Hello everyone, again I am still amazed at the reception of the readers to this story. As always, I appreciate all those that have taken time out of their day to read the Like a Shot Fox. Sorry for the wait on this chapter, it is double the length of the last one though. Please enjoy chapter two.
G.B.
"Speech"
"Thoughts"
"All Might Buff form speech"
"All Might Buff form thoughts"
Disclaimer: I don't own My Hero Academia or Naruto
Recap:
Izuku stood, never losing eye contact, pulling Katsuki in close before whispering in a sing song voice, "you should already know who was first on the mock exam Ba-Ku-Go." Letting go of the limb, Izuku collected his bag, and began walking towards the door. Upon reaching the threshold, he turned. "Oh? And Kacchan, it was wonderful speaking to you again," the green eyed teen said with a ridiculing tone and a Cheshire cat like grin.
Chapter 2: All Might
Katsuki remained staring blankly at the door that the green-haired teen had just left from. The class waited on bated breath to see how the blonde explosion user would react. Fortunately for them, they didn't have to wait long. Katsuki's hands sparked violently before an explosion rocked the room, the blonde screaming, "Dekuu!"
Breathing heavily, Katsuki could only picture the look that the green-haired boy had given him. "The nerd was looking down on me," the blonde thought in disbelief. This incidence was a rude awakening for the blonde and served as a warning that maybe someone could match him. Katsuki thought of every interaction he's had with the emerald eyed teen since that fateful day in the park all those years ago.
The boys had grown apart since Izuku manifested his quirk, their already flimsy friendship had strained seemingly to the point of no return. Since that day in the park, Katsuki had made several attempts to show that he was superior to Izuku in every way. Although there were many attempts made, Izuku would ignore the blonde bomber, his facial expression never changing. Katsuki realized quickly that he wouldn't get a rise out of the reserved boy, and instead settled for subtle insults.
All this served to placate Katsuki's fragile ego. The blonde would never admit it, but he was truly afraid of Izuku that day. Those memories resurfaced like a wave hitting shore the moment he heard, "Gnat."
Katsuki stood, jaw clenched, reliving every interaction he had with the green-haired teen, snapping out only when his "friends" surrounded him. "Yo, Bakugo are you alright?" asked a brown-haired boy with his eyebrow raised slightly.
"Tch, damn nerd," replied the blonde with a frustrated huff ignoring the look on the boy's face. "Let's go," he continued not waiting for a response as he made his way for the door.
Meanwhile in another part of the town, a woman's scream sounded alerting passersby to the sight of a creature made of slime running down the street.
"Help! Thief!" the crowd began shouting, looking around for any sight of a hero.
The creature began to pick up the pace, as it didn't want to be around when the heroes inevitably arrived. While the people continued to look around anxiously waiting for a hero, out of a convenience store exited a tall, skeletal man.
"Don't worry citizens, everything is going to be fine now. Why? Because I am here."
All heads turned at the sound of the voice, the villain's eyes widened before beelining for the nearest sewer grate. As the purse thief dove into the sewers, he had a pursuer in tow following with no hesitation.
Izuku was making his way home walking at a leisurely pace reflecting on the day with is partner. "Come on Kurama, it wasn't that funny," came the green-haired boy's pleaded voice.
"Ningen, you froze like a deer seeing me when you ran into that vixen," replied the giant fox laughing lightly.
"But..."
"But nothing Ningen, you should really work on interacting with the opposite gender," Kurama all but laughed out as the pair began to walk on the underside of a bridge.
Neither was aware that they were currently being watched as they continued with their conversation, "maybe spend less time with your bunny fixation."
"Come on Kurama, All Might is not a rabbit-themed hero," retorted an exasperated Izuku. As he shook his head, the boy felt a tug on his shoulder as the ground slipped away from his feet.
Struggling, Izuku heard a garbled voice from above him, "don't worry brat, this will only hurt for a second."
