NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 36: Kunoichi's true colors
All For One didn't know what happened, how he was pulled so fiercely in and then repulsed back by such a power. For all the centuries he existed, nothing like this has ever happened. A revolt of this nature, against his quirk. It was as if a rusty blade had cut through finely crafted steel like air.
As he lay there in the rubble, there was a sickening sensation of that power lingering in him and it had given an unnatural hindrance to his quirks.
Now he could hear the voices screaming at him, not physically taking his body and breaking apart his hold. Resisting with strength as if they were ghosts given new bodies.
But it was lingering. Fading, however, he couldn't move yet.
'What is that....?'
It was the first time he had ever truly felt it again.
Fear.
For the monster that lay beneath the surface of that girl.
Sakura called out, "How's THAT?"
Slowly he was regaining his motor abilities, recovering quickly at least. But it was enough time for Toshinori to return and shift the scales again.
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Toshinori was speechless, his breath forgotten when he saw Sakura punch his enemy. He had tried to steal the girl's quirk he knew that, but somehow she had been able to resist it.
When the hero picked himself up and dashed back the scene had changed so suddenly. The students, who had come off as helpless were fighting with all their ability.
He couldn't believe the sense of pride.
"Good job young Haruno,"
Sakura held up her thumb in acknowledgment.
While he may have been labeled the number one hero, Toshinori had some drawbacks. When it came to his power, other than All For One there were hardly contenders. He was faster and stronger than any hero or villain, but that could be a double-edged sword. Toshinori's challenges were quite a sum, his power was fading and old wounds still caused him to ache. But he still held onto the number one spot even years after his fight with All For One which had reduced him to a weakened state for majority of his time.
A blade could get rusty if it isn't polished and through time and wears. The same can be said for skills and senses. Toshinori wasn't able to react quickly enough to this one and didn't feel that bloodlust before it was too late.
Tomura was horrified when he saw his master being sent through the rubble like a pebble. The man who rescued him from the gutter when no hero would and yet this is what he got in turn? No! A hateful glare, filled with bitterness and the vilest of wishes was bestowed in the direction of the girl.
"HOW DARE YOU!"
But Tomura did not get his chance to avenge or attempt to attack.
From the distance the sound shot through, picking up the rubble and debris from the wreckage, slicing along the air. Katsuki didn't.
It was like time had slowed, she saw that burst coming towards them, but not at her. Only a few steps away and without realizing it, she missed the hair caressing her face and the dust particles hitting her skin harshly from the speed.
Katsuki's temperament, no matter the situation would usually always set off if something or someone rubbed him the wrong way. He kept quiet on nothing. It was instinct by now and when he was knocked down, his first move was to try and scream but as the sight of red blinded him, the scream caught in his throat.
Sakura had a small body, but it felt like she was towering over him even as she was curled and crouched slightly. He couldn't remember to breathe but when he did, the taste of blood touched him.
And he could see All For One, floating in the air but framed in the open space where there should've been a wall of flesh, bones, muscle, and skin. It was sickening to hear the drops like a thick liquid falling, creating a puddle of red at her feet.
All For One held a wicked grin behind his mask as Toshinori's smile faltered into a grim expression that made this all the more pleasing. "It's you who shouldn't be arrogant. A hero's spirit is always so predictable,"
"W...." He choked, eyes blurring the horrific image in front but he blinked hard because he wanted to see her face, see her as she lifted her head to look at him. Not a single tear in her eye nor a hint of fear, but rather a strained smile stretched across a crimson mouth.
"You….." she was trying to breathe, but that couldn't be more impossible, as they had been ripped apart, "…..look dumb,"
"I…." Katsuki finally found his voice, "….why?....why...…WHY!?"
She didn't answer but stared at him with eyes that were losing their light. But he didn't stop, clawing at the dirt in his hands, his chest heaving.
"WHY DID YOU DO THAT…..IDI…..DU….MOR….HOW COULD…." He couldn't get the insults out, he felt his heart squeezing tight. "DAMMIT,"
While the entire floor had gone quiet, Sakura took her strength to fill the void, "…..promised…..protect you with my life,"
Katsuki gashed, "What!?"
