Chapter 2 New surroundings
(Authors Note: in this Chapter Takeshi will begin his hunt on hero's. He will go by the name Madara as is while he's on patrols or hunting hero's and villains. In order to keep his identity a secret from the public.)
Wandering around the streets, well rested and recovered in that kid's home, Takeshi read the index of heroes the boy offered as
a token of his appreciation, along with some money and a backpack the way. The silver-haired boy, whose name was Ghin Shinjitsu, was generous, thankful even, despite
witnessing the mass homicide Takeshi committed in front of him. Upon reading through the contents, Takeshi devoured page by page, absorbing as much knowledge of the heroes here as he could.
He knew he could eventually find a way to return home, with enough experimentation with his new evolved Dōjutsu, but even so, he ought to learn more about this world while in it. Upon arriving at the Hosu library Takeshi started his further research into questions he could not obtain from Ghin. Takeshi had found that the concept of Quirks was indeed something interesting about this world Apposed to his own. As well as the rules that went with them. Quirks refer to the abilities and mutations that appeared in history without origin and vary among eighty percent of the population. Quirks cannot be used publicly by any non-licensed hero. Quirks cannot be used to injure other persons under any circumstances without just cause and a
hero license. It was those fundamental rules that laid the foundation of labeling criminals or as they were termed here, villains.
This profession of heroism was born from the chaos the appearance of quirks had created. When everyone believed
that they could use their power to shape the world as they wanted it. It was such a basic concept though. You have the power so naturally any normal man will attempt to flaunt it over others to get what you want. To some extent this is scene in my world too wether it's Madara, Orichimaru, or the Otsutsuki's. Power has always been known to be mixed with the selfishness of human nature and that's Inevitably what happens. The restrictions of quirks were a means of
controlling the chaos that came with power, but he knew first hand that it wasn't possible to control something like this. When you have power, it's easy to get caught up in ambitions. It was a web that couldn't be broken, untangled, or navigated. At some point, you just can't go on any further and
that's where you stop. The term heroes was primarily more of a title earned through
an education system rather than selfless acts of bravery. After all in any normal society it doesn't take powers to make a hero just perseverance and determination to do something heroic. Takeshi then further read it also involved profit and popularity, rankings, and statics When risking your life, receiving reward certainly seemed
more practical to Takeshi. Yet As a ninja who has been sent on death threatening missions, he wouldn't be too happy if his
success wasn't rewarded even if it was for the greater village. But being a ninja was more than just a job, if that were the case more people would have had choices when it came to becoming one. But there was status, expectations, loyalties, the sake of survival, talent, ability, traditions and so much more that factored in when it came to being a ninja. After leaving the library. Takeshi decided he will test his metal against the heroes and villains that this world has yet to offer. Thus his crusade began to not just challenge those who are strong but to even shake the very values found at the world's foundation. The existence of heroes here was already cause enough for him to enact violence against these upholders of heroic oppression. For Takeshi had found their society fundamentally flawed in their beliefs and values. A few minutes later after leaving my the library Takeshi was Walking across the sidewalk, many curious eyes of some passersby wandered to his presence, each glancing at his menacing appearance or, more specifically, his ever vigilant sharingan. To civilians unaware of the all seeing nature of the eye. Some of them were bold enough to gaze into the eye. Luckily for them Takeshi was unwilling to cast further attention to himself and just use the eyes for their visual prowess. While they hypothesized and categorized him as one of those duel or mutant-type Quirk users. As Takeshi unbothered continued walking on the streets of Hosu, he closed the book Ghin had given him, he was left contemplating his plan of action according to what he learned so far. In his mindscape, Takeshi sifted through his potential targets,
pondering who to hunt and how he should present his debut But there was a problem.
How powerful are Quirks, average-wise? Takeshi drew a prototype scope of levels between the Quirks, though there were no rankings for Quirk levels as far as he knew. The kid even denied the existence of a ranking chart for Quirks since their range of utility was too vast and unpredictable to translate into pure numbers.
The best references for comparisons were the unique abilities from various shinobi throughout the elemental nations. However, hearing and experiencing were two different things, the latter more capable of teaching through direct encounters, risk and all. 'Though, how should've known that those mutant quirk wielders were all people?'