"I'm just going to borrow your body for a little while," the assailant stated, yellow eye meeting the boy's emerald ones. Izuku could feel the slime begin to engulf him further as it creeped up his neck. That's when he heard, the booming voice of the green and white vixen in his mind.
"You will unhand him GNAT," the nine-tailed fox snarled as green energy bubbled forth from her. The effect was instant. An ethereal force erupted from Izuku, forcing the slimy assailant away in shock, causing the boy to land back on the ground.
As soon as the green-haired boy touched the ground he jumped forward hoping to gain some distance from the slime villain. Turning quickly, Izuku assumed a fighting stance as he faced the man made of slime, not sure if he'd be able to make it out from under the bridge.
"We'll make it Ningen, if necessary, by going through," the fox assured, eyes slitted and alert.
Izuku nodded in agreement with the fox's words, standing a little more assuredly knowing she was there with him. At the same time the villain was looking at this boy that he thought was an easy target. That proved to be a mistake as before him stood the green-haired boy with a green fox shaped shroud around him, a single tail swishing behind him. What frightened the would-be abductor, however, were the glow of the boy's now slitted green eyes.
Before either could make the first move, they were shocked to see the cover to the sewer bursting towards the underside of bridge. Out jumped a blonde man with the body of a Grecian God. "Ah, there you are. Have you decided to finally stop running?" the man questioned while beaming at the villain.
The slime villain stood, trembling at the sight before him, while Izuku's mind went blank. Before the pair stood the number one hero in Japan, and the proclaimed symbol of peace, All Might. The villain took a hesitant step away from All Might, deciding to make a break for the teen who was still dumbstruck at seeing the hero.
"Not so fast villain," All Might began as he reeled his arm back preparing his attack.
The villain continued his advance upon the fox-cloaked teen hoping to use him as a shield against the hero. "Ningen! You need to move. Now!" yelled the fox noticing the approaching villain, and the lack of movement from her ward.
The next moment felt like a lifetime to the teen. Upon registering the vixen's warning, he kicked off the ground, jumping backwards to gain more distance from the villain that was a step away. Not expecting the movement from the green-haired boy, the slime villain was unable to properly brace himself from his missed grab, continuing through where the intended target was.
"Texas SMASH!" shouted All Might, his arm punching forward. The force of the blow was strong enough to send compressed air towards the villain and the boy, both of which were swept up by the force of the blow.
Izuku was sent skidding out from underneath the bridge, bracing against the force as much as he could, coming to a stop underneath the shade of a tree. "T-t-that much p-power" thought the boy stunned by the sheer force of the blow.
"He was holding back Ningen," Kurama stated in a matter of fact manner.
"That was holding back," the green-haired teen replied incredulously to the giant fox.
"Yes, Ningen, trust me on this. That bunny man is far stronger than he just let on," the vixen responded to the disbelieving teen.
"Kurama he's not a…"
"Definitely a rabbit. On another note he's been trying to get your attention for some time now," interrupted the fox.
"Eh?"
Kurama was in fact correct, as Izuku came back to his senses, he could feel a constant tapping on his cheek. Looking up, he could see that it was his hero tapping and trying to get him out of his stupor. "Young man, young man," All Might repeated continually.
"A-All M-Might," the teen finally said, still awestruck by his rescuer being the number one hero in Japan, and the display of force he had shown.
"Ah there we are; are you alright young man?" the buff hero asked maintained eye contact with the teen.
Not trusting his voice, Izuku nodded to the question.
"Okay, that's good. Don't worry, I took care of the villain," All Might continued, holding up a plastic bottle to the teen's face.
Looking closely at the bottle, Izuku deadpanned. Inside he could see the two yellow eyes of the villain glaring back at him, having been stuffed into a small water bottle.
"I must apologize young man, I didn't expect you to move in the way you did," bowed the hero. "I ended up sending you flying away as well," continued All Might apologetically still maintaining the bow.
"O-o-h, p-please don't apologize, you saved me," Izuku replied earnestly waving his hands in front of him.
