Just a shinobi - Ch 4
"...miss Mirko you said something about a fox so can you please tell us what you meant by that..."Asked Aizawa it seemed that he was the only one that caught in her angered state
Mirko just looked at him with a confused face "...what do you mean?... "
" he means a few minutes ago when you started to yell how it was unfair to have an OP quirk like Naruto's and then you said something about a fox silly " answered smiling Toga it seemed that it was not only Aizawa who noticed
"...?...! " Mirko suddenly realized what the two were asking her " OH you mean that...well I just can sense that he is a fox or has one inside himself and when I heard you guys talking about a sentient quark I thought that was what I was feeling...since I am technically a rabbit hybrid I could just feel it "
" yes, I can also feel that it is a fox...and I can only tell because it's alpha of some sort... " added Riukiu as she went over to the trio while she might not like that a villain was there she had to get used to it for some time it's not like they were acting like they wanted to murder someone or commit a crime right now so she play nice cause they were stuck together
"...alpha? What does that mean " asked curious Toga
" it means that it's the leader of a pack or that it's the strongest and smartest, many animals can tell if there is an alpha in the forest, and which animal is it, alphas are mostly seen in wolf packs but it can be any animal kero... " answered Tsuiu as she went over to the group
" hmm...then that means the quirk Naruto has can be even more powerful? " Asked Aizawa
Mirko, Riukiu, and Tsuiu all looked at each other and answered " ...don't know he is already strong so he might not be more powerful, being alpha doesn't mean that he is unbeatable "
Everyone was listening to the ongoing conversation so no one saw how Rei went over to Phantom " ...can you please tell me if Toya will be safe in that universe " she whispered so no one except he could hear
Phantom just looked at her and sighed when he saw her hopeful gaze "...I should not be saying this but I will tell you " Rei looked at him with hope " ...yes he is alive "
Rei could not have looked happier at the moment " ...oh thank God...thank you for telling me... " she told Phantom with a bright smile
" don't be you were bound to find out anyway and my boss did tell me to make sure you guys are as comfortable as possible... " Was Phantom's reply
Rei wanted to say something but was interrupted when a now well-known ringing sound was heard it was Phantom's phone "Yes boss what is it ?... "a few noises were coming from the phone that no one was able to decipher the noise continued until he heard the call ending sound " ...well it seems that my boss wants us to continue the reading
" About time we continue I am getting bored here I don't want to be with these extras " was the reply from an annoyed Bakugo
" com on Baku-bro it's an interesting story so far... " Was the reply from his self-proclaimed best friend Kirishima
" I don't care shty hair I want to go back " replied Bakugo with a face that said I am going to kill you
" Now, now no fighting we don't have any time for that it's time to read " interrupted Phantom with a tone that said if you don't shut up I will do something that will hunt you for the rest of your life
The two boys looked horrified for a moment until Bakugo replied with a terrified voice "...y- yes we will be quiet"
Aizawa smirked at his terrified students and thought to himself " That is one way to shut them up " not knowing that a certain teleporting villain was thinking almost the same thing
" now it's time to begin... " said Phantom as he let go of the book which magically went over to Rei
" ...well Rei-San it seems that you are our next reader...I hope you enjoy this chapter " Phantom told Rei who merely nodded and started
--‐--
' Just an Ideal
"This is the place?"
"Y...Yeah, old man. This is where I live."
"Don't go calling me old man now, Toya. You're family now." '
" haha...don't tell them he is trying to also adopt Endeavor's son " started to laugh Mirko until Shoto said " I hope he adopts all of us " That comment made everyone cringe except a few people
"...Shoto, please let me continue the reading," said Rei with a small smile not correcting his words
' Dad was angry. Tenko knew it in Naruto's face, his smile, that slight twitch of the blond's right eye as he frog-marched them up to the Todoroki residence. Not angry at him, himself, for even Toya really, but something else entirely. Given the apprehensive look on his new friend's face, he already had an inkling of what was about to happen.
Three guesses as to what that might be. The first two don't count. '
No one said anything but almost everyone thought the same thing with unimpressed faces" ...there is no need for three guesses... "
' Because y'see, Dad cared about people. Maybe a little too much sometimes. Nothing wrong with caring. That was his choice and all. Tenko had no qualms with compassion. Being nice was all well and good; if it wasn't for Dad's innate kindness, they never would've met, and then there would he be. Out on the streets starving to death, that's what. He'd probably be dead by now. '
Shigaraki scuffed and only thought " ...you would just become me "
' Just dwelling on it made him shiver.
