Chapter 8: Izuku Midoriya and Jokata Nauji

What I'm about to go over is something that I was not there for. So, I can't say for sure this is exactly how it happened so you can take this with a grain of salt. However, even though I was not present during this, by gathering clues later on, I think that I accurately deduced how things played out…

… Here it is.

"Haah… haah… haah…" There was someone gasping for breath on the ground. I didn't know him at the time, but he was from a rival class, Class C to be exact. He had bruises all over his body to the point that it was a miracle that he was still conscious. Though his friend wasn't so lucky.

"… You bastard." He muttered while staring at his friend/classmate who had also been pummeled relentlessly and had been ruthlessly knocked out by the perpetrator. Who was the person who did this? Ironically it was someone that I knew.

'Yeah. I know. So, don't worry. I won't be causing any more trouble. You can count on that.' The same person who said these words only a few weeks prior to this incident. If you had been reading closely so far then you already knew his name, the moment I mentioned this. It was none other than-

"Hey, what the hell did ya say to me, punk?" The man named 'Ken Sudo' spoke as he grasped the Class C student's hair and pulled him right up close to his face so that the latter could see the look in his eyes. It was the stone-cold look of someone who did not regret their actions in the slightest. In other words, an irredeemable villain. But even though just looking in 'Sudo's' eyes made him feel fear on a level that he had not felt before up to this point in time, even still he-

'Spit!' The Class C student spat right onto 'Ken Sudo's' face with a smirk on his face. He knew he was about to have his lights knocked out so if he was going down then he's going to give the bastard who beat the shit out of him and his friend a piece of his mind!

"You won't get away with this! They will expel you for sure! You're going to get exactly what you deserve, you piece of sh- The Class C student yelled out but was interrupted before he could finish-

'BAM!' With a swift blow to the head. It was an instant KO for the Class C student as 'Sudo' let go of the former's hair, the former then unceremoniously collapsed to the ground while the latter stood up with an utterly malicious grin on his face. The red-haired man then wiped the spit off of his cheek with the sleeve of his red vest before walking away.

"I'm counting on it. After all, they will definitely punish me big time for this. I'm so going to enjoy it… hahaha." 'Sudo' muttered to himself before chuckling to himself as he left the scene of the crime all while wearing that hideous smile on his face.

But unbeknownst to him, there was someone watching him from the hallway corner. It was a girl from my class who I had barely exchanged a few words up to this point. She was the only observer of this 'incident.' That's right, the 'incident' I was referring to not too long ago at the end of June had officially begun. Those peaceful days I had with my classmates were about to vanish once more as I was swept up into this 'incident.' But before that-

'… Huh? Ah!' I muttered before gasping internally as I found myself back in the black abyss that only existed within my mind. That's right. It's been a while since I last ended up here. It was during my second visit to the nurse's office if I remember correctly. Then that means 'that person' is waiting here.

"You're goddamn right that I've been waiting. You sure took your sweet time to show up, Izuku Midoriya." The voice that I had heard sporadically during my tenure as a student at AN was audible as my eyes shot wide open upon hearing it. I then focused onto the man drenched in darkness as he approached me from the shadows. But the closer he got to me, the more visible he became until-

"Allow me to properly introduce myself. My name is Jokata Nauji. But I doubt you've heard of me. After all, I wasn't some big shot Pro Hero. No. I was from a time when the concept of 'Pro Heroes' didn't even exist. So, to put it simply… I'm no hero." The man named Jokata Nauji explained with a smirk on his face as I took in his appearance for the very first time. His hair was short and black with a few white streaks in it. His face was someone who appeared to be middle aged and had scars all over it along with a thick black mustache. He had certainly seen better days and I felt sorry for hi-

"Sorry? For me? Not a single living soul even remembers my name. So, I don't need your pity." Jokata replied as he read my mind like he had done during our first encounter almost three whole months ago. Wow time passed by so quickly! But as he was speaking to me his smirk was replaced by a frown. But I didn't notice. Because I was too busy staring at his outfit. The clothes he was wearing were a green combat jacket with a large black collar like the ones soldiers in the military would wear. They seemed so familiar. But from where… AH! Wait a minute! I recognize that outfit! Two of my-

"Are you done checking me out? So, what if I look like Kudo and Bruce? Doesn't mean I had any connection to them." Jokata replied but only after speaking was when he realized he made a mistake. He might have acted like he didn't know them, but that was a contradiction. After all, he said their names. Which means he must have known the-

