Hey guys it's me! It's been a long time and I'm sorry for the wait. Hopefully, this helps a little.

Hey- Normal talking

Hey- Kazuto's inner monologue

'Hey'- People thinking

(Hey)- Inner circles mean places or time skips

~Flashback~


"We'll be going now, mother," Kazuto said with a smile as he ushered his little sister forward.

"Okay. Take care you two." Midori said with a kind smile.

'Man. For someone that was really worried about me yesterday, mom really just let me off the hook.' Kazuto thought with a twitching smile.

"Where are we going, big bro?" Suguha asked with a tilt of her head.

Making sure they're at a safe distance from their home, Kazuto answered.

"Well..." he ruffled her hair with a small smile as he saw her puff her cheeks out angrily. "Did you really forget what we have to do Sugu? Eraser was really specific."

"Oh...right," she said sadly with her head down.

"What's wrong Sugu?" he asked worriedly as he slowed down.

"I'm sorry" she whispered.

"What for?"

Kazuto had a good idea where this was going but let her continue until she let all her bottled up emotions out.

"For being there," she whispered as she looked into his coal-black eyes. "If I wasn't there that day, you would have captured those evil guys. It's just that..." she stopped abruptly.

"That you felt I was hiding something from you guys and you felt worried right?" he let out a weary sigh at her nod.

"Why are you fighting Kazuto?" she asked with small tears. "You didn't have to hide that from me! I could have helped! We're family aren't we!?"

He knelt down and hugged her tightly.

"That's precisely the reason why I didn't want to tell you." he stopped the tears from falling from her grey eyes and planted a small kiss on her forehead. "You guys are my family. I would never forgive myself if you guys were to get killed if that information leaked out."

"I understand" she whispered with hurt in her tone.

"I really am sorry sis." he whispered as they separated from the hug.

"No, it's fine." Suguha said as she gave him a small, tender smile.

"Okay then. Let's go Sugu." he smiled right back.


(Underground hidden base: Meeting Room)

"Let me get this straight..." Ares said as he sunk into his chair with a sigh. "You let the girl follow you without you knowing, she gets caught by one of the League's henchmen and you let them escape in order to save her. Is that correct?"

"Hai Commander." Kazuto saluted with his right arm behind his back and his left hand on his heart. Both him and Ares locking eyes unflinchingly.

"You'll be the death of me some time kid." Ares let out a small chuckle.

"You and me both." Eraserhead sighed as he entered the room.

"What about me?" Present Mic whined. "I'm also his captain for the Hero Branch!"

"Oh well." Ares and Eraserhead smirked.

"Meanies." he huffed indignantly.

"Anyway..." Eraserhead said with a small glare as he looked at the figure shuffling uncomfortably under his gaze. "What to do with you?"

"Um." Suguha tried desperately to not let the three sets of eyes intimidate her.

"We're doing nothing." Ares stated as he saw Kazutio tense up beside the girl. "You did promise not to harm her Eraser."

"Ugh." Eraserhead sighed tiredly.

"Ha," Mic smirked as he poked his friend. "You're getting soft, buddy."

"Shut up."

"Meanie..."

"Are we done, captains?" Kazuto asked with an emotionless tone.

"Relax kid, we're done." Ares motioned soothingly. "We just need you to tell us about Himiko Toga to help clear up some confusion."

"Hai. She seemed to have pealed off a mask that looked more like skin when she was under the guise of Nero, sir."

"That's odd..." Ares mused to himself. "Nero had been with me for a while now and I know for a fact that she is no traitor."

"She wasn't, sir?"

"No. I didn't exactly tell you this in order to not let this Himiko know of my intentions, but Nero had been dispatched to a mission a few days before the attack."

"Meaning?" Eraserhead inquired with a frown.

"Meaning that the person masquerading as her wasn't really Nero. Through that regard, Kazuto here helped me figure out how that person was able to breach our security and stay undetected for a long time." Ares stated with an edge in his voice that had the other two, captain and sub-commander respectively, stand straight from their slouching positions.

"You don't mean..." Mic said with a small hitch in his voice.

"It's exactly how it sounds like Mic." Ares nodded solemnly as the two other men looked on with frowns.

