My Hokuto Academia
AN: Yes, I'm aware of Smash of the North Star. A friend actually pointed it out to me, but my story is going down in a different direction. Complete with some OCs inspired by the cast of Hokuto no Ken and Souten no Ken respectively.
Just a fair bit of warning, there will be SPOILERS for both My Hero Academia [Vigilantes too], Hokuto no Ken, and Souten no Ken (and its continuation, Regenesis).
I DO NOT own Hokuto no Ken or My Hero Academia, they belong to their respective creators, Tetsuo Hara, Buronson, and Kohei Horikoshi. Support the official releases, especially of Souten no Ken.
Chapter Four:
"Why only one successor?" Izuku asked, pondering why Hokuto Shinken only required one successor.
"It was meant to be a precaution, mainly preventing secrets from falling into the wrong hands. However, it doesn't always work. Some failed students were able to create their own styles derived from Hokuto Shinken." Kensei replied.
"It led to internal conflicts, did it? However, one thing I don't get. An assassin's style created to bring order?" Izuku questioned, not sure if he would like the answer.
"The successor of Hokuto Shinken has a duty: protecting the innocent, uphold peace, and becoming the punisher of evil under the heavens. The destiny of one is often intertwined with governing powers and at times, Taoist astrology and legends." Kensei responded.
"You sound like All Might to a degree, especially with the bit of upholding peace." Izuku replied, almost being relieved despite the context.
"I'm getting the idea you don't feel comfortable with killing." Kensei said, analyzing his next words.
"I'm training to get into UA and be a Pro Hero. It's not my right to take a life. No matter how terrible the crimes are-" Izuku stated, slightly getting serious. However, he was cut off by Kensei.
"I do agree with that, but here's the thing. There are a lot of villains and thugs who won't learn their lesson, even if you put them in prison. However, I'm not saying you should off every villain because your next point would be…" Kasumi said as he let Izuku make his argument.
"There are some people who couldn't control their Quirks once manifesting them, but some people have rough lives that causes them to go in that direction. An example would be saying their Quirk is suited for villainy." Izuku said in response.
Kensei analyzed his words, he brought up some decent points, but he wanted to teach him that not everything is black and white as initially thought.
"I can believe that, no argument. In fact, there was another reason why I chose you."
"Huh?"
"It is your compassion and your judge of character, plus meddling in things when you don't need to is a plus." Kensei stated.
"I mean, it's just not right to let bad things happen." Izuku replied while closing his hands into fists.
"However, you feel helpless because of your Quirkless condition, lack proper training, and here's another nugget of info: not all Pro Heroes are able to respond on time."
"So, why train me in other fighting styles?" Izuku questioned, changing the topic. Kensei quickly explained that fighters need to have versatility no matter what. If one style didn't work, they can rely on another one or at least its most effective techniques.
"In addition, you don't always need to utilize Hokuto Shinken in every situation. Plus, you don't need to attract extra attention to yourself." Kensei answered another potential question that Izuku might have had.
"Oh…right. That's a good point." Izuku stated. He remembered the encounters with Bakugo who just seems to be pissed off at his existence in general. "However, I'm not sure if I can I shoulder the burden…"
"Hey, don't beat yourself up. Things like this take time, I don't expect you to be onboard with me right away. I was the same way when my father was teaching me martial arts."
"Wait, really?!"
"In the past, I honestly believed killing was unnecessary. Just paralyze a thug and leave it in the hands of a Pro Hero or police, depending on who responded quicker. However, I learned that protocol doesn't always help, it backfires in quite a lot of ways."
"Wow. From the sounds of it, were you a Pro Hero at one point? Aside from being proficient in hand to hand combat?" Izuku asked.
"The truth is, I'm the 69th Grandmaster to Hokuto Shinken. As per the principle, only the successor is allowed to utilize Hokuto Shinken."
"Whatever happens to those who fail the succession?"
"There are three outcomes, none of them being pretty.
1. You must voluntarily renounce the style and claim to not use it again.
2. Your memories erased if the first option isn't feasible.
3. The third? The failed student's fists must be crushed."
"Oh…My. Is it that necessary?" Izuku asked, albeit disbelieving at the cruel outcomes.
"I did mention earlier having hidden techniques falling into the wrong hands was a big factor in why a sole successor is chosen instead of a few." Kensei stated.
"Wait... you also mentioned that there were other fighting styles aside from Hokuto Shinken, what are they?"
"I'll tell you a few well-known ones: Nanto Seiken, Hokuto Ryūken, Gento Koken, and Tento Seiin Ken."