"Alright! Alright! … Fine. I may have known those two rookies once upon a time. A time long before you were born, kid. When that villain ruled over everything with an iron fist. The era of All For One." Jokata revealed as my eyes shot wide open after undergoing an internal realization. If he was during the time when AFO ruled over Japan, along with the fact that he knew Kubo and Bruce, my predecessors (To be exact the Second and Third Users of One For All Respectively) and he even called them 'rookies.' Then that mean he was their le-

"Yeah. I led those rookies into battle when things had become a hell on earth as you can say. They had been part of my tactical squad during a war that Japan was involved in with another country. I doubt the history books even remember the name of that war or who Japan was fighting against. Hell, I don't even remember which country the people I was fighting against were from." Jokata explained as he reflected on his past with a melancholic look on his face. He looked… sad.

"Jeez, kid. I told you not to pity me. That was so long ago I forgot what I even endured in that war. But it doesn't even matter, because soon after while Japan was preoccupied fighting against another country for land that wasn't even there's to begin with, All For One took this opportunity by the throat and was able to cripple what little military that Japan still had left in the land that actually belonged to them with majority of their soldiers out overseas." Jokata continued as it was if his words alone transported me back to a time when people fought against each other to the death resulting in bloodbaths. A time before there were heroes and villains.

"That's right. There were no heroes and villains. Just people killing each other because someone told them to kill. This all meant that the men who should have been there to fight for their wives and children weren't there for them. All For One took advantage of this and was able to take control of the government. Luckily for you, my squad had been discharged after a… let's call it a 'disagreement' I had with one of my superiors." Jokata continued as I was left speechless since this was the first time I heard these details before.

"I'm not surprised. I doubt the history books would ever tell of a time before the emergence of 'Pro Heroes.' After all, even though All For One wasn't running the government at the time of his reign, he still controlled it from the shadows. The bureaucrats were puppets for him to use like toys until they outlived their use. Once he was done with them, he cut their strings, so to speak." Jokata continued as his words alone made it clear how harsh and unforgiving Japan was during the height of AFO's reign.

"That's right. It was hell on earth during that time. Only a few people were stupid enough to actually try and fight against that monster. And as you are already aware, that was me and my squad full of nothing but idiots. Kudo was my right-hand man with his Quirk: Gearshift. And Bruce was my left-hand man with his Quirk: Fa Jin. As for me, I had a Quirk too, not that it was anywhere as useful as their Quirks were." Jokata explained as I listened intently for what he was about to say next.

"Don't get too excited kid. My Quirk is nothing special. In fact, I'd say it's more of a 'curse' than something that should be revered. But if you really want to know its name so bad, sure. I'll tell you. My Quirk's name, or what used to be my Quirk before it was passed onto you… its name is…" Jokata continued but paused for a few seconds as it was if he was recalling something that had traumatized him in the past before he snapped back to reality and said-

"… Obliterator." Jokata replied with a serious expression on his face as all I could do was look at him with my mouth agape as I thought of the word, he said… 'Obliterator.' Wait a second! That name! Its-

'T-T-THAT NAME IS SCARY!' I thought internally as my eyes bulged out while all the color drained from my face! I mean could you blame me?! That name makes it sound incredibly ruthless! I don't want to go around 'obliterating' anyone!

"Well, sucks to be you. It's not like I transferred my power to you out of choice. My Quirk isn't even supposed to be 'transferrable' like how 'One For All' was. No. That was all that bastard's doing. The same man who was All For One's right hand man and our mortal enemy… The Doctor." Jokata revealed as my eyes shot wide open once more upon hearing the alias of the madman who had All Might killed. But wait! If he knew the doctor, then that means he should know his na-

"Sorry kid. The truth is… I never learned his name." Jokata admitted while avoiding making eye contact with me as I did a double take.

'W-WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU NEVER LEANED HIS NAME?!' I snapped back at the top of my lungs (or I would have if I had lungs within my mind) with what was surely an aggravated look on my face!

"Y-YOU'RE BLAMING ME?! I WOULD HAVE LEARNED HIS NAME IF I WAS GIVEN THE CHANCE! BUT THAT BASTARD IS AS SLIPPERLY AS THEY COME! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MANY FAKE IDENTITIES HE USED THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE?!" Jokata snapped back even louder with an expression that showcased clearly that he was pissed.

