NOVEL NEXT Chapter 74: Chapter 73: Daunting Events
HELLO READERS! It's good to be back. Have to admit I've had a hard time these last few weeks, and I was finally able to take a small break to clear my head. Now I'm back and excited to bring you new chapters and upcoming stories. But new projects can be a little hard to manage all at once.
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CHAPTER 73: Daunting Events
Izuku was being haunted. He realized this as soon as he woke one night, his body pounding with adrenaline and fear, sweat cooling on his back and brow from the breeze that came in through the broken balcony doors as shattered glass reflected the moonlight. His breath felt cold as he recalled his dream, and it made his stomach reel and stir like it was stuffed with cotton.
He felt around for his mouth, which had been concealed in that place as he stood in line with the former wielders of One for All. And then he faced the man whose voice he could not forget, All for One, only he was different, standing in his youth with a dark grin on his face. Then a short series of events gave a clear impression of All For One and his method of ruling, as well as his relation with the first wielder of One for All, his own brother.
He could still hear the echo of that voice, the silver-haired man who had spoken to him with eerie clarity, as if he knew—knew that Izuku didn't belong there. He had reached out to Izuku to give him a warning and reassurance. But it ended before he could make contact.
Izuku nearly fell out of bed when his door rattled gently, and someone called him from behind its barrier. Swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, Izuku got up, trying to steady his shaky breathing. As he stumbled toward the door, his foot caught on something—a discarded notebook—and he tripped, crashing against the bedside table.
He opened the door to see Sakura and Aoyama standing in the hallway. Sakura's pink hair was slightly tousled from sleep, and her sharp, green eyes locked onto his immediately, assessing. Behind her, Aoyama lingered in his striped white and purple pajamas, his usual sparkling confidence replaced by concern.
"Midoriya, are you alright?" Sakura asked. While she was on a different side of the building, she wasn't asleep at this time, busying herself with a book in bed until glass shattering echoed from the outside.
Izuku quickly stepped out into the hallway, closing the door behind him with a soft thud. He forced a smile, though it felt shaky at best. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just...tripped. Knocked over some stuff, that's all."
Sakura's gaze flickered to the door behind him, clearly unconvinced. She had always been perceptive, unnervingly so. But she didn't press him.
"Alright, if you say so," Izuku was grateful that she wasn't going to force him to share because he wasn't sure what kind of excuse to give. His powers had suddenly activated in his sleep because he was seeing the memories of the past users of said powers. He definitely couldn't talk like that.
But Izuku did make a note to get a hold of All Might as soon as he could.
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Izuku still wasn't able to shake off that dream and carried it to the next day into all his classes and onto the training grounds. The class was taken to the USJ for training, and the routine for Izuku would be to start jotting down notes and over-observing his classmates as they did their training. But today he was absent. Which was unfortunate given the opportunity this granted for Izuku to examine them.
The floor zone had been transformed and equipped thoroughly, built just for a single exercise for the day. They were each assigned to pass through the obstacle course in the shortest amount of time without falling into the water. It may have seemed simple enough, but there was a condition in place that inhibited many of them. That was, no quirks allowed.
When confronted with this rule, the obstacle course seemed a whole lot bigger. It started with a flat and sandy clearing that stretched out the line of an arena. Then you were met with towering metal structures designed to test the limits of the participants.
The first section consisted of a series of platforms set at varying heights and distances from one another, requiring participants to leap from one to the next with pinpoint accuracy. The platforms are uneven, some tilting as soon as weight is applied, forcing competitors to be quick and agile. Missing a jump means falling into the water.
After the platforms, the course narrows into a suspended beam, no more than a few inches wide. The beam would sway making balance the key. Then came the vertical wall. It stood fifteen feet high, with only a few strategically placed handholds and footholds.
The Cargo Net Climb followed. If they were able to make it this far, they had to cross a cargo net, laid out across a wide gap.
The next section involved a series of rotating logs suspended over a narrow body of water. The logs are unevenly spaced, some spinning faster than others, and all coated with a slick surface to make them even harder to cross.
The Ring Swing, a series of rings dangling from overhead beams with a chasm of water beneath. The rings' varying distances forced them to build momentum with each swing. One mistake can send them plummeting down into the deep pool of water below. As many of class A learned through experience.
Then there was the rope climb, after all, that, would seem to be the lightest form of obstacle, but that would've been if their stamina were not drained from the climbing and the swinging. Whoever didn't have upper body strength was doomed for the water.
Topping off that they weren't allowed to use their quirks, just made this more of a torture session than a training session. Shouta's presence was insurance no one attempted to slip in their quirks.
When class 1A came to the USJ they were excited at the prospect of seeing Thirteen once more. But that was quickly squashed when they saw what awaited them inside. This was meant to be a test of physical endurance.