"Have to escape…..Katsuki,"
She fell back, soaking in her blood was like being submerged in a warm bath, however morbid the thought was.
'Why isn't my chakra working?'
Is this really how she was going to die? A girl lost to her world? Fate really was cruel sometimes. She wouldn't be able to see her friends again, she wouldn't hear Naruto and Sasuke's voices one more time. She would just fade away from their memories and become nothing more than the girl they once knew.
There was no fear of dying but the fear that she would never get to see home again.
'Well…maybe that was my fate all along,'
Toshinori was livid, his shoulders shook and his eyes practically screamed anger for All For One. Sakura's body went limp before his eyes, and he knew that a fatal injury like that was not something to come back from.
'What kind of hero am I, that I can't even save two children?'
All For One chuckled, feeling as if a weight had just been lifted off his shoulders as quickly as it had fallen on him. Now no one needed to know his thoughts, his fears for what the girl might become to him in the future. He had never felt such dread before and he refused to let it take hold of him again. This issue was nipped in the bud before it could bloom. And he was going to salvage everything he could from it.
"Isn't that a shame? You failed once again All Might. You're unable to do your part as a hero when it matters most. You protected your student as well as your teacher,"
"GHAAAAAAAR,"
Toshinori attacked viciously, he had almost forgotten to withhold his strength to keep from getting Katsuki caught in the crossfire. He didn't want to lose another student but he couldn't forgive what had just happened. Yet the force was flying all over the place.
"BASTARDS," Katsuki made the first move this time, moving to attack Toga. Sending a blast right in her face that knocked her back. He went to Twice next but the man avoided him.
"It would seem that the second act has begun," Mr. Compress said, holding a hand over his mask. "He's completely lost all sense of reasoning,"
Tomura seemed in awe at All For One's turning of the tides and it gave him a new leg to stand on. "Get that brat and let's move,"
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Momo was biting her lip raw, trying to hold it together because if those floodgates burst, her judgment would be clouded and she might risk giving up her and her friend's position. The last thing she wanted was to see someone else laying in a pool of blood.
Izuku's body was crackling with his power raging through his body. He forgot his fear and was filled with a new rush of anger that was unlike anything he felt before. Someone had just died right in front of him and he didn't move. He didn't try to save them. Her.
Someone who had protected him over and over. And the guilt that ate at him was excruciating.
'I can't just sit still!'
"I promise to save Katsuki even if it costs me my life!"
No. He stopped, his power fizzling down as Tenya continued to hold onto him tight. Shouto looked like he could hardly take a breath, his knees ready to buckle. And Eijiro's body had become rigid even without activating his quirk, as he tried to process the truth of this dreadful reality.
Sakura Haruno had died right in front of them.
But there was still a battle going on and villains before them, with a classmate that was in danger of being taken away from them again.
His eyes clenched closed as Izuku tried to think, get his thoughts away from his grief, and realize that he had to make a move now!
'I have to get Kacchan out of there!'
But they had to do this without fighting or risking getting in Toshinori's way. They already weren't supposed to be here, and Izuku almost wished he wasn't, then he wouldn't be experiencing this sinking feeling of despair of having to see a classmate die.
'Where is there an opening?' Izuku attempted to get his thoughts under control. If they just had an opening to get Katsuki away, it would also have to be far enough fast enough so that the villains couldn't just recapture anyone. His eyes trembled as he thought vividly going through as many scenarios in his head.
Then it hit him. He turned to his friends, "Iida, everyone!"
"You can't Midoriya," Iida was ready to shut down any idea his friend might have of fighting. He was even more avid to avoid the battlefield after what happened to Sakura. At the same time….
'Bakugou's still out there!'
"No there's a way! A way that won't involve fighting, that will let us leave this place with Kacchan!"
All heads turned in his direction.
