Chapter 10: One Step Closer!

Time skip 2 years.

At 6 a.m., Itachi, now 15 and in his final year of middle school, was already awake, training both his mind and body. He sat in meditation, trying to feel the chakra coils within him, even though he knew there was no chakra in this world—only the faint energy around him, which was different from what he had known before.

Opening his eyes, he sighed softly, acknowledging again that chakra was not present here. Still, he sensed something else—his quirk, faintly stirring inside him. It was different, yet somehow familiar. His thoughts lingered on the power he had carried over from his previous life.

With a quiet breath, Itachi activated his Mangekyō Sharingan briefly, feeling the surge of immense power. But he quickly deactivated it, reminding himself that using such abilities in this world could easily cause unintended damage.

My Mangekyō powers are strong... too strong for this place, he thought. I need to be careful.

Rising from his meditation, he stretched and reflected on his situation. So, my third year of middle school is coming to an end... and soon, I'll be applying to U.A. High School.

He walked back to his room, lying down for an hour of rest before starting his day. When he awoke again, he freshened up, dressed in his uniform, and made his way downstairs for breakfast. The familiar sight of the dining table greeted him—Momo, her mother Yana, and her father Takashi were already seated.

As Itachi entered the room, he greeted them politely, "Good morning, Mother. Good morning, Momo."

Momo smiled warmly at him. "Good morning, brother."

Yana responded with a soft smile. "Good morning, Itachi."

Takashi, however, simply glanced at him, his expression hard and distant. Itachi noticed the coldness, but he was used to it by now. Yana, also aware of the tension between them, sighed quietly.

"My dear," Yana began, trying to break the silence, "you're in your third year now, and soon you'll be applying to U.A. High."

Itachi looked at her and nodded. "Yes, Mother."

She gave him a hopeful look. "How about we offer you a recommendation? It would make the process easier."

Itachi shook his head firmly. "I don't need it, Mother. I'll pass the exam on my own."

Takashi, who had been silent until now, suddenly stood up, his chair scraping harshly against the floor. "Never mind," he muttered, his voice laced with disdain. "He's not going to pass the exams anyway. It's a relief that I don't have to waste any more money on him."

Itachi remained calm, but his gaze hardened. "Your money?"

Takashi turned to face him, his anger rising. But as their eyes met, Takashi faltered, intimidated by the cold, unflinching look in Itachi's eyes. Without another word, he turned and walked away.

Yana, trying to smooth over the tension, gave Itachi a sympathetic look. Momo, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, glanced between her brother and her father with quiet concern.

Itachi sighed softly, noticing the concerned look on Momo's face. He gave her a gentle smile, trying to ease her worries. "Don't worry, Momo," he said quietly. "You don't have to think about it."

He shifted the conversation to a lighter topic, his tone softening. "How's school? Did you make any new friends?"

Momo's face lit up with a smile. "Yeah, I have a lot of friends now."

Itachi smiled, genuinely glad to see her happy. "That's good," he replied, feeling a sense of pride in her growing confidence.

Yana watched the exchange between her children, her own heart warmed by the bond they shared. She smiled quietly, observing the brief moment of peace.

After finishing his meal, Itachi stood up and said, "I'll be heading out now." Yana nodded, her eyes following him as he prepared to leave.

"Momo, come on. I'll drop you off," Itachi said, motioning for her to follow. Momo eagerly nodded, getting up to join him.

As they left the house and got into the car, the morning sun cast a gentle glow over the streets. Itachi drove Momo to her school, where he noticed her friends waiting for her at the gate. Momo saw them too, her face lighting up with excitement. She turned to her brother with a bright smile and said, "Bye-bye, brother!" waving happily as she got out of the car.

Itachi gave her a small wave in return, watching as she joined her friends, their cheerful voices fading into the background. Once she was inside the school, he turned and made his way to his own middle school, his mind already focused on the day ahead.

As Itachi reached school and opened his locker, letters spilled out—fan mail from his admirers. Behind him, Keigo approached with a mix of envy and frustration.

"You lucky bastard…" Keigo muttered, crossing his arms.

Itachi sighed, clearly used to this by now. "If you want, you can take one," he replied with a slight smirk, knowing how much Keigo craved attention.

Keigo glared. "Are you mocking me?!"