"Well thank you for understanding young man," the hero said as he stood up straight from his bow. "Please get home safely young man, I have to drop this evildoer off to the nearest authorities," All Might continued while turning and preparing to jump away.
As he leapt, all the hero could hear was a squeaked out, "W-Wait."
Looking down, All Might saw the boy that he just rescued clinging on to his leg for dear life. "Young man, I understand fanaticism, but this is a new one for even me," the hero called out over the rushing wind.
"What the bunny said is an understatement," came the exasperated tones of the white vixen.
"Not helping Kurama," came the rushed reply of the struggling teen.
"What am I going to do with you Ningen."
"Young man, you need to let go," All Might continued while shaking his leg slightly.
Gripping tighter to the hero's leg, Izuku shouted out frantically, "If I let go, I-I'll die."
Seeing that the boy's statement was in fact true, he looked to find the closest building he could land on. Spotting said building, All Might released another blow, changing the duo's trajectory, and landing with a heavy thud on the roof.
"That was extremely dangerous young man," began the large man sternly.
"Not to mention idiotic," chimed in the fox, smirking slightly.
"You could have been hurt, or worse killed," continued All Might wagging his finger slightly, "I'm sure if you ask the people in the building they will help get out."
As All Might made to leap from the building, the voice of the boy stopped him. "Wait, please, I have so many things that I want, no, need to ask you," Izuku pleaded.
"Young man, I'm very…"
"Can I be become a hero like you some day?" the green-haired boy interrupted as the hero tried to reason with him. "Can I save people with a fearless smile?"
All Might's eyes were solely focused on the boy in front of him, who looked so hopeful at the prospect of an answer. "Young man I thi…" the blonde stopped as he felt a sharp pain in just below his heart. "Oh no." With that thought, a plume of smoke erupted from the symbol of peace.
Izuku jumped slightly at the sudden eruption that emanated from All Might. As the smoke cleared, Izuku saw him, an emaciated man with blonde locks standing where he last saw All Might.
"W-What!" shouted the teen whose eyes were bugging out of his head. "Where's All Might?"
"I am All Might," the man replied sullenly.
"You're kidding," Izuku deny vehemently, "All Might is a hero, he's THE hero, you're lyi..."
"Ningen enough," Kurama interjected, stopping the boy mid-sentence. "Look at his clothes, and you'll see he's telling you the truth."
Izuku followed the vixen's instruction, and it was as she said. While the clothes were far to big for him, the emaciated man was, in fact, wearing the same clothes that the number one pro was wearing. "How?" was all the boy could muster.
Sighing, All Might slid to the ground and sat leaning against the roof's railing. "While I appreciate that you want to be like me, you should know young man that although I smile, there is plenty a fear behind it."
Lifting his shirt, Izuku could only gasp at the damage the man was showing him. "Five years ago, I suffered this injury in a battle, fighting a villain that could match my strength."
"To match the bunny, that villain must have a been a true threat," Kurama followed up in Izuku's mind, eyes slitting more than usual.
"I lost most of my stomach while most of my respiratory organs were severely damaged. Due to the need for repeated surgeries, I became emaciated," All Might continued, unaware of the third party speaking to the young man.
"Wow," thought the boy.
"Wow indeed Ningen. The bunny is far more durable than expected," the fox stated agreeing with the boy's statement.
"At this point I can only maintain my muscle form for a few hours a day," the skeletal man finished seriously, looking at Izuku.
"Five years ago? That was your fight with Toxic Chainsaw," Izuku stated in a matter of fact tone.
"Impressive young man, you've got your facts correct, however this fight was not made known to the public," replied All Might genuinely impressed with the boy's knowledge. Standing, the man continued, "Obviously, I am going to ask you keep this a secret as it would inspire those to commit horrible evils."
"Of course, All Might, your secret is safe with me," Izuku responded quickly.
