A/N: Hey everyone, welcome back to The Crow's Atonement, because Chapter 16 is here.
Disclaimer: Like everybody else on fanfiction, I own nothing.
"Standard" - Normal Speaking
'Italics' - Thoughts
"Bold" - Super Moves
"Alright, alright, sit back down..." Aizawa sighed as he wiggled out of his sleeping bag and crawled to his feet, shooting a half-hearted glare at Itachi as the elder Yaoyorozu twin walked away and returned to his seat.
One of Aizawa's eyes twitched, sending a spike of pain rushing through his face and causing him to grimace, as the class stared at him expectantly.
'Why did I become a teacher? I should've stuck to underground hero business. I swear, these brats are going to be the death of me.' He thought irritably.
"Anyway, the U.A. Sports Festival is the biggest sporting event in Japan. Its significance to Japan as the equivalent to the significance of the Olympics to Greece," he started, "However, as the quirkless population shrunk and were overtaken by those with quirks, the Olympics were steadily phased out in favour of countries holding national and international sports festivals."
Tenya raised his hand, "Sensei, are Olympic games still held, and if so, which countries take part?"
"The Greeks still partake, but I suspect it's a national pride thing, and several small nations in the Pacific... alongside the North Koreans, but that's only because they don't have anything else to do besides antagonize the Americans." Aizawa answered.
"And what about the international sports festival," Momo inquired, "how does that work?"
Aizawa's eyes flickered over to Itachi who simply arched an eyebrow in response.
'Of course the brat knows. Sir Nighteye probably told him.'
"The International Sports Festival is like the U.A. Sports Festival, but on a global scale. It takes place every year, but only the 3rd years of schools like U.A. can take part," Aizawa said, "there, you'll be representing your school as well as your country. Furthermore, you can even be scouted by heroes from other countries and do international internships."
A muffled squeal came from somewhere in the classroom and Aizawa's attention snapped over to Izuku who was muttering to himself.
"International internships? We could be scouted by the top heroes of other countries? Captain Celebrity of the United States; Crouching Tiger of China; Lady Britannia of the United Kingdom; Mother Siberia of Russia; Superior Senator of Italy, even-"
"Midoriya-kun," Itachi cut in, voice authoritative and interrupting the boy as Katsuki ground his teeth together, "I understand that you may be excited about the prospect about interning under foreign heroes, but for Aizawa-sensei's and Bakugo-kun's sake, stop muttering and be quiet."
"S-Sorry..."
"Fuck off, Trench Face..." Katsuki muttered, quiet enough to go unnoticed by their homeroom teacher.
"As I was saying, this event will only take place during your 3rd year, so don't worry about it for now. But as for the U.A. Sports Festival, it's your chance to put yourself ahead. Approach this and your training for the event with a Plus Ultra attitude."
"HAI!" The class boomed in response.
"Dismissed."
Class 1-A filed out into the hallway, walking together in a large group, but Itachi could practically feel the excitement that was buzzing off of his classmates, Momo included; although, compared to the rest of her classmates, she was more reserved in expressing herself.
The U.A. Sports Festival was remarkably similar to the Chunin Exams and Itachi would be lying if he said he wasn't excited to partake, even if he knew mostly what occurred during them,
His classmates however-
"Yeah! I'm all fired up. It'll be manly if I get noticed." Eijiro cheered.
"We'll have to get noticed to take our first step to being a pro." Hanta added, earning glances from Rikido and Fumikage.
"It would be unbecoming of you to not be fired up after enrolling into U.A.!" Tenya exclaimed, rapidly shifting his glances and chopping at the air.
"I must admit," Momo started, gaining Itachi's attention, "I am excited for this Sports Festival to come. I'll be sure to put my all into get noticed, even if several of my classmates do have more pro-"
"Stop that." Itachi cut her off before her deep insecurities could surface.
She shot him a look of confusion, "Itachi-kun?"
Itachi closed his eyes and took a deep breath before speaking.