Itachi closed his locker smoothly and met his gaze, his expression unreadable. "Am I?" he asked, his tone neutral but with a hint of amusement.

Keigo threw his hands up in exasperation. "Dude, seriously. Why are you so mean to me?"

"I'm not mean," Itachi responded as they began walking down the corridor, his calm demeanor in sharp contrast to Keigo's exasperation. All around them, girls looked at Itachi with hearts in their eyes, while the boys shot him looks of jealousy and anger.

Now visibly frustrated, Keigo groaned, "Why do you have such a face? In the future, when you become a hero, you'll steal my spotlight for sure."

Itachi glanced at him, sighing. "Why would I do that?"

"I don't know, but it feels like you will," Keigo replied, clearly sulking.

As they approached their classroom, two boys suddenly blocked their path—Jun Tanaka and Yuya Yamada. Jun, a slim boy with brown hair and green eyes, smirked at Itachi. His overconfidence was obvious.

"So, you're Itachi Yaoyorozu, huh?" Jun sneered. "I hear you're strong, but judging by the looks of you, I doubt you even know how to fight."

Keigo couldn't help himself and burst into laughter. "Itachi, you hear that? He says you don't know how to fight!" He wiped a tear from his eye, shaking his head in disbelief. "A guy who got a black belt at eight and is a master of Taekwondo, Judo, Kickboxing, and MMA? I feel bad for this guy."

Itachi sighed. "Keigo, it's a waste of time." His voice was calm, but his gaze sharpened as his Sharingan activated, the three tomoe spinning slowly in his eyes.

Jun froze as soon as he saw the Sharingan, his overconfidence evaporating. His bravado turned into fear as he instinctively took a step back. Itachi's cold, unblinking stare seemed to pierce through him.

"Move," Itachi said, his voice low but commanding.

Jun quickly stepped aside, his legs shaking as Itachi passed by without another glance. Keigo followed with a grin, adding, "Don't worry, guys. Itachi's a nice guy. He won't beat you up, you can relax." He chuckled as they entered the classroom, leaving Jun and Yuya standing in the hallway.

Yuya glanced at Jun, who was visibly trembling. "What happened, Jun?"

Jun shook his head, still shaken. "His eyes... they gave me goosebumps. He's dangerous."

Yuya smirked, unfazed. "So, you're giving up?"

Jun's fear slowly morphed back into anger. "No way. If I get five more guys, we'll ruin his reputation."

Yuya's smirk widened. "I know just the people who can help you."

Jun nodded, determination replacing his earlier fear. The tension was far from over, and he was already plotting his next move.

As Itachi and Keigo entered the classroom, they noticed Fuyumi waiting for them with a warm smile on her face.

"Hello, guys," Fuyumi greeted them cheerfully.

Itachi nodded in response, while Keigo grinned and said, "Hey!"

Fuyumi looked at them both and asked, "Did you finish the work he assigned to you?"

Itachi nodded, and Keigo quickly followed suit.

"Good," Fuyumi said, pleased. "He's going to ask you soon about which course you plan to choose."

"I know," Itachi replied. "I was actually pretty surprised when you mentioned you didn't want to become a hero."

Fuyumi smiled softly. "Yeah, I've decided I want a normal life. I'll continue studying, and who knows? Maybe I'll become a teacher or something."

Keigo, looking a bit disappointed but supportive, chimed in, "I was hoping you'd become a hero, but it's your choice, and we won't interfere. Honestly, you'd make an amazing teacher. You already taught me so much—I still remember those concepts you explained."

Fuyumi's smile grew warmer. "Thank you, Keigo. That means a lot."

Itachi, with his usual calm demeanor, added, "Whatever you decide, we'll support you. You know what's best for your future."

Her eyes softened as she looked at both of them. "Thank you. It means a lot to have your support."

A few moments later, their homeroom teacher entered the room, commanding the attention of the class. He walked to the front and addressed them.

"I gave you all a form to fill out about your future plans. Have you completed it?"

Everyone in the class nodded, including Itachi and Keigo.

"Good," the teacher continued. "I'll collect them one by one. Remember, whatever path you've chosen, I hope it will suit your talents and ambitions. And if I think you need any guidance, as your homeroom teacher, I'll be here to help."

The class responded with a collective, "Okay!"

