Chapter 306- Izuku Midoriya and Tomura Shigaraki
"Can you kill Tomura Shigaraki?"
Nana Shimura's question rang in Izuku's head. Can he… What?
Isn't a hero supposed to save people?
Isn't the power of One for All meant to help people?
Why would she ask such a thing?
"I'm not asking this as a request." Nana continued, approaching Izuku without a hint of emotion on her face. "This is a question about your resolve. When you clashed with him, you thought you saw someone who needed to be saved, right? That's what you believed. We know because we're synced to your emotions."
"That's what's buggin' us, though." Banjo sat forward in his throne. "What on earth makes you believe that? He sure didn't seem like he needed saving to us." Izuku's eyes widened. "That's not to say we're denying that he's suffered! Having All for One groom him and toy with his mind was nothing short of torture for the boy, without a doubt. Even still, I don't think that kid WANTS to be saved from that."
"He was brought up on nothing but hatred and anger towards everything." Yoichi spoke, glaring daggers at the floor. "It was all because of my brother's influence that he has become what he is now- a means to an end to satisfy my brother's desire to see evil live on in a singular vessel. His very own disciple, who will carry on his legacy."
"Furthermore, his mere existence is not just a risk to yourself, but to the entire world." Shinomori continued. "As long as you're alive, Shigaraki will hunt you down for One for All; there's no doubt he wants its power for himself. All for One will have given him all of its secrets, and with its power Shigaraki would become unstoppable. He could conquer the world overnight."
"All for One tried the same thing." En nodded. "He once attacked Banjo before in hopes of taking this power, and then attacked me after I inherited the power. But when he made his attempts, he failed both times." Izuku blinked in shock. All for One already tried taking One for All back, and failed? The villain, for as little as Izuku knew about him, didn't seem to be one to waste time on a useless effort; if he couldn't steal it back, then why was he still so obsessed with it?
"He lacked something the rest of us- and Shigaraki- have that truly enables One for All to be inherited by an individual." Banjo spoke. "What he lacked was a strong enough feeling to tie One for All down with."
"Strong… feeling?" Izuku muttered.
"Yes." Yoichi spoke. "Each of us here had a strong feeling when we inherited One for All- hope. Hope for a better future, that we could accomplish by contributing to this power. You felt a similar emotion when you inherited it from Yagi- hope that you, a Quirkless individual, could make a change and fulfill your dreams by taking this power and making it your own. Those feelings tied down One for All into your consciousness, like anchors, making the quirk truly YOURS."
"That's the problem All for One is trying to circumnavigate, though." En explained. "There's more feelings out there than "hope", but All for One can't feel any of them- not properly. Even if he's always smiling, or talking about how satisfied or happy he is about what's going on, that man truly feels nothing." Izuku's eyes widened. "He can't feel any emotion as strongly as a normal person can, and so he can't develop an emotion strong enough to anchor down One for All. You saw this in the earlier battle, when he attempted to steal the quirk through Shigaraki's body. We were able to resist because his feelings were nowhere near strong enough to compete with yours."
All for One's inability to feel emotions like others could… What would normally be seen as an important trait in any villainous tyrant had come back around to bite him. His psychopathic nature and eternally aloof disposition prevented him from ever making a dent in One for All.
"We suspect that transferring his own consciousness into Shigaraki via his quirk was his Plan A, so to speak." En continued. "If he could share his feelings with Shigaraki, then he could take over the boy's body and steal the quirk using those feelings. But as we saw, that was ineffective when he tried it."
"Which brings us to his Plan B." Shinomori spoke up. "Using Shigaraki's overwhelming hatred and anger to chain One for All down properly, and letting Shigaraki carry on his legacy- something we absolutely cannot let happen."
Izuku stayed quiet as he let this information sink in. On some level, he knew that the predecessors were all correct that Shigaraki would become an unstoppable force if he were to ever succeed in stealing One for All- his hatred would be unleashed on the entire planet, and no corner would be safe for anyone. Shigaraki also had no plans of rebuilding or reconstructing society; he just wanted to tear it all to the ground, crumble the world into dust if he could. The only thing keeping him from being able to do so was the power of One for All, now resting inside of Izuku himself.
Hiding away wasn't an option either. He couldn't do what Shinomori did and train the quirk up even more; Shigaraki would inevitably find him, and even if he couldn't he'd be condemning so many to suffer and die as he took his time mastering the different quirks.
But he couldn't bring himself to believe in killing the young villain. He knew what he saw inside Shigaraki was real- a young boy crying out for help, scared and lost and all alone with a hand reaching out, waiting for somebody to take it. Izuku knew he could- no, he knew he HAD to be the one to take it.