"While having a flashy quirk does get you noticed by the pros," he started, reopening his eyes, "they care more about personal attitude, quirk handling and overall technique. Bakugo-kun may be able to unleash explosions, but his brash attitude will turn away many pros. Yourself, on the other hand, Creation may not be flashy, but you're always willing to learn and tactically minded. That's what the pros will be looking for, not raw power."
Momo's eyes brightened and she nodded, understanding.
And the hallway fell silent as Ochaco suddenly yelled something, gaining everyone's attention as she punched at the air.
The twins shared a look of confusion before walking over to see what the commotion was all about.
"What's going on?" Itachi inquired.
"I dunno, but I think Uraraka is PM-" Tsuyu's tongue slapped Minoru before he could finish his sentence.
Momo's face crinkled with disgust.
"Like I said," Ochaco said, her eyes shadowed by her hair, "I'm gonna give this thing my all!"
Itachi allowed himself a small smile, "Keep up that attitude, Uraraka-san. I'm sure you'll do well, as will the rest of you."
"Holy shit, Yaoyorozu's smiling!" Denki exclaimed.
Itachi's smile fell off his face and was immediately replaced by his usual neutral expression which gave off unintended 'I couldn't care less about you have to say about me' vibes.
Kyoka rolled her eyes, "Well done, Jamming-Yay."
"Oi, Yaoyorozu," Eijiro jeered, grinning, "aren't you excited for the upcoming Sports Festival?"
"I am."
"I believe we should stop standing around in the hallway," Momo spoke up, already striding ahead and forcing most of the class to follow after her, "we've wasted enough time as it is. We don't need to be late for our first lesson."
After the final lesson which saw Class 1-A dismissed by Ectoplasm from his maths class, Itachi knew something had to be done if it meant everyone in the class could give it their all in the Sports Festival, with the odd one out in the class being Izuku.
He wouldn't get many, if any at all, internships if he broke all his bones in-front of a massive audience.
The boy needed to get control of One For All, a name that left the elder Yaoyorozu twin slightly stumped, since he'd briefly seen Izuku's U.A. identification card and his quirk was listed as 'Superpower'.
Did Izuku have two overlapping strength quirks that his body couldn't handle or was 'One For All' the official name of 'Superpower' which had been some kind of substitute or placeholder name?
"Midoriya-kun." He called, just as the boy was about the leave the class with Tenya and Ochaco.
The green-haired boy paused and turned around, prompting his two friends to do the same, while Momo and Mashirao stopped and looked back, curiosity written all over their faces.
"Ah, Yaoyorozu-kun. How may I help you?"
Before answering, Itachi looked up at the other four, "Excuse me, but may I talk to Midoriya-kun alone?"
They nodded and left the class, yelping as they were swarmed by a massive crowd that was right outside - disappearing into the mass of bodies.
With them gone, he glanced at the troublemakers of the class who had surrounded an irate Katsuki who had a face that screamed 'Move, assholes, or I'll blow you all away' and then he looked back down at Izuku who was looking at him expectantly, waiting for him to speak.
"What I'm going to say is that with the lack of control over your quirk, you won't make it very far in the U.A. Sports Festival. You understand this, yes?"
Izuku nodded, appearing slightly apprehensive.
"I do not want you to be left out of an internship because pro heroes only see some child destroying his own body because he cannot handle his quirk," Itachi said, "and from what I've seen of you, you're hardworking and dedicated. From tomorrow, every day after school, we're going to train at Gym Gamma and figure out how to handle your quirk. Arrive in your P.E. uniform."
Izuku swallowed, "Oh, I see, thank you, Yaoyorozu-kun."
Itachi nodded, then turned and made his way to the door, only to be barged aside by Katsuki who glared at him, daring him to say something.
'Tch, it's not worth the effort calling out somebody like Bakugo-kun. I'd just be wasting my breath.'
Minoru, who was nearby, shuddered, "Ahh, what's with all these guys blocking the doorway!?"
"Isn't it obvious," Itachi started, "Class 1-A made news across the country and school after being attacked by villains at Thirteen's U.S.J. They're just scouting us out."
Katsuki grunted, "Exactly, they're sizing us up before the Sports Festival comes. Heh, I wouldn't bother, ya damn extras, you ain't gonna get anything from us, and even if you did, it wouldn't help you anyway."