Dad wasn't a hero, and certainly not a villain either, but something in between. Just a Shinobi. Not afraid to dirty his hands if it came to it; and he had a feeling things would be dirty indeed once today was done. '
Dabu looked at the screen and then he turned to his boss "Little you had a good intention...it makes you wonder where it went "
Those words got him a few chuckles and a few laughs Shigaraki looked at him with annoyance but just sighed " ...please continue to read before I kill this psychopath "Rei chuckled but complied with his wish
' Ah, but he digressed. They'd arrived.
Naruto reared back and thumped a fist against the door three times. On the third, he accidentally punched through the thin material. No, maybe that wasn't the right word. Punching implied deliberate intent. He smashed a fist-shaped hole through the door and immediately looked chagrined for it. '
Many of the room's residents thought the same thing " I would have done the same thing "
' "Oops?"
Toya facepalmed.
Tenko hid a smile behind a gloved hand. "Ooops, he says...
A young woman with white hair and startled eyes peeked through the gap he'd left through the poor door. "Y-Yes? Did you need something?" '
Rei looked at her younger self in surprise but didn't say anything and continued to read
' "Is Endeavor in?" Dad's smile was flinty. "I'd like to have a word with him."
Rei Todoroki flinched. "Not at the moment, no...
"Great!" He pushed the door open and nudged past her. "I'll wait. Come along, Tenko. You too, Toya... '
Toga haply looked at Phantom with a mischievous smile " sh*t is going to go down isn't it " Phantom didn't give her a reply and only looked at Rei to continue the reading
' Something was wrong.
Enji Todoroki -Endeavor!- knew it at once; if only because every instinct howled at him the moment -nay, the very second!- he pushed the sliding door aside and stepped over the threshold. There wasn't a single light on in the house. No, wait, he told a lie. Something was glowing over there in the corner, almost shimmering, really-
"I SEE YOU."
Searing scarlet eyes met him in the dark. He jumped. Blinked. Scowled and scrubbed at his eyes with a fist. '
" oh cool he can change the color of her eyes and he scared Endeavor with it," said Dabi with a smirk on his face while others just smirked at his remark
' No one was there. Neither man nor beast. Had he imagined that just now...? No. His heart hammered in his chest still, adrenaline spiking in his veins. For a second he could've sworn he'd seen a giant beast. A fox. '
" ...so his quirk is connected to a fox...good to know," said Almight with a nod of his head
' He shook his head. "Damnit, working too hard. Rei...?" he raised his voice.
No response.
Enji tried not to frown at that, failed to stifle the ember of irritation that sparked in his chest. Blasted woman. They weren't on the best of terms these days why would she outright ignore him like this? Had she already put Shoto and the others to bed...? He conjured a flame to his fist and fumbled for a light switch, half expecting that to fail, too. It didn't.
The lights snapped on. '
No one seemed to say anything but this time everyone thought the same thing there was no exception " It's about to begin... "
' "Welcome home, Endeavor."
There was a stranger in his house.
A young man sat on his couch, one leg crossed over the other. He took him in at a glance; blue eyes and blond hair, whiskered cheeks, attire that had seen better days. He smiled for him, but there was an edge to that smile, something sharp that likewise put him on edge.
Who in blazes was this? A villain...? No, he mustn't jump to conclusions...at least he shouldn't... not. '
" that is right he isn't a villain he is a shinobi " chirped an ever-excited Ashido but no one glanced at her because they were too concentrated on the book
' Only then did he notice who was sitting with him, or rather, opposite him.
He scowled at her. "Rei? Why did you let this man in...?"
His wife quivered under his gaze but held firm. "This man brought Toya home... '
Rei looked at the TV with sadness but didn't say anything making half of the room glare at the TV while Rei just sighed and continued to read
' Had he?
"I did indeed," The blond smiled and gestured to an empty chair. "Take a seat. I'd like to have a word with you."
Endeavor's brow drew down in a thunderous frown. "Just who do you think you are?!"
"Who I am depends entirely on how you respond. Take. A. Seat."