"The basic principle of One for All has always been to defy and destroy All for One." Yoichi's voice was almost apologetic as he spoke, understanding the struggle Izuku was currently going through. "It seemed that Yagi had accomplished this, but my tenacious brother found a way to carry on its torch. The person himself may be behind bars, with no more means of escape, but his quirk- and his legacy- will live on inside of a terrifying beast."
"Izuku." Shimura spoke, her voice hard and emotionless. "I know asking you to do this is incredibly unfair to you, especially after all that talk about how you can't walk away from this…" Shimura shook her head as her gaze fell into Izuku's own eyes, her coal irises seemingly staring into Izuku's very soul. "Tomura Shigaraki is my grandson- my family. To better fight All for One, I removed myself from my son's life… and Tomura was the result." Her lips began quivering, and her eyes were now becoming glossy, as though she were on the verge of tears. Her voice was shaky as she continued- "It's beyond shameful for an adult who's failed at everything to burden a sixteen year old boy with her old debts… But all the same… If that monster grows into the ultimate evil, then nothing and nobody can stop it."
Izuku remembered All Might's warning from way back when… About how he would have to someday fight against an ultimate form of evil. It had terrified him to the core then, but now…
"It won't be enough to try and understand him, and I know you can't forgive him either." Shimura continued. "There are some people who just can't be saved." Her arms suddenly shot out, gripping Izuku's form by his shoulders tightly. Shimura swallowed and took a deep breath, then said, "If a person who looks like they need saving is actually beyond all hope… Will you have the resolve to kill them, if that is what it takes?"
The room became silent then. Everyone's eyes were on Izuku, except for the second and third users. Izuku's mind was racing with everything he had just heard.
A means to an end to satisfy my brother's desire to see evil live on in a singular vessel.
His mere existence is a risk not just to yourself, but to the entire world.
I don't think that kid WANTS to be saved from that.
The basic principle of One for All has always been to defy and destroy All for One.
If a person who looks like they need saving is actually beyond all hope…
Can you kill Tomura Shigaraki?
No matter what he thought of, no matter what alternative theory he wanted to present, Izuku knew that in the end they were correct.
Tomura Shigaraki had suffered more than Izuku Midoriya, or anyone else he knew, ever had. This much was painfully apparent. The child in him crying for help was real too. But what kind of help did this child want? What did being saved mean to Tomura Shigaraki?
It was easy to imagine what Eri thought being saved would mean back during the Shie Hasaki raid- someone who could take her away from the clutches of an evil man, who could show her how to smile again, who could make her life full of the happiness and love she was denied for so long.
To save meant to rescue a life from danger, to bring a sense of normalcy to a person and bring them out of their deepest traumas so they could go on to live a healthy life, with loved ones caring for them and helping them along the way- to make a person safe.
But Tomura Shigaraki didn't want to be safe. He didn't want to be saved. He actively hurt several of the most important people in Izuku's lives, and made it clear that he would kill them and everyone else to accomplish his goals. He suffered greatly, yes, but openly accepted that suffering to turn it into a foundation for his wrath. He gleefully killed pro heroes and innocent civilians alike, laughing wildly with glee as he unleashed all of his hatred for society without a shred of remorse. His hatred of society may have had a solid foundation and explanation, but it was nowhere close to being an excuse for his unhinged actions that impacted the lives of so many, Izuku himself included.
He could still hear the squelching from Shigaraki's fist going clean through Gran Torino's stomach, the gleeful cry Shigaraki made as he went to tear Aizawa-sensei's face off, and the mocking tsk he made after stabbing his best friend in the stomach, annoyed only at his true target being pushed out of the way at the last second.
It was undeniable- Shigaraki was a soulless monster who hurt so many people in Izuku's life. He had willingly accepted a devastating power with the ambition of wielding it to destroy and kill those who he hated.
But there was so much hurting inside Shigaraki too. Izuku couldn't ignore that.
"I…" He began, his mouth feeling dry as he broke contact with Shimura. "I remember seeing… Or rather feeling so much pain in Shigaraki when we fought. Beyond the rage, beyond his hatred and determination to see his dream… I saw a little boy crying inside of him."
Shigaraki… He truly was a monster. But why had he become this way? Even if understanding him wouldn't change what he had done, Izuku wanted to know what was making the young villain feel so much pain.
