"Team Midoriya and Uraraka Wins!"

Izuku had never been so relieved to hear All Might's voice before. His breath came in ragged gasps, his lungs burning with the effort of the battle. His knees threatened to give out beneath him, trembling with exhaustion. Every muscle in his body screamed for rest, but he knew he couldn't afford to show weakness, not here, not now. Not in front of All Might.

He straightened up, forcing his body to obey despite the searing pain that shot through his limbs. His mask hid most of his expression, but his eyes were still visible—sharp, focused, and devoid of the exhaustion that threatened to overwhelm him. Uraraka moved beside him with a tired grin, "We won, just like you said," giving Izuku a thumbs-up.

Katsuki, on the other hand, stood rigid, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. The fury in his eyes was unmistakable, a simmering rage that made his blood boil. "You... you got lucky, Deku," Katsuki spat, his voice low and seething with venom. "This isn't over. Not by a long shot."

Izuku turned slightly to face Katsuki, his eyes meeting the other boy's fierce glare, "Maybe it was luck," Izuku replied calmly, his voice steady despite the turmoil within. "Or maybe it was strategy. Either way, you still lost."

Katsuki's glare intensified, his teeth grinding together as he stepped forward, palms crackling, "Shut up, Deku! I will wipe that smug look off your face one day, and you won't even see it coming!"

Izuku didn't flinch, his gaze unwavering as he looked at Katsuki, "Well, that's enough action for both of you!" All Might's voice boomed, "Everyone did well today. He went back to the observation room with the rest of your class. We still have nine more battles to get through.

Izuku held his ground, watching as the tension between him and Katsuki thickened, an almost tangible force pressing down on them both. Katsuki's rage was a storm, violent and unpredictable, but Izuku had learned to weather it. He let the words hang in the air for a moment, then turned away, breaking the eye contact that had been charged with unspoken challenges.

Izuku nodded curtly, his eyes flicking briefly to where Minato picked himself up off the ground. The other boy had a smiley grin. He seemed to be composed even after the battle. Izuku kicked him in the chest as hard as he could while still under the influence of the Sharingan. To put it briefly, Minato should be in pain. Or at least limping. Minato wasn't one to be underestimated, and Izuku knew he would need to watch him closely in the future. He had seen how Minato moved, how he waited for the perfect moment to strike. It was a style Izuku recognized, it was Taijutsu. Impossible...

To an average person, Taijutsu would be some martial art, but to the Uchiha, who could copy any movement, it was the Uchiha style of combat. Izuku could remember his father drilling him in a series of movements he had to remember. Taijutsu was a combination of 47 major martial arts. There was no way anybody without a Sharingan could complete the movements. Perhaps he was overreacting. Maybe Minato knew how to fight. Maybe it was a pure coincidence.

He replayed the fight with Minato and Katsuki, analyzing every move, every decision. The realization that Minato used a technique similar to Taijutsu was unnerving. It gnawed at him, a tiny splinter lodged deep in his consciousness, refusing to be ignored.

He cast a quick glance at Minato. The thought stuck with him, a nagging doubt that wouldn't leave. He knew better than to jump to conclusions, but his instincts told him there was something more to Minato than met the eye. Izuku would have to watch him closely, but he needed to stay focused for now. There were still more opportunities to gather information.

Izuku followed Uraraka and the rest of the students back to the observation room, filled with the low hum of conversation. Students murmured about the battles they had just witnessed, and Izuku barely registered their words. He could feel Katsuki's glare burning into his back, a hot brand of fury that he chose to ignore. Let him stew in his anger. It was just another distraction.

He sat at the far end of the room, away from the others. Uraraka sat beside him, still catching her breath. She offered him a tired but genuine smile. Izuku still had his mask on. There's a chance he had too much of an effect on Uraraka. He didn't want her to think they were friends. Then again, his actions might've had an opposite impact other than encouraging her to fight well. He wasn't great at social interaction.

The rest of the class continued to murmur among themselves, their voices a distant buzz in Izuku's ears. He could feel their excitement, understandably so. The next battle trial began with Shoto Todoroki.

Izuku studied every face, name, and quirk Akira had access to. Todoroki was the son of Endeavor, the Number Two Hero of Japan. His quirk was called Half Hot, Half Cold. A rare dual quirk mutation, his right side could generate ice, and his left could generate fire. He entered UA not through the regular exam but through a special recommendation. Izuku knew what Todoroki was capable of, at least on paper. But knowing and seeing were two different things.