"Stop calling people extras!" Tenya's voice yelled out from somewhere within the crowd.
A purple-haired boy with huge bags under his eyes shuffled his way to the front, sighing and rolling his eyes as he rubbed the back of his neck. Red and black eyes snapped over to him as, despite his lazy slouch, he still stood tall over most of the other students there.
"Man, I came to see what Class 1-A was all about. I thought, after that villain attack a few days ago, that you'd be a humble bunch. Guess I was wrong. You're arrogant beyond belief. Is this what all kids in the main heroics classes are like." He asked..
Katsuki snarled and Izuku, Minoru and Tsuyu rapidly shook their heads.
"Don't mind me, I'm just put off by the attitude," the boy continued, "and did you know that all the General Studies students here had a equal chance of getting into Class 1-A and 1-B. Also, from what I heard, depending on one's performance in the Sports Festival, General Studies kids can be transferred to Heroics class, and vice-versa."
Itachi didn't even blink at the implied threat.
"Excuse me, are you judging all of Class 1-A based on the actions of one of our members. Forgive me, but you must have a very cynical view of the world." He said.
The boy scowled lightly.
"Tell that to the homeless or those in poverty. Looked down by those fortunate enough to be financially stable as nothing changes to help them. Hell, you're Yaoyorozu Hanzo's son, aren't you? You know nothing about struggle, do you? I bet you even got in through recommendations."
"...I did."
Itachi felt his body jerk and all external sound become muffled, as if he were hearing things whilst underwater, and even though he wasn't moving, Itachi felt like he was simultaneously rising upwards and falling, which wasn't doing his stomach any favours.
'What!?'
"You're probably thinking 'what's going on', right? Well, this is my quirk," the purple-haired boy started, but Itachi could hear him clearly, "I won't tell you what its name is or how it's triggered, but people said that it was villainous. They didn't even know me and I was already being dismissed as someone who can become a villain. If a quirk doesn't fit society's view of heroics, it's deemed useless or villainous. And yet, your classmates, who can unleash explosions, which, logically, will scare people, is viewed as having heroic potential."
Being unable to move and presumably at the student's mercy, Itachi suddenly felt very sorry for people who'd been hypnotised by the Sharingan.
This was, frankly, terrifying.
Still...
'He's bitter because people thought he'd grow up to become a villain? I suppose that most people, if they heard that constantly from the age of four, would end up like this guy or decide to prove society right out of anger and spite.'
"Hey, Trench Face," he heard Katsuki's muffled voice snap at him, "what the fuck, you ain't usually this quiet."
Itachi heard muffled pops and guessed the blond had set off low-level explosions from his hands.
"Huh, I don't know what you've done, but the only one allowed to boss this asshole around is me!" Katsuki snapped, and if Itachi could roll his eyes, he would've.
The purple-haired boy ignored him and continued to stare directly at Itachi.
"Anyway, with this Sports Festival, I was thinking, why don't I knock you guys off of your high horses. Impress the judges so I can take the places of any of you." The boy raised his hand and backhanded Itachi, getting a cry of surprise of Minoru and Izuku, and a snort from Katsuki.
He flinched, pain flaring through his face and everything suddenly returned to normal, causing him to blink a few times as he dropped to one knee, trying to quell the feeling of nausea that he was currently feeling.
The boy tilted his head slightly.
"Meh, you're name's Yaoyorozu Itachi, right? Well, I'm Shinso Hitoshi, the pleasure of meeting you is all mine and consider this a declaration of war. See you at the Sports Festival." Hitoshi rubbed the back of his head and walked off, the crowd scattering for him.
Izuku let out a breath that didn't even know he'd been holding, "That guy..."
"D-Did he just declare war on Class 1-A?" Minoru stammered, as white as a sheet.
"Oi, Yaoyorozu..." Eijiro trailed off, placing one hand on Itachi's shoulder, "and come on, Bakugo, you've got everyone hating on us now."