'I'm sorry. Please forgive me.' I thought internally as I realized that I said something incredibly insensitive while tears slid down my cheeks. (or at least I felt like I was crying)

"QUIT IT! NO APOLOGIZING OR CRYING! YOU'RE ANNOYING THE CRAP OUT OF ME!" Jokata shouted at the top of his lungs as he was screaming at me louder than I had been before.

'Takes one to know one.' I thought internally with a disgruntled look on my face only to forgotten that he can read my thoughts.

"Hey. I heard that. Jeez. I'm starting to sympathize with that girl you're always hanging around. Speaking of her when you are going to ask her out on a date?" Jokata asked with a smirk on his face as my body jerked upward upon hearing his words.

'D-D-Date?! I-It's not like that between me and Horikita! You should you know that if you can read my thoughts!' I snapped back with my thoughts so to speak because I still can't speak even If I wanted to. (Which I do for that matter)

"Oh right. My apologies. You have the hots for that blonde chick." Jokata replied as at first, I was confused by who he meant by 'blonde chick.' Until upon realizing who that was I did a double take.

'I-I-Ichinose-San?! N-N-No I don't! A-A-And even if I did… um… 'like' her that way… there's no way she feels the same for me.' I thought internally with what was surely a face that was red as a tomato.

'Jeez. Kids these days. He can't even tell that she likes him just as much as he likes her. Not that I'm going to tell him that. In fact, I think I'll mess with him a bit.' Unbeknownst to me Jokata thought internally because it wasn't like I could 'read' his thoughts like he could with mine.

"Hey, why don't you just confess to her? I mean, what's the worst that could happen? She rejects you and thinks you're a total creep while telling every single girl that you are a huge pervert who's always staring at her rack. Not that I can blame you, she's stacked!" Jokata replied with a whisper as he put one hand on my shoulder as my eyes shot wide open upon hearing them.

'H-H-HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT?! YOU'RE AN ASSHOLE, YOU KNOW THAT?!' I thought internally as I knocked his hand off my shoulder before turning around and pointing at him with what was surely a face that was not happy in the slightest.

"Hahaha! You're goddamn right! Man, I didn't know you had it in you! After everything that Bakugo kid did to you, I thought for sure he'd be the first one you cuss at but turns out it was little ol me. Not going to lie, that feels good. Hahaha!" Jokata replied with a snarky laugh as my disdain for him only grew with the passing of each second.

"You know, kid. I feel the same way about you. It's not like I 'asked' for my Quirk to be transferred to you all the while my 'Vestiges' still resides in it. The only part of me that is still among the living is inside of you. Just like the OFA Predecessors. So, it looks like we're stuck together for the time being. So, we're both going to have just put up with it, ok?" Jokata continued as he pointed at me with a disgruntled look on his face. Yeah. He made it clear that he didn't like me. And I don't like him either. But like he said, we've got no choice but up with each other. And more importantly I NEED his power if I could even dream of defeating the Doctor and that Nomu who murdered All Might. After all…

… A Quirkless nobody can't do a damn thing against someone with a Quirk.

"Hmm… I see. Well, if you want my 'power' that badly, it's yours. Not that I could take it back even if I wanted to. My original body is dead. All that's left is my 'soul' that bonded to my Quirk. How? I have no goddamn idea. But as for my Quirk, yeah. I know a thing or two about it. In fact, it's kind of similar to that power you stole from All Might." Jokata revealed as my eyes shot wide open upon hearing the last part of what he said.

'W-What do you mean by that?! Similar to One For All?! Tell me already!' I demanded (internally of course) for Jokata to continue.

"Jeez. Kids don't have any patience these days. For the record, I was just about to get to it. My Quirk: Obliterator involves strengthening the muscles that you possess, thus granting you something akin to 'super strength.' In that sense, it's quite similar to One For All. Just don't expect you to get any other powers later on. This is your one and only ticket to greatness." Jokata explained with a smug smile on his face as I already knew the truth behind what he was saying. I knew that I wouldn't get any other Quirks. After all, this Quirk isn't One For All anymore But even more than that, I knew he was hiding something from me.

"Hiding? Me? Nope. Not hiding a thing. Hahaha." Jokata replied as he laughed awkwardly. He's really bad at lying. Well, I guess we have that in common.

'Just tell me the catch already. I know there's one. It was the same thing with One For All.' I replied with what was surely an unamused look on my face as I pointed at him while his eyes blinked a few times out of sheer surprise. That's right. Every time that I used One For All I had to limit myself of using its full power, because my body wasn't used to it. If I remember correctly All Might compared my body to a glass that couldn't contain the liquid (or in this case One For All) And caused it to shatter. But upon getting used to the power my body would be able to use more of it as time went on.