He stood at the entrance of a similar building where Izuku took his trial. His partner was Mezo Shoji, Quirk: Dupli-Arms. They faced Mashiro Ojiro, Quirk: tail, and Toru Hagakura, Qurik: invisibility.

Izuku watched closely as the battle began.

Todoroki stood at the entrance of the training building, his breath steady and controlled. The cool air of the training ground brushed against his skin. He didn't feel nervous or excited. This was just another trial, another test of his abilities—nothing more, nothing less. His father's training was much harsher than this.

Todoroki could feel the prickling of the ice that completely covered his left side. Shoji stood beside him. He hasn't said a word yet. Todoroki hasn't interacted with him much. He hasn't interacted with anyone. He didn't need to; they weren't important to him, or to his goals. UA will be the place to prove himself to his father that he doesn't need his help to be number one.

He glanced at Shoji, who stood beside him, his multiple arms flexing slightly in anticipation. Shoji was strong, versatile, and a good partner for anyone. But to Todoroki, it didn't matter. This was his fight to win, his chance to demonstrate that he didn't need anyone—not his father, not his classmates, no one. Todoroki only needs himself, and himself only. "Step back," Todoroki says, "I'll take care of this."

The countdown ended, signaling the start of the trial. Todoroki didn't move immediately. He stood there, still as a statue, his eyes narrowed in concentration. The air around him grew colder, frost beginning to creep across the ground, spreading outwards from his feet. The temperature dropped rapidly, the chill biting at the air as he placed his right foot forward, ice crawling his body.

The ice crept across the ground, spreading in a wide arc, freezing everything in its path. The walls, the floor, and even the air seemed to crystallize under the relentless advance of his quirk. The entire building was rapidly transformed into a frozen fortress, an environment where Todoroki was in complete control. He didn't need to move fast or rush forward. His power was absolute at this moment.

Shoji watched silently, his multiple arms twitching slightly as he observed the ice spread around them. He stared at the frosty building; it was icy blue, like staring at a frozen lake. It hadn't been ten seconds since the first trial began. Todoroki looked at the entrance.

"Let's move," Todoroki commanded, stepping out with his right. The ice withered away, separating, craving a path as if it bowed to him. This was his domain.

Todoroki walked confidently through the frozen corridor, his footsteps echoing off the icy walls. Shoji followed closely behind. It was clear that Todoroki had already seized control of the environment. Everything around them was frozen solid; not even their opponents were spared.

Hagakure and Ojiro were caught off guard the moment the trial began. They had barely moved from their starting positions when the temperature plummeted, and the walls, floors, and ceilings around them began to freeze over. The frost crept rapidly, consuming everything in its path. Ojiro tried to leap out of the way, but the cold was overwhelming, slowing his movements as ice began to form on the ground beneath him. It grappled him to the floor, leaving him cold and unable to escape.

Hagakure, despite her invisibility, couldn't hide from the sheer force of Todoroki's power. She scrambled to find cover, but there was nowhere to go. The icy tendrils reached out to her, stunning her in a jacket of frost. She could feel the cold seeping through her; she couldn't move an inch. The situation quickly spiraled out of control, and they hadn't even seen their opponents yet.

Todoroki advanced, Shoji following closely. The frost parted before them as they walked through the frozen corridors. Todoroki's expression was utter calm. His eyes fixed straight ahead as if the battle had already been decided in his mind. He had no intention of drawing this out. He was here to win and to prove a point.

The match was quick and without confrontation. Todoroki passed Orjiro and Hagakura without paying any attention. They looked toward Todoroki with a sense of dread. They've lost completely. He got to the bomb and immediately secured it.

"Winners!" All Might announced, "Team Todoroki and Shoji!"

Todoroki didn't even look back at his opponents as All Might declared his team's victory. The ice continued to encase the building, a silent testament to his overwhelming power. He didn't need validation from anyone—not from his father, not from his classmates, and certainly not from opponents who couldn't even put up a fight. The match had been over before it began, and Todoroki's cold, detached demeanor reflected that reality.

Shoji remained silent, though he couldn't help but feel a pang of discomfort at the ease with which Todoroki had dominated the trial. There was no room for teamwork and no need for coordination. Todoroki had taken control of the situation and rendered any assistance unnecessary. Shoji understood that his presence in this trial had been more a formality than a necessity, but he couldn't dwell on such thoughts.

As Todoroki exited the arena, he defrosted Hagakura and Orjiro. Despite his cold demeanor, he didn't let them stay frozen for long. He didn't want them to develop frostbite. After all, they were going to be classmates.