"Damn it!" Eraserhead exclaimed silently.

"Excuse me, Commander? What's wrong?" Kazuto asked as he tried to hide his nervousness.

"Well fuck." Present Mic swore as he looked lost. "We forgot you were here."

"Hey Mic. Do me a favor and take the little girl out of the room for a little bit." Eraserhead exhaled.

"W-wait a minute..." Suguha looked on with fear, but a short, rough hand in her own let her get all the courage she needed to nod silently. As she walked out, she saw her brother send her a small smile.

"Tell me Kazuto." Ares looked at him pointedly when the girl was out of earshot. "Do you know what quirks are?"

"Quirks? As in small tells in a person?" Kazuto asked in a monotone voice

"Not quite," Eraserhead said as he looked at the door. "Quirks are special, superhuman abilities that a person can have. It can help enhance their strength, speed, agility, mindset, and so much more."

"It can even give a person wings kid," Ares said with a chuckle.

"You guys are fucking with me right?." Kazuto deadpanned. "There's no way that..."

His words got stuck in his throat as he felt killing intent within the room.

"It's not a laughing matter kid," Eraserhead exclaimed with an edge. "So don't take this lightly and pay attention."

Kazuto was rooted in his spot but managed to nod stiffly.

"As for you." he then shot a glare at Ares. "Take this seriously so the kid knows what he really signed up for."

"Fine." Ares sighed as he fixed his posture and looked straight at Kazuto. "What both the Hero and Underground main branch are hunting is not only Yakuza gangs or wanna-be thieves kiddo. We are also looking for a high ranking terrorist group called the SShiei Hasaikai. In foresight, I know we should have told you sooner, but we didn't think they would make an attack so soon since most of the members had been disbanded."

Ares took small steps and sat in his chair as he placed his chin within his hands. "Now, however...the terrorist group had banded together with a criminal organization called the League of Villains who have these quirks as you have seen via Himiko Toga."

"But it's just a possibility that she had been undercover with a fake mask, no?" Kazuto inquired with a hint of skepticism.

"No. That's unlikely." Eraserhead chimed in with a frown. "You've seen it first hand haven't you? The way it seemed as if she had peeled off her skin is because she is able to transform as other people if given the chance to take some of their blood. It's a special ability that is really powerful for reconnaissance. It had been reported that the girl was scouted by the League to act as their informant on our base of operations."

"The Hero branch foolishly ignored this by stating that there was no way a little girl could beat them and the like," Ares stated blandly. "Now, with Geko defecting along with some of our soldiers, it explains why the girl couldn't be caught."

"Why rat someone out if you're working for the same end goal..." Kazuto exclaimed with realization.

"Exactly." Ares nodded as he continued. "Present Mic and Ms. Joke inputted their own worries since although impossible, it was still probable that it would happen but as always, they were ignored by the masses."

"Now, we want you to think about this Kazuto Kirigaya as your inauguration has been postponed to the day after the Kendo Tournament since we will be hosting it in the same place as two years prior. Will you continue with your fight against both the League of Villains and the Shiei Hassaikai, or will you quit here and now with the information given to you? Give us the answer the day after the tournament kid. You're dismissed." Eraserhead said with an air of finality.

"Hai, Captain." Kazuto saluted as he walked away and went to find his sister.

"Man, that sucked" Ares whined lowly.

"Quit whining. It was you who didn't want the kid to know." Eraserhead pointed out.

"Yes, mother..." Ares sighed dramatically with a smirk as he walked out.

"Jackass," Eraserhead muttered quietly with a tick mark. "I should find Emi..."


(Later on)

Suguha and Kazuto are seen walking around looking for groceries after the 'trip'. The thing was that they didn't really need any groceries at home. The ravenette knew the reason they were sent out. He just ignored his sister when she started to wonder why their mother said to go buy food with a lopsided grin. Whatever it was, it made her brother shudder in mild disgust as his face turned pale and it looked like he had war flashbacks. With a quickness that she didn't know her mother had, she took her dad away and locked the door to their room. When that happened, Kazuto took her by the hand and ran as if hell itself was trying to trap him with a yell of "OH HELL NO!"

