly sprouted with identification papers already written with his name over them. "We have already gained access to your personal information through UA. Therefore, we do not need you to participate in any legal obituaries. So, along with your ID, we will have to fit you with a retinal and fingerprint identification needed for accessing certain floors of The Hawks Agency." She said with her hand pointed towards the office chair sat parallel to the desk.
This process was definitely what he expected of a Top Hero Agency, but everything was so organized and professionalized, that it was hard to imagine Hawks managed this place entirely.
A Few Minutes Later
Leading him back to the elevator, Ami pressed the 30th floor button. Both had to go through a minor process with the retinal and print scan to access Hawks personal office, which was a very interesting experience in itself for Naruto.
"I didn't take Hawks to be so enthusiastic with security measures, I must have miscalculated his character." The masked blonde spoke for the first time, causing grey eyes to focus upon his form.
The secretary giggled slightly into her hand, "Well, that is because he isn't. Hawks-sama is confident in his ability to combat any that may infiltrate his agency, but he's not arrogant. It's mainly for the safety of his employees, that is why he hired me." She said with a prideful smile.
Naruto quirked an eyebrow at that, "Oh, I see. Your Quirk specializes in security." He summarized, slightly arriving to a speculation after seeing her stare intently at his scans.
She nodded her head, "Somewhat, my Quirk is USB. Basically, I can access any database from remote locations within a certain area. Originally, I was hired as a sidekick, but now, Hawks-sama has me fitted into both assistant and sidekick roles." Ami vocalized her Quirk proudly. It seemed she took great pride in her job.
The elevator bell alerted both to their destination. As the metal doors slid open, Naruto was greeted with an open layout, littered with humble decorum. Sitting behind a dark oak desk was the Number Three Hero, Hawks.
The Red Winged Hero had his boots kicked up on the desk as he peaked open a gold orb. Ami's heels clicked to the side of his desk as the two closed in upon the Pro Hero. "I apologize for making you wait, Hawks-sama. I have entered him into the system as you asked, and believe he is ready for instruction." She handed the blonde Hero a file that he took with an arm untucked from behind his head.
"Thank you Ami. I won't be too long." He sat up a tad straighter in his mahogany chair, getting the Hero to turn expressionless eyes upon Naruto.
The blue haired woman bowed before leaving the way they came. Upon seeing the doors of the elevator close, Hawks opened the manilla folder his secretary handed him. "There's a few things I just wanted to get out of the way. I'm not really up for all the formalities. So…Naruto Uzumaki, I don't really care what you call me, just be respectful about it, I guess." He looked down at a picture of a younger Naruto without a mask, "It says your Quirk is Teleportation…I'm not sure how accurate that is, but I'm not going to interrogate you about it or anything. It'd be nice to know what I'm working with though." Naruto raised an eyebrow, nobody had questioned his Quirk before. He had always made sure to have his abilities tied under a singular term, knowing his Quirk was much more in depth.
Keigo placed his head on his palm held up by the surface. "I'm not really interested in teaching or anything, but talent such as yours is hard to pass up on. With your Quirk, you could specialize in almost anything and I felt interested enough to give you some experience. Plus, I don't want to spend extra time coddling a teenager who doesn't know the ropes. Thankfully, with your previous status, we can skip over multiple steps, which in return, gives us more free time." Hawks wafted his hand in a genarizing motion. The 22 year old obviously didn't want to waste time on somebody who needed a lot of sculpting in the Hero ways.
The Winged Hero stood from his desk, finally giving Naruto a much clearer view of his form. Keigo was a man of average height with a slim and narrow build. He has feathery ash blonde hair swept messily backward with some of the front tufts sticking up in arcs above his head, notably thick eyelashes, and some faint stubble on his chin.
His Hero outfit was composed of a black shirt with a wavy golden pattern like a ripple in a pond. Over this, he had a tan jacket with a high collar, the insides and cuffs of the sleeves lined with white fur, and black gloves. UV glasses were positioned over his eyes, giving him protection when flying at high speeds and altitudes.
Keigo had his hands in his pockets, much like the boy across the room. "That being said, you'll have a lot more hands-on experience, though without your provisional license, I'm basically limited to babysitting duties. You're already stronger than the other students of your age, so I'll have you spar with me or a certain person that is in town. You should get used to fighting higher level opponents, which you'll have at the Provisional License exam. I'm not much of a power fighter like Endeavor or All Might, but I'm still ranked third for a reason. However, the other person, well…I'll save that for when the time comes." Hawks concluded as he began to walk towards the window.
The Winged Hero paused, turning around to face his intern, "Got any questions?" Naruto shook his head, causing Keigo to open the window of his office. "Lets go the-…right, you can't fly, I almost did that out of habit." He chuckled dryly, rubbing the back of his head.
"Uh…Hawks-sama, I have the ability to fly as well." Takami's eyes widened fractionally after Naruto's declaration.
"Oh. How does that work?" Hawks blandly replied, trying to hide his surprise and delight. Getting Uzumaki as an intern was now ten times better.
The masked blonde's body began to levitate a foot off the floor. "I can basically fly at high speeds in air for an extended period of time. It becomes taxing after a few hours from my previous experiences." Naruto's hands were still comically stuck to his pockets. (Gojo's Flight Ability)
Keigo simply nodded, 'What can't this kid do?…Oh well, at least I can take to the skies.' The feathery blonde haired Hero laughed, "Well. This internship just became a lot easier…anything else I should know about?"
"No Hawks-sama." The blue eyed Uzumaki said stoically.
The Red Winger Hero perched on the windowsill, "We're going to patrol the west side of Fukuoka today. You have my authorization to enact if you deem anything dangerous to the civilian population. Now…let's get going." Keigo leapt calmly, getting the blonde to shuffle out to the same window.
