Just a shinobi - ch 6
" ...it really does " replied smirking Midnight while she was cleaning her ears out the others didn't say anything because most of them had confused looks on their faces or were just too embarrassed to say anything
" Miss Uzumaki, Midnight, please refrain from making comments like that there are kids here," said ever ever-tired Aizawa who looked like he wanted to be anywhere else other than here
" oh don't sweat it Aizawa they are learning how to copter and fight villains," told Mike to his self-proclaimed best friend who looked at him annoyingly
" First of all that doesn't change the fact that they are still kids and second you are too loud so I suggest you,l to shut up " was Aizawa's swift reply
" Aizawa please calm down," said All Might as he put his hand on the black-haired man's shoulder who turned over to him and looked him dead in the eyes
" get...your...hand...off " he replied with his quirk activated and All Might did just that while he might have been the No. 1 hero he still was a human and that meant he could still feel fear and he was afraid of few people like the principal, Nezu or Aizawa
" he didn't have his coffee did he? " asked Midnight to his colleague Mike who shook his head and answered " No he didn't he hadn't had a chance to "
" Mister Aizawa can I have your attention for a second " interrupted Phantom getting the angered pro hero's attention
" ...what is it? " asked Aizawa who sounded like he calmed down a little bit
" Well, it came to my attention that you are getting a little bit uncomfortable here without your coffee no? " questioned Phantom with a cheerful voice
Aizawa hesitantly nodded his head " That is right and I can't go on without it I wasn't able to sleep all night so... "
" that is all you need to say but I must ask does anyone else want coffee " asked Phantom seeing that some of the adults had their hands up "All right then Aizawa, Midnight, Rei, Riukiu, Kurogiri, and All Might please come here and take your coffee " as he said that he snapped his fingers and summoned table field with coffee cups that had steam coming out of it
Aizawa didn't need any more provisions he was immediately hooked when he smelled a smell of coffee and went over to the table and took one of the cups " ...this is good coffee " were his only words
" ...well that is one way to calm him down...I guess? " said Kirishima getting nods from his classmates and some of the villains
" Shut up or I will luck you up with Mineta for a week," said Aizawa and smirked when he saw how his student gained a purple tint on his face
" hey when are we continuing to read, " asked an irritated Mirko while she normally was not a book person she wouldn't ly and say she was not enjoying this one
" Yeah I want to know what happens next databane," asked excited Kushina who seemed to be enjoying the story so far
" Well we will start in a few minutes so don't worry about " was Phantom's reply Both Kushina and Mirko nodded their heads they could wait a few more minutes
- Half an hour later -
The room's residents were getting impatient mostly the ones who had too much energy...a.k. Kushina, Mirko, Katsuki, and Toga
" Look the book is glowing," said Uraraka getting everyone's attention
" Finally," said the impatient people...cough...a.k. Kushina, Mirko, Katsuki, and Toga
The book started to go over where the students were and went over to a certain green-haired boy " Deku the book chose you " said Uraraka with a surprised voice
" yey Izuku Chan is going to read," said Toga with a huge blush and getting some creeped-out look
"...well anyway Mister Midoria if you may please start the chapter I can sense that some of the people are ready to explode from anticipation," said Phantom with a small amusement in his voice getting some blushes of embarrassment and a nod from Izuku
" all right Mister Phantom " was izuku's reply
" Ch 5 Just a Family "
' "This is your home?!"
Rei Todoroki performed a little spin as she took it all in, trying to make sense of the manor all at once and failing. Tenko didn't miss the awe in her eyes as she stumbled about the living room. Good. Awe implied respect and respect meant she wasn't likely to betray them anytime soon. Dad deserved someone loyal. After all they'd done for Miss Rei, she'd sooner cut off her hand than turn on them. '
everyone except Phantom looked at Rei but no one commented on what they were thinking so they just continued to listen to Izuku
' "It's so...large!"
Tenko couldn't help but preen at that. "It is, isn't it? This is one of the smaller safehouses."