Takeshi mentally groused. He didn't know that they weren't monsters, despite looking so similar to monsters found throughout kaguya's dimensions. How could he tell the difference in the first? Regardless, what was done was done, an experience to exercise further caution with his might. Besides, no one even liked the villains-turned-mangled-corpses nor sympathized with their deaths.
Moving past his consolidated mistakes, he decided to wander in his hunt. He hoped to encounter a strong hero for a good reference on how to deal with Quirks, a viable benchmark for comparison. From what he learned, the number of Quirks was so diverse, Takeshi couldn't formulate even one concise countermeasure against them. From how the silver haired kid described it, yet a Quirk that kills with a single glance could exist, more reason to add fuel for caution.
Takeshi knew he should further invest in caution. Speaking of caution If the what the kid told me about this so called internet is true. I should first probably consider a Elias to go by while I'm hunting heroes and villains alike. "Hmmm… what should it be Tobi, Tenzo, Madara?" Unsure with his Elias Takeshi continues to walk down the street Pondering to himself about his earlier inquiry knowing that if a man with superhuman might could stand atop of the hero world in this country. then someone around Takeshi's level should be able to manage as well. If there is such a person anyway, thus far that remains unclear.
Though according to what he learned about the heroes in his book, some of them... look quite queer in comparison like a monster trying to play Hero. He even saw an alligator man dressed in a hero costume. Even to the well traveled Takeshi the sight was beyond alien even to him.
Shrugging his stray thoughts, Takeshi returned his focus to his travel, already having a location in mind to start his hunt.
However, to his unaware, he headed closer and closer to a cordoned zone, the number of pedestrians began to decrease the further he trekked, an area cut off by heroes in their search for villains.
In his wandering stroll, a presence caught his radar, followed by another, alerting his attention to the alleyway next to him.
Seeing what seemed to be a shadow shuffling through the darkness, a suspicious figure veiled in the absence of light, Takeshi could make out a large figure sneaking in the dark.
"Oh?" A wild unknown had appeared.
Changing directions, Takeshi rushed into the alley, smiling as he disappeared at speeds faster than the average eye could see.
'The hero rushed through the narrow darkness, into the suffocating presence of rotten odors and lack of light. In front of him, a villain fled for his life, his stamina already depleting bit by bit - chased for the crime of several kidnappings and abductions along with theft. He was a mutant, one bearing the features of a grasshopper be its head, arms, or legs.
Like a grasshopper, he possessed the power to leap great distances, but at the cost of great stamina. Currently, at most thrice a day was his limit, any more will lead to immediate collapse, a weakness his pursuer was exploiting at this very moment.
The Hero was catching up with the villain in the darkness, ready to run him down like a bull and bring him to justice.
Accelerating his momentum, he swiftly closed enough distance to throw a right hook, striking the villain's skull to the point of instant knockout.
"Ack?!"
Squawking, the cricket villain tumbled in somersaults, crashing into the garbage cans in the darkness and immobilized.
"Your crime spree has ended, villain."
The hero declared. As he reached for the phone in his back pocket, a voice halted him in his tracks.
"Yo."
The sudden voice emerging out of the seemingly unending blackness set the Hero instantly on edge, their eyes darting back and forth around the surroundings.
"So, you're a hero, huh? Must say, you look... quite meaty. Your about as big as the average Akimichi Clan member. How strong are you?" The voice in the darkness queried, the sound echoing from everywhere as if he was a haunting phantom.
A chill passed over the Hero. He couldn't see anyone around him. But the feeling of being watched never left him.
"Hmmm, bullhorns? You part bull?"
The hero felt something touching his horns on his head, a few casual flicks on the hard bone, along with something weighing around his left shoulder.
Whipping his head around, the Hero was immediately confronted by a scene he did not expect. Squatting on one of his shoulders was a lithe man, his visage dimmed by shadow, but his features still discernible despite the lack of light. A mix of confusion and suspicion immediately overtook the
Hero.
"Say, is your bodily condition natal?" The figure asked, flashing his pearly white teeth with a ferocious grin shining in the shadow.