'I haven't flown in a while…' Naruto thought before dripping off the same sill, trailing after the flapping red wings of Hawks.
Back inside his office, Ami reentered. "Hawks-sama, the HPSC wanted to meet Uzumaki-san at 2:30 tomorrow. Does he have his hero costu-…Hawks-sama?" The beautiful secretary looked confusingly at the empty office. She gained a tick mark at knowing Takami-sama skipped the two-hour internship introductory period.
Stomping over to the opened window directly behind her boss's desk, the blue haired sidekick looked shockingly at Uzumaki flying without the assistance of Hawks. Scrambling to take out her phone, Ami snapped a picture of the two for their social media.
'Hawks-sama is probably super happy someone is able to fly with him, especially an intern that usually needs to be led through the Hero process.' She smiled brilliantly, making sure to keep the window slightly open for them to reenter.
Later
Hawks and Naruto entered a small cafe on the southwest side of Fukouka. The Number Three Hero had told the masked blonde of this joint, also making sure that they were secluded enough from the public in order to enjoy a proper meal.
A waitress came up to their table, taking their orders stutteringly, obviously not expecting Hawks to make an appearance. Confusingly to Naruto, Keigo always indulged his fans whenever they stopped him to ask for an autograph or a picture. The Winged Hero was probably just doing it for appearances, because it looked like he almost did it routinely without hesitation.
Although the stoppage caused by fans and reporters happened a couple times, their morning patrol was pretty uneventful. The crime in Fukuoka was predominantly low compared to larger cities such as Tokyo or Yokohama. Which overall in itself, was pretty surprising considering Fukouka was one of the largest cities in Japan. It seemed Hawks had a large following here, and most, if not all, saw the misfortune in starting crime rings and Yakuza activities in a city with a Top 3 Hero who specializes in subterfuge.
Keigo noticed the aimless look of thought on his intern's face, "Patrolling is pretty tedious huh? I usually leave the petty criminal routine to my sidekicks. I usually get pretty large gigs frequently, so I don't have the time to diffuse day-to-day theft everyday. Which reminds me…the HPSC wants to meet you." The Red Winged Hero boringly stirred the drink in his hand.
Naruto raised an eyebrow, "The Hero Public Safety Commision? What for?" He asked curiously, the slight raise in his voice was not lost on Keigo.
"Couldn't say. I work pretty diligently with the HPSC for undercover assignments and such. Just speaking from experience, it's probably a silent invitation of interest." Hawks said, knowing this was exactly the way Keigo began training with the HPSC as a child.
The masked blonde lazily blinked at the man, "Wait, you work with the HPSC?" Naruto asked monotonously, getting a nod in return.
Takami set his drink down on the dark table in front of him. "Yeah, ever since I became a Pro-Hero. Just some things here and there." He emotionlessly uttered. The HPSC was something he didn't want to talk about all the time…they had ruled a large part of his life already.
Trying to divert the conversation, the blonde Hero pointed his finger at the UA Festival Winner. "By the way, where's your Hero outfit? You can't be wearing a school blazer to an internship, not that I really care for regulations and what not, but doesn't UA work with production companies?" He asked subtly, causing the blonde UA student to glance puzzlingly at him..
"I was Gen Ed until a few days ago, so I never had anything prepared for it. But, UA said it would be delivered to your office tomorrow." Keigo nodded in acknowledgment, slightly thankful for Naruto dismissing the HPSC topic.
Much like his own outfit, Hawks assumed the blue eyed teenager would wear something practical in accordance with his Quirk. "That's good. Hopefully it isn't too showy like All Might. Kids have a tendency to go over the top these days." He chuckled before speaking again, "You use any special gadgets with your Quirk?" Takami peaked over his drink, through his visor, at Naruto.
"No. I've become pretty formidable with a ninjato though, I'm not sure if that is a conjunction or Hero weapon classification. My close-ranged combat would only improve with the addition of a sword style." Naruto took a sip of his own drink gazing at the reaction of his superior. Of course, getting a read on someone who held extremely impressive control over their emotions was increasingly difficult.
The Red Winged Hero placed his head onto his palm. "Hmm, Kenjutsu huh? Excessive damage, even to Villains, with weapons like that are pretty frowned upon. It doesn't bother me, but I'd say to only use it against more attributed opponents. Your Quirk combined with your hand-to-hand combat is already damaging in itself." He turned his golden eyes upon the nodding boy, it seemed he came to the same conclusion.
In all, it only led Keigo to his next question. "That being said, you are a suitable combat type. Endeavor is stronger than me in a straight fight, but you chose my agency instead, Why?" He asked curiously, not seeking flattery in any way. He could have added how Nezu admitted to Uzumaki saying he respected him more than Endeavor, but that would sound like he wanted his ego stroked.
"You are considered a tactical genius in the art of deception and infiltration. For what I want to accomplish, those skills need to be polished thoroughly. In my opinion, a smarter opponent will always beat a stronger one. I don't just want to thrash my opposition…I want to outwit them while thinking multiple steps ahead. It sounds cliche, I know, but it is how I would want to walk into battle. That is why I picked your agency over Endeavor, not because he lacks those things, but I just think you're better at those specific elements." Naruto said stoically, much like an emotionless soldier, but stern conviction betrayed his tone.
Keigo stared with half-lidded eyes for a few seconds. "Wow. That's kind of along the lines of my suspicions, but better than Endeavor? Yeah, I'd rather you not say something like that near him unless you want to fight a 6'5 tank on my behalf." He humorlessly laughed as Naruto tilted his head in confusion.