Katsuki chuckled dangerously, already walking away, "Huh, Trench Face did that himself 'cause he couldn't keep his mouth shut. And who cares, Shitty Hair, about all the stuff that extra said? Once you're at the top, it doesn't matter."
"Bakugo-chan." Tsuyu sounded highly disapproving.
Eijiro sniffed, clenching a fist as he shook lightly, "So simple, but so manly."
"At the top..." Fumikage muttered and then Dark Shadow popped out of his abdomen, prompting gasps from several other students as the shadow creature turned to its master.
"It means being above everyone else!"
"Dark Shadow!"
Itachi just grunted in response as Tetsutetsu effortlessly barged his way through the crowd, who'd already given Katsuki a wide berth, screaming and yelling at the top of his lungs.
"Oi oi oi, I knew I'd find Class 1-A eventually. I wanna find out from you guys about the villain attack that took place a few days ago. I totally wanna hear from you guys. Come on, tell me, tell me, tell me!" He bellowed, grinning.
The following day, after the school day was over, Itachi stood in Gym Gamma, dressed in his P.E. uniform, waiting for his classmate to show up. There a few other students in the building, 2nd and 3rd years, but they were training amongst themselves, not bothering to interact with the lone 1st year and Itachi was fine with that.
Cementoss was also present, having made several concrete towers that allowed several students to train by themselves and develop their super moves.
The teacher had probed Itachi over why he'd standing, staring at the entrance for a good five minutes, but quickly left him be, satisfied when Itachi had told him that he was just waiting for a fellow student, to watch over the others.
He was brought out of his musings when one of the doors opened and a head full of green hair popped through, followed by the body it was attached to that was dressed in the school's blue and white P.E. uniform.
Green eyes brightened when they fell upon him, sparkling like emeralds.
"Ah, Yaoyorozu-kun, I'm sorry that I'm late." Izuku said, jogging up to him.
Itachi shrugged, "Don't worry about it, we have nearly a month until the Sports Festival. We have as much time as we need, but I appreciate the fact that you showed up."
Izuku swallowed, "I-I just really want to get my quirk under control. Aizawa-sensei's words have resonated with we. I don't want to be a liability to my allies in a fight."
"That good, it means you've taken his words to heart and are taking this seriously," Itachi stated, "besides, if you keep breaking yourself, you'd eventually end up as a cripple."
The green-haired boy blanched.
"I-I didn't think about that."
"Hn. Now then, roll up your sleeve and show me your quirk. I want to see how you'd utilise it in a fight." Itachi ordered, activating his Sharingan.
"Hai. So, um, when I saved All Might in the U.S.J., this is what I did."
Itachi watched as Izuku channelled crimson-coloured energy through his legs, which shuddered violently under the sheer amount of raw energy flowing through him, then stopped channelling the energy through his arms, then began to channel the energy again through his right arm, paused, and then channelled the energy into his hand.
Izuku clenched his fist, grunted as if pained by the basic action, and then the shimmering lines of energy faded away.
He looked up at Itachi and almost flinched away from the piercing red eyes that were staring him down with such sharpness, one would think it could cut clean through the soul.
"When you use your quirk and release it, how do you feel?"
"Like an egg in the microwave." Izuku replied, his face completely serious despite the absurd answer.
Itachi had to fight to keep the smile off of his face.
"Right, forget that I asked," the elder Yaoyorozu twin said, cringing internally, "I see your problem and I think I know how we can rectify it."
Izuku looked hopeful, "You do?"
Itachi nodded.
"You channel the energy of your quirk through one limb, then channel it through another," Itachi said, narrowing his eyes, "that's inefficient and in a real battle, would be far too slow. There's a second and a half interval between the energy fading from one limb and flaring up in another. That's enough time for a villain to counterattack while you're busy switching to another limb."
Izuku hummed, thinking over the taller boy's words.
Itachi was going to continue, but knew Izuku was smart enough to figure it out for himself, and he wouldn't learn if Itachi answered everything for him.
"So, what you're saying, is that I need to channel One- um, I mean-"
'Slipping up with One For All again? Once is an accident, but second time is intentional. What are you playing at, Midoriya-kun?'
