Ninjas are masters of the unseen. Silent, deadly, swift, and precise. It might be fitting to call them surgeons of slaughter. Every motion of the sword and every aim with a shuriken or kunai is impossibly precise. Yet, ninjas make that their reality. Unrivaled assassins who could also hold their own in a traditional fight should the need ever arise.
Jack-O-Lantern Panic was a renowned ninja. Additionally, he was an infamous hitman in the criminal underworld. If you had the cash, he'd kill anyone for you. Or, if it were more to your preference, so long as you could keep the payments coming, this ninja would be your bodyguard.
Jack-O-Lantern Panic had never encountered anyone who was his true equal. Flashy Flashy, a fellow ninja, was not eligible as a contender. Both men were trained in the same methods and knew the same things. Plus, on a more personal note, Jack-O-Lantern panic disqualified his counterpart since he was a hero.
Pfft. Heroes, am I right? Such jokes. Dumbasses who dressed up in dumb costumes and had equally dumb catchphrases, all for the sake of merchandise. Even the so-called best heroes in the world, S-Class, were nothing when compared to Jack-O-Lantern Panic! He could take them all on! He was the greatest ninja in the world! The fastest human being alive! No one was superior!
Okay, sure, but what about One Punch Man? You know, the world's strongest hero? Surely someone like that was, at the very least, a challenge, right? A person that Jack-O-Lantern Panic would need to be-
NO! NO! NO! THAT IS WRONG! THAT IS A LIE! One Punch Man is a stupid bald dope who gets lucky! That's it! No skill! Anything he does shouldn't be acknowledged, ESPECIALLY IF IT HAPPENS BELOW THE BELT!
Ahem. Sorry. Where were we? Ah, right, yes, Jack-O-Lantern Panic. Although this ninja was LEAGUES above the SUPPOSEDLY strongest hero in the world, it could not be denied that the shiny-headed halfwit had committed a GRIEVOUS SIN against him! For that, there must be retribution! THIS INJUSTICE CANNOT STAND!
Alas, that coward was never alone. People constantly surrounded One Punch Man. There were a few instances where it was just him and one other person, but that was still one too many. Jack-O-Lantern Panic wanted this to be intimate. HIS REVENGE NEEDED TO BE PERFECT!
Fortunately, the universe was on the ninja's side it seemed. One Punch Man was taking a vacation to a secluded island in the middle of the ocean. So far, Jack-O-Lantern Panic had gone undetected. All he'd need to do is take a leisurely swim to the island to save his strength, and he'd get his moment. Finally, the time had come for One Punch Man to-
"Oh! Another man?"
Upon arriving at the shore, Jack-O-Lantern Panic was immediately greeted by an unfamiliar voice. In all of his stealthy observations of his target, he had never heard someone who sounded like that. Immediately, the ninja jerked his in the direction it came from to see-
"What the hell is this?" Jack-O-Lantern Panic questioned as his gaze landed on a mountain of muscle wrapped in a Grecian toga.
No, that description isn't inaccurate. Standing several feet away on the beach was a...man? I mean, it had human skin. Those were human eyes. The hair...okay, that was weird, too. But overall, this thing resembled a human man more than anything else. So, let's just roll with it.
"Hello, there," The man greeted Jack-O-Lantern Panic. As he did, he moved a hand to his chin to hold it. "My, that's a tight outfit you're wearing. It leaves NOTHING to the imagination~" He commented.
...Oh...Oh, god. Never before had Jack-O-Lantern Panic been stricken with such potent fear and disgust. Who in the world says that to a stranger?!
"Is something wrong? You face is getting paler." The man noted, only to gasp afterward. "Oh no! The chill of the ocean's water is getting to you! Hurry! We need to get those wet clothes off of your before it gets-"
FWOOSH
The air was sliced by a thing needle that had been flung. Even if it only scratched the man, the toxin it was coated with would start working right away. However, the man showed that he had impressive reflexes. The needle sailed past his thick neck and went off into the horizon.
"Listen to me," Jack-O-Lantern Panic commanded with a glare. "I am NOT going to have my opportunity wasted by some psychopath in a sheet. Either keep your mouth and leave this island now, or there will soon be two corpses here." He warned.
"Ooo, your words carry the same intensity as some of my boyfriends when they're feeling a little rambunctious." The man replied, taking a stance. "There's also that look of yours. It's like that of a starved predator. I don't know why you're here, but I can tell it's for nothing good. I won't have you disturbing my glorious leader's private time! This I swear!" He exclaimed.
"Oh yeah? And what exactly are you going to do to-"
Instantly, the man's toga was reduced to scraps of cloth. The cause for this destruction was the flexing of his muscles. Every centimeter of his body was exposed. Jack-O-Lantern Panic nearly puked.
"Now, prepare yourself!" The man ordered as he leaned forward. "You will bear witness to the beauty of my technique! Puri-Puri Prisoner, ANGEL STYLE!" He shouted with gusto.
A second later, the man, presumably named Puri-Puri Prisoner, rocketed toward Jack-O-Lantern Panic by using the immense power in his legs. Although he was shocked, this ninja wasn't in any danger. Before the first punch was thrown, he began moving so fast that he created after-images of himself.
"You think that will hinder me?!" Puri-Puri Prisoner challenged. "Time to take things up a notch! ANGEL RUSH!" He yelled, followed by a flurry of blows.