Something in his voice compelled obedience, however briefly, and Enji found himself complying, sinking into a chair. He cursed himself a moment later. He'd given away his advantage. To rise now would only make him seem like a child and he refused to give this oaf any more satisfaction than he already had. The blond braggart's smile suggested otherwise. He hated that smile. It reminded him of All Might, but sharper somehow, the grin of someone more than confident in their power, but also one unfettered by measly morals. '
" ...his smile really does resemble All Mights doesn't it," said Izuku with a small smile others just nodded in agreement thinking the same thing
' In a word, dangerous.
"Great." the young man hummed. "See, we can be reasonable. I'm Naruto. Nice to meetcha. I've heard...well, not great things, but still, a lot about you. Your family had quite a lot to say."
Fire sparked. "Did they now...?"
Rei made a point of looking anywhere but at him. Tch. He'd have words with her later. '
Many of the room's residents frowned at what they heard but didn't say anything because they were too interested to interrupt
' Enji took a deep, slow breath to steady himself. Only then did he dare speak again. "What is the meaning of this?"
"Meaning, you say?" The blond's smile became a touch more strained. "Funny word, that. Let's discuss it. Your son nearly burned himself to death today trying to prove himself to you. I think that's meaning enough, don't you agree?
His heart stilled. Toya had been training again? "I told him to stop...!"
"And how could he?" the question was a dagger in his gut. "You filled his head with dreams of being a hero, but that wasn't enough, was it? You only ever taught him to increase his heat, never to control it. How could he do anything but burn himself out? If it weren't for me, he'd be dead right now. Do you have any idea how hard he'd been pushing himself? If I hadn't patched up his Quirk, he wouldn't be here... '
No one said anything because they all knew what the whiskered man said was the truth
' Wait, hadn't he said something incredible just now? "You what?"
"We'll come back to that later." The unnamed blond dismissed his concerns as one might a student in class. Enji didn't much like it. "I'd like to move on to the matter of your wife."
Rei sat a bit straighter, clutching a pillow to her chest. Endeavor didn't fail to notice the sudden tension in the room. '
Rei also straightened at Naruto's words but continued to read
' "Now then," the intruder continued with that same, implacable calm, "I can't claim to understand quirk marriages, but ain't this a problem? You're not treating her like a person." he ran an idle hand through his hair as he spoke, concealing his eyes from view. "You'd be amazed what people say when you offer them an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on. And you? You're hurting her...
His arm swept aside, revealing stark scarlet slits.
...I take issue with that."
"...!"
Everyone had felt the split-second bloodlust so everyone gained a frightened look " ...what was that just now " asked Rei as she looked at Phantom who just pointed at the book " As I already said the book is more special than you think it is...so please continue to read to find out what will happen next " Rei didn't say anything and just complied
' "How many times have you knocked her down?" The blond barreled on, heedless of the landmine he'd just trod upon. "How many "accidents" has she had, hmm? And for what? Defending her children? I don't claim to be the sharpest tool in the shed, but even I can see there's something wrong here."
Enji burst to his feet. "I don't have to take this from you!"
"No, you don't." This villain -there could be no doubt in his mind now- looked up at him and granted him a curt nod. "You can walk out right now. That's what you do, isn't it?" A searing heat crept into their voice, blazing like the sun itself to meet his fire. "You run away from your problems. When things get tough, you get going, don't you? That, or start swinging. Like a bully." '
While some of the room's residents still felt a little bit of fear it didn't stop them from getting angry at Endeavor but no one seemed to say anything
' His flames flared. "You dare?!"
"You bet your burning beard I do." Blank red eyes regarded him intently. "I can't claim to understand your motives here, but this isn't right."
Stubborn pride sparked in Endeavor's heart and he bit his tongue to stifle an irritated snarl. The fool didn't understand. How could he? How could anyone understand his struggle? Surpassing All Might was all that mattered. If he made a few...mistakes along the way then so be it. Failures were to be cast aside. Weakness would be ignored; no matter what some might say. Sentiment had no place in Hero society. '
All Might slapped his face and thought " he really is obsessed with being the number one isn't he " not knowing he was thinking the same thing as the others
' "Rei," Naruto looked away from him suddenly, distracting him from his internal monologue. "Why don't you go check on the kids...?"
Enji's wife didn't budge. It was the most spine he'd seen from her in some time. "...I'll stay here."
"You sure?"
Her gaze swung back to him. "Yes."
Endeavor's anger sparked anew. She thought she could turn against him, did she? Never! He wouldn't allow it.