The teacher began collecting the forms, glancing briefly at each as he made his way through the rows. After he finished, he stood back at the front of the room and smiled at the class.

"All right, I'll take my leave for now. From here on, it's up to you to focus on your studies and prepare for what's ahead. I wish all of you the best of luck for a bright future."

After a few hours, school was dismissed, and Itachi, Keigo, and Fuyumi made their way out of the classroom. As they reached the school gates, they exchanged farewells.

"See you tomorrow," Keigo said, waving.

"Take care," Fuyumi added with a smile.

Itachi nodded in return, his usual quiet demeanor intact. As he walked toward his vehicle, his senses sharpened. He felt someone approaching rapidly from behind. At the last second, he sidestepped, dodging a swing aimed at him with a bat.

A muscular man, slightly taller than Itachi, smirked, clearly surprised by how easily Itachi had evaded the attack.

"Not bad," the man sneered before swinging the bat again, but Itachi effortlessly dodged once more.

Calmly, Itachi responded, "Jun sent you, didn't he?"

The man smirked. "Not just me," he said as another figure appeared behind him. Before Itachi could react, several needles were fired at him. He recognized the attack and thought quickly, Needles? A quirk related to metal...

He dodged them with ease, but his eyes caught sight of another person nearby, preparing to launch an attack using telekinesis. Jun was there, manipulating rocks, while another man with cheetah-like claws rushed at him.

Itachi dodged the flurry of attacks, moving gracefully as though it were all happening in slow motion for him. But then, from the shadows, he felt something strange. Yuya, lurking behind a tree, used his quirk to trap Itachi with shadow-like tendrils. It was very similar of the Shadow Imitation Technique from his former world.

"So, you want to fight using tricks like the Nara Clan?" Itachi thought to himself. He let out a sigh, looking bored by the situation.

Jun grinned wickedly. "Look who's scared now!"

Itachi just signed and said coldly," Why are you wasting your and my time".

The muscular man, armed with the bat, rushed forward again, aiming to strike Itachi while he was bound. Just as the bat was about to hit, Itachi effortlessly broke free from the shadow bind, leaving Yuya stunned.

"Only someone with a strength quirk can break my hold..." Yuya muttered in disbelief. "How did he...?"

Itachi, now free, calmly asked, "Do you really want to fight?"

The man with the bat snarled, "Shut up and fight!" He charged at full speed, but to Itachi, he was moving painfully slow. With a swift movement, Itachi landed a single punch to the man's gut, sending him crumpling to the ground in agony.

The group stood frozen, eyes wide in disbelief.

"You still want to fight?" Itachi asked, his voice quiet but menacing.

Jun, furious, used his telekinesis to hurl a rock at Itachi. But something went wrong—the rock was now heading straight for Yuya.

"Jun, what are you doing?!" Yuya yelled, panic filling his voice.

"I sent the rock toward him, not you!" Jun replied, his frustration growing.

Itachi remained silent, watching the chaos unfold. Another attacker with cheetah-like speed rushed toward him, but Itachi easily dodged his claws and, in one fluid motion, grabbed the man by the wrist. With a quick punch to the face, the man was knocked out cold.

Itachi looked at them with his Sharingan, and the rest of the group immediately froze in fear. Yuya's face drained of color as he stared into the swirling red eyes. "Y-you're a demon..." he screamed, his voice trembling.

Itachi let out a weary sigh. "Say whatever you want," he replied dismissively. As he turned to leave, his voice grew colder. "I've only shown you a glimpse of my power. If you try this stupidity again... you'll find out what happens next."

His words, laced with a chilling finality, left the group in silent terror. Itachi walked away, his back to them, exuding an aura of dominance and control. He reached his car, where his driver, concerned, quickly approached.

"Young master, are you all right?" the driver asked, his voice laced with worry.

Itachi nodded, his expression calm. "It's nothing to worry about. Don't tell my family about this."

The driver nodded respectfully, understanding Itachi's command. Itachi got into the car and leaned back, his mind already drifting from the incident as they drove toward the mansion.

Time skip for 3 months…

Keigo and Itachi were training in the expansive backyard of the Yaoyorozu mansion. Having just completed middle school, both had already applied for UA High, and in about a month, they would face the entrance exam that would decide their futures. Keigo was soaring through the air with his quirk, while Itachi, ever-calm and composed, stood on the ground, tracking his friend's movements with the precision of his Sharingan.