"Anyways, I wouldn't call myself the best, but I'm pretty good at sabotage and the sorts. The speciality is hard to learn when faced with the endless possibilities of Quirks that defend against infiltration. However, the hardest skill of all to master is your emotions, bar-none. In your case, you already have an impressive hold over your emotional output, but you lack experience as I said earlier at the office. That's something easily fixed with time so just be laid back and chill, plus…that was pretty cliche." Keigo teased half-heartedly, receiving a sweat-drop from the masked blonde.
Coming from around their booth, the meats they had ordered were being carried by their waitress. "Finally, I'm starving." Hawks sat back in the seat as the food began to be placed in front of him and Naruto.
Two sets of chopsticks broke apart, leaving the two to grill their meat on their respective konro. A comfortable silence reigned as the respective Hero and intern casually ate even with people waiting outside the restaurant.
Hawks really had a lot of fans…though for some reason, many of them were teenage girls.
End of First Day
After their sizable lunch, Naruto and Hawks patrolled for a couple more hours, which led to a time the Winger Hero labeled as 'Nap Time'. At the time, the masked blonde thought his boss freed time on his schedule to rest in his office by doing paperwork, but…he actually slept.
Not that it bothered him, if anything, it was a tad satisfying to accustom free time into his daily routine. Sometimes it really was nice to just lay back and watch the clouds drift by while listening to the many sounds that enraptured one's senses. So, without a second thought, Naruto joined his boss in some shut eye, much to the ire of Takami-sama's secretary.
An hour or so after said period of time, Hawks had Naruto spar his sidekicks, trying to depict any openings in his battle technique. However, the challenge was about the same as fighting Todoroki or Bakugo, leaving the blonde to inadvertently damage some egos of The Hawks Agency. Expectantly, Keigo had found nothing to critique his UA intern on, while simultaneously patting himself on the back for landing an intern who didn't need fixing in the combat aspects.
He had planned for, if they had time after dealing with the HPSC, he would probably bring in a former Pro Hero that was interested in giving Naruto a Higher Skilled opponent. It was evident that weaker competition would never show the holes Uzumaki could possibly have in combat.
This also left him questioning the boy's IQ. He himself was pretty intelligent, but the blue eyed boy was definitely on a level of his own. Multiple times in his spars, Keigo observed Naruto predict his sidekicks' moves like they were fodder. It was almost as if the blonde knew what the combatant would do before they even made a move themselves. Therefore, he was pretty alcimated to pull the stoic UA student to the side and shove his masked face into an IQ test just to sedate his curiosity.
Which led to where they were at now. Ami had given the boy his ID card, as well as his official recommendation for the HPSC invitational meeting tomorrow. "Prepare yourself for the HPSC. We'll meet here first and hopefully your costume will be available. I have someone coming in on Wednesday to spar with you, and they will definitely give you a harder time than my sidekicks. Now go home…I'm tired." Hawks yawned, waving the boy off in a careless tone.
The masked blonde bowed lazily, getting an amused snicker out of the Number Three Hero. Naruto retreated to the elevator, pressing the ground level.
Overall, it was a pretty uneventful day. There wasn't much conflict with criminal activity considering Kyushu was mellow according to Hawks. Fans were an aspect that he wasn't very used to, most of the time he was outright ignoring the girlish yelps of civilians asking for the tan jacketed Pro Hero to look their way. For someone so attuned to ignoring such praise, the Winged Hero actually indulged a few people in their small requests.
A few had recognized him from the UA Sports Festival, and immediately asked him for pictures or autographs. It was quite embarrassing for Naruto as he politely declined all people who approached him. Hawks had mentioned briefly about upholding an image, or basically granting a few requests a day in order to satisfy the Pro Hero enthusiasts. Keigo didn't really care for the whole act, but he did it anyway because even the angered Endeavor stopped for autographs once in a while.
As his thoughts concluded with the opening of the elevator doors, Ami sat behind a desk adjacent to his position. "Goodnight Uzumaki-kun. I should have your Hero costume present before your meeting tomorrow. Before you go, sign out with the ID tag on this kiosk right here." The blue haired woman pointed to the small tablet punctured to the marble countertop. With a green mark of acceptance shown upon the screen, Naruto pocketed his ID into his black travel bag that was strung over his left shoulder.
"Goodnight Fukado-san." He replied stoically.
With a short courteous wave, Naruto began walking towards the inn he would be spending the week in. It wasn't practical for him to commute such a distance every day, especially since he didn't want fatigue to interfere with his internship.
Later, Downtown Fukuoka
It was about 6:30, so Naruto headed to a convenience store for something to calm his stomach. He had eaten a fairly large meal earlier in the day, yet he still felt some desire for a cool meal.
"Ahh…Do I…know you from somewhere?" A stoically low voice sounded to Naruto's right as he passed an alley.
The masked blonde stopped, lazily facing the voice as he did so. "Maybe." The oceanic orbed teenager spoke into the eerie dark. The moon was blockaded by the building behind the figure, leaving only the figure's clothes to be viewed.
A jet black jacket was draped over a v-neck white shirt, complementing the white shouldered stitch pattern. A matching pair of jeans held together by a dark belt, laid loosely on the presumingly male stature. Combat boots were strapped at mid calf length, giving the figure an intimidating stature.
"I remember now…wow…what an honor it is to meet the UA Festival winner." The person said without a convincing tone one would expect with such a saying.
Naruto kept his hands in his pockets, however, he was expecting the figure to do something drastic. "The honor is all mine." The masked blonde spoke emotionlessly.
The form humorlessly chuckled at his shortened reply. "You don't seem very enthusiastic about it, but that's explanatory given your past and all." Naruto was met with a head of spiky black hair and a plot of purple stitches on the man's skin. From what the blonde could observe, these dried blotches of skin were formed around the underside of his mouth down to his neck, and around his eyes and forearms.