"Are you okay big brother?" Suguha asked as she saw him scrunch his face in disgust.

"Huh?" Kazuto asked in a daze. "I'm fine. Just have a lot on my mind is all."

"You always do." she teased with a fond smile.

"Yeah I guess you're right." he eye smiled.

"I always am," she said haughtily.

"Heh. Tone it down...shrimp." he teased with a mocking smile.

"WHA!?" she shrieked angrily. Not knowing that she was the center of attention, she continued. "You can't just make fun of a girl's height you meanie!"

Before any words could leave Kazuto's mouth, a blond missile shot out from the crowd and dropped kicked him in the face.

Suguha saw her brother fall on the ground and hold his nose in pain while she felt arms wrap around her defensively.

"Did Kazuto hurt you again Su?" a voice filled with mirth ran to her ear. She knew that voice!

"Alice!" she squealed as she hugged the blond girl tightly and then...

"He's so mean!" she sobbed comically. "He called me fat, made fun of my height, and said that I had a face only a mother could love!" she wailed comically as the onlookers nearby sent her brother dirty looks or were snickering at his misfortune. (Mostly the guys)

"HUH!?" Kazuto screamed as he saw the looks. "I did no such things! I only called you a shrimp!"

"How dare you hurt my Su like that Kazuto Kirigaya!" Alice pointed a shaking finger as she cried crocodile tears. "My little girl is so precious and yet your words never seize to pierce her young heart! You meanie!" she hiccuped as her hands ran through Suguha's raven tresses with tender care only a mother could.

The women within the crowd cooed at the affectionate display as they sent Kazuto angry, playful glares once they found out that the kids were just playing around.

"Hold on a sec..." he was once again thrown for a loop by a brown missile kicking him in the back and making him topple over.

When the smoke cleared, the audience clapped in appreciation as Kazuto was on the floor sprawled out with a brown boy raising his fist in the air as he 'defended' the two girls.

"My hero!" Alice smiled tearfully as she gave the boy a kiss on the cheek.

"Alice..." the boy muttered with a blush and a goofy grin.

"Okay lover-boy, you can get off my brother." Suguha stated blandly as she gave him a long stare.

"Oh, my bad..." he smiled mockingly at the sprawled figure that sent him a glare that would've killed him ten times over.

"Fuck you Eugeo" Kazuto muttered with a small smile.

"No thanks. I don't swing that way buddy." Eugeo said with a small grin as he gave his best friend a hand.

"Heh. The fanbase would say otherwise," Kazuto muttered lowly with a chuckle.

"Ah, the kendo fangirls still giving you trouble?" Eugeo inquired sympathetically.

"Always." he shuddered.

"By the way," Kazuto started as he looked at his two friends as the crowd dispersed within small chuckles. "What are you guys doing here? I mean I like you guys and all, but you should've told me that you guys were here."

"We would've, but somebody" Eugeo sent Alice a mocking glare as said girl grinned cheekily. "Decided that it was better to surprise you."

"I like making fun of him." she shrugged with Suguha still in her arms. "Sue me."

"Now we just need..." Alice started but got cut off by small footfalls nearing their way.

"Sorry I'm late." a small voice was heard.

"You're not going to drop kick me too will you Shino?" Kazuto pleaded with a shaky grin.

"What?" the girl asked lowly as she looked at the blond and brunette combo. She also noticed that Suguha was in said blond's arms in a protective embrace.

"Oh nothing." Eugeo snickered along with Alice. "Just a small greeting."

"Greeting my ass" Kazuto muttered with a glare.

"Wasn't that what my foot did? Or is your brain losing competence, old man?" Eugeo mocked.

"Oh don't you start with me you milky way looking, burnt browny reject!" Kazuto exclaimed haughtily.

"Why you..."

"~Boys~" three voices sang in a sweet (too sweetly) tone.

"Yes ma'am's." both boys saluted. Shino noticed that Eugeo's salute was more sloppily compared to Kazuto's. Must be because of the practice with all the dumb things he and Eugeo got into.

"What are you guys doing here?" Suguha asked as she finally pried herself from the blond's grasp.