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The League had resumed trying to capture Katsuki once more and he was livid that he had taken more to attack than dodging. His movements were frantic with Toshinori and All For One fighting in the background.
His hands were soaked in blood, washing away from the explosions. There was debris flying all over the show.
"Are you saving your strength All Might? Do you want to keep the boy safe? Or perhaps you intend to bring the girl's corpse back for proper burial?" All For One mocked, holding onto Toshinori's fists the collision breaking apart the ground from the grand force.
It was true that Toshinori was holding back because Katsuki was still in the ring and he didn't want to risk him.
"How dare you!? You mock her for what? When you fell to a single punch of hers?!"
All For One pushed him back, "I thought she had promise, but it seems that my age has disrupted my judgment. Useless things should be properly disposed of, just like the rest of you heroes,"
Toshinori gritted his teeth, "I don't believe you. There's something else,"
"Is there a point now, when she's nothing more than a clump of flesh?"
"ALL FOR ONE!" The two enemies' fists clashed in a massive display of power and force, but All For One had been correct in his observation that Toshinori was holding his punches so he wouldn't release unnecessary wind force that might put Katsuki at risk.
"You're slipping All Might," He taunted as they broke away.
And Katsuki didn't have a clear path to escape, since he would easily be pursued and he was trying to avoid getting caught by Mr.Compress and Tomura especially. Toshinori tried to rush in to help the boy but All For One was having none of that. He was fast enough to predict his movements, when Toshinori tried to get to his student, All For One used the quirk activation tendrils to pull back the hero.
"I don't think so, this isn't somewhere for you to interrupt All Might," He said to the dust cloud that had gathered around the man who was tossed into the wrecked building. Of course, he didn't stay down too long and was already back on his feet.
Toshinori was so frustrated, he could feel his body aching from the strain he was placing it under, far worse than any battle he had done beforehand. Then again this was no ordinary villain, he wouldn't be able to hold his form for much longer, especially with the exertion he would need to defeat this monster.
'What should I do?' He thought as he coughed tasting the blood on his tongue.
What happened next, Toshinori didn't know if he would call it the solution or answer because it would trouble his conscience. In less than half a minute, the wall that had been surrounding the factory was broken through, but it wasn't an enemy like he thought. Toshinori was stunned momentarily to see Tenya and Izuku holding onto Eijiro.
A large pillar of ice sprung from the ground, chilling the air and combining the powers of Izuku and Tenya they were gliding swiftly and quickly along that makeshift ramp until they were air born.
'Young Midoriya!'
Their actions and appearance hadn't just taken the hero by surprise but also the villains, and they hadn't responded yet. The one who created the ice pillar must've been Shouto, but Toshinori didn't think to search. Not that it would've mattered since the boy was still hiding with Momo.
When All For One held his palm out toward the three teens, Toshinori didn't hesitate to counter, using the distraction to land a hit.
Eijioro looked down at Katsuki, holding out his hand and calling out to him, "COME ON!"
Katsuki was taken aback, but his body responded to the sound of his classmate's call and outstretched hand. He held out his palms, as Tomura reached out for him, and he took off in a powerful blaze that lifted him high.
Grasping Eijiro's hand tight, he couldn't help smiling, "You morons!"
With Tenya and Katsuki's combined power, they were able to stay airborne, and while the villains were distracted Shouto and Momo also made their escape.
Izuku was relieved that his strategy was able to pull through and allow Katsuki to escape with them, however, his heart was still heavy as he tried not to look back into the battlefield, afraid to see what was left of Sakura.
'I'm so sorry…..'
Izuku prayed that Toshinori would bring down the villain once and for all in the most painful way he could because right now he was burning with more anger and frustration than he could contain and the only thing that would dose these flames of emotion, might be to see the wicked villain receive true retribution.
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Endless distance of white, as far as her eyes could see, the scent of nothing but blood, and the taste of iron on her tongue. Sakura felt the emptiness. Her senses were dull, as sound refused to echo her voice when she called out. She stood up and began to walk through the abyss of light. The certainty that she was gone from the physical plains, was due to the gaping hole that lay in her chest, looking like a black abyss, without a heart, yet she was moving with ease and felt no pain, still able to draw in breath.