The rest of the class watched silently as Todoroki and Shoji exited the building, the frost slowly beginning to thaw in their wake. There was a mixture of awe and unease among the students. Todoroki's power display was impressive and intimidating, a clear reminder that UA was not just a school for aspiring heroes but a battleground for those who sought to prove themselves as the best.

Izuku's eyes narrowed slightly as he observed Todoroki. The way he used his quirk, the control and precision, reminded Izuku of the training Itachi had undergone under his father. It peeved him, but there was something else—something darker, colder, that set Todoroki apart from the others. It wasn't just about power. It was about the absence of anything else—no emotion, no hesitation, just an unyielding force that demanded victory.

The observation room buzzed with whispers as the students discussed the match. Some were impressed, others intimidated, but all recognized the gap in power between Todoroki and most of their classmates. Katsuki, who had been simmering with rage after his own loss, now stared at Todoroki with a new intensity. It was a different kind of fury, not a jealous stare but the stare of recognition of a rival. Katsuki's competitive spirit ignited, and the determination in his eyes burned brighter than ever.

"He's strong," Uraraka whispered to Izuku, her voice tinged with admiration and concern. "Do you think anyone else can match that?"

Izuku didn't respond immediately. He knew that power alone wasn't everything, but Todoroki's display had shown that raw power, when wielded with precision, could be an overwhelming advantage. Still, Izuku had learned there was always a way to overcome even the most formidable opponents. Strategy, unpredictability, and the ability to adapt were just as important as strength. Itachi was strong. But Izuku would find a way to kill him despite their gap. Todoroki would be the same if they were to face each other. But Izuku doubted that would ever happen. He came here to train. Not to stand out as a promising hero candidate. They all don't matter to him. He's going to leave them anyway.

"I'm not sure," Izuku answers, "Any fight with him will be a struggle. But it'll be hard to find out until then."

Uraraka nodded, still looking slightly worried. She was taking this seriously. Izuku didn't understand why, but she did. But it'll be fine if she listens. The more she focused on her own strength, the less likely she would be to get caught in a mess when she would be in the field. She needed to be strong for herself, like any person.

The rest of the trials passed in a blur. Each team brought its own strengths and weaknesses to the field, and Izuku watched closely, analyzing each quirk and strategy. He paid particular attention to how the students used their quirks in combination with their partners. Some teams were more successful than others, but what caught Izuku's attention was how the successful teams managed to blend their strengths, covering each other's weaknesses.

But even as he observed, his mind kept returning to Todoroki. Izuku had only seen that icy precision and lack of hesitation in those willing to do whatever it took to win, no matter the cost. It was a mindset Izuku understood all too well. He had seen it in Itachi, and now he saw it in Todoroki. But there was a difference. Itachi's coldness was born from necessity. But Todoroki's seemed to come from deep resentment, something Izuku could only guess at.

When the last trial ended, the students filed out of the observation room, and All Might dismissed the class. Their conversations were filled with excitement, exhaustion, and, in some cases, dread. Izuku hung back, waiting until the others had left before he moved to follow. He didn't want to be caught up in their chatter.

Walking down the hallway, his footsteps echoing softly against the polished floors, Izuku changed into the gray school uniform. He was the last one to return to the classroom. As soon as he entered, Aizawa glared at him.

Aizawa's gaze was as piercing as ever, his tired eyes locking onto Izuku when he entered the classroom. There was an intensity in his stare that made it clear he wasn't just observing—he was evaluating and dissecting every move Izuku made. It made sense. He knew who he truly was. It was a part of the deal All Might made. Almost every teacher who participated in the hero course knew about him being a Uchiha. To their surprise, the Uchiha weren't all dead.

"You're late," Aizawa said flatly, his voice low and unimpressed. The rest of the class had already settled into their seats, and the room was eerily silent. Everyone's attention was now focused on the exchange between their teacher and Izuku.

"I apologize, Sensei," Izuku replied, keeping his tone neutral and respectful. He knew better than to offer excuses. Aizawa wasn't the type of person to tolerate them. Instead, Izuku simply moved to his seat, his posture straight and composed, even though his body still ached from the earlier trial. Later, Izuku noted to himself to focus on endurance training after an ice bath.

"Anyway," Aizawa says, "After you all have a sense of each other's strengths and weaknesses, you need to work on teamwork. That means you all need to choose a leader amongst yourselves."

The class exploded into whispers, "So, you all need to pick a class president."