A bemused smile on the figure's face concluded his senses of the seemingly dangerous person in front of him. "I'm not around Fukuoka that much, but I overheard some excited girls earlier today going on about 'Hawks and the UA Tournament Winner patrolling'. You were pretty much all over the place on social media and what not. I have to say, hearing about a kid changing from opposite sides of the society spectrum, surprised me. Looking at you now, I can't even see the usual boisterous upholding citizen you'd see in Hero students. If you don't mind me asking, how are you liking it so far?" The masked Uzumaki couldn't help but frown, this guy's acting skills betrayed his true intentions.
The black haired man didn't really care about the know-how of Hero students, no, the way he was talking made it sound more like he was measuring Naruto's intentions. "It's fine. As for acting differently from others my age…I just value different things." The UA first year responded to the question with a vague answer.
"Hmm, that's good I suppose. Heroes with the same mindset do get pretty bland…what makes you different then?" The turquoise eyed man raised a curious brow towards the slightly taller teenager.
"What makes me different? Well…like you said, I've seen both sides of the 'society spectrum', there isn't much more to say." The blue eyed teenager retorted. Naruto wasn't trying to share his views with an absolute stranger that appeared out of an alley…did this guy really think he just oblige absently.
The chiseled man nodded as one hand slithered into his pocket. "That is true. You probably have a better life perspective than most if not all of the other students your age, plus you're pretty strong which means your opinion holds more value. You trying to prove a point to Heroes and Villains or something?" He asked stoically.
"Maybe, maybe not." The boy replied monotonously.
If the man was disappointed by the answer, he didn't show it. Instead, he looked the Uzumaki up and down before leaning on the brick wall next to him. "Not very forthcoming with personal matters huh? Not all of us like telling our life story, I respect that…Well…I didn't mean to take up your time, someone as important as you probably has somewhere to be." The black clothed adult bobbed his head half-heartedly in an apologetic manner.
Naruto accepted the unmistaken false manned apology with a barely noticeable nod. This man didn't seem the least bit interested in his life story, no, he was searching for some kind of clarification. But why him? Naruto was one of many UA students, so what was so special about him?
"I'll be on my way. I can't wait to see your future endeavors Naruto Uzumaki…I'll be watching closely." The man whispered into the slight breeze as he walked away, carrying the chilling message through the air.
The oceanic orbed teenager watched the back of the adult man disappear into the shadows. There was no doubt in his mind that this man was some sort of criminal or perhaps even a Villain. In all honesty, Naruto was expecting the man to attack him, but an attack never came, so did something he said satisfy the man?
He'd have to be careful the next time he met someone like that. Naruto hadn't forgotten that he would be targeted by Villains for just being a UA student, yet he'd be careful to never lower his guard. Not like he's lowered his artificial mental and physical barriers he's enacted on himself all his life anyway…it was no different than before.
The blonde continued on his leisurely stroll as if nothing happened…meat buns did sound good right now. Hopefully no dodgy characters would interrupt his quiet enjoyment of silence via alleyway, from now on.
Day Two of Internship
"Ah…good morning Uzumaki-kun, I hope you slept well." Ami greeted the masked blonde as he entered the Hawks Agency in Kyushu.
Since he ended late the day before, Hawks had him show up at 10:00 to do some minor patrolling whilst simultaneously breaking in his Hero costume. They were to visit the HPSC later in the day where he would essentially interview with the Hero Commision. Keigo had suggested he freshen up on his infiltration skill seeing as how the HPSC's likeliness to question his skill, may surface.
Unbenounced to her, Naruto had a breakfast tray in his hands, which was obscured by the marble countertop in front of her. "I'm fine, thank you Fukado-san. I had read online that it was respectful to bring your host breakfast for being hospitable, so I had brought a small meal for you and Hawks-sama if that is okay." The masked blonde laid the tray with a traditional Japanese line-up of fish, rice, and miso soup with a boiled egg off to the side. A small cup of coffee was sat next to the tray, causing the female sidekick to look confusingly at his display. "I wasn't sure how you or Hawks-sama liked your coffee, so I have these as well." The UA student unpackaged a casing of sugar and sweetner in three different flavors.
In all honesty, he never really had connections with anyone, and he wanted to do right here. Hopping around from orphanage to orphanage, Naruto had been alone most of his life, he couldn't help but try not to feel lonely now. Hawks seemed respectable, even if he had only been here a day, so maybe he could start with the Number Three Hero.
The blue haired woman's pupils expanded into hearts as he broke out into a fit of giggles. "Aren't you the sweetest! Kyaa!" She reached out and stretched his cheeks with his red nail polished fingers.
Many of Hawks other sidekicks looked appalled by the normally serious woman laughing in appreciation. Supposedly she was a sucker for chivalrous acts…
"…You're welcome?" The boy gripped her wrists trying to remove the woman from his face, but to no avail.
The masked blonde's face scrunched up in discomfort, 'Seriously…? I almost spent three thousand Yen for this…tsundere…troublesome.' He sighed in defeat, letting the woman do as she wished.
The Hawks Agency continued on with their days as Ami started to happily eat the food Hawks' intern bought for them. The giddy woman scrunched her fists onto the chopsticks, forcefully protruding them in front of the blonde Uzumaki's face. She had something along the lines of, 'Feed me Naruto-kun~', but none were too close to hear.
Thankfully, coming from the elevator to the female sidekick's left was his saviour in all of his Winged Glory. "Oi, something smells good!…Oh…am I interrupting something?" The golden eyed Pro Hero's eyebrows furrowed seeing his secretary shoot up straight as if nothing happened. Looking over the desk at Naruto, he could tell the boy was trying to hide his uncomfortability under a lazy facade.