"I call this torture," Minoru wheezed, knocking the side of his head to get the water out of his ear. "What's the point of training if we can't use our quirks?"
"Today's training will test both your physical and mental endurance," Thirteen explained.
After what they encountered with All for One, the school agreed that the student's strengths needed to go beyond their quirks. While this was something typically taught in the second year, while the first focused on growing and expanding the potential of one's quirk, the luxury was lost to this year's students. Nezu's instincts were still perturbed by the turn of events, and with eyes falling on the school full of scrutiny for the future of heroism, they needed to take proper measures to ensure their students made it through these experiences safely. This was different from what they experienced at the start of their year at U.A.
There was clear hesitance that came with this no-quirk rule, a kind of discomfort that came with stepping on earth and then suddenly walking through snow. It didn't matter if the path was the same, this small difference made the journey unpleasant. And that's what came to affect most of them. Every time someone would look at a certain obstacle and realize their quirk would've had them crossing the finish line in less than a minute, a seed of frustration planted, distracted and withdrew them from their task.
It was evident even in those who managed to make it to the end of the course. But all heads turned to attention, locking on target when Sakura took the stand.
"As usual, the class rep's ready to go for it," Denki said, throwing his hands behind his head. No one was expecting her to struggle with this task. But how long it would take her to cross without her quirk was now the new question on the board.
"I can't wait for her test this weekend," said Eijiro with a toothy grin.
"I can't believe you aren't more terrified," said Minoru crossing his arms.
"Why?" asked Rikido.
"You do remember she beat up that boss villain in Kamino right?"
"Yeah, but now we get to see where we're standing against her," said Mashirao. That perked quite a few ears.
Everyone knew Sakura was strong, stronger than most of them by a long shot. But seeing her in action was always something else entirely, and they were eager for the potential growth this training might have to offer.
Sakura stood at the starting line, her usual calm demeanor radiating a quiet confidence. She glanced down the obstacle path, her eyes sharp, already calculating the most efficient way to tackle each section.
Thirteen raised their hand, signaling the start. "Haruno, ready... go!"
Without hesitation, Sakura launched forward. Her movements were swift and controlled, a stark contrast to the grueling course. As she approached the first set of platforms, she didn't slow down. Instead, she gracefully leaped from one to another, her landings light and precise, as if she was merely dancing across them rather.
When she reached the narrow bridge, she didn't waver. Instead, she sprinted across with such ease that it seemed like she was running on solid ground rather than a thin plank. Not even Aizawa's Quirk Erasure could slow her down. Of course, unknowingly to the teacher, it was having no effect to begin with.
Her years of training showed, and the students watching couldn't help but feel a growing sense of dread.
"How… how is she doing that so easily?" Denki muttered, wide-eyed, as he watched her tackle a particularly tricky section that had given several of them trouble earlier. Sakura scaled a vertical wall with little more than her bare hands, pulling herself up with no effort.
"Sakura's always so nimble, even when she's not using her quirk," Observed Ochako. She herself had been improving her martial arts and fighting style since her internship with Gunhead, but she hadn't reached that level of fluidity. Even when she was taking the course, there were many moments of hesitation, knowing she couldn't rely on her quirk to get through it.
When Aizawa used his quirk to ensure that Sakura was in fact following through with the rules, as she approached a high ledge, she didn't falter or show signs of feeling anything change.
By the time she reached the final stretch of the course, it was clear she wasn't just going to complete it—she was going to shatter the time record. With one last powerful leap, she landed on the finish platform.
The entire class stood in stunned silence, the implications of what they'd just witnessed settling over them like a heavy blanket.
"We're doomed," Minoru said shaking his head after picking his jaw up.
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Being a teacher was like experiencing the seasons in a short amount of time, one day it's summer, warm, and bright and you can see everything. And then the next day it's winter, there's a constant chill in the air, and you're up to your knees in snow slowing down your routine. But sometimes the seasons would change right in the middle of the day. Shouta based those changing seasons on the number of incidents he could record for each of his students and lately this week it had been a blizzard and then a spring shower, a thunderstorm, and everything in between. They were distracted, and disoriented, and other times excited and energetic, focused and then forgetting which class they were in.
And Shouta knew the reason, he just couldn't give it detention this time.
The teachers' lounge was quieter than usual during the lunch break. The faint hum of the coffee machine and the occasional clink of utensils were the only sounds that filled the air. Shouta sat at the far end of the room, his face half-hidden by his scarf as he sipped on his coffee.
Midnight, lounging on the couch nearby, stretched and shot him a curious glance. "Hey, Eraser, what's up with your class this week? They've been acting… off." She punctuated her words with a dramatic yawn. "I get it, they're intense, but even for them, they've been a bit out of it. So my question is, what did you threaten them with to cause those poor kids to break?"