If this was the end, then it was depressing. She would've preferred to have woken up in a field of flowers, or at least somewhere she could identify. Perhaps this was her fate, to walk along the nothingness for eternity.
"Foolish girl,"
She turned her head, spinning on her heels to find the cause of the voice, it had hissed in her ear like the wind but nothing was close to her for that thrumming through her skull.
"Continue to damage your vessel for others, foolish little girl, who thinks she can protect the world. A world that will ruin her,"
Sakura started running, in hopes of escaping the voice, but it echoed and scratched her eardrums. Cursing in her tone, hissing at her efforts. It was starting to hurt, the pain in the soles of her feet, ran up her legs through her entire being until every movement, to a simple twitch of her fingers was strained and aching.
But she didn't want to stop. It felt like something was chasing her even though nothing was behind, in front, or beside her.
"GO AWAY," When she screamed everything finally went silent. Sakura took that moment to breathe, take in the pain and recover. When she opened her eyes, she could see something in the distance. There was finally something to see.
Each step was like crushing glass under her foot, but she kept going. There were strands of pink that brushed against her feet, raising closer to her calves as she came closer, a mass floating like they were underwater.
"Who are you?" Sakura whispered, unable to raise her voice as a sense of fear gripped her.
It was an instant, she felt the strands wrapping around her body like a python going in for the kill. Sakura struggled with futile efforts before she turned her head up, a palm covering her vision, gripping her face, and forcing her screams back into her throat.
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The tides had shifted.
When Izuku and his classmates managed to get Katsuki safely away from the battlefield. Now Toshinori was able to fight with less restraint and worry for his students. Of course, it crossed his mind that they were all where they shouldn't be but the first order of business was to handle All For One.
When his enemy realized the shift in things, he immediately allowed Tomura and the League of Villains members to escape through a warp gate. Gran Torino had finally made an appearance as well, coming from the bar where they had started to save Katsuki. Things had shifted again.
"I'm sorry master, I wasn't fast enough," Toshinori said when Gran Torino spotted the pink-haired girl laying in a pool of her blood.
"It's not your fault Toshinori, focus on the enemy. You can't afford to let your guard down,"
He had done his best, fighting against his old enemy but All For One was as ruthless as ever. He had no qualms about bringing others into a fight to use as shields from All Might's power. Teleporting Gran Torino in front of him when he tried for a punch. Despite his power, this was the way All For One preferred to battle. Filled with deceit.
That was exactly how he got the drop on Sakura as well.
When Toshinori directly clashed with All For One, this is when he became most aware of his condition. He was far from his prime condition. He was being chipped away piece by piece, while All For One hadn't entered into battle since Toshinori fought him. It seemed to be an advantage.
That became clear when they fought further and Toshinori started losing hold of his strong form. Then All For One started taunting him for following in his master's footsteps,
Nana Shimura. The same master that had sacrificed her entire life to stop this evil man. Insulting and sullying her name, calling her a waste of One for All. As the origins of the power came from this person, he had a complex quirk.
Things only got worse, as a news reporter's chopper was flying overhead to view the battle, and there were heroes all around trying to collect as many civilians as they could and pull them out of the rubble. All For One was not willing to give any chance for the heroes to grasp victory and he exposed their desire to protect others.
When someone was climbing out of the rubble, All For One summoned one of his most powerful attacks. The force building in his arm and releasing right at the civilian.
Then there was the worst change in tides that Toshinori currently found himself in.
When the dust cleared, though the attack had been thwarted, it had done its job. Toshinori stood, but not All Might, instead, there was a feeble man whom the costume no longer fit, the fabric gathering together at the loss of mass that once filled it. Like a wilted plant.