Ami cleared her throat while also reaching under her desk to pull out a briefcase with the number twenty one on it in bold green. "Of course not Hawks-sama, I was just about to give Uzumaki-san his Hero outfit…oh!…he brought breakfast for us as well." The tanned slender woman motioned towards the two trays of food steaming in anticipation as she tried to take the attention off her.
Hawks gave her a pointed look of boredom, it was amusing to him seeing Ami cover up her giddiness so quickly. "Riigght…breakfast does sound good…thanks little guy." He picked up a set of chopsticks, choosing to pick after the grilled fish on the platter. "About the costume…damn I was hungry…go put it on, I'll meet you in my office before we go out for the day." Keigo said to the masked blonde before turning to the blue haired woman avoiding eye contact, eating mannerly.
A Few Minutes Later
Naruto stepped off the Elevator upon reaching Hawks office. His new outfit felt genuinely secure to his body, making it as if he had been wearing the suit for a while now. It just so happened that he was a bit excited to wear his Hero costume out for the patrol…it was pretty badass.
Looking at his reflection for a moment, the masked blonde admired his simple but practical design. His upper body was fitted with a compression shirt, made to include his mask in its usual threshold and was accompanied by a sleeveless design. Strapped over his chest was a grey Kelvar vest fit with straps that were connected to his collarbone. Forearm sleeves were configured like his compression shirt, leaving the accessory to reach just below his bicep while being kept down with two parallel lines of white electrical tape. Over these sleeves were metallic plates meant for deflection and absorption of kinetic energy released from physical applications. The UA student also included black gloves that were snug but rid of any uncomfortability, making the cool resistant material ideal for Kenjustu and combat.
His lengthy legs were loosely fit with flexible but strong material which would help reduce physical damage to his legs upon shrapnel or projectile weapons. Tied around his right thigh was a weapons pouch preordained to the inclusion of weapons and devices he may need in the field. Black medical tape was gripped around his pant legs making sure that they wouldn't interfere with any of his movements. Not wanting to use anything heavy or too mundane, Naruto had requested for thin but durable combat boots that were usually distributed in Special Military units.
On his back, the masked blonde carried a ninjato in a small but situational sheath, used for easy access and lock-in mechanisms. The ninjato itself was as simple as his costume, but the Hamon edge was charcoal black, giving the sword a matte textured look.
The last part was his hardest decision for his uniform. He had wanted to wear a helmet of some kind, and had really liked a decision he had constructed for himself, but he ultimately found that he liked practicality over looks. (Taskmaster's Helmet) That being said, Naruto ended with a dog themed mask, easily configured to the confines of his face, which was made to click into place and stay stagnant during vigorous movement. (Kakashi Anbu Mask)
Overall, he was extremely satisfied with his choice. This design was perfect for his Hero identity, whilst both being aerodynamic and stealth influenced. The mask helped shade his eyes and rid his face of any expressions, knowing no one would be able to read his emotions with it on.
"Sheesh…nice fit." The voice of his boss sounded from the interior of the office.
Leaning against the oak desk with his arms crossed, Keigo smirked at his intern entering like a soldier. The assassin looking outfit fit the boy very well, almost to the point where he was jealous. The Winged Hero loved his own Hero suit, but wearing the same thing since his debut, made things pretty stale.
Though Naruto's face was ridden of a reaction, an appreciative nod was easily visible. "I have to ask though, what's with the mask? You aren't hideous or anything, so what's with the added blockage?" The blonde Pro Hero asked curiously as he titled his head to the side presumably.
Naruto seemed to be in thought as silence reigned briefly. "Well, hmm, I guess I would feel naked without something covering at least a part of my face. Should I take it off?" The ANBU masked blonde shrugged before replying with his own question.
The golden visored Hero shook his head slowly. "Nah. Everybody has their own tendencies and I'm no different. Plus, for the image you're trying to create, being faceless during Hero work would be ideal in the dark lighting of the Hero world. And…you know the whole gentleman act you worked with Ami compiled with the mysteriousness of your outfit…women are going to fight over you." Keigo laughed at the noticeable tinge in the blonde's shoulders, causing the boy to try to act uncaringly as he lazily reached for his pockets.
…Of course his costume had pockets…
If he was being serious, Naruto actually was getting some attention from a few girls back at the UA Festival, though he doubted the socially dense Hero student knew that. Plus, the entire thing with his secretary…yeah…he had only seen that side from Ami a couple times, yet Uzumaki was able to break that serious woman at the hinges! Were interns supposed to be this great?
"We only have about an hour before we have to head for Oita Prefecture. The HPSC will probably take a couple hours at most, so no worries. Anyways, let's get going, we'll be patrolling downtown today." Hawks cleanly summarized their day minimally. It was obvious he wasn't too keen on the drawn out obituaries of Hero work.
Just like the day before, the blonde duo free fell from the top floor office window, leaving many civilians awestruck at the flying pair.
HPSC: A Couple Hours Later
Naruto and Hawks had another uneventful patrol, where most of the time was spent soaring over the city skyline. One of their largest obstacles in day-to-day Hero work was the fangirls that seemed to roam around Fukuoka. It was obvious to the Red Winged Hero's intern that he was fairly annoyed by the constant girlish screams sent in his direction.
It eventually became time for them to leave in order to make their meeting time for 2:30. Originally, the masked blonde had offered to teleport the two of them to Oita without the need for public transportation, but Hawks considered it needless Quirk usage. Of course, Naruto agreed with him, however he felt the need to display all options for his boss to choose from. The blue eyed Uzumaki was trying his best to be useful to his superior, even for miniscule tasks as easy as transporting someone.
Ultimately, the two set out for the HPSC without any problems, leaving them to arrive a few minutes early. Upon walking closer to the building, Naruto could depict a diamond design displayed about three fourths of the total height. The commission building was nothing to awe at, but it held it's professionalism quite well. The cubical structure was similar to most buildings in the area, however, the HPSC office held a certain aire that came with being an important corporation within Japan.