"I'm able to stay here for five weeks since I'm taking part in the kendo tournament" Alice stated proudly.

"Wait a sec, girls could also enter in the kendo tourney!?" Suguha exclaimed with surprise.

"Yeah, I've told you that before sis." Kazuto was looking at her weirdly. "Did you forget or something?"

She just scratched her cheek in embarrassment with a "Yeah I think so." Seeing him nod and start talking with Eugeo, she let out the small breath she didn't know she was holding. At least he doesn't know that she was dreaming about beating people up with a kendo stick instead of listening to him talk two weeks ago!

"What about you Eugeo?" Kazuto asked with a knowing smile and raise of his right eyebrow as he made a lasso motion with his left hand. "It didn't have anything to do with your...charge now did it?"

Poor Eugeo could only look at him in exasperation with a large blush as words had failed him once again.

"Geez, you should cut it out Kazuto." Shino sighed tiredly as she finally spoke her mind. They, however, noticed her own blush. Why was she blushing?

"But Shino..." Kazuto whined with teary eyes. "They were mean to me!" he wailed as he held her in a hug.

"H-hey! D-don't touch me so suddenly you idiot!" she shrieked with a blush so large that it almost rivaled Eugeo's.

"Yeah, sorry about that." he chuckled with his right hand scratching his neck.

When the two of them looked back at their group, they saw them send cheeky grins their way. Kazuto was clueless, but Shino had invented a new shade of red then and there.

"A-anyways, Alice said something about going to a café to relax before the big day." Shino stated as she calmed down with a small cough.

"Yeah I'm game." he shrugged as the group headed to a small café store.


"It's crazy how the days go by huh?" Kazuto whispered as he stared at the setting sun once more.

"Are you going to have another boring old man moment?" Eugeo whined until Alice elbowed him in the ribs.

"Shush Eugeo. Don't be mean." Alice whispered as she looked at Kazuto's tense form.

"Right." Eugeo scratched the back of his head. "My bad."

"Geez, boys." Suguha exclaimed in exasperation as Shino nodded sagely.

"No, but seriously." Kazuto smiled lowly. "The days really go by." He cast a glance at a moving shadow and tried not to show his friends how tense he really was. Alice took notice but made no comment on it.

"Yeah, it's crazy you know?" Eugeo gave a shaky breath. "I'm as nervous as it is with the Tourney coming in a couple of weeks."

"A couple? I heard they moved it to next Thursday." Shino tittered as they looked at her in bewilderment that then turned to panic.

"You're kidding right!?" the trio shouted as Suguha laughed at their comical expressions. "No one said anything about that!"

"Yeah...according to the windmill going about, nobles will be looking at the tournament this year along with greatly know businessmen and businesswomen from UA" Shino stated matter of factly.

With that, she saw Kazuto tense up so fast that she thought she had imagined it.

"Really now." he mused lowly. "That's...interesting."

"No kidding!" Alice and Eugeo exclaimed with enthusiasm. "This is going to be BIG!"

"Well, I'm going home." Alice nudged Eugeo with a wink. "Eugeo here will act as my meat shield."

"Hey! That's mean." Eugeo whimpered but followed nonetheless. They exchanged knowing grins before leaving.

"Guess it's just you two with me huh?" Kazuto smiled fondly as Shino blushed and Suguha nodded brightly

"Shall we go drop you off Shino?" he inquired as the girl pondered the words. She never trusted people to not take advantage of this, but Kazuto and the gang were different. So, with a small, shaky grin, she mustered all her courage and said "Sure."

On the way, the three just talked about random things ranging from their favorite color to favorite food choices. As they reached a small apartment, the Kirigaya duo couldn't help but frown slightly as they noticed Shino's plummeting mood and the lack of warmth coming from the apartment.

"Well, here's my stop guys," Shino stated with a shaky grin. She had never been nervous about telling people that she lived alone, mostly because everyone knew about it and mocked her. However, with these two, Kazuto especially, she couldn't help but feel self-conscious.

"I guess we'll see you later." Kazuto smiled brightly as he saw her grin falter. "It doesn't matter how this place looks like if you're thinking about it. You're still our friends Shi."