"Thank you, as for your question earlier, yes, if you work hard enough, I believe you can be a hero like me young man," the emaciated gentle stated while standing up and heading for the door. "One more thing young man..."
"Y-yes Sir," replied the teen stunned by the hero's words.
"I know I said my smile wasn't fearless, but should you choose this path, in those times when you think you can't just try to smile that fearless smile," finished All Might as the door closed behind him.
"Yes sir," the green-haired boy replied to the now closed door that his idol exited through.
As Izuku restarted his trek home thinking about his meeting with All Might. As he turned the corner, an explosion rocked the street. "What the..."
"Ningen look," the vixen called out, addressing the crowd ahead of him.
"Another villain attack?" the boy thought rushing to the scene to see what was happening. When he arrived, his heart stopped. Ahead stood the slime villain from earlier, destroying the middle of a shopping plaza.
"How," thought the teen nervously trying to think back to the moment the slime was captured. Like a bullet to the head he realized. "It was when I grabbed All Might's leg, it's my fault."
"It's not your fault that he wasn't properly secured by the bunny, Ningen," Kurama replied quickly sensing the boy's distress. "If anything, we should be blaming him."
"But Kurama, had I not been such a fanboy, we wouldn't be having this conversation."
"Okay, then if you think it's your fault what do you propose we do," the fox sighed out resigning to the boy's sense of morality.
"I-I don't know, but we should get to the front to see what's being done," finished the green-haired boy making his way to the front of the crowd.
Worming his way to get a better view, Izuku was shocked to see that the slime from early wrapped around struggling form of his former friend. "Kacchan…"
Katsuki was heading home, his lackeys following behind mindlessly chattering away. The usually explosive blonde was lost in thoughts about the events of the day. Frustration washed over him as images of Izuku flooded his mind. "That fucking nerd. He showed me up in front of everyone."
"I'll show him, I'll show him I'm better than he is." The bomber clenched his teeth, growing more frustrated by the minute. Boiling over, Katsuki released his frustration by kicking the nearest object, in this case a bottle rolling on the ground.
Kicking the bottle with all his might, Bakugo didn't expect a sentient slime to explode forth. "Hey kid, I'm just going to borrow your body for a few minutes," garbled out the once trapped villain.
"Like hell you are," the blonde gritted out sending explosions from his palms.
"Oho, your quirk seems pretty destructive, maybe I'll use this to defeat All Might," chuckled out the villain as he continued to wrap the blonde.
The shopping plaza all but cleared out when the explosions rocked the nearby storefronts. Katsuki's lackeys had left their "friend" to his fate, while the heroes that arrived couldn't get close to the volatile blonde.
"Oh, it looks like the little gnat got caught in the spider's web," Kurama stated with a large grin. "Are you sure we should be looking to help him; he'd let you suffer that fate if the positions were reversed?"
"Kurama, as much as you dislike him, we can't just leave him," Izuku replied, while watching the situation closely. "Leaving him would make us no better than he is."
As the teen looked around, he saw the family blonde-haired skeletal man just watching along with everyone else. "All Might's here? Why isn't he moving…"
"The time limit Ningen, he can't maintain his other form remember," the fox reminded.
Another explosion erupted in the plaza, drawing Izuku's attention back to Katsuki. That's when he saw it. In the moment that he saw Katsuki's eyes, he could see them pleading for anyone to help, to save him. That was all it took for the green-haired teen to make his attempt to save his former childhood friend.
Kurama, seeing what the boy intended, could only smile at his actions. "Never thinking about yourself Ningen, always ready to jump into the fray. That's the best part of you…Let's save the gnat," the vixen though while flooding the boy with all the power he could handle.
"Hey kid, get back," a hero yelled at the boy now sprinting towards the villain.
Izuku paid him no mind, his sole focus was reaching the blonde currently in trouble. The villain saw him on his approach forcing Katsuki to release more explosions. Izuku continued his approach, the fox cloak increasing his speed and agility. Dodging the debris, Izuku was finally in striking distance. As the slime villain shot out a tendril, a pulse of ethereal energy resonated from the teen.