"-my quirk throughout my entire body? But how would that help me, I'd just be breaking my bones at a much faster rate, if not simultaneously. At least with one limb at a time, I'd still be in the fight, albeit, a liability, like Aizawa-sensei said."
Itachi crossed his arms.
"If you have an electrical appliance that trips its fuse because it has too much current flowing through it, how would you make sure, after changing the fuse, that you won't have the same problem when you use it again?" He inquired, smirking when he could practically see the moment the light bulb in Izuku's head switched itself on.
"I'D REDUCE THE OUTPUT!"
"There's no need to shout, but yes, reduce the output of your quirk. Don't go 100% all the time." Itachi said, ignoring the stares that Izuku's loud proclamation had drawn towards them.
Izuku placed his arms by his side, raised in a martial arts guarding position, and partially squatted in place, appearing like he was going to take a dump on the floor at that very moment as he bared his teeth and huffed and puffed, concentrating as he tried to follow Itachi's advice.
Itachi backed away to give him some space.
Izuku let out a long exhale and then he yelped as deep and incredibly vibrant crimson lines became prominent all over his body, indicating he'd jumped straight to One For All's 100% output in an instant.
He groaned, falling to one knee and One For All faded away.
Itachi shifted in place.
"Are you alright, Midoriya-kun?"
Izuku nodded, "Yeah, I lost focus for a moment and jumped straight to 100%."
Itachi hummed, "If I may, reducing the output and bleeding any excess energy could make it easier for your to develop your quirk."
"Right, I'll try that."
It was an easy technique that Itachi had practiced several times before when he was an Uchiha.
Output reduction and the bleed of excess energy allowed every shinobi to tree and water walk, the Hyuga to alternate between killing or incapacitating their victim with the Gentle Fist and also allowed the Uchiha to manifest the Susanoo and switch between the initial ribcage, the full skeletal form, the full humanoid form and the full armoured form.
Izuku's green eyes flashed with determination.
He moved his entire form until it was the same position he'd been in before he nearly hurt himself by jumping to 100% and his mouth moved so rapidly that Itachi would've missed what he was mouthing if it wasn't for the Sharingan.
"Okay, 5%, just keep it at 5%, keep it at 5%, don't go any higher than 5%. You manged that back at U.S.J. If you can do it then, you can do it now. Yaoyorozu-kun has faith in you, so don't let him down." Izuku muttered under his breath to himself.
His right eye was twitching so hard that Itachi was afraid it was going to fall out of his head.
The Sharingan caught faint red lines of energy travelling up Izuku's legs, barely perceptible under the thick fabric of his P.E. uniform. The lines seemed to converge at Izuku's waist before branching out again as they shot up his torso, gathering at the base of his neck.
They branched out again, moving away from the base of the shorter boy's neck and criss-crossing Izuku's face and arms. One pair of branches even made their way to Izuku's eyes, causing the colour to be an odd mix of green, red and white.
Izuku grunted as he stomped on the floor, cracking the ground beneath his foot and flexed, causing the crimson lines to fade as emerald-coloured lightning began to crackle all over his body, giving him a green, bio-electric aura of sorts.
Itachi deactivated his Sharingan and clapped as Izuku grinned at him.
"I-I... I did it!"
"Yes, you did," Itachi replied, "I didn't expect you develop... this so quickly."
Izuku let out a breath.
"Full Cowling - 5%. Hopefully, with this, Aizawa-sensei won't kept berating me and Recovery Girl won't have to be treating me for broken limbs all the time." He said.
Itachi nodded and placed his arm on Izuku's shoulder.
"This is a good start, but you can't go into the Sports Festival without knowing what you can do with this."
Green eyes blinked up at him.
"Yaoyorozu-kun, what do you mean?"
"I want you to fight me," Itachi stated, red bleeding into a black, "I want to see what this Full Cowling of yours can do, even at 5%. And by the time we get to the Sports Festival, I want you to be able to harness a higher percentage."
"But-"
"We have three weeks, give or take, until the Sports Festival. If you can unveil this within 30 minutes of trying, then I'm sure you can do much more over the span of three weeks.