Keigo dived swiftly, sending a flurry of feathers towards Itachi, each one sharp and precise. Itachi, with effortless grace, dodged them all, diverting some with his kunai. He threw a kunai toward Keigo, who quickly called back his feathers to block the attack. The feathers momentarily blurred Keigo's vision, which Itachi took as an opportunity to strike. He rushed forward, closing the distance in an instant.

Keigo, with his quick thinking, hardened his feathers into a sword-like shape, swinging it at Itachi with a confident smirk. But Itachi, equally prepared, blocked the attack with his kunai. The two clashed, the tension palpable.

"Not bad," Itachi commented with a small smirk of approval.

Keigo, grinning, responded, "Learned from the best."

But before Keigo could relax, Itachi's expression shifted. "You made another mistake," Itachi said, his voice steady but ominous.

Keigo's eyes widened in realization just as a chill ran down his spine. He turned, only to see a massive red skeletal arm—the form of Itachi's Susano'o—grabbing him. The pressure increased, and Keigo gasped for air, his heart racing with fear as he struggled in vain against the crushing grip. The illusion was so real, the fear so visceral, he thought he was moments from being crushed.

But then, suddenly, the vision shattered, and Keigo found himself standing free, breathing heavily. Itachi stood in front of him, looking at him with concern.

"Are you okay?" Itachi asked, his voice softer now.

Keigo blinked, still disoriented, before breaking into a shaky smirk. "Wow... That was terrifying. I seriously thought that thing was gonna crush me," he said, rubbing the back of his neck, trying to shake off the remnants of fear.

Itachi offered his hand, and Keigo took it, standing up straight. "Can you stand?" Itachi asked.

"Yeah," Keigo replied, standing on his feet, a bit wobbly at first. "That was a great fight, though. I can't believe how real that illusion felt."

Itachi nodded, his usual calm returning. Keigo then asked, "Hey, what have you decided for your hero costume?"

Itachi glanced at him. "I haven't decided yet. But whatever it is, it will be comfortable and practical."

Keigo nodded in agreement. "Yeah, same here. I want something functional. Nothing too flashy, but something that works with my quirk."

As Itachi opened his phone and saw the notification from Kaina, Keigo immediately perked up with a knowing smirk, leaning in as if he already knew what was going on.

"Is she waiting for you?" Keigo teased, voice dripping with playful mischief.

Itachi sighed, his usual calm demeanor not faltering. "I don't think so," he said, opening the message.

[Message]

Tsutsumi: Hey Yaoyorozu-kun, I know you're taking the UA entrance exam soon, and I just wanted to say all the best. I'll be rooting for you.

Itachi: Thank you.

Tsutsumi: (GIF of 'All the best')

Keigo, glancing over Itachi's shoulder, smirked even wider. With a teasing, seductive tone, he mimicked, "I'll be rooting for you..."

Itachi rolled his eyes, clearly unamused. "Stop it."

But Keigo wasn't done. "Nah, nah. I'm rooting for you..." he continued to tease, clearly enjoying himself.

With another sigh, Itachi simply shook his head, and they both walked into the living room. where Yana was sitting on the sofa, greeting them with a warm smile. "So, did you finish your sparring?" she asked, looking from Itachi to Keigo.

Keigo nodded enthusiastically, bowing slightly. "Yes, Aunty! And I totally beat Itachi by a wide margin."

Itachi raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by the boast. "Sure."

Yana chuckled, amused by their playful banter. "That's great. Now sit down, I'll call for some food."

Keigo blinked. "Call?"

Itachi explained, "She means the chef."

Shortly after, the chef brought out plates of fried chicken. Keigo's face lit up at the sight of the food. "This looks amazing!"

Yana smiled kindly. "Make yourselves at home."

Keigo wasted no time and dug into the food, his face lighting up even more as he took a bite. "Wow, this is really good!"

"I'm glad you like it," Yana said warmly. As they ate, Yana looked at both of them and asked, "So, are you both ready for the UA entrance exam?"

Keigo grinned confidently, while Itachi gave a silent nod.

"Aunty, we're ever ready! We're gonna beat their—" Before he could finish, Itachi clamped a hand over his mouth, giving him a look.