"Whoa, are they just as deadly as yours?"
"Oh, yes. Some of them operate on the different principles though." Kensei stated. "However, I'll tell you more. We need to do physical training, mainly to train you to handle my fighting style."
"Oh, oh, right." Izuku stated as he got ready. Both master and student were performing all types of exercises: crunches, push-ups, jumping jacks, and some fast jabs.
"We are going to continue for at least one hour straight. The hour after that will be sparring."
Izuku gulped, but was determined to see it through.
"In addition, I will be some using some Hokuto Shinken."
The kid sweat in fear, but then Kensei had a grin on his face.
"Just kidding! We're not at that level yet." Kensei said while taking his combat stance.
TWO HOURS LATER:
The last two hours were hell on Izuku's body, he was tired, but he had to still spar. He was on the defensive for the most part, but managed to counter-attack a few times here and there. Kasumi was only slightly tired, how so? Some of his punches, as Izuku noted, were becoming slower and easier to predict.
The few minutes they had left on the clock consisted of this: Izuku going on the offensive, mainly using feint punches to trip up Kasumi and then punch him once his parries miss. However, he tried a whip kick which Kasumi easily blocked and then followed up within a straight punch to the chest. Izuku was knocked back, but he recovered and closed the distance.
The muscular teacher went for a palm strike, but Izuku slipped by it and followed up with a jab into the chest and elbow into the left side.
Izuku did learn some new things from this day:
1. Kasumi can be a bit of a jokester despite his serious appearance.
2. Things weren't always black-and-white when it comes to heroes fighting villains and saving people.
3. If Kasumi ever became a teacher at U.A. High, he would have worked everyone physically to the bone when it came to not ONLY Quirk training, but also physical training [fitness, endurance, and hand to hand combat in that order].
"And... I feel fairly sleepy..." said Izuku who was sweaty, but drowsy. Kasumi caught him before dropped to the floor, claiming that he's definitely improving not only as a fighter, but also maturing too. Hobbit came to the scene and then huffed before laying down on the floor.
"Don't worry, Hobbit. He's just tired, but we have made a substantial amount of progress."
Hobbit then happily huffed.
"He knows about my position as the successor, he didn't freak out too badly. I kinda expected him to faint from the shock and revelation." Kensei explained.
Hobbit nodded in understanding.
"Uh... Kasumi-Sensei. Are we finished?" said a now-loopy Izuku. Kasumi nodded and the teen finally let himself go to sleep due to the hard work he put in.
Midoriya Apartment
Izuku then woke up!
"Whoa, what happened?!"
Izuku's mother comes to his bedroom, then explains what really happened.
Flashback:
Inko Midoriya was sipping some tea, mainly waiting for Izuku to come home from his sessions with Kasumi. However, she heard a knock at the door.
"Who is it?"
"It's Kasumi. I have come to return Izuku, who's dead asleep from training so hard."
"Oh my. My baby's been overworking himself, I told him not to do that."
"I can agree with that, but he's been making great progress lately. I knew he was smart, but he's picking up martial arts very quickly. In fact, I know a few people who can also help in training him."
"Wait. Are they as buff as you?" asked Inko, slightly worried.
"More or less." Kasumi said as he shrugged his shoulders.
"He's going to become fairly muscular, is he?"
"That's just scratching the surface. He'll able to achieve his dream of being a hero and well... more."
The conversation ended with Kasumi carrying Izuku to his bedroom and taking note of all the All Might merchandise. Posters, rugs, and clothing too.
'Big fan would be an understatement. I also have the feeling his All Might-inspired hoodies are more than just two.' Kasumi thought before left the bedroom.
"Can you stay, Kasumi?" Inko asked.
"As much as I like to, I have to get back home. Hobbit will be expecting a walk."
"Who's Hobbit?"
"My dog who happens to have a Quirk. But I need to get going now." said the teacher as he was going towards the door.
"Come back any time, you're more than welcome." Inko said as he was leaving.
"Oh, before I forget. I have a workout plan for Izuku." Kensei replied as he pulled out an small report.
"What is this?"
"A series of cardio exercises and the techniques we have practiced since the start, plus some new ones." Kensei explained and said he needed to get going.
"Get home safe" Inko said with a smile.
"And that sums it up." Inko said, answering her son's questions.
'Whoa. Heh, I overdid it a bit, did I? Kensei did mention other fighters who can also help in training me. I wonder if they know the styles that Kasumi mentioned.'
"Izu, are you there?" Inko asked, noticing the thinking look on his face.
"OH, nothing. Just thinking about a few things."
