48

A man stood in front of a construction site. He was dressed in a large hoodie. He looked at the nearly finished building and grit his teeth. "I gave this thing everything I had. I worked unpaid overtime night after night and then right before we close the deal they fire me. Where the hell do they get off with that! Sure I may have come in a little buzzed once or twice, but that doesn't compare to me doing the hardest parts of this fucking thing! If that's how it's going to be let's see them build it again without me!" The man said as he tore his sleeves off showing that each of his fingers was a different type of power tool.

In his right hand the man had a syringe similar to an Epipen and jammed it into his neck. The effect was instantaneous as the man grew larger and the tools on his fingers grew in size as he walked to the building's base and went to slam his fingers into the stone of the wall. His fingers began drilling into it or so he thought his hands seemed to make no headway. "What's going on!?" He shouted as he pulled his hands back and let the smoke clear only to see his fingers had been drilling into a wall of water and what he thought was stone dust was actually steam.

"Please stop sir." A boy said as he floated above the man. "If you surrender now you'll only be charged with attempted destruction of private property." Izuku said as the man growled.

"Stay out of this kid. This company owes me!" He shouted attempting to drill into the wall again only for a spout of water to push him back.

"If you do this you'll ruin your life. Please don't do this just surrender." Izuku said before dodging to the side as the man aimed at him with his nail gun finger.

"If you're going to get in my way then I'll take you apart too!" He shouted before Izuku flew around him avoiding his shots before closing in and punching into the man's stomach. The criminal curled around Izuku's fist before blasting back and falling on the ground. Gran Torino dropped down to Izuku's side.

"You're a bit too soft boy, but you handled that well." He said as Izuku yawned.

"Thanks Gran Torino where are we heading now?" Izuku asked as Gran Torino arched an eyebrow.

"We're heading home for now. Looks like you've about reached your limit." Gran Torino said as the cops began processing the scene.

Izuku walked into Gran Torino's home and fell face first onto the hero's couch. He was asleep before even hitting the cushions. Gran Torino shook his head at the boy's antics. "You lack training kid. Back in my day I'd be lucky to get three hours sleep every few days. You heroes today could use a bit more of that in your lives." Gran Torino said as he headed to his bedroom to get a few hours rest himself. They'd spent most of the night resolving incidents here and there across the city and had returned home a little after midnight.

As the night progressed Izuku seemed to gain a better handle on this move he was thinking of. It was by no means perfect if Gran Torino had to scale it he'd say it was a three out of ten success rate. That was not sufficient in the old man's eyes, but to be fair Izuku had come up with it on the spot though he says he'd been thinking about since their train ride to the city. Either way Gran Torino would be having Izuku focus on that from now on. Repetition was key in such training.

Izuku was sleeping hard on Gran Torino's couch when a blaring ring sounded throughout the home. "What!?" Izuku shouted falling off the couch as he sat up in a hurry. "Is there a fire?!" He shouted looking around for smoke or flames as the ringing kept going off until it was silenced.

"Calm down boy it's the phone." Gran Torino said as he turned to the receiver. "Hello?" Gran Torino said as Tsukauchi's voice came from the phone.

"Gran Torino sorry for calling so early." Tsukauchi apologized. Gran Torino scoffed.

"No problem Tsukauchi I was already up." He said looking at the clock seeing that it was six in the morning. He'd let Izuku sleep in some. "What do you need?" Gran Torino asked as Tsukauchi sipped his coffee.

"Well you see I was hoping you would be willing to help me in an investigation." Tsukauchi said as Gran Torino stroked his cheek He'd been training Izuku on how to improve himself, but maybe the boy could do with a lesson on how heroes worked with the police force.

"What'd you have in mind?" Gran Torino asked.

"Well you see recently there have been multiple sightings of Kurogiri from the League of Villains. He hasn't done anything though. Mostly just appearing in the woods or rural areas and wandering around for an hour or so before disappearing. We think we may know where he might appear next. We would like the assistance of a hero on this matter, but to keep things quiet we thought about bringing in a pro who's not well known or who wouldn't be missed in an operation like this." Gran Torino chuckled.

"You sure know how to butter up an old man, but yes I would be willing to accompany you. I hope you don't mind if I bring company. I'm currently mentoring young JForce and wouldn't feel comfortable leaving him on his own." Gran Torino stated as Tsukauchi nodded on his end.

"That would be great another hero would be welcome no questions asked. If you would be able to meet us at the station later today I can show you what we have so far." Tsukauchi said. As Gran Torino looked over at Izuku who had fallen back asleep on the couch.

"We'll be there soon." The old man said before giving his goodbyes to Tsukauchi. "Alright boy that's enough beauty sleep get up!" Gran Torino said whacking Izuku on the foot with his cane causing the young man to leap off the couch.