However, I only had One For All for a little over a year until I used up all of its power in the final war against the villains. I only got around to being able to use roughly forty-five percent of its power before access to it was revoked. And if it's like One For All then Obliterator must be the same way. Every time that I used OFA's full power I broke my bones. I was lucky that I had Recovery Girl to fix my wounds. But she's not here. None of the people I used to know are in 'this world.' Which means I have to know what I'm getting myself into so that I can prevent damaging something that would be irreversible. So, what is it al-

"Fine. You got me. And you're right. There is a price you have to pay for using your new power. That price being… well… how do I put this? … You have a brain, right?" Jokata asked with a smug grin as he already knew the answer to his question.

'Duh. We're inside of it.' I thought internally knowing full well that he would be able to read my thoughts.

"You're a real cheeky brat you know that? Anyway, think of your brain… like a… potato! What do you get when you smash potatoes with a hammer, kid?" Jokata asked as I already didn't like the direction that this conversation was headed. I paused briefly before answering his question.

'… Mashed potatoes?' I thought internally with a confused look on my face as I couldn't help but think who uses a hammer to smash potatoes? That's why I was caught off guard by what the man named Jokata Nauji said next-

"Yeah! That's what your brain will be if you use one hundred percent of my power without fully getting used to handling it first!" Jokata replied with a sadistic smile on his face as my eyes shot wide open upon realizing what that would mean for my brain.

'MY BRAIN!' I thought internally as I pictured my brain being smashed into chunks of meat as just thinking about it made me want to hurl! I knew there was a catch! There always is!

"HAHAHA!" Jokata laughed manically in delight as he was clearly enjoying my reaction to his heart's content. Yeah. That pissed me off.

"Kid, you asked for my power, and you got it! It's not my problem if you end up turning your brain into mashed potatoes. In fact, go ahead! I got a nice front row seat! Now, if only I had some popcorn." Jokata replied with a sadistic smirk on his face as he made it crystal clear he didn't care in the slightest regarding what happened to me.

To be honest, I had no clue about the hardships that the man named Jokata Nauji had to endure during his life, and it would be quite some time before he shared his own memories with me. But even still, I was-

'Thanks. I'll make sure to use this power wisely.' I replied internally as I bowed at him much to his surprise.

"K-Kid, you serious? Even after letting you know that your brain will literally break down and die, you still want to use my Quirk. You got death wish or something?" Jokata replied as he glared daggers at me. He might have been joking around with me before but this time it was crystal clear that I royally pissed him off. But I didn't care.

'Don't you remember what you said? I'd only destroy my brain IF I use one hundred percent of my power. This isn't my rodeo with dealing with stuff that could kill me. So, you don't have to worry about me. And for the record, it's my Quirk now, not yours.' I replied internally as I glared daggers back at him as his eyes blinked in surprise due to my response.

"You damn brat. You really don't have a clue what the hell you're talking about. Let me give you a taste of what it means to use 'Obliterator.'" Jokata declared as he was about grab my head but before he could-

'Ah!' I gasped internally as my internal body began tingling. I was going to wake up soon. And that was proven by the fact that Jokata's hand went right through my head upon trying to reach for it.

"Damn it. Oh well. If you want to use your brand spanking new power, then go right ahead! But before you go, I just want to let you know one last thing…" Jokata spoke as he paused for a few seconds until-

"Have fun dying!" Jokata exclaimed with a smile on his face and a thumbs up. Not even a second later I woke up back within reality. I took note that I was drenched in a pool of sweat. It was just like the time that I discovered that I could use Blackwhip for the first time. I guess this is his blessing and now I'll be able to use his Quirk whenever I want now. But even still-

"… What an asshole." I muttered to myself before getting out of bed and walking to the bathroom to take a shower. Shortly after that-

'Ring! Ring! Ring!' My phone began ringing as unbeknownst to me, I was receiving several texts from Horikita telling me to 'get to school ASAP.' That uncomfortable feeling of dread that I would feel for what was about to come would become apparent to be as I would soon end up learning of the 'incident' that had occurred last night. Not only that…

… But it would result in me having to use my new Quirk's power for the very first time as I would have to grapple with finding the truth behind the 'incident' and learning how to use 'Obliterator.' If it wasn't obvious, things are about to get very chaotic.

To Be Continued…

Next Chapter: Slam Down Your Fist Like You Mean It, Nerd!

Go Beyond!

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