Toya's mother rounded on him, eyes practically bulging. "He has more than one?!" '
Most of the room's residents thought the same thing " he has more than one? "
' Ransacking villains brought a sizable payday. Dad was loaded.
He'd been happy with their meager life before, but this...maybe this wasn't so bad. Kinda nice, really. The idea of having a family again had never occurred to him, never mind someone like Toya. But now that he had one...he wanted to cling to this feeling. After all, they had more than Toya to look after now, didn't they? Nevermind Toya's siblings; he was Fuyumi, Natsuo, and even young Shoto, only a few years old. '
" umm I wanted to ask who is that boy and why is he calling my son Dad," asked Kushina And then heard giggling coming from Toga
" oh that's Shigaraki here and as to why he is calling Mister Whiskers Dad is because he adopted him in that universe " answered Toga with a toothy smile while pointing at Shigaraki
Kushina had to process what she heard for a moment and when she did she was ready to jump on Shigaraki to give her all her grandmotherly love but she was interrupted when Phantom spoke to her " Miss Kushina please calm down we still have a book to read you can talk to him as much you want after the chapter ends " getting the nod from the red-haired women " OK Izuku you can continue "
' "Where did your father go?"
He shrugged. "Dad said he had a spy to deal with. He took Toya with him to keep an eye on her."
Rei quirked a pale brow. "Did he now? Whatever for?"
Tenko shrugged a shoulder. "Dunno."
"Well, I suppose he knows best." Then her gaze narrowed upon him. She frowned. "My, your hair's a mess. When was the last time you bothered to brush it?" '
"...he never does," said Kurogiri getting chuckles from some of the students and frowns from Rei and Kushina but no one said anything
' Here, at last, Tenko felt the ghost of a smile touch his face. "I don't."
"Whyever not?"
Memories. He remembered. He and dad laughing, combs stuck in their hair, the mess they'd made. '
The TV showed the memory and everyone saw have father and son duo trying to brush Little Shigaraki's hair but failing it hard but everyone saw have much fun they were having then they all looked at Shigaraki who was only looking at the TV without saying anything then he looked at Izuku and told him to continue to read, who complied without any protest
' "Dad ain't any good with a comb. Last time we tried, the house was messy for a week."
"Isn't." Rei booed his nose with one finger. "You should speak properly. Properly."
"Sorry," he said. "He's not the best with grammar, either.
"Not." She huffed. "Well, that changes now."
"...?"
As he looked on with mild confusion, Toya's mother sat on the sofa, reached into her handbag, and drew forth a comb of her own. She brandished it like a blade in one hand and:
"Sit." '
" good job Miss Rei that brat needs to brush his hair" complimented Kushina not caring that he called Shigaraki a brat
' Tenko blinked. "Eh?"
"Did I stutter?" Rei gave her lap a brief pat with her free hand. "I said sit. I've already put the little ones to bed." A small, almost tentative smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "I may not be the best at it these days, but I'd like to think I have some experience being a mother." It faded a moment later, her facade faltering when he didn't budge. "Would you rather I not...?" '
The Todoroki children didn't like the look on their mother's face even if it was only on the TV they still did not like to see their Mather in a sad mood
' Something deep inside Tenko gave way.
'Ah.' a sudden pang of realization hit him, causing his eyes to widen. 'I remember this feeling. It's just like...
His legs betrayed him as surely as the air in his lungs; a short, sharp burst of breath left him in a little gasp. He clamored over and hopped up into Rei's lap before she could think to rise. She stiffened for all of an instant, then gently laid one hand down on his shoulder to steady him in place.
Her eyes glimmered a bit. "...hold still."
With painstaking gentleness, she set the comb to his scalp and went to work... '
"...oww he is such a cute and nice child..." said Kushina with a large smile on her face getting nods from the woman in the room
'.
..
...it didn't hurt.
Against all odds, Tenko found himself leaning into it, luxuriating in the simple, familiar feeling. When she found knots she gently tugged them apart with painstaking care. Within moments she began to humming softly, a strange nameless melody he couldn't quite recognize.