The Hero could feel the sweat begin to trickle down his forehead, leaving wet trails behind. Egged from stress and instinctual fear, The Bull Hero attempted to shake the man off his shoulder, only for the said man to leap from his roost, landing in front of his eyes. He barely made any noise at all as he perched down, only the woosh of the parting air even indicating the impossibly soundless landing.
"You... another villain?"
Clenching both of his weighty fists, the Hero kept his eyes firmly locked on the sinister figure before him. Judging by his sudden appearance and demeanor, the red eyed man must not have come for any reason other than violence. But there was something about him that set his instincts blaring, a dark foreboding sense of danger that must be stopped or else unspeakable danger will unfold.
"You can say that - the name's Madara. I had a few titles, but I prefer either the Human Demon or the Hero Hunter. Maybe the latter. So, you ready to be my first victim?"
That answer was more than enough to spur him into combat.
Tensing up, the Hero twisted his body and cocked back his right. Every one of his Quirk-enhanced muscles bulged and swelled as he wound himself up.
"Oh, and don't bother calling your friends."
Lifting his hand, The Hero could see...
"What?"
Since when did he take his phone? The hero paused his windup, patting his back pocket with his other his surprise; he felt an empty spot where his phone should have been.
"Don't worry. You'll get it back. After I break you." Takeshi smiled before throwing the phone away behind him, letting it clatter the hard concrete.
"Come at me. You'll be seeing a lot more red once I'm done with you.
Gritting his teeth, the Hero glared at the figure before him.
His fear now seemed to be mixed with vengeful anger, showing itself in his narrowed glare.
"So you're here to free your comrade, huh?"
With one thumb, the bullish-hero gestured over towards the knocked out villain, still twitching from the sheer impact of his punch. If this new villain would not attack instantly, then perhaps he could be coerced into revealing more information.
"The hell is he?"
The newcomer peeked at the cricket man, only to tilt his head in confusion. As for said cricket man, the villain stirred in his unconsciousness, groaning in pain as he slowly picked himself up.
"Don't you play dumb. Why else are you here if not for him?
Which gang are you from?"
Taking a step towards the villain, the Bull Hero spat out at him. 'This guy had to be a part of some villain gang or organization. But then again, there was something about this guy.
"No, seriously. Don't know him or any gangs here."
Madara shrugged, before entering his stance, knees bent and arms angled in a predatory design - one that radiated experience and skill, a feeling so different it felt almost... alien compared to those of the usual ilk.
"Show me what you got."
The taunting was enough. With a cry of effort, the Hero took another step towards the villain, just close enough - twisting his body now in the opposite direction, his balled fist shot out; beads of sweat dripped from his forehead, as he poured all of his strength into it.
CRACK*
In response, Takeshi's fist swiftly met his, the result the opposite of The Bull Hero expectations. The bones in his fist shattered, while the shoulder of his right popped out of its socket with a sickening crack.
"AUUUUGGGRRRHH!"
The Hero recoiled in pain, holding his now-shattered hand up in the air, his fingers currently twisted at unnatural angles, with the skin pulpy and riddled with contusions.
"What the hell? That it, if that's all
You make a terrible dance partner…" Takeshi asked, his surprise evident by his rapid blinking eyes.
Clenching his other fist, the Hero began to pant heavily. His eyes shifted from his broken hand over to the villain.
"I expected a decent dance partner with a Quirk like yours. Don't you have super strength or something?"
Judging from his tone, The Bull Hero could tell he felt as if he was cheated of his promised fair game.
"I'm not... argh... done yet. I still... haaah.."
"Let's see."
In a split second, with an immense impact of which flinches the mind of those that heard the sound, Takeshi's fist was lodged within The Bull Hero's chest, deep through bone and squishing the lungs behind the ribs.
The result, The Hero vomited blood as darkness consumed his vision, the whites appearing in his eyes before he fell to his knees with a heavy thud.
"Yeah, we're done. Congratulations. You've completed and utterly wasted my time." Takeshi Sneered before dislodging his hand from his victim's chest, leaving him alive but barely.
Takeshi turned around, refusing to give him another glance even as the rest of him fell face flat to the floor.
"Don't tell me other heroes are this weak?" Takeshi muttered.
His hunt had just begun, but his start was anticlimactic; so much so, Takeshi felt like demanding his first victim to refund his wasted time.