"This is pointless." he took the initiative before that blasted blond could again. "I don't know what you want, or who you are, but you're in the wrong here. Not I. You break into my home, threaten my children...!" '
Dabi and Shoto both scuffed but didn't say anything
' "Naruto. And your wife let me in." his smile didn't waver in the face of the growl that followed. Not once. "I haven't harmed a single hair on their heads. Nor will I. All I did was ask a few questions. The answers were...illuminating. I asked Toya a question, too."
...Enji didn't like where this was going. "What kind of question...?"
The vigilante tilted his head. "I think you already know."
He had an inkling, yes. It enraged him.
"Enough!" Endeavor swept an arm before him, temper finally slipping its leash. "I'll hear no more of this nonsense! You've no right to be here, make demands of me, tell me how to raise my family...!" '
" Trust me he does, " were thought of many
' "Ha!" A sharp bark of laughter startled him.
Enji's world went still. It soon proved the calm before the storm.
"Family? the blond tilted his head. "This isn't a family. This isn't even a proper home. Maybe it was, once. I'll give you what. But now? No." he shook his head slowly, blond bang swaying side-to-side. "Whatever it used to be before, I can see what it is now. '
Rei didn't say anything but she heard her oldest son say " ...that is for sure " but she just continued to read
' Their eyes met.
"This is a prison."
Rei whimpered into her pillow.
A muscle jumped in Enji's jaw, pounding alongside a vein in his temple. "Brat, I've had it up to here with you...
"Good." the blond surprised him by finally standing in turn. "So have I." his chin rose in stoic defiance. "You gonna shape up? Or do you plan to leave?"
Must. Not. Kill. '
" I am not sure if you could, " thought Riukiu with a deadpan mirroring many people's thoughts
' Because you see, Endeavor understood now. This little oaf was trying to get him into a fight. Yes, that was what he wanted. If he slaughtered an unarmed man in cold blood, intruder or not, it would be all over the news come morning. The city loved its scandals and he could see himself now, plastered on the front page...
.
..
...he wouldn't allow it.
"I'll give you a third option." he rose to his full height, towering over the bemused blond. "Leave...now. Do so and I won't see you thrown in a cell."
"Ha?" here at last a spark of anger slipped through the young man's facade, twisting his whiskered face into a scowl. "You want me to walk away? Ignore this? You're an even bigger idiot than I thought." The fresh fire sparked in Endeavor's fist. He saw it and scoffed. "All right. I can see it's pointless trying to reason with you, and I don't wanna burn your house down. Answer me one last question, then I'll be on my way."
If that was the price to be rid of him, then so be it. "...spit it out."
Red eyes glared at him. "Do you still think your son, Toya, can be a hero?" '
That question caught Dabi's and Rei's curiosity
' The question nearly floored Endeavor. Even if his Quirk had been corrected as this oaf claimed -unlikely!- it was much too dangerous. Both for him and his reputation. Perhaps that made him a coward. He'd already set his heart on making Shoto greater than All Might. Sure the boy was young and still weak, but he would see that weakness beaten out of him. His youngest would learn to stand on his own two feet. Toya, however...he could never be a hero. Even if he tried to assume the best, he simply couldn't afford to split his time between them both. No, the answer was obvious. '
That angered everyone, especially the Todorokis, and Dabi but didn't say anything only because they wanted to find out what would happen next
' "Toya cannot be a hero. He's a failure. It isn't his destiny-
Fear.
Endeavor felt it all at once; a tidal wave of killing intent burst from the blond to smother him, an anger so powerful it nearly floored him outright. He managed to remain standing through sheer will alone...if only just. Rei whimpered and clutched at her pillow, but he paid her no mind. He couldn't. Not with that thing glaring at him. '
There it was again the bloodlust but now they were more prepared because they felt it before and while it was still a terrifying feeling they were more prepared than Endeavor " he can be quite terrifying can't he... " said Midnight with some sweat on her face and while others agree but no one commented on her words
' "Then you're a failure of a father. A parent stands by their child and helps them find their way in the world!" he scowled as a tan finger jabbed his chest. "If one path falters, they help them find another. Did you even try to do that?"