It felt gentle. Nice. Safe.
Rei patted his head. "Good boy."
He'd experienced this feeling once before. Before everything went wrong. Before his quirk manifested.
His head drooped. Lips parted before a single word. "Mom... '
The room was silent for a full minute and then all hell broke loose " Did he just call me mum " asked a somewhat happy Rei
" yes he did but please calm down we still have the chapter to read, " said Phantom calming down the room
' Miss Rei squeaked. Tenko didn't hear her, lost in his thoughts as he was.
He tried not to think about his...mistake these days. About the past either; because if he did, he'd end up dwelling on it, and that brought nothing good. The past was painful, but you can't let it define you. Best to focus on the present Dad said, or better yet, the future.
Right now, the future was looking bright.
This was his family now. If anyone, ANYONE, hero or villain, tried to hurt them, make them sad, take them away...no.
He wouldn't lose his new family. Never again.
He would protect them at all costs.
That was what Shinobi did. '
" not shinobi but what Uzumakis do " corrected smiling Kushina there was no one in the elemental Nation who cared for their own as much as Uzumakis
" ...what do you mean miss Kushina don't other Shinobies do that? " asked curious Izuku seemed that he was not the only one who was curious
" Well, they do but Uzumakis take the family to a whole other level, they will do anything to keep their family safe and sound...and that goes dabble for Naruto he is ready to sacrifice himself for his loved ones " was kushina's answer
" Question Kero... you said that that statement goes dabble for Mister Naruto so if something happens to his child what would happen?... " Asked Tsuiu, catching most of the room's attention then they looked at Kushina with curious eyes
" ...well if you mean someone puts his kids in danger then I won't be surprised that someone would have his head cut off or have broken bones all over his body and if you mean that his family isn't feeling good from some kind of sickness then he won't hesitate to do anything he can and that means that he won't hesitate to hire best healers to donate his body parts " was the swift reply from Kushina I mean they literally asked for the answer so that's what she did she answered the question without a single hesitation
No one knew what to say at the moment so the kids were reviled when they heard Phantom speak " Izuku San if you don't mind, please continue to read " he then eye smiled when he saw a nod from Izuku
' " Rise and shine, sleepyhead~!"
"No...
Lady Nagant didn't want to. Kaina Tsutsumi certainly didn't. Her bed was nice and warm and it was too damn early to get up; she groaned something to that effect and burrowed beneath the blankets. Strange. What was that clinking sound she'd just heard? No, not important right now. Ignore it. She was far too sleepy to deal with this. '
" it seems that she survived the encounter with Mister Uzumaki huh," said Riukiu with an amused voice
" kinda surprising if you ask me I thought she would have at least a few bruises but it looks like nothing happened," said Dabi as he was observing Nagant's sleeping face
' Soft. Cozy. Mine.
Everything must've been a bad dream after all.
A finger flicked her face. "C'mon, lady. How long are you gonna make us wait?" '
" and it seems like someone broke her out from her sleeping time," said Mirko who looked like the rabbit who outran the big bad wolf
' Kaina didn't recognize that voice. Her eyes snapped open. Realization swam up from the murky depths, bringing with it a sudden, startling realization. This wasn't her bed! These weren't her walls! That wasn't her ceiling! The room was a pale pastel blue color, utterly bare of decoration but for the futon in which she found herself. Memory rushed back in. '
" Here comes the freaking out part," said Mike with a big smile on his face and getting nods from his students
' No.
She tried to sit up.
No, no.
Couldn't now; because she he was bound to the bed, arms shackled behind her back.
No, no, no!
Her vision focused. A boy was leaning over her jabbing her. Toya Todoroki. Her mind rattled by the name.
"Good, you're awake." he continued to beam at her. "Dad asked me to watch ya while you were resting. '
"Oh, so cute he is also calling my Naruto Chan a dad," said Kushina then she looked at Rei and told her " You don't mind if I introduce you to Naruto do you "
That caught Rei off guard and when she finally understood what Kushina meant Rei turned tomato red and wasn't able to answer
" I will take that as yes " was a follow-up from Kushina who had a happy smile when she saw Fuymi had a thumbs up
' "And a good job you did."