As for the criminal, he slowly picked himself to his feet, eyeing his supposed savior with a sense of awe.
"Whoa. Thanks, man. That was awesome, taking down-"
Before the villain could speak another word, his face slammed to the wall toot sweet with overwhelming force, his consciousness giving in as his face intimately engaged the
stone.
"Trash."
Takeshi turned and walked away after disposing of the villain as well. He would not allow the scum to misinterpret his actions as his duty to evil as a whole. The phone appeared at the corner of his eyes, attracting Takeshi's attention to the device.
Looking at the phone on the floor in his path, Takeshi pondered in thought. Picking it up, Takeshi fiddled with the device for a moment, scrying the features on the phone hoping to acquire the contact numbers of heroes for future
use.
"What's this?" Takeshi, however, found something like a map blinking green on the screen - a radar of sorts, evident by the lime yellow concentric rings and the red arrow indicating the position of the holder.
'That kid told me that hero's like using these to call for backup or to find local villains. I wonder..
Perusing the number of buttons available to him, Takeshi found the Emergency button. A wicked idea coursed through his mind as he weighed his current choices.
One, he could fight an angry mob of heroes regardless of the risk. Or two, pick them off one by one. The second choice was indeed safer, but, considering how weak the hero behind him was, he decided to test the waters. Also, what better way to spread his infamy than a pile of broken bodies in the middle of the streets?
The image of the macabre scene alone made Takeshi smile ever more. He might need the body behind him as an... incentive.
Or two for more impact.
An hour of preparation later, Takeshi waited in the middle of the empty streets, sitting on the 'corpse of the bullman hunched with elbows on his laps, as he waited for the heroes to arrive. Not only that, his body wasn't alone, accompanied by an even bloodier 'corpse,' one that looked like a cricket.
Luring heroes to him instead of personally hunting them was a tactic he had considered during his time spent in the anbu, mostly because most of the shinobi he encountered were young and experienced, however some jonin were critically above his league. Regardless, he still wished to test out his targets here if his findings were of any indication.
All or nothing.
God rewarded his patience with the presence of one hero, who jumped at the sight of Takeshi sitting on the back of an unconscious hero. This hero was garbed in the attire themed off a wolf.
"What the?" Said the hero.
"Yo," Takeshi ostentatiously waved the phone in his hands with mocking grace.
His provocation was super effective against the hero.
"Get off the hostage and face me, Villain!"
He shouted as he charged towards Takeshi, tensing his right arm as he pounced towards Takeshi.
"Slow."
Takeshi smacked him aside, not even bothering to look at the result of his handiwork. That one move was enough to determine the hero's worth, his judgment sound when the hero crashed into the wall, rattled into unconsciousness.
In his wait, two more arrived at the scene - a pair of heroes garbed in what this world would consider ninja attire.
After them, four more heroes arriving at the middle of Hosu.
Before long, a small battalion of heroes greeted him, some standing atop the roof of buildings looking down upon him at the edge while others arrived at the scene in a rush. A few even appeared in mid-air, levitating with the power of flight as well. 'There was also a hero with an actual jetpack.
"State your identity, villain!"
"Cease all hostilities and turn yourself in at once!"
The heroes around him demanded, every one of them preparing their Quirks for combat as they surrounded the Hero Hunter.
Takeshi only smiled in return. Upon briefly glancing at the hero he knocked aside, he saw a phone in his hand.
'So he called for backup before he slept. Huh!
Rising from his 'seat,' Takeshi casually jumped off the hero he stood on and landed on the cold hard street.
"Ahahaha! Come at me, heroes! Let the Hero Hunt commence!" Takeshi declared, spreading his arms wide as if welcoming them.
Today was the day the Hero Hunter made his mark on the world, his first grand appearance with the heroes of Hosu as his sacrifice.
From that day, bodies of iconic heroes painted the street along with with their crimson blood, their downed forms a mockery of all their efforts and what they stood for - and a challenge against the world's collective concept of justice.
"I've never seen such a brutal scene before! Just who would have defeated so many heroes"
Switching to another channel..
"Could this be the rise of a new villain gang?! So many heroes brutally massacred yet-1
Switching.