"I'm up, I'm up!" Izuku shouted as he looked at Gran Torino.

"You are now." The old man said before heading to the kitchen. "Go clean yourself up we'll be meeting Tsukauchi at the police station soon." Izuku rubbed his face.

"Are we going to be working with the detective on a case?" Izuku asked with a yawn.

"Yes now go." Gran Torino said firmly making the green haired boy rush to the bathroom. The old man shook his head. "This is one of the reasons I only taught for a year." He groused.

Once Izuku was out of the bathroom the two shared a quick breakfast before heading out to meet with Tsukauchi who greeted them amicably. Both heroes could see the bags under the detectives eyes denoting his own lack of sleep. "Thanks for coming, but there was no reason to rush over." Tsukauchi explained as Gran Torino waved off his concern.

"No need to sit on our hands it's not like either of us was doing much of anything." Gran Torino said as he and Izuku were ushered into a conference room.

"As I told you over the phone Kurogiri has been spotted in several rural areas. What he's doing is a complete mystery. Still we can't just go in guns blazing without some evidence. My plan is for several small teams to investigate the three most recent areas he's been in to see if we can find what he's been up to. To our knowledge there's nothing in any of these places. No buildings in use or abandoned. We've pulled records for the area to see if something might have once been there and came up with nothing."

"Still there has to be something it's not like Kurogiri is risking exposure just to take a walk in the woods." Gran Torino said before casting his eye to Izuku. "What do you think boy?" Gran Torino asked as Izuku came to attention.

"I don't really know Gran Torino, but if I may hazard a guess then maybe it has something to do with that person called Overhaul. Up until recently the League has been quiet, but after meeting with Overhaul Toga and Dabi attack Endeavor and Shoto, and now this." Izuku said as Gran Torino smirked. Well the kid is observant and has a pretty good conjecture.

"That's possible we did consider that, but even looking through that lens gave us nothing. I guess we won't know until we get out there. You will be helping us right?" Tsukauchi asked as Gran Torino nodded.

"Yes the boy and I will provide support in your operation just tell us when and where you want us." Gran Torino said as Tsukauchi went into his plan. There would be three teams composed of three members. Izuku would be on one and Gran Torino would be on another team with Tuskauchi.

"If all goes as planned the operation will begin two days from now." Tsukauchi instructed the two heroes.

"We look forward to working with you." Both Izuku and Gran Torino said before leaving.

Tomura Shigaraki laid on the cold linoleum floor his breath barely a whisper as it fogged the cold floor. His cheek was pressed against the floor as he lay perfectly still. The slightest movement could send him on another rampage. As he lay there thoughts of his master went through his mind. He'd known his master was an amazing person, but after having the power of All for One within him for…? He didn't even know how long he'd been down here. There were no windows no ticking of a clock or anything. The only way he could measure time was the trays of food that were brought to him.

Three trays everyday if his math was right then that would mean he's been down here for a month! He grit his teeth at that. The doctor had betrayed him. He must have! This surge of anger also activated one of his numerous quirks causing him to warp across the room and fall to the floor. He grunted as he landed the wind knocked from him. He very slowly sat up and looked around the room. His eyes switched to infrared as he did so. Tomura had slowly gained control of himself, but he was still far from under control. His emotions sometimes activated his quirks or moving too fast might cause him to fly across the room. Even his own decay quirk seemed to not be under his command. That or the room he was in was something that didn't decay at all.

"Master what should I do?" He asked the empty room. As he sat with his head against the wall he stared into the darkness he was reminded of a time when this was all he knew confusion and misery.

A young boy sat on the sidewalk his clothes were filthy and torn. The shoes on his feet could hardly be called so. They were nothing more than scraps of cloth clinging to his feet. He looked out to the passing people as they pretended to not see him sitting there. None of them even looked in his direction like he was invisible. His stomach gave out a growl before he clutched it with both arms pulling his legs tighter against his abdomen.

Suddenly a shadow enveloped the boy. He swallowed as he slowly craned his eyes up. "Tenko Shimura." The man said calling his name with a gentle voice. The man was tall and broadly built he kneeled down to the boy and held his hand out to him. "No one's come to save you have they? No one cares about you." He said before giving a small smile. "I do why don't you come with me." He said as he brought his hand closer to the boy. Tenko looked from the large hand to the man. Memories of before came to him, but he slowly reached forward and grasped the man's hand, but before he could fully grasp it his pinkie finger was stopped.

"Careful you have a very powerful quirk too powerful for a young boy like you to shoulder on your own. If you want why don't I teach you how to make that burden easier to carry." The man said as he helped Tenko to his feet and the two began to walk off.