The door swung open, revealing the man in question. Naruto Uzumaki. Her target. The man she was meant to kill. Kaina glowered at him. He'd shed his prior garb for an orange turtleneck and black khakis though those heavy boots of his remained still. She could still see the scorch marks etched into them from his fight with Endeavor. He had one hand hidden behind his back, holding a gun in hand no doubt. '
" I don't know what a gun is but trust me if he wanted to kill her then she would have been nothing but a corps," said Kushina getting curious looks from adults and some of the kids
' 'Oh, right. I tried to kill him. No wonder he's angry...
He'd caught her. Scared the daylights out of her. Now he'd come to finish what he'd started.
"Thanks for watching her, Toya." Naruto flicked a glance the boy's way, diverting her attention once more. "You can play with Tenko now. I'm sure he's feeling lonely by himself."
"Eh? I thought he was with Mom."
"You're the only one he really knows here, Toya." '
" Trust me kid she is enjoying his time with Rei San," said Midnight with a small chuckle
' "That'll change." the boy grinned. "I'll introduce him to my siblings. He'll love 'em~!"
"I'm sure he will." he tousled the boy's hair. "Run along now. I'll come by to tuck you in later."
...right." Color hit his cheeks. "You better keep your promise, old man."
Naruto quirked a blond brow. "Have I ever let you down before?"
The wild boy kicked at the floor, scuffing it. "No...
"And I never will." The blond patted his head, mussing his hair. "Run along, now. You've got training tomorrow."
It was like flicking a switch; the little flame-wielder practically scampered out of the room, barely pausing long enough to close the door behind him. '
" I have to admit that was really cute," said All Might getting nods from the woman in the room and a smile from Rei
' "There." the smiling man beamed at her anew as the boy's footsteps rapidly receded. "We're alone. Now then, where were we...?
Dread gripped Nagant's heart in a vice. She felt all the color drain from her face. This is it, then. He's going to kill me. He'd sent the boy away so he wouldn't see it. Was it all an act? Was he pretending to be a family man when he was secretly a killer at heart? She tried to move, but the chains wouldn't allow it. She could barely sit up, bound as she was.
He sat beside her, still not revealing his hand. "Did you sleep well?"
She glared bloody red daggers at him. "If you're going to kill me, get it over with. Don't torture me."
"You've got an awfully fatalistic outlook on life, ya know?" Naruto tilted his head. "What would you do if I told you I was going to spare you? '
" I am sure she won't believe it I mean who will believe it when they are chained up " said Bokugo getting nods from his classmates
' "I'd call you a liar."
"Ahhh, but is this a lie?" he swept his hidden hand out, drawing a flinch from her. "Tada!"
Kaina creaked an eye open. That wasn't a gun in his hand at all. In fact...
"Is that...?" '
" RAMEN! " yelled Kushina with excitement and a huge smile then she blushed when she saw everyone was looking at her
' "Ramen." he offered the steaming bowl to her, chopsticks nestled against the udon within. "Made it myself. Figured you'd be hungry after a scare like that."
Lady Nagant lifted her chin. "As if I'd accept food from an enemy...!"
Her stomach growled. '
There was total silence for a moment until Mirko started to laugh her ass off and soon others followed "Men to be betrayed by your stomach must su#k " said Kamenari
'.
..
...well?" Naruto waved the bowl beneath her nose. "If you promise to behave, I would mind unlocking your arms and letting ya eat this."
"How do I know it isn't poisoned...?"
"Don't be paranoid." He chortled softly. "Would I really go to all that trouble?"
Naruto laid the bowl atop her thighs and fished out a key from his belt. Laid it in the lock, now. A quick twist of his wrist and she found her arms freed.
...thanks." she muttered, rubbing her aching. wrists.