"Within the streets of Hosu, a pile of bodies splattered in blood appeared, left behind by possibly a dastardly dangerous villain group we've never heard of before."
On every screen, news of the horrible carnage took over all the media channels, stunning all the residents of Japan with the unwantedly graphic details.
All Might could only watch the depicted 'massacre' on the screen in his room, gritting his teeth with his fists clenched.
Such a moment of brutality. And for seemingly no reason either. Scene after scene played out before Yagi, who sat still, unable to help. At least, not in his current skeletal form.
Of course, within All Might's mind, there was only one person who could be responsible for such a massacre; his name echoed throughout the walls of his mind, reverberating around until the echo became a roar.
"All For... One.."
How was he alive? All Might thought he ended his life that day at the substantial cost of his career. Although he never took the man as one wanting attention; nonetheless, he was the only one he knew capable of such a gruesome feat.
"Wait! One of the Heroes woke up! H-He's crawling away from the scene! Wait! His face! Look at his expression!'"
Look at his expression!
On the screen, All Might could see one of the heroes crawling away, his helmet shattered and chipped, revealing the snot, tears, and abject terror reflecting off his countenance.
"D-Demon! S-Stay away! Madaraaa!"
The terrified, anguished cry stunned the assembled emergency personnel and reporters into silence, taken back by the sight of a broken Hero. The sheer level of panic in his voice sent a shiver down more than a few spines.
All Might blinked at the name. Wasn't it All For One? One of his subordinates, perhaps?
"No, too chaotic." Cupping his chin, All Might recollect his memories of All For One, his accumulated experience and knowledge of the Symbol of Evil's character. This was too random, even for him. And there was no villain there at the scene to take the credit whatsoever. The culprit behind the crime was someone new, the next generation entering the stage making his debut.
In another house, a Quirkless boy with messy, dark green moss for hair watched with terror alongside his mother on the couch. Both mother and son dropped their jaws, their bodies petrified into stillness from fear apprehension delivered by the horror behind the screen.
"So... so many..."
On the screen, a random hero from the bloody pile crawled out from the mass, rolling off of the others underneath him and landed on the streets. His body jittered, his arms wobbling when he pushed himself to his knees, threatening to collapse under him at any moment's notice.
This one, however, did not seem as physically damaged as his peers judging by his naked face, his cheek marked with contusions but still healthy and active. But his trembling, bloodshot eyes was enough indication of his mental state.
Even more so when he curled his body into a ball and hugged his knees, rocking back and forth like a child longing for his mother's warmth, he didn't even notice the news crew around him, or that the citizens were witnessing his state through the lens.
"... This... ahem. A-As you can see...I" The reporter stuttered, trying to regain her composure.
"How many heroes do you see?"
In the dark room where only the static of the screen was the only source of light, dimly illuminating the faceless man's visage, the blind one asked the man shrouded in abysmal mists behind him while watching' the screen before him.
"It is difficult to determine an exact count from the presented footage, but it appears to be at least twenty."
The voice of the one covered in black fog almost seemed a little surprised at the number.
"Really? Judging from the girl's tone, I estimated forty at best.
Perhaps fifty at most," All For One asked, disappointed, but still surprised.
"It is not the number, but the state of the Heroes that shook the reporter."
Kurogiri corrected, his eyes still glued to the scene with a mix of unease and awe, the first from the fear the scene instilled and the latter a sense of respect for the one, or ones, capable of performing this feat - a feat that will inspire villains in Japan to take action, nonetheless.
"What is the one word that comes to your mind when you saw their state?" The blind Symbol of Evil asked.
Kurogiri paused and gathered his thoughts. Many words raced his thoughts: terror, horror, gruesome. But one word came to mind, one derived from the feeling the scene visually conveyed.
a nightmare."
Hearing this, All For One hummed in contemplation, editing his plans for the future in his mind.
"I see. So, this is a message, nonetheless; to inspire Fear into the hearts of many... encourage Tomura to approach the one called Madara in the future when the time arrives. I've never encountered an event like this in many years, to be honest, nor anyone even capable of such feats when I still could see. A refreshing revelation, I admit. Keep an eye on this one!
Kurogiri nodded in response, keeping his 'eyes' on the screen, as the footage of the broken Heroes continued rolling