"Hai!"
Well this was new.
One moment, Hagoromo had been watching over the spiritual reincarnation of his two children as they progressed through adulthood, and the next, he suddenly found himself in a massive, empty void with no clue how he'd get out. The only thing that kept from fretting about where he was, was the feeling with Itachi's soul, which meant he was wherever the former shinobi had been reborn.
That still didn't explain the void with the green and black fuzzy atmosphere.
Seriously, why was everything so fuzzy? Why couldn't it be normal or solid like most other dimensions?
Hagoromo found it highly frustrating and it didn't matter how much chakra he poured into the Rinnegan, he couldn't open up a Space-Time Ninjutsu portal and leave.
It was almost like the place didn't want him to leave.
He looked around, but his ringed and purple eyes couldn't make out any discernible features besides the green, black and fuzzy clouds that surrounded him. Was his vision just bad or was this place so powerful that not even the Rinnegan couldn't force its way past whatever obstruction kept him from being able to properly see.
'I do not like this.'
Hagoromo hadn't been this nervous and on edge since he fought against the brother who'd been brainwashed by his mother, when he decided to chose his younger and weaker son as his successor, a decision he gravely regretted, and when Naruto and Sasuke had their final battle at the Valley of the End.
He put his guard up, readying his chakra when the green and black miasma that stood before him began to shift and warp, like something was pulling it apart.
"WHO DARES ENTER ONE FOR ALL!? NOBODY ELSE SHOULD BE HERE EXCEPT FOR THE PAST USERS!" A gruff, masculine voice boomed.
'Past users?'
The miasma was ripped apart, fading to nothingness, and Hagoromo found himself facing five different individuals. There were three more, but one wasn't moving and appeared to be wreathed by golden flames, while two more weren't interested in him and were facing a wall.
"I'm sorry," Hagoromo started, "I honestly do not know how I got here."
An incredibly muscular woman - 'Hagoromo, stop staring, stop staring, stop staring... Gods above, those thighs are huge' - sauntered towards him, cracking her knuckles as she did so, "You've got five seconds to explain how you got inside One For All, old man."
"Like I said, I don't know how I got here." He repeated.
A sick, skinny man with long, shoulder-length, white hair shifted in place, "Um, guys, there might be a-"
"Time's up!" A man who looked like a biker cheered and lunged at Hagoromo, green and black tendrils of energy emerging from his right hand as he cocked back his left fist, "Time to get your ass kicked, buddy. Maybe then you'll explain why you're here."
The Sage of Six Paths chuckled as he stopped floating and stood on his own two feet, "It's been a while since I've used these, but physical limitations don't matter much when you're a spirit."
"Guys-" The sicky man was cut off as a man with crack running along his face also approached.
"Shigaraki-kun, not right now. We have a problem and it has to be sorted. Stay back and let us deal with it."
Shigaraki sighed but did as he was told.
Hagoromo first utilised the Preta Path, absorbing the energy tendrils, then transformed his arm into an energy cannon and blew away the muscular woman as she tried to dropkick him. He then blew away the one with the high-collared jacket with the Deva Path as he appeared from a sudden smokescreen and fired a barrage of missiles at the man with a massive scar on his face who casually dodged them all, appearing unimpressed by the simplicity of the attack.
"That's enough." He said.
Apparently, it wasn't.
The dark-haired woman flew, quite literally, at him once more, but Hagoromo sidestepped her punch, grabbed her wrist and flung her away, but there was shockwave as she punched in the opposite direction and righted herself in mid-air. The biker-looking one appeared to his left and threw a ferocious haymaker which was met with a robotic arm, before shooting a multitude of lasers at a scarred one who tried to sneak up on him, but missed, despite trapping him a maze of lasers that he shouldn't have been able to manoeuvre his way out of.
"I said, that's enough." Hagoromo repeated, blasting away the biker-looking one with the Deva Path as the robotic arm shattered under the strain.
Apparently, they wanted to go for another round.
"This guy has multiple quirks." The biker grumbled.
The lady narrowed her eyes, "Could he be working for All For One?"