"Master." Tomura said as he clenched his fist. He couldn't sit here anymore. Every day he sat here was another day that Izuku Midoriya got to breathe and that could not be allowed. "You took everything from me and I will get even!" Tomura growled as the room shook with his rage.

Izuku walked through the forest next to Gran Torino as they came upon a makeshift command center built by the police. Tsukauchi was standing over a map pointing out several things before noticing Izuku and Gran Torino. "Oh good you're here. I was just going over the plan with the others. Like I said there will be three teams each will be canvassing an area that Kurogiri has been in recently. We'll be looking for anything unusual. There has to be a reason Kurogiri keeps coming back, but even if we don't find what he's been looking for we might get lucky and catch the man himself." Tsukauchi said with an optimistic grin.

Gran Torino arched a brow at the detective's confidence. "Oh and why is that?" Gran Torino asked as Tsukauchi waved the two over to the table.

"Kurogiri has been spotted in these three areas most recently." Tsukauchi said pointing out each point on the map. "Knowing this we'll each be taking one spot and working outward from it in a mile wide circle that means we should all meat in the center overlapping one another. If Kurogiri appears anywhere in the vicinity one of our teams will spot him." Gran Torino looked from the map to Tsukauchi as he rubbed his chin.

"What makes you think Kurogiri will come back here? Maybe he found what he was looking for last time or chose an entirely different area to look for whatever it is he's hunting." Izuku asked before shaking his hands. "Not to undermine your detective work or anything sir." Tsukauchi smiled graciously before nodding and speaking.

"No feel free to ask all the questions you like. To answer your question Kurogiri's sightings were wide spread, but over the course of the last month all sightings were in this area. I think Kurogiri is getting close to whatever he's looking for or at least narrowed it down." Tsukauchi explained as Izuku nodded. "Now then let's get this underway shall we." Tsukauchi said as Izuku and Gran Torino were fitted with communicators. The three teams of three spread out to their respective areas. Izuku was paired with officers Nakamura and Jubami. The three were given the oldest sighting area to search and spread out, but kept each other in their line of sight.

Izuku looked around as he walked through the underbrush. He wasn't hopeful about finding anything this was the oldest spot so even if Kurogiri had left anything behind it was likely either blown away or destroyed after days outdoors. He sighed as he walked through the trees but then he noticed something strange. The tree nearest him had a deep gouge in it. Izuku looked it over and saw four others gouges one above and two below and then another one on the back of the tree so five in total.

"What did this?" He asked as he looked at the shattered lines of bark. Needless to say it wasn't natural, but it also wasn't anything that the police would be interested in. He continued onwards and noticed other strange markings like what he'd found on the tree before finding trees that had been snapped in half or ripped out of the ground. Ok this couldn't be ignored he decided to call it in.

"Um Gran Torino I might have found something interesting." Izuku said before hearing the hero's gruff voice in his ear.

"Well spit it out kid." Gran Torino said as he jetted from tree to tree.

"Well there was a tree with strange depressions in its wood and now I'm in a part of the forest that seems to have been hit by a tornado or something." Izuku said as he began to notice large chunks of earth ripped from the ground. Gran Torino listened to Izuku's description.

"Hmm I've seen signs of that too. I have no idea what it could be. Maybe a rather large bear or an animal with a quirk. It's rare but some animals have manifested quirks as well." Gran Torino said as Izuku stared at the ground in front of him.

"I don't think it's an animal Gran Torino." Izuku said as Gran Torino arched a brow.

"What are you getting at boy?" Gran Torino asked as Izuku knelt down.

"I think you all should see this for yourself. I don't think Kurogiri is looking for an object. He might be looking for a person." Izuku said as he pressed his hand into a massive human footprint. "A big person." Izuku said in clarification.

Kurogiri returned to the hideout and as he did so he heard a screech. He already knew what it was as he turned to see a happy Toga coming towards him. "Kurogiri, Kurogiri look!" Shouted Toga as she showed him a video of Izuku Midoriya. Kurogiri knew what she was going to ask and shook his head.

"No you can't go watch him." Kurogiri said as Toga began to pout.

"Why not it's been weeks can I please stop being grounded now?" She asked pushing her bottom lip out. Kurogiri sighed as he weighed the scales in his mind. If he didn't let Toga go he'd have to keep an eye on her himself to keep her from sneaking out which meant he could no longer continue his search. On the other hand Toga was reckless when it came to Midoriya and who knows what she might do.

"Let me see the video." Kurogiri asked as he held his hand out for her phone. Toga happily placed her phone into his hand as he watched the video. Immediately he spotted someone he hadn't expected to see. Yet again his master's words from the past were ringing true.