"Oh, don't forget. Midterms are coming up fairly soon. It's late April, I know you're doing well in your classes. I just don't want you to forget, simple as that." Izuku's mother replied.
The green-haired kid nodded. In addition, it was getting late and he was going to do all these exercises the following week. Even if it breaks him, wait, he doesn't want that.
He made the decision to sleep in.
Sunday:
It was the morning and Kasumi was walking Hobbit, mainly to a local dog park. It was called Raxus Dog Park, a decently-sized park with some obstacles to exercise on. Hobbit was excited to be in the park, mainly utilizing it as an excuse to run all over and meet up with the friends he made last week.
"So, he's playing with a close group of friends." Kasumi observed. Hobbit in the past wasn't the most social dog, even as a puppy. However, hard work and some well-cooked steak managed to bring Hobbit out of his shell. Now? He's playing with other dogs his age and even gets to act silly.
However, little did Kasumi know. He was being watched from a distance. It was a man and woman, both dressed in civilian clothes.
"Tsukauchi, are you sure this is a good idea? This is HIM we're talking about." the woman said.
"Kyogi, we will be fine."
The two detectives were on a bench a small distance away from the dog park. They observed him just sitting on a bench taking in the air while seeing his dog play with the others. Tsukauchi only knew a bit about Kensei Kasumi, but importantly who he was prior to becoming a middle school teacher; Kyogi was still wary of her co-worker's idea of being the tail, specifically to HIM in particular.
Kensei was now moving a bit, mainly to talk with a elderly woman. The latter was laughing a bit, but was occupied with petting Hobbit and her dog, an small Welsh Corgi. The former was now walking off for a bit, the two were still observing until they heard their phones go off, but the distraction cost them the chance.
By the time they put their phones on vibrate, the target was gone. However, they heard a voice from behind them.
"If you're going to tail someone, at least make an attempt to be subtle." said Kasumi, albeit amused. Both detectives flinch and instantly assume combat stances, only to realize it's Kasumi.
"How?" Tsukauchi asking, albeit in a tone of disbelief.
"You do realize my mastery over martial arts allows me to hide my presence and also improve my reflexes, right?"
"Oh. That's a thing." Kyogi replied.
"I'm guessing you're trying to figure out if I'm back. Is it?" Kensei questioned both detectives.
"I'm gonna be honest with you, I don't know all the details on how you became a schoolteacher. However, my superiors wonder if you are still committing acts of vigilantism under a new alias." Tsukauchi replied
"If you're asking that I'm back, that's a resounding NO. However, if you think I'm going to wait for a Pro Hero or the police to resolve an issue where lives are on the line... well, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed." Kasumi responded to the detective's query.
Tsukauchi didn't have to utilize his Quirk: Human Lie Detector to know that Kasumi's being truthful. Kyogi thought the same too, even with her Quirk: Limb Armaments, she wouldn't be able get a direct shot on him. As she remembered from previous encounters with him, he was very fast and agile for a man of his build.
"My one question, whatever happened to the kid on the day of the incident? Izuku Midoriya?" Kyogi asked. Kasumi responded that Izuku was taken home directly to his mother after the incident.
"Why do I have the feeling that you're leaving out parts of the whole truth? I don't even need to use my Quirk to know that." Tsukauchi replied in a somewhat cold tone.
Kasumi starts to walk back to the dog park, but answers "I mean, you're a detective, right? I'll definitely tell you the next time an incident like that happens again." albeit sarcastically. Once he was a fair distance away, specifically there to pick up Hobbit.
"Call it intuition, Tsukauchi. This Midoriya kid's involved somehow, but I don't know in what way." Kyogi responded, miffed that Kasumi got the drop on them.
"Good point, but for all intents and purposes, this situation hasn't escalated. YET. Maybe I should call-"
"Before you get the go-ahead to call a Pro Hero for assistance, there's one thing you need to know about Kensei Kasumi."
"What exactly?"
"You know the sting operation from a few years ago? Operation Earthquake?"
"I have heard, the main targets were the heads of an Triad syndicate called the Chishi-Rengou or as the Americans call them, the Earthly Branches Alliance. What exactly happened?"
"It was a disaster. Well, almost."
"Almost?" Tsukauchi replied, now curious.
"I was undercover as a waitress, mainly at the high-end Chinese restaurant they frequent. It was called Zhuo's Paradise, the operation was going fine. We had two Pro Heroes to assist in the raid, Fat Gum and Gunhead because their Quirks were perfect in this situation. The former would be able to absorb force and redirect it back while the latter is excellent at suppressive fire."