"Don't mention it." his smile was as disarming as ever. "I treat my prisoners humanely. Go on." he gestured to the bowl still nestled in her lap. "I'll wait until you finish"
Kaina knew she could've shot him then and there. She should have. At such proximity he wouldn't be able to dodge, surely. No matter how fast you were, there was just no way you could evade a bullet -certainly not one of hers!- at point-blank range. One shot. One kill. She could nail him here and now while his guard was down. She'd be praised for it. They'd call her a hero...
Grumble. Her stomach complained. '
Heroes in the room did not seem to like the thoughts of Nagant but no one commented on it only to see what would happen next
' In the end, hunger won out over duty and she attacked her bowl with vicious vigor. The ramen did not survive her assault. It was a massacre, plain and simple. She scarfed it down. Relished the taste. Oh gods. He was a good cook. The noodles were soft yet filling, and broth melted on her tongue; to her shame, she almost found herself moaning, eyes fluttering shut in half-lidded bliss. She could get used to this...
"See?" he beamed as she polished off the last of her meal. "We don't have to be enemies."
Kaina set her bowl down, unwilling to rise to the bait before her.
"We really don't." Undaunted by her silence, Naruto dared to scoot closer.
"..."
"You tried to kill me earlier." His words stabbed at her very soul, a dagger biting into her inch by a bitter inch. "I'd like to know why." '
" We all do but no one is telling us anything," said an irritated Bakugo getting nods from his class and looking at the heroes who were evading their pricing stairs
" Well it seems that we will finally have them," said Momo while looking at the TV
' She looked away, not trusting herself to meet his eyes. "I had orders. You were deemed a threat."
"I figured." he bobbed his head. "You seemed really...sad after you shot me."
Her head snapped toward his with an audible crack. Could he sense emotions? Crapbaskets. That was going to be a problem. Just how versatile was this quirk of his?! Or did he have more than one? No, that shouldn't be possible. It couldn't be possible. '
" ...well he offers so much I would not be surprised if that was the case actually it would explain a lot of things," said Aizawa while holding his coffee
' He laid a hand atop hers. "Would you be willing to tell me about your superiors?"
...I can't tell you anymore." she tore her hand free. They'll kill me."
He scoffed, utterly unfazed. "Not if I deal with them first."
"You can't." she glared back at him. "It's impossible. Even for you."
Her words drew a low peal of laughter from him. "Something's only impossible until someone does it."
"This is reality!" The words sounded hollow, even to her ears; she barely believed them. "That's the way the world is!" '
" ...OK things are getting more complicated," said Kirishima with a frown
' "Reality, huh?" His gaze narrowed, sharpening into sapphire slits. "This so-called "reality" you're so keen on would've left Tenko to rot in the streets. Toya's family was on the verge of becoming something horrible when I stumbled into him. If I hadn't happened along, they might've become monsters." He leaned forward, face dominating her vision. "Tell me, is that the justice you espouse? The justice you believe in? That you strive for?" '
" the saying goes you die as a hero or live long enough to see yourself the villain," said Phantom getting attention off the room some frowned at the words, and some nodded their heads in agreement
' Was it?
She knew the answer.
Blood on her hands. So much blood.
Kaina squirmed in her chair, thighs rubbing together. "No...
"What was that?" He set one hand to his ear. "I didn't hear you."
Her head snapped up to glower at him. "I said no, all right?! But what else can I do?!
"You can trust me." He offered his hand with a smile. "Or," and here said smile faded as his gaze strayed down to her unbound arms. "You can shoot me again. I won't force your hand. But you'd best be prepared for the consequences of your decision-
Click.
He didn't flinch when she pressed the barrel of her now-transformed arm to his temple.
His eyes met hers. "Oi. Think very carefully before you pull that trigger." '
" ...oh no he won't be able to dodge from that distance, will he be all right," asked worried Rei
" don't worry he will be just fine " comforted Kushina
' Duty demanded that she ignore him. She was a cog in the machine.
Cogs did not think. They did not feel. They simply acted.
And yet...her arm began to tremble.
"I've killed so many people...