During his fights with other villains, like Muscular, Overhaul, and Stain, he never stopped to think about what made them act the way they did. He never thought about who they were beyond villains- and he had been able to overcome each of them. All of them had ideals and reasons he couldn't understand, and didn't want to understand. But if he had… Could things have turned out different?
When he was fighting Gentle Criminal and La Brava, he learned that their motivations were real, as crazy as they sounded to him at the time. That had made them such a difficult pair to fight; he could feel their pains and regrets, and he knew what they were putting on the line in order to win their battle was worth so much more to them than it could ever mean to him.
But knowing why they were fighting wouldn't change what he had to do, right? Just like now… He had no choice, didn't he?
As hard as all this information was to process… It wasn't unfamiliar. How many times in his life had Izuku had to make hard decisions, been told what he's doing is impossible or unnecessary, only to stand up and do the best he could anyways?
'Giving help that's not wanted is the true essence of a hero!'
'It's your power too!'
'If I can't save one little girl in front of me… How can I be a hero who saves everyone?!'
'If my actions can save any of them, then I've gotta do something.'
'I'm sorry, Shoji, but if I have to choose between one of them… Then I want to save both of them!'
'I'm the Deku who always tries his best!'
"I've come up against all types." Izuku continued. "And even if I understood them, even if I spent the time to feel the conviction they feel… It wouldn't change what I'd have to do. And I guess, that'd be true for this case too."
With this said, the other predecessors almost seemed to deflate, knowing that they had just condemned a young boy with the task of killing someone who they deemed too threatening to stay alive. They were disappointed in the whole situation and themselves; it's not what any of them wanted, but they knew it had to be done. So when Izuku continued, they all couldn't help but be confused.
"Even so… One for All is a power for saving, not for killing. All Might taught me that." The vestige of All Might sat up straight, its golden eyes widening slightly. "And not just All Might- everyone who built up this power has given hope to countless lives out there." Izuku could feel the dark clouds surrounding his body dispersing, his own image in the vestige world becoming more solid. "I get that this power is meant to destroy that evil, and I want to do my part in making that happen… But even still!" Izuku now felt his form complete. He was a little boy, no older than five, full of hopes, dreams and optimism once again.
"More than that, I want to save that little boy!"
The other predecessors stared on in shock. All Might's vestige had tears trailing down its smoky body, and Shimura was holding back sobs, her shoulders shaking as she covered her mouth with her hand. The second and third predecessors had even slightly turned in Izuku's direction, their faces unreadable. Yoichi was the first to overcome his shock, a small smile on his face.
"You and Yagi… Are so alike." He spoke softly. He stood up and walked to Shimura and Izuku, Izuku's body being wrapped in the haze once again. "We're blessed that you two have received our power." Placing a hand on Shimura's shoulder, he gave Izuku a thumbs up, a smile still on his face. "If you think you can do it… Then we'll support you, hero."
All Might's vessel stood up and rushed to Izuku, wrapping around the boy as though he were hugging him. Izuku, initially shocked, tried his best to return the hug, but that proved difficult given the smoky nature of both of their bodies.
En let out a small chuckle, remaining in his seat. "You're a strange one, kid…"
"Like Yoichi said, we'll support you, but…" Banjo huffed. "Just try to temper your expectations."
"I, for one, think it's too much of a long shot." Shinomori spoke. "And I imagine the 2nd and 3rd users are quite skeptical of you now. However, as your predecessor, and soon-to-be mentor in the ways of my quirk, then I shall do my best to help you see this through."
"Izuku…" Shimura choked, wiping tears away from her face. "Sorahiko- Gran Torino- and I have made terrible decisions… So when you wake up, please give him my best."
'We've been truly blessed.' She thought to herself. 'Blessed by wonderful disciples..'
Izuku nodded, but he could feel a slight tug from behind, and he knew his time with the predecessors would soon be over. He gave everyone one last look, feeling more confident than he had going into this dream.
"Everyone… Please lend me your strength, so I can do my best for you and everyone else!" He called, being fully pulled away into the black abyss.
"Of course. We all will." Yoichi called to him, watching as the young boy sank further and further away. He turned back around, looking directly at the 2nd and 3rd users, who had gone back to staring at the wall. "And you two… It's time to start playing nice. You'll have to cooperate with our successor; he'll need your help to unleash our full power."
Izuku opened his eyes, hearing the beeping of a monitor somewhere nearby. The lights were blinding him, and his ears were ringing. He could vaguely make out All Might's shape next to him, standing in shock and excitement at the boy's awakening. Izuku felt incredibly groggy from his deep sleep, but he was already motivated to get moving.
There was a lot of work to do.