"..." '
" of course, he did not... " thought Dabi with a frown
' Enji's world narrowed, vision tunneling to a single point. Who did this oaf think he was? How dare he?! He'd half a mind to flash fry him-no. He wouldn't throw the first punch. No doubt this oaf wanted that. If that was his aim, he'd be disappointed. No matter how much he might wish to, he wouldn't be the one to throw the first punch. There were other ways to harm, him however, methods he'd pursue once this arrogant arse was well gone from here...
"I think we're done."
"Indeed we are." Naruto clicked his tongue and turned toward the kitchen. "Tenko? Toya? You can stop hiding now.
The faint sound of shuffling footsteps reached Endeavor's ears. '
"...oh shit he just used the reverse card on him," said shell-shocked Mick no one said anything because things were just getting heated and they wanted to know what happened next
' And he saw.
Toya stood there, his face carved from stone. Endeavor stilled. There was a boy with pale hair and red eyes beside his eldest, but he dismissed him at a glance. He had other concerns. Why was their son looking at him like that? Had he heard? He must have. Why else would he wear such a fearsome expression...?
"I'm sorry you had to hear that." Here, at last, Naruto's face softened.
...I'm not. I didn't realize my old man was this shitty.
"Language, mister!"
Toya rolled his eyes and mumbled an apology. Toya was a wild rebellious Toya, who didn't listen to anyone. He listened. To this stranger. A fresh fracture etched itself into Enji's mind. It shouldn't have bothered him so. But it did. That fracture widened further still when Naruto walked over to him and laid a hand on his shoulder. He didn't miss the way his son smiled at him. '
Dabi looked at the TV with a blank face and only thought to himself " ...if only you were in this universe then I might have never become a villain "
' "We'll be in touch." Naruto turned a point look over his shoulder. "You coming?"
"What?" Endeavor ground his teeth. "Who the devil are you talking to...?
The crack became a fissure when Rei rose from the couch.
Endeavor grabbed her. "What are you doing?!"
She slipped free. "...this is goodbye, Enji." '
Rei looked at the TV with slight hope
' No.
She joined them.
No, no.
This wasn't happening.
No, no, no! '
" oh no, he is about to explode... " said All Might with slight fear knowing how his rival gets when he is like this while Rei nodded in agreement but continued to read
' "Where are you taking them?!"
The blond didn't even look apologetic. "You had your chance.
He could feel himself crumbling. Rei. If she went with him, if they went to the police, she'd take the children. Take Shoto. And with them all his dreams for the future. And what would he have? Nothing. No, less than nothing...!
'He's taking it all from me! Just like All Might...! No! Worse!'
It was too much. The last fraying thread of his thoughts snapped.
A single bound carried him forward as Naruto turned away. He swung a flaming fist at the back of his skull. Someone hollered a warning. '
Everyone thought the same thing " he is going to hit him! " then they heard Phantom speak in a calm tone "Miss Rei please continue to read " Rei just did as he was told without any complaints
' Gold light sang.
An open palm intercepted Endeavor's fist with liquid grace. Five firm fingers bit down against his knuckles and wrenched them up. In a mindless fury, he lashed out at the other, desiring nothing more than the complete and utter destruction of the man before him. Instead, he found himself stymied as the other hand swept up, catching his free hand by the wrist, forcing a grapple. In the background, he heard the boys gasp and saw Rel fall back on her hindquarters, but none of that mattered. Nothing. None of it at all.
Because he heard the word -saw the smile!- that damned him.
...gotcha." '
"...demn he is good with hand to hand," said Mirko with a grin as she looked at the television
' Endeavor struggled to extricate himself to no avail. "How did you stop that?! What kind of villain are you...?!"
"Number two hero indeed!" Naruto snarled, driving him back a step. "You have a shitty attitude! And I'm not a villain or a hero. I'm just a shinobi."
"You're cracked!"
"Nope!" came the happy chirrup. "I'm Naruto."
A knee slammed up into Enji's jaw, breaking the deadlock to hurtle him through a wall. '
Dabi smirked and said " he should give him a few more of those kicks " Mirko was agreeing with him wholeheartedly
' He staggered up, warding a wall of fire before him. Naruto crashed through it.
Clenched knuckles swung down at Endeavor's face.
His world became pure pain. '
Rei stopped reading and looked at Phantom " ...this was the end of the chapter "
" ...really a fuc*ing cliffhanger," asked irritated Mirko in her eyes the story was just getting to the good part
" ...Mister Phantom I have a fever to ask, " said Rei getting everyone's attention
...To be continued
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