The one with the high-collared jacket scowled, "It's possible. But we need to get him out of One For All as soon as possible. There's no telling what this guy's presence could do. I'll lead with Smokescreen."
"Right!"
Hagoromo narrowed his eyes as the man with the high-collared jacket began spewing smoke from his body, obscuring everything from view when he began appear in several different place, using his quirk and speed to prevent the Sage from getting a solid read on him.
Sensing movement above, he looked up to see the muscular woman falling out of the air, fist reared back, ready to deliver a powerful punch.
Then, Hagoromo felt movement from behind and noticed the one who'd been laying down the smokescreen was charging towards him.
The guy who looked like a biker and the man with a massive scar were charging towards him from the front, also preparing to punch him as a multitude of green and black tendrils wrapped around him, preventing Hagoromo to moving his arms.
His purple, ringed eyes widened as he accessed the Deva Path and began moulding chakra.
As if sensing danger, the man with the large facial scar instantly stopped his approach and backed away. The other three either didn't notice or care about the fact that their ally had ceased his approach, since they continued to race towards him, seemingly eager to punch his face in.
Hagoromo didn't know if spirits could die and he wasn't willing to find out, especially after being attacked without provocation.
"I said, that's enough," he repeated for the third and final time, voice booming as he expelled his chakra outwards in a wave of repulsive force, "Shinra Tensei!"
The trio cried out as they were blasted backwards.
The man with the facial scar casually sidestepped the biker man who would've crashed into him otherwise.
Hagoromo watched as the one who'd been laying the smokescreen got back up, although he looked slightly shaky as he did so, and in a burst of speed, appeared next to the others as the sickly one, who stayed out of the fight, walked up to them and sighed.
"Why didn't you guys listen to me," Shigaraki started, "look at what I see and you'll notice that this fight shouldn't have happened."
The scarred one looked up at the projection in the sky and saw a raven-haired boy with red and black eyes reaching out to something off-screen.
"I see... I don't sense any hostile feelings from the boy. Shigaraki is right, if we weren't so driven to protect the 9th user of One For All, we wouldn't have fought this man." He said, scowling.
"I have a theory as to how I got here, but we haven't introduced ourselves yet, so lets start with that," The Sage of Six Paths started, "I'm Otsutsuki Hagoromo."
The buff woman crossed her arms and smiled, "Shimura Nana, sorry about the misunderstanding, Otsutsuki-san."
"Please, just call me Hagoromo." He waved off her apology with a small smile of his own.
Shigaraki brushed his hair out of his face, revealing bright green eyes that glittered with shame, presumably due to the actions of the others, "Shigaraki Yoichi."
The scarred man just scowled at him, "Shinomori Hikage."
Smokescreen man shifted his weight from one foot to the other before deciding to answer, "En."
"Just En?" Hagoromo inquired, arching a thin, white eyebrow.
En nodded, "Just En."
Assuming that the En had lived without surname or didn't care enough to provide him with that knowledge, Hagoromo looked at the bulky man dressed in biker clothes and was smirking at him.
"You pack one hell of a punch for an old man, Hagoromo. I'm Banjo Daigoro." Daigoro said.
"Hm, a pleasure to meet you all. However, what about the other three?"
Nana glanced at the column of fire, "That's a past user who isn't dead yet. Definitely my successor, Yagi Toshinori. And the other two don't like the 9th user. Now then, what the story, Hagoromo-san?"
The Sage of Six Paths hummed and returned to his cross-legged, floating position. Stroking his long, wiry beard, he pondered about whether he should start his story at the very beginning - this telling them about his brother and psychopathic, chakra-hungry alien of a mother - or start his story to just before he made the decision to give Itachi Uchiha a second chance at life.
Even thought these people were apparently already dead, he didn't think they'd appreciate a story that would be absurdly long if he went with the former.
'Itachi-kun's story it is then.'
A/N: And that's Chapter 16 for you guys. I've got a plan in my head revolving around the future interactions between Hagoromo and the Vestiges and the potential early unlocking of quirks such as: Blackwhip, Float, Fa Jin and the others.