Keigo, sweating and ruffling his hair nervously, corrected himself. "I mean, we're gonna beat them. That's all."

Yana laughed lightly. "I'm sure you will. I'll be rooting for both of you."

At that, Keigo couldn't help but grin mischievously. Itachi could already predict what was coming.

"Aunty, I don't think you should root for Itachi."

Yana raised an eyebrow, curious. "Why not?"

Keigo leaned in with mock seriousness. "Because someone from UA is already rooting for him."

Yana's eyes widened in amusement, and her smile grew. "So... it's Kaina, huh?" she asked, looking at Itachi with a knowing expression.

Itachi, trying to stay calm, nodded and replied, "It's nothing like that, mother. She just knows I'm joining UA and wished me good luck, that's all."

But Keigo wasn't done teasing. "How do you know about this, Aunty?" he asked, clearly intrigued.

Yana chuckled. "Momo told me everything."

Itachi rubbed his temples, shaking his head. "Now I regret calling her," he muttered under his breath.

Keigo, with his signature smirk, teased again, "But how does she know you'll join UA High, huh?"

Itachi sighed, trying to brush it off. "I don't know... Maybe she's assuming."

But Keigo wasn't done. "Or... she might know you. #LoveGoals."

Itachi shot him a deadpan look. "Can you shut up?"

Yana, watching them, smiled wider. "Well, if she's in UA already, she must be strong," she said, turning to Itachi.

He nodded. "Yeah, she's our senior."

Keigo leaned in with a knowing smirk. "Oh, I get it. She's got experience. Senior... and something more?" he teased.

Itachi rolled his eyes. "Seriously, stop."

Yana just chuckled at the playful banter between the two. She admired their friendship—it was clear they shared a deep bond.

Keigo stood up and stretched. "Well, I'll take my leave now. Itachi, after one month, we'll both get into UA High. No doubt."

He extended his hand toward Itachi, who grasped it firmly and nodded. "Yeah, we will."

As Keigo turned to leave, Yana watched fondly, proud of the boys. The future at UA High awaited them, and she knew they were ready.

A month passed, and the long-awaited day of the UA High Entrance Exam had arrived.

Itachi stood in front of his mother, Yana, and his younger sister, Momo, dressed in his casual clothes but carrying the weight of their expectations and love. Momo, bubbling with excitement, looked up at him. "All the best, brother! I know you'll get in for sure!"

Itachi smiled gently and nodded. "Thank you, Momo."

Yana gazed at him, a mixture of pride and bittersweet emotion in her eyes. "My baby has grown so fast…" she murmured, stepping forward to kiss his forehead. "Do your best, dear. I know you'll do well. And... take care of yourself."

He hugged his mother, a warm, comforting gesture that spoke volumes. "I'll become a hero... for you." He broke the embrace and touched the locket hanging around his neck. "And for her."

Yana's smile softened even more, understanding the deeper meaning behind his words. "Okay, my love. Go on and make us proud."

Itachi left the house, his father watching him through the window with an uninterested expression. Despite his father's cold demeanor, Itachi was focused on his goal—becoming a hero.

Arriving at the gates of UA High, Itachi stood patiently, waiting for his friend. As he stood, a gruff voice asked, "Are you a UA High applicant?"

Itachi turned around to see Hound Dog, a pro hero with the appearance of a dog, his scruffy mane of blond hair sticking straight out behind his head. The hero wore a muzzle over his pointed snout, adding to his fierce yet professional look. Recognizing him immediately, Itachi bowed politely. "Yes, I am. I'm waiting for my friend."

Hound Dog nodded. "You should wait inside. The written exam will start soon."

Just as Itachi was about to respond, Keigo arrived, flying in with his usual energy. "Sorry I'm late!" he called out.

Itachi glanced at him, shaking his head lightly. "You're right on time," he replied calmly.

Keigo's eyes widened when he noticed Hound Dog standing nearby. "Wait, you're Hound Dog, right?"

Hound Dog nodded politely. "That's right. Now, you boys should head inside. The exam is about to start."

Itachi bowed again, his manners impeccable. "Thank you for your patience."

With that, Itachi and Keigo entered the building, heading toward the written test area, both ready to face the challenge that would shape their future as heroes.