"I will take away that which you have worked to protect. Let's start with that pride of yours. Let's expose that miserable form of yours to the world my dear Symbol of Peace,"
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Izuku was mortified. The secret that the hero had worked so hard to keep hidden from the public to ease their worries was so callously exposed. When they escaped, he had hoped this would give Toshinori the chance to turn things around and win like the number one hero always done. But now here they were, watching from a big screen in the city with thousands of others that were being evacuated. His classmates starring in disbelief with him, and he had to remember to swallow back any truths that he already knew.
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"My body may rot away and decline, the world might see me in this condition but my spirit remains. I am still the symbol of peace! And there is nothing you can do to take that away from me!"
All For One seemed up for the challenge, remembering that Toshinori was stubborn as a child, but he was determined to knock that out with a suitable torment.
"In that case, I've got something to tell you and I hope it does not hinder that spirit of yours…." All For One held up his finger, "Tomura Shigaraki is Shimura Nana's grandchild,"
He had faced many slick villains in his days, and none have ever come close to this man before him. Toshinori was starting to remember exactly why that was, it wasn't just a difference scaling in power, it went beyond that. The ruthlessness and efficiency he had to destroy a person not only in body but spirit as well. It was such a great power that even Toshinori would be deterred as he was right now.
"You're lying!" it couldn't be true. He didn't want to believe, that his master's grandchild was a villain. The remnants of her blood, of the women he had admired so highly, were part of the league. Hating heroes and everything that Nana stood for.
All For One gave a harsh laugh, "It's all gone according to plan, I arranged for the two of you to meet. So tell me how does it feel knowing that the villain you've fought and beaten is the grandchild of the woman you once called master? The one you admired so great?"
Toshinori's eyes trembled, the strength starting to fade within them, the last of what was left of his power. He couldn't breathe. Had he done something so horrendous?
"I truly wonder, now that you know the truth. Where in all of this do you feel you can be victorious, oh might symbol of peace?"
The rubble in the destroyed building behind Toshinori shifted, as a woman called out to the back of the weakened hero, "All Might don't give up! Please save me! Don't lose!"
Toshinori remembered the past with Nana Shimura, the previous holder of One for All as if it was yesterday. Those vivid memories, he clung to them like a lifeline until his hands bled. She had lost her life to All For One, in her actions she had saved him and given him the chance to prepare to end the battle that had been going on for decades between All For One and the users of One For All. Now it seemed that he was about to be added to the pile of failures.
And Izuku would have to take that torch.
But he was still too young for this, younger than him. He wasn't ready to face such a danger, and Toshinori did not want another to end up like Sakura-
The wind whistled loudly as all grew silent, All For One was no longer paying heed to the hero in front of him. Though he no longer had eyes to see, his senses were stronger and his body turned in the direction of the girl that was meant to be a corpse by now.
She lay there, ready for maggots to infest with a heavy chunk of her flesh missing, perfect crevices to crawl into the place where her heart once belonged. And yet somehow he felt something. Toshinori looked her way as well, forgetting temporarily about the villain or rather focusing on what he was interested in now.
All for One raised his arm, the muscles beneath this clothing expanding as if filling with air and stretching.
"What are you doing!?" Toshinori had already lost her, he didn't want to watch her get torn further into pieces.
The force of the air hit its target, Toshinori wanted to rush ahead and block it but his body had taken a toll greater than he could realize right now. He wasn't even certain if the symbol of peace would be able to continue from tonight.
"SAKURA"
The dust cleared, and there was nothing left to remind them of her, not even a speck of blood scattered on the ground. All For One finally felt at ease once more. He hardly heeded the blaze of flames that came straight at his head. Ducking as the heroes Endeavor, Edgeshot, Kamuiwoods, arrived at the scene.
Enji was fuming, as he saw his rival standing there in his state. The broad back he always glared at was barely a whisp of the glory it once was.
"What's with that appearance All Might!?"
Some were moving to help the civillians and other injured heroes get to safety, while others like Edgeshot and Envedour were trying to go against All For One with little success.
"If you've only come to show your support then act like a real audience and quietly behave yourselves."
"Don't get cocky,"
All For One froze at what sounded like a mesh of two voices vocalizing danger.