The wave pushed the tendril back allowing Izuku to reach the trapped boy. "Deku what the hell are you doing here?" shouted Bakugo.
"My legs moved on their own, plus it looked like you were pleading for help, Kacchan," replied the boy with a smile, frantically trying to free the blonde.
"That young man is trying so hard, yet I'm standing here afraid to move," thought All Might angrily. "Pathetic, you need to move, now, Toshinori," he finished forcing himself to transform.
Izuku was so engrossed in freeing Katsuki, he didn't realize the villain had recovered. "That's it kid, this is the last time that you get in my way," screamed the slime sending a sharpened tentacle at the boy.
"Ningen! Move, now!" Kurama yelled trying to warn her ward.
As he went to move, the green-haired boy realized that while he was trying to free the captive, he had inadvertently stepped onto the villain's slime.
"Crap," was all he could think as he watched the tentacle close in. The pain never came. Izuku, upon opening the eyes he hadn't realized he closed, could only stare at the sight before him.
There, with slime wrapped around his arm, was All Might in all his glory. "Good job young man, but I think I'll take it from here," the hero said with a beaming smile.
"As for you," All Might looking at the villain, "It's time for you to make your leave."
"Detroit smash!" the hero exclaimed while his fist rocketed forward. As the man's fist reached its' full extension, the force behind the sent the slime villain shooting backwards while All Might held the children. The air pressure from the blow was strong enough to change the weather over the immediate area causing rain to fall.
The crowd cheered at the display of power from number one hero as reporters flooded the scene and surrounded him. Katsuki was being looked at by the paramedics, while Izuku was being scolded for rushing in as he did by the heroes.
"Hypocrites. They stood by worrying about the disadvantage they were at," Kurama growled out.
"They were trying Kurama."
"Yeah trying to save face," the vixen huffed, turning her head.
Izuku could only chuckle at his tenant's reactions.
As he began to make his way home for the third time that day. As he neared his house, Izuku was surprised to see Katsuki leaning against a streetlight. "What do you…"
"I didn't need your help nerd," Katsuki interrupted, "I would have been fine."
"Sure, you would have Kacchan," Izuku replied sarcastically.
"Argh whatever, just listen here, you better get into UA, that way I will show you who is really the best here," growled out the blonde.
"I'm sure I'll see you there," the green-haired boy replied.
"Good," Katsuki said as he pushed off from the streetlight to begin his walk home.
Izuku watched his fleeing figure, "guess that was the closet to a thank you he could get out."
"He's still a gnat."
"Everyone is a gnat to you though," the boy chuckled out to his partner.
As he turned, Izuku was surprised when All Might appeared with an, "I am here." That statement was all that the hero could get out before coughing up blood and returning to his emaciated form.
"All Might, why are you here?" the boy asked, deadpanning slightly from the display. "Weren't you surrounded by reporters."
"Oh them, they are easy to get away from," replied the hero while wiping the blood from his mouth, "as for why I'm here, I wanted to know what you were thinking rushing out like that back there?"
"I'm sorry All Might, it was because of me the villain escaped you and you had transform again," Izuku began with his head held low, "I had to rectify the situation, but more importantly my legs just sort of moved when I saw Kacchan's face."
"Young man, you have no idea how grateful I am that you said that," All Might replied, "that's how it starts for most heroes. No thought just action."
"Your heroism is something that shouldn't be overlooked, and something that I haven't see firsthand for a long time," the man said shocking the teen. "The injury I have will eventually catch up to me, so before that I have been looking for a person to pass my power onto."
"Pass it on?" the boy asked incredulously.
"Yes, my power has been passed on for generations, and you, my boy, are fit to be the next inheritor. So, are you willing to be my successor? Can you become the next symbol of peace?"
Looking up at his idol with a Cheshire cat like grin, the boy didn't hesitate.
"Yes sir."