"How did things come undone?"
"One of the heads known as Gaoshechi made me out, the rest of them got up thinking a rival planned a trap. That's when this muscular stranger appeared. He wore a midnight blue mask, smooth, but with twin curved horns that were small, mainly on the top. The getup was like a biker of sorts, also blue. Thigh-length boots, elbow-length sleeves, gauntlet-like gloves, and the jacket had a slight V-neck. Plus I remember smoothed out shoulder-pads." Kyogi said as she recounted the encounter.
"Okay, I'm getting a decent profile of HIM." Tsukauchi replied, he was taking this all in. He only heard of him due to murmurs in the investigation department. However, he's getting a real-life verified encounter of HIM.
I also remember Big Dipper-like patterns on the chest area, mainly vertically structured. Plus this recurring character on his pants [knee area], upper arms, and also the back (兆). I always wondered why." Kyogi as she finished the first part.
"That character can literally mean 'sign', but depending on the context and how one utilizes it. It can mean 'omen'." Tsukauchi answered.
"Oh, that puts things into a clearer perspective. Getting back to the encounter, I thought I was going die there. However, I didn't. HE saved me by taking out each remnant of the Chishi-Rengou. Each one dying in the reverse order of the Chinese Zodiac. The last one? He turned into a giant rat-like beast to surprise him. However, he just struck him within the side. With a just a finger.
He begged him to let go... but the last thing HE said to the rat?
'Nǐ yǐ jīng sǐ le'. The rat's head inflated like a balloon, then exploded and the rest of his body followed." Kyogi as said her account of the failed sting operation came to a close.
Tsukauchi felt a chill go up his spine, realizing Kensei Kasumi was far more dangerous than he initially appeared. If he knew about this prior to tailing him, he would have a couple of Special Response Teams and some Pro Heroes to lead the ambush charge.
"I did learn his name later on..."
Tsukauchi asked what was it, despite now having a fear of him.
"He called himself Shichisei."
Tsukauchi can already tell this case is going to get bigger than he thought. As if dealing with the criminal underworld wasn't tough enough, but now a former vigilante who MIGHT be making a comeback? Kyogi already felt his pain.
"Since tailing him failed, we might as well go back to the station and report to the chief." Tsukauchi said with a resigned tone.
AN: WELL. It seems the secret's partially out, the detectives knowing that Kasumi was once a vigilante, a brutal one at that. However, Midoriya and family do not know about it. I was also partly inspired by some John Wick's dialogue when writing it, that and the costume? A homage to one of Kenshiro's Post-Raoh outfits with a bit of a superhero flavor thrown into it.
Glossary:
Nanto Seiken - As Hokuto Shinken destroys from the inside, Nanto Seiken destroys from the outside via stabbing strikes and air pressure slicing. It utilizes ki to enhance the overall cutting power. In addition, there are about 108 branches to Nanto Seiken. The literal translation is 'South Dipper Sacred Fist' [referring to the Chinese asterism, South Dipper Six Stars].
Hokuto Ryūken - A dark version of Hokuto Shinken, found by Ryuo, a clansman of the Hokuto Soke clan. It utilizes a different pressure point system from Hokuto Shinken, but there's a kicker. It's seen as borderline sorcery because it requires incantations to perform. The translation tends to be either 'North Dipper Lapis Lazuli Fist' or 'North Dipper Sparkling Stone Fist'. According to some past encounters, some users can be rendered insane.
Gento Koken - A fighting style that utilizes ki as its main means of attack and defense. Users can shoot ki energy, slice through flesh via ki-blades, and the twist? Said attacks destroy the enemy on a cellular level. The main symbol is that of the Tenteisei [Celestial Emperor Star], or specifically Polaris. According to a past successor, one can render themselves immune to the pressure point strikes from Hokuto Shinken, HOWEVER, one needs to be highly skilled in order to do so. The translation: 'Original Dipper Imperial Fist'.
Tento Seiin Ken - An ancient martial arts style stemming from the Ancient Near East with influences from Seito Gekken. As a style, it emits light and sucks away ki-energy via close contact. The four pillars are stealing, accumulating, rebinding, and unbinding. In the past, it belonged to an ancient tribe called Nahash who utilized breathing techniques that emit light called ruach (רוּחַ). The literal translation: 'Heaven Dipper Sacred Yin Fist'
Shichisei - The literal meaning being 'Seven Stars', mainly referring to the seven stars of the Big Dipper constellation. That's about it, but it's utilized a lot in Chinese astrology and all that.