Admittedly, the amount of punches thrown and the power they carried was impressive for someone who wasn't all too special. Yet, that wasn't what Jack-O-Lantern Panic focused on. I mean, how could he? A monolithic nudist was trying to pummel him.
"What is WRONG with you?!" Jack-O-Lantern Panic cried out, evading the attempted strikes. "Who the hell fights naked?! Are you a pervert?!" He questioned.
Jack-O-Lantern Panic was so taken aback that he temporarily forgot that he could end this with one swing of his sword. Unfortunately, as he continued to avoid the fists, he saw something from the corner of his vision. A person had emerged from the house that was at the center of the island. Crap! No! It had to be-
BAM
All it took was the briefest lapse in focus. That microscopic window of chance for the fight to be decided. A knuckle sandwich that was as big as Jack-O-Lantern Panic's face hit him straight. The result of that contact was a ninja being sent across the entire island and into the ocean on that side.
SPLASH
Jack-O-Lantern Panic, with a broken nose, hit the water with a sizable splash. Due to his rapidly fading consciousness, he started sinking. The last thing he saw was someone rushing over from the shore to dive in after him. You'd think the worst person it could've been would be One Punch Man, but no. It was a naked pervert whose muscular body would be pressed against Jack-O-Lantern Panic's as he was carried back onto land. Honestly, he'd prefer drowning.
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...Ngh...my head...
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...Where...am...I?...
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...I...was in the sky...falling...
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...Wait...the asteroid!...City Z!...Am I unconscious?!...I need to wake up!
A set of closed eyes scrunched. A series of tired groans escaped a woman's throat. Progressively, her body twitched and moved until consciousness was restored. When it was, the world's most powerful Esper, the Tornado of Terror, was back in the land of the living.
Everything was heavy. Tatsumaki felt as though she couldn't even lift her head. Never before has she experienced such fatigue. Then again, when her psychic abilities manifested, she didn't bother with physical exertion or labor anymore.
After a couple of minutes of trying to move, Tatsumaki inevitably chose to use her powers to get her upright.
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Uh, I think there's been an error here. Let's try that again. Tatsumaki used her powers to move herself into a sitting position.
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Tatsumaki used her powers to help her move her limbs.
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Tatsumaki used her powers to straighten her dress.
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Tatsumaki...used...her powers...
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"H...Hey!" Tatsumaki called out, looking around frantically. "What the hell did you idiots do to me?! Is this some kind of sick joke?!" She asked.
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"HEY!" Tatsumaki shouted louder, managing to turn herself so she'd be on her side. "HELLO? WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU GUYS?!" She questioned.
From the scenery surrounding her, Tatsumaki figured that she was either in Metal Knight's factory, Drive Knight's workshop, or Child Emperor's laboratory. Of the three, the prodigy was the most logical choice. He'd likely be the only one with the proper resources to treat her, too.
"CHILD EMPEROR!" Tatsumaki called. Surely, that boy genius was monitoring her even if he wasn't here!
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"Tornado?" Isamu's voice was heard after a few seconds. It came from all directions, probably from an intercom system or something else of the like.
"FINALLY!" Tatsumaki yelled with a sigh of relief. "WHERE ARE YOU?! I NEED YOU TO HELP ME!" She told him.
"Sorry, Tornado, me and the others needed to talk to the rest of the heroes. We're still in the middle of it, so I'll be back when I-"
"NO, YOU'LL COME HERE NOW!" Tornado barked, cutting him off. "I WANT YOU TO UNDO WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU DID TO ME! WHAT IS IT? SOME KIND OF DRUG?! OR DID YOU CREATE AN INVENTION TO SUPPRESS MY POWERS?!" She ranted.
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"HEY! DON'T YOU GO QUIET ON ME!" Tornado roared when met with silence.
"...Tornado..." Isamu whispered with a tone of alarm. "Are you saying that you can't use your ESP? Please, don't raise your voice; just confirm to me that this is what is happening." He inquired along with a request.
"Yes! I woke a few minutes ago feeling heavy and tired. I tried to lift myself with my powers, but they were not working! I don't care if it was to treat my injuries; you had no right to-"
"Tornado!" Isamu exclaimed, yet he still did so at a low volume. "Listen to me. PLEASE. I give you my word as both a hero and as the person who treated you that I didn't do anything in regard to your ESP. All I did was give you standard medication for pain relief and to prevent a potential fever. I also cleaned up some blood, but that is all. I've not done anything else." He informed her.
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"No, you're lying," Tatsumaki said. However, she sounded disturbed, which her peer noticed. "You had to have done something. Maybe you got the meds mixed up. You did something wrong, and now it's messing my head. That's why my powers aren't working." She insisted.
"Tornado, stay calm. I'm going to tell the others that I need to leave to come and check on you. I promise I won't say anything else. But you NEED to stay there. It'll only take me a minute or two. Seriously, DON'T do ANYTHING." He instructed.
Following that, there was silence again. Unlike before, Tatsumaki didn't comment on it. Truthfully, her focus was solely on herself. The world around her started getting fuzzy as her breathing hastened. Calm down, Tatsumaki. Everything's going to be fine. Child Emperor will realize he did something wrong, fix it, and you'll be back to normal.
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Right?