They were greeted by some suited men, who were easily identifiable as security, and a woman dressed plainly in usual business garb for someone of her stature. The average looking woman guided them towards the commission hall that held their highest officials. Although, the blonde Hero and student were told of their President's absence seeing as how she had a meeting with the Japanese government.
Finally reaching a typical conference room labeled as, M1, Hawks and Naruto observed a round table fitted with computers and bland looking businessmen and women. "Welcome Hawks-san, Uzumaki-san. Sorry for contacting you on such short notice, but we couldn't pass up the chance to see a promising Future Hero under your 'wing' Hawks-san." The goateed Hero noticed the dry voice of the Chairman standing at the end of the table.
"Neither could I, as you know, I have no interest in teaching at all, but this mini-me piqued my curiosity." The Winged Hero winked at the boy next to him who, to his somewhat jealousy, stood taller than him.
The Chairman walked closer to the duo with his hand extended. "Mini-me huh? I could see that…" Naruto stood in an identical stance to Hawks, which involved a lackadaisical stature.
As he shook the masked blonde's hand, the Chairman backed away and gave the boy a short bow. "It is an honor to meet someone of the next generation of Heroes. You, Naruto Uzumaki, have really caught the attention of the HPSC." The man pushed his glasses higher up on his nose, leaving the UA student to bow in return.
"Thank you Chairman-san. May I ask why the HPSC is interested in me?" Naruto asked stoically, causing many of the older adults to cringe at the monotonous voice.
The older man chuckled at the dog-masked figure. "Yes, of course. We feel you would have a great chance to fulfill a role left vacant for sometime, but first, let's sit…" The bony hand of the Chairman pointed towards two vacant chairs at the end of the table.
Hawks and Naruto sat next to each other, where the Red Winged man relaxed slightly at not being the topic of conversation. "So…Naruto Uzumaki, Age: 15, Height: 5'10, Weight: 165, Hair: Blonde, Eyes: Blue, Quirk: Teleportation. Orphan for 15 years, Ex-Villain for 3 Years, Self-Trained and Taught. Student at UA Hero Academy, winner of the UA Sports Festival, and currently interning at The Hawks Agency. Hero Name: Unknown. Skill Level: Unknown. Is our information accurate?" A woman to the left of the Chairman's position read from her desktop before looking up for confirmation.
The masked blonde nodded. "Yes, most of that is public knowledge I think." He said evenly, his mask obstructing his facial reactions from being seen.
"Good, good, then there is no need to waste time filling out anything we've missed, but I must interject. I see you are wearing your Hero costume, therefore it is logical to assume you also have a Hero name to accommodate?" The Chairman interlocked his fingers, interested in the UA student's selected name.
The blonde bobbed his head in confirmation. "Yes. It was a fairly simple element of my UA processing. Recently, one of my senseis had called me a nickname which I found amusing. So…I have gone with the Hero name, Void." A hint of pride etched into his tone.
The sensei he was talking of was Aizawa, who had originally confided in the Hero name, Taskmaster. But, Present Mic had overheard their conversation and mentioned the name Void, because he always had control of the space around himself. Plus, the black haired Underground Hero added the fact that his name fit well with his most powerful technique that he had yet to use on anyone.
Furious taps were heard instantly as keyboards began blazing around the room. "Perfect my boy, simply perfect. Menacing and Mysterious, just like yourself." The Chairman pointed his index finger while laughing.
"Pretty simple as well, just like my own name. I gotta say though, you got a classification name like my 'Winged Hero'?" The wavy blonde Pro Hero curled an eyebrow at his intern.
Expectantly, the boy shrugged nonchalantly. "No, I didn't really see the need for one, plus it would be too troublesome." Naruto sighed lazily as the HPSC members sent him confused glances.
"I see. Well, now that your name is on record, we can finally get down to business." The Chairman informed the two blondes.
Around the conference room, the committee members began shuffling out manilla folders labeled with a reclusive 'PR' bolded in red. Naruto saw that Hawks was familiar with the folders seeing his knowing gaze. Considering his boss went through the habitulations in the HPSC before, the masked blonde doubted the process would be different knowing they had interest in him.
As they all opened to a certain section of the folder with very few files, the familiar head of hair and half covered face greeted the UA student's eyesight. "I'm sure Hawks has already informed you of his involvement with the HPSC seeing as how he gets most of his missions from the higher ups at our establishment. That being said, we scout for talent to fulfill roles we call 'Enforcers' throughout the entirety of Japan. Anyone from Hero student to Sidekicks can be considered for these respective roles, but here at HPSC, we look for certain aspects that conduct well with our policies. Therefore, many of our constituents who witnessed the UA Sports Festival said, 'Uzumaki is no stranger to combat or manipulation' and I hereby quote, 'Uzumaki's opponents play into his hands thoroughly, it's as if his tactically keen mind runs rampant with expectancies.'" The man read aloud from a report in front of him, getting a nod from Hawks, knowing he came to the same conclusion.
Peaking at the masked blonde's aloof expression, the HPSC Chairman continued. "Of course, that was not all. A particularly well-known HPSC informative stated, 'Uzumaki is heads and shoulders above his competition, without proper measurement, I'm afraid it is hard to rank his skill level. However, any Pro Hero outside of the Top 10 would display increasing difficulty facing him right now.' He continues saying, 'If I had to make estimates, using the Hero evaluation manuscript, Power is B, Speed is B, Technique is A, Intelligence is S/S+, and Skillfulness is A. Although it is hard to scale without facing challenging opponents, Uzumaki was still holding back. I may be reaching, but Naruto Uzumaki is potentially hiding stronger and more versatile skills. But, with what I have seen, I can only rank what was shown to the UA spectators, and therefore, Uzumaki received a 4.75 out of 6 HPSC rating.' This assessment was conducted by one of the few Elite Hero trainers the HPSC has to offer, one that was involved with Hawks own development." Naruto glanced at Hawks as he saw the slightly disturbed look on his usually calm features.