Kurogiri I've laid the path for Tomura. It will be hard but most obstacles have been taken care. Still there are some who are out of my reach. All Might of course is the biggest threat, but there is one other who might be the end of Tomura. All for One said as he placed a picture before the bartender. In it was a tall man with a domino mask with a yellow cape, boots, and gloves. "This man is called Gran Torino. He will most likely be aged if you happen to meet him, but do not underestimate him. Age will have only sharpened his mind. You are to avoid this man at all costs and if not you must kill him." Kurogiri nodded his head.

"As you wish master."

Kurogiri saw the aged frame of Gran Torino and knew he couldn't allow Toga within range of this man. Gran Torino had nearly captured Tomura when the boy had went to kill Izuku Midoriya's mother. It was only thanks to the interference of Overhaul that he was able to get away then. "No you are not to go anywhere near Izuku Midoriya." Kurogiri said with finality. Toga looked at the smoky villain with a glare before snatching her phone from him.

"I want to see Izuku Kurogiri. I've been good for weeks now and I think I've done my time." She said with total malice." Kurogiri stared the girl down for a moment before sighing. Toga was being obstinate more so than usual. Toga was usually good at following orders, but when it came to Izuku Midoriya she was becoming as if not more obsessive than Tomura himself. If he tried to force the issue then that meant he would be responsible for keeping her here. Twice was a pushover when it came to Toga and Dabi was out recruiting. He could have Mr. Compress capture her, but that would be the same as a fight. His choice was clear.

"You can try and find Izuku, but you will go alone and if you're captured that will be the end of you. Kurogiri threatened as Toga smiled and held up a vial of blood.

"Don't Worry Kurogiri Izuku will never know." She said with a grin.

Sir Nighteye looked at an image on his computer it was a video of Izuku taking down a gang outside of a bar. He had been watching this for the last hour on loop. Nighteye sighed a little as he rubbed his forehead. It seems Gran Torino had inserted himself into the young man's life as a mentor of sorts. Watching the video he could see Izuku had made some strides in his hero work no doubt attributed to his work under the seasoned pro Gran Torino. I can see what you are doing Gran Torino. I still don't approve of him as All Might's successor." The green haired man said, but that was enough indulging his criticism of the boy he had other things to think about.

Nighteye flipped open a file on Kai Chisaki AKA Overhaul. The young man was the focus of his recent investigation, but his investigation was still in the embryonic stage. He and his agency were still trying to ferret out all the Hassaikai bases. Nighteye was surprised by the amount of clout the gang still had. Yakuza were nearly extinct and yet the Shie Hassaikai was still a rather big name seemingly growing in power now after Overhaul's takeover. What the source of this growth was he couldn't be sure. Nighteye rubbed his eyes as the door opened and in stepped his apprentice Mirio Togata better known as Lemillion.

"Hello sir!" Mirio said excitedly as he stepped in with Bubble Girl. "How are you doing today?" the blonde boy said as Nighteye smirked. Mirio was a bright and cheerful boy everything he had been looking for in hopes of helping All Might find a successor, but even after learning of the boy. All Might had chosen Izuku over him. He couldn't see the reasoning behind that, but that was why he was going to offer Izuku an internship with him to see just what the boy was capable of. What about Izuku Midoriya had captured All Might's attention so thoroughly?

"Oh you're looking at Izuku Midoriya again. You must really like him sir are you a fan?" Mirio asked as Nighteye looked up at the young man.

"Certainly not Mirio. I was just keeping an eye on the upcoming hero. I haven't seen such a "rising star" since Hawks." Nighteye said referring to the soon to be number two hero. "Anyway enough about that what have we learned?" Nighteye asked as Bubble Girl produced a folder.

"As of now we know of three bases all of which can be ruled out as the main house. Their headquarters is still a mystery." Bubble Girl said as Nighteye looked at the portfolio and nodded.

"Very well, we will pause our investigation for a while. The Hassaikai might have noticed our surveillance or at the very least are aware of excess activity where there should be none. We will allow them time to let their guard back down and resume Intel gathering then." Nighteye said as both saluted.

"Yes sir!" both said.

"Guys, guys, guys check it out its Midoriya!" Kaminari said holding up his phone as he sat in the common room. He'd been going through videos on YouTube hoping to find something interesting and had come across Izuku's recent hero work. There was a stampede of feet as everyone gathered around the blonde except for two students. Bakugou growled and began walking out the door.

"Don't you want to see what Midoriya has been up to?" Todoroki asked. As Bakugou scoffed.

"No I fucking don't! I've got training to do." Bakugou said about to slam the door before it was caught by Todoroki.

"I was hoping you'd say that. I could use some practice myself if you're up to it." Shoto said as Bakugou gave a predatory smile.

"Fuck yeah I've wanted a piece of you icy hot since Izuku kicked your ass in the Sports Festival." Katsuki said as the two left to the gym.