"So have I." his admission, the frankness of it, chilled Kaina to her core. "You talk about killing like it's something that needs to be done." he reached up and grabbed the barrel of her arm, locking it in place. "Me? I've taken out plenty of people. Not because I wanted to, not because I took pleasure in it, or even because they left me no choice. Some people...?" he blew out a sigh. "Some folks just need to be dealt with. Sometimes that means swaying them, sealing...and sometimes, you just gotta end 'em." '
The pros didn't like what they heard Naruto say but couldn't say anything because they also believed that there were people who were meant to be put down the kids just shuddered from the thought of killing and the villains were in full agreement
' "That's what I've been saying!" she shouted at him. "There's no choice!"
"There is ALWAYS a choice!" Naruto growled at her, teeth gone sharp, eyes blazing red. "You choose how to make the world right! Morals? Society? Bah!" he snarled at her, fangs flashing mere inches from her lips. "You decided what your justice is! Not me, not this society, and certainly not those stuck-upp bastards who made you their gun!"
"...!"
Her heart was beating so damned fast right now; Lady Nagant could hear it pounding in her ears, like the drums of a wild hunt. How? He'd seen the true nature of this world, being alone like her, and yet he hadn't lost it as she had. If anything it seemed to have made him even stronger. Her eyes began to sting. Water now. How long had she waited to hear those words? For someone to offer her a helping hand...?
It's too late." she heard her voice warble and felt the first tear roll down her cheek. "You can't save me...
"Who decided that? You?" his fingers bit down on her arm. "Stop doubting yourself."
She could just imagine them now. The voices. Her superiors.
"You are our tool. You will obey."
A fracture etched itself into her facade.
"Your right arm shall bring about true peace."
A crack, now.
"Kill him. Execute justice."
A fissure.
If she killed Naruto now, those boys of his would be alone. Not just Tenko. And the Todoroki family he'd just saved...what would become of them? She knew the answer. They'd be swept under the rug, just like all the rest. There would be questions of course, but the HPSC would silence those, too. Just as they did all those who stood against them. Was this justice? '
" ...what! Are you telling me HPSC are the ones who are behind all of this " asked shocked Momo as she looked at the heroes
" we will tell you after the reading ends," said Stoic Aizawa, not exposing any emotion
'.
..
...she knew it wasn't.
Her arm went slack. "I can't do it...
"I know." he let go of her rifle arm and leaned over, wrapped an arm over her shoulders, then drew her head into his chest. She didn't resist him. It'ss alright. You'll never to take another life if you don't want to. That said, I have a proposal for you right now. Wanna hear me out?"
Nagain nodded.
He told her what he wanted.
Absurd. Absurd. Was that really all he wanted?
"For a reason such as that?" Kaina hiccuped a little, scarcely able to believe what he'd just heard. "You'd go this far?" Such a mundane goal. He didn't want to rule the world, or even burn it down. Laughable. Utterly, truly laughable indeed. The HPSC had been wrong about him all along and made an enemy of him for nothing. Her fingers bit down into his shoulders as she held tight to him. "Idiot...what kind of hero are you? Or are you a villain after all?"
"Neither." he hummed into her. "Just a Shinobi. And I swear you'll never, ever feel like this again. I never go back on my word."
Kaina whimpered. He was hitting all her weak points, damnit. Every bit of trauma she'd tried to suppress.
This blond bastard...he tore right through it to reach the real her. It was too much.
"So go ahead...release it all. Let it all out. I'm right here. I won't say a word."
The dam of her heart finally crumbled with a wilting wail.
Lady Nagant buried her head into his chest.
She bawled like a baby. '
" Well this is the end of this chapter I must say it took a lot of effort to read it," said Izuku who looked really tired
...To be continued
This was the end of this chapter I hope you enjoy it and if you do please follow for more anyway right now I have an announcement to make on 22 March is my birthday so I am planning to answer some of the questions you have please ask as many as you want
Well that was the announcement but I really hope that you are enjoying the story so far that's all for today and see you next time