"I'm not sure if you are familiar with our ranking system, but…if we used Hawks here as an example, he'd be a 5.1 out of 6 ranking, or an S-Ranked Hero. You, Naruto Uzumaki, as our trainer concluded, are nearing the S-Ranked Border at only 15 years of age. So, we at the HPSC want to make you an offer." The masked blonde leaned a little closer unconsciously.
The Chairman smirked at Hawks' intern. "For the next three years, The Hero Public Safety Comission is willing to set you up with a better living environment than the one you're currently in. This includes recurring payments for such things as meals and tuition. But…your Work Study would have to be enrolled here under our professional Hero trainers. Of course, if Hawks also offered the Work Study to you, then you would split your time in between his agency and here. You see, with your massive potential and skills to match, we'd like to groom you into the 'Enforcer' position by the time you'd graduate from UA, or if your heart is placed elsewhere, Shiketsu, Ketsubustu, or Isamu Academy." The man grinned happily knowing the offer was hard to refuse.
The blue eyed Uzumaki frowned under his mask. Situations like this had happened before, more than he'd like to admit. Any sort of offer sent his way during his life always resulted in some ulterior motive, which he was more than used to at this point. It almost seemed as if they were trying to bribe him into a scenario that was more than the job description entailed…yet he couldn't say he wasn't interested in such an opportunity. Nonetheless, if they were so desperate for a Hero student to fill this 'Enforcer' role that they'd offer to pay for his schooling and living fees, then he'd have to use their sly undertone of desperation against them.
The stoic UA student folded his fingers in his lap, making a diamond shape. "That does sound very tempting, but what does this 'Enforcer' position entail?" The newly named Hero student, Void, questioned skeptically.
An older woman with glasses and crow's feet resounding next to her eyes raised her voice. "Our 'Enforcers' deal with threats we deem dangerous to Japanese civilians and Heroes. For example, Hawks is attuned to infiltration, and as such, is dealt missions centering around retrieval and subterfuge. However, we are more interested in your…let's say…ruthless occupational nature. So, you'd have a similar role to Hawks, but we believe your skills to be useful in targeting those deemed endangering civilian and Hero lives. And by this, we mean finding said target, combating them quietly, and arresting and shipping them off to the Police…a non-killing assassin of sorts." The mid aged woman expertly described their process, causing the Chairman to smile appreciatively at her.
Closing his eyes in thought, Naruto summarized the benefits of said position. For the Hero he wanted to be, the 'Enforcer' role they wanted him to fill was fitted canonically well to his ideals. But, there were still too many unknowns being tied down to an organization that was sketchy and possibly leading him on with false perceptions.
The masked blonde frowned. "I see. So working in the shadows of Hero society…it is very intriguing, but there are still many things to consider. And as such, what happened to the previous 'Enforcer' in this precarious position? Is this some kind of elaborate ruse meant to employ Heroes for the underlying work of the HPSC? You see, I'd have to know what kind of work I'd be selling myself into before I make any hasty decisions." The emotionless blonde leveled out, causing many to sweat under their collars at the question about the previous 'Enforcer'.
To his side, Hawks hummed in amusement. Seeing his intern so blatantly call out one of the highest forms of commission in Japan was a sight in itself. Seriously, either Naruto had figured out the insatiable side of the HPSC or he just ultimately didn't want to take orders from others who didn't value the same ideals as he. However, even with the dealings the HPSC had incorporated in the past, which involved working beneath public knowledge, the Winged Hero presumed the commission and the UA student had two fairly different views on the unseen forces of Hero society.
"Ah, I assure you Uzumaki-san that the 'Enforcer' position is exactly as we say. However, there are more…in-depth job depictions we cannot release to someone uninvolved with our company, that includes the other 'Enforcers' and mission details ." The Chairman cleanly picked up for the woman to his left. "Nonetheless, we understand your hesitancy, so rest assured, you have time to answer our call. Although, we'd appreciate your cooperation, which is why Hawks is here. You can ask him about this line of work since he's been working with the HPSC since his debut." The man smiled as Naruto faced Keigo with a raised brow.
"Of course, if you accept, all the insurances we promised within making the offer will be accounted for upon acceptance." The oceanic orbed boy fiddled momentarily in his seat. Without context, the deal sounded up-front and overall, quite generous. Yet, he couldn't help but get the same encroaching feeling of someone preying on his less than ideal living scenario.
He would definitely have to think this over…
The Chairman grinned once more. "Well, since we haven't come to a conclusive decision yet, you two are free to go. I was hoping that we'd be able to move into the furtherment of our relationship, but all is not lost, and I applaud you for thinking over your options. If anything, it shows that you continue to prove your adaptiveness to the 'Enforcer' role." The older man got up from his office chair with a practiced grunt, walking steadily to the seats of his visitors who rose in return.
As he bowed to the Hero and student, the man took out a business card from the pocket of his jacket. "If you need anything from me, you call me at this number and ask for Daisuke Takahashi. Security will show you the way out, even if Hawks already knows the way." The now identified Takahashi chuckled grovely.
"Thank you Takahashi-san." Naruto bowed in return, leaving the Red Winged Hero to pat Daisuke on the shoulder familiarly.
Hawks and the new named Hero, Void, left with the security as they were escorted to the lobby. Seeing as how the meeting didn't run long and the masked blonde didn't take the HPSC's offer, there wasn't much else to do besides wait for Uzumaki's answer.