Hearing her new nickname, Shino couldn't help but grin stupidly with a blush as Suguha looked on intently.

"Yep. You're still the greatest and bestest sister I have." Suguha grinned tenderly as she went to hug her. And, with a voice that only Shino could hear, she whispered, "Don't let Alice know about this though, okay?"

With a chuckle filled with elation, Shino hugged her tightly with a soft "Okay." as Suguha leaned into the embrace.

As they broke off, Kazuto was scratching his back with a small smile.

"Where's my hug Shino?" he asked coyly knowing that she wouldn't do that. Boy wasn't he in for a surprise!

With a roll of the eyes, Shino went up to him and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you Kazuto, for everything" she whispered tenderly with small tears.

"I'll always be here for you Shi." he returned the gesture with a small quirk of the lips. "Who else will keep me and Eugeo in line besides Alice and Sugu? We'll need your level-headedness if the girls want to stop us from doing something stupid."

Letting go of the hug with a small chuckle, she punched him lightly on the shoulder. "Of course stupid. You guys had helped me so much and I feel that the friendship I have with you guys is a great blessing."

"I'm just blessed to have you in my life Shi" he smirked with a small wave as he and Suguha left the now motionless Shino Asada holding her beating heart.

"You idiot." she smiled affectionately at his retreating form.


(Kirigaya Household)

"You think mom and dad are worried about us big bro?" Suguha asked innocently.

"Somehow, I doubt it." Kazuto shuddered in disgust as they sat on a sofa and started watching Naruto Shippuden.

"Hey, big brother?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you sure you're okay?" she asked timidly. "You seem more distant than usual."

"Well, Eraserhead already knows about you so I should just tell you." he shrugged tiredly.

Seeing her eager look, he started talking about how Eraserhead wants to place him into a branch of his own that includes both the Hero and Underground working environment. He left out the actual talk with the two captains and the commander about what he should be worried about though. No need for her to worry any further.

"That's a lot of work big bro," she exclaimed in wonder. "Are you really sure you'll manage all that?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine. Did you know that since I'll be reinstated as a double agent, I'll be able to help out in the city? Like stop bank robbers and the like if I'm in disguise?" he grinned cheekily.

"Like an actual superhero!?" she squealed lowly in joy.

"Yep. Your brother will be a real-life superhero now!" Kazuto stated proudly.

"You'll still be a super dork to me though." she chuckled quietly.

"Man." Kazuto deflated with a pout. "You're starting to be as bad as Alice."

"It's to make sure you don't end up having a big head with all that popularity that could come your way" she stated matter of factly.

"And just as analytical as Shino..." he muttered with a smile.

"Now if you excuse me, I have a date with sleep. Later bro." Suguha mumbled tiredly as she dragged herself towards the steps and into her room.

Just as Kazuto was going to go to his room to do the same thing, he heard something in the show that resonated within him.

"You're wrong, that's not what makes a shinobi! You never did get it... a real ninja is one who endures no matter what gets thrown at him. Let me explain something to you, there is only one thing that matters if you are a shinobi, and it isn't the number of jutsu you possess. All you do need is the guts to never give up."

When Kazuto turned around, he went to turn off the TV with a fond smile. 'You always knew what to say even through your facade of a pervert, Toad Sage.'

As Kazuto laid down in his bed with his arms behind his back, he thought back to Eraserhead's question.

[Will you continue with your fight against both the League of Villains and the Shiei Hasaikai, or will you quit here and now with the information given to you?]

'Stupid Shouta' Kazuto thought as sleep overcame him. 'You won't be able to get rid of me that easy. I won't give up as long as I have something to protect.'

You know what? The more I thought about it, the foolish I would've been if I quit. Who cares if they have superpowers and I don't? No superpower had brought me up to be a great vigilante. It was only my will to do so. If you think reality is just living comfortably and following your own whims, can you seriously dare to call yourself a soldier? Having faux courage to cover your fear is needed to move forwards because a person without any courage is only a lowly being capable of harming to live another day. Before the cowardly, there is nothing. I wouldn't dare to be one of those! Not now, not ever.