If the UA student had accepted, then the meeting would have lasted longer, where he would have more than likely had a schedule planned for him. Overall, there wasn't much Hawks could say or do, not that he wanted to sway his intern's opinions one way or another, but even he still hated the cynicism in which HPSC operated. Even if Naruto was a promising prospect, something still kept him skeptical about it all. He understood offering the UA student a position, but paying for his living fees and everyday expenses? He couldn't help but ponder what their true motivation actually was in gaining the Hero student as an 'Enforcer'.
Stepping back out into the cool breeze of the afternoon, Keigo extended his wings in preparation for flight. "Well that was certainly interesting. This is a choice you are going to have to make on your own. I know they expect me to guide you along, but I believe you should choose a route that benefits you the most…that's all I have to say." The golden eyed Hero swiftly crouched and sprang into flight, leaving the taller teenager to his own thoughts momentarily.
On the ground below, the blue eyed Uzumaki looked on lazily as he always did. Even with his usual stoic form, a hint of tension was visible in his joints as the wind ruffled to the loose strands of blonde hair.
His whole life had graciously changed in such little time, that he still couldn't believe the situations he was in. A Japan program originating around Heroes, wanted him to represent them for a reason hidden expertly behind a board of directors and a carefully scripted role. However, the days of him being alone, driven by nothing but pure desire to be something more than a forgotten boy discarded by society, reminded him of his goals.
He was supposed to change Japan's imperfect system. Following the HPSC would help pursue his goals, there was no doubt in that. But, when he thought back to his brief encounter with All Might, he couldn't help but confide in the man's confidence in his endeavor to be a pillar of strength. Even so, he wasn't All Might, he didn't enjoy the majority of Heroes, so there was no use in acting like somebody he didn't want to be.
Naruto Uzumaki was a Hero destined to the shadows, a polar opposite to All Might's constructive societal view, even though he did share the same ideals of being a Symbol. There were few ways he could move forward, and even if Hawks said he wouldn't have part in his choice, the path the Winged Hero built for himself didn't seem so far off from what he wanted…
Seeing his boss start to disappear in the distance, Naruto began to fly after the Number Three Hero, still going through the possible directions his life could go.
Hosu City
Midoriya had come to Iida's rescue after the Engine Quirk User fought to gain vengeance for his brother's dismantling.
Ingenium's brother lay paralyzed on the ground, just a few meters from where the One for All user stood staring defiantly, but barely restraining his fear for the figure across from him.
After Gran Torino wanted the green haired boy to gain experience, Izuku believed he would finally have a chance to prove himself in a different light. Under the tutelage of the once Top 10 Hero, Midoriya gained a semblance of control over One For All, causing his first form of Full Cowling to top out at 5%.
But, unexpectedly, the tandem ran into Nomus overtaking the Hosu station, making the elderly Hero take action in confronting the aberrant creatures. However, Midoriya, wanting to help the Hero, left the station in search of his mentor.
That was when he came upon his fellow 1-A classmate fighting the Hero Killer: Stain, in which Iida was rendered motionless under the Villain's Quirk.
"Another brat huh? You're no Heroes…I won't lose to greenhorns who will never be True Heroes. Just like your little friend there who seeks revenge…you too have no astounding qualities." The man unsheathed a ninjato and disappeared at a speed unfamiliar to the UA student.
Spreading One for All throughout his entire body, Midoriya deflected the stabbing motion of the sword and sent a leg sweep for the man's midsection. Stain raised a block just in time to receive the brunt of the attack, sending him reeling back but ultimately in control.
Izuku readied himself. "I will stop you from hurting any of my friends! I won't allow it!" Green electricity surrounded his limbs, boiling his insides as he felt his power gradually increase.
The red masked Villain shook his head disappointingly. "All you 'Heroes' are so one-dimesional, it's truly disgusting. It doesn't matter if you strive to beat me…because only someone like All Might…or even that Uzumaki boy could ever be capable enough." The green haired youth frowned as he tensed his muscles waiting for the reptilian looking man to attack.
'Uzumaki…Naruto Uzumaki?' The green haired teenager thought confusingly.
The man grinned savagely at the teenager, getting cold sweats to drip off Izuku's face. "I will succeed, because no one is like me! They don't have the guts to stay true to their ideals…because someone like you, who wants to be a 'great Hero' has nothing of sustenance. Don't get me wrong, I despise the want to hurt children, but you give me no choice because you are interfering with my purpose! Prepare yourself!" Stain threw a combat knife towards the Ninth Successor, licking his lips as he did so.
Suddenly, a tidal wave of flames lit the alley to his right, alerting him to something attacking his flank. Jumping back onto a pile of rubble behind him, the wild untamed or orange flames passed over, revealing another UA student.
"Midoriya, I received your call, this place was hard to track down." Shoto Todoroki's flames seemed to be in better control as he shrugged them off his Hero outfit.
Midoriya grinned happily at his backup, knowing he had a better chance with Todoroki backing him up. "Thank you, Todoroki-kun! Make sure he doesn't draw blood, his Quirk can paralyze you if he ingests even the smallest drop!" The Heterochromia boy nodded, his eyesight never leaving the Villain.
"Now this is just infuriating. No matter…you brats are nothing compared to me." Stain extended his sword to his side. "Come UA gakis! Show me if you have what it takes to be a Hero!" He yelled at the UA students who instantly attacked in conjunction.
End
Thanks for reading this far. Sorry for the late update, I have a lot of college things to sort through, and my work has been crapping on my free time.
Hopefully you liked this chapter! I'm looking forward to ending the next chapter while heading into the Final Exam arc.
I believe I will be conducting a poll for my pairing on my profile, so be on the lookout for that!
Anyways, Fav, Follow, and Review!
I will also be looking to start another story, which I will also be conducting a poll for.
Peace Yo