Shouta sighed, not even the least bit swayed by his coworker's manner of speaking. He had endured it since they were in high school together.
"Haruno is hosting a training session this Sunday. She's insinuating she'll be battling against everyone in the class. They're taking this as a challenge." Shouta rubbed his eyes.
"Well, I'm not too surprised. That girl is one of the best I've ever seen at this school,"
"Being the best doesn't guarantee anything," sighed Shouta. "But she has become like a goal marker for the rest of the class, and they want to know where they measure up to her right now. They're obviously excited to find out, at the same time, you can't help the doubts that creep in. They have to battle those two opposing stances, and try to remain upright themselves."
"If you knew it was going to mess with them this much, why did you allow this?"
"Because they aren't going to be able to drop this weight unless they face it," Shouta believed that Sakura had the ability to turn her classmates into some of the best heroes, she had a good mindset (which he would never tell her) and she had unwavering resolve.
Hizashi, or Present Mic, who had been rummaging through a drawer for snacks, perked up at the mention of Sakura and turned to face them, a grin already forming on his face. "Awwww yeah! Now that is what I like to hear! I'm coming to see that fight. Gonna bring the popcorn and everything. This is gonna be epic!"
Before Shouta could respond, another voice chimed in—Vlad King, Class B's homeroom teacher, who had just entered the lounge, overhearing their conversation. "You've piqued my interest, Eraserhead. I might just have to attend as well. I've been wanting to see what you've done with your… lively bunch of students."
Aizawa side-eyed him. "I figured you'd want to see what Class A has been working on. It'll give you a heads-up on what to expect when your class and mine start training together this semester."
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The wind was cold and biting as Sasuke and Naruto made their way toward Kakashi's office. It was early, too early for most, but neither of them had slept much these past few days. There was too much on their minds, and too many questions left unanswered. Both were driven by the lingering hope that something, anything, could be salvaged from the situation. The scroll Sasuke had found in the other dimension might hold the key to bringing Sakura back, or at least that's what they had convinced themselves.
The village streets were quiet, the usual bustle of life still a few hours away. Naruto walked with his hands shoved deep into his pockets, his brow furrowed with a tension that hadn't left his face in days. Sasuke, as always, walked in silence, his eyes sharp and focused ahead, but there was a heaviness in his steps.
As they approached the Hokage's office, Naruto broke the silence. "Do you think Kakashi-sensei has made any progress? It's been days, and he hasn't said anything."
Sasuke's eyes flicked toward him but didn't answer right away. Instead, his gaze returned to the looming building ahead of them. "We'll find out soon enough."
Naruto chewed the inside of his cheek, his restlessness spilling over. "She's not— she can't be—" He didn't finish the sentence, as if saying it aloud would make it more real.
The two of them walked the rest of the way in silence. They were greeted by a pair of Chunin at the entrance, as they made their way to the Hokage's office. It had only been a few months since Tsunade surrendered the post to the copycat ninja. And they had been glued there since after the war.
Kakashi sat at his desk, half-hidden behind a mountain of papers and scrolls, his expression unreadable beneath his mask. He glanced up when the boys entered, his visible eye lingering on them for a moment before he greeted them and got straight to the point of what they were visiting for.
"We've made some progress, in deciphering the scroll and it does give a clue towards something" Kakashi began, his voice calm, almost too calm. "But even if we decipher the entire scroll, I don't believe this is going to change the outcome of anything,"
Naruto leaned forward, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. "What do you mean? This scroll might be able to tell us where Sakura was sent. Of course, it will change things!"
Kakashi sighed, his gaze softening with understanding, but there was something else there—something darker. "Naruto... we've only managed to partially decipher the text. It's not a complete solution. And even if we did decipher it completely, there's no guarantee that it's going to amount to anything, at least not in the way you want it to."
Sasuke's jaw clenched, it didn't take a genius to know what Kakashi was hinting them towards. They refused to accept her name being carved into that gravestone, and they showed the lengths they were willing to go to ensure everyone knew it too. "Sakura has the hundred healing seal,"
"She would've had to activate it for a change, and even then you don't know what kind of place Kaguya sent her to," Some of those dimensions were so inhabitable, that stepping foot in meant instant death. Who was to say that Sakura even made it through that? And with that kind of injury as well? The fight exhausted her, and she helped to find Sasuke when he was sent away by Kaguya which drained her chakra. She might not have even had enough to activate the seal.
Kakashi just couldn't get the boys to accept the most likely scenario. And he understood why. After everything they had been through, this outcome was a far cry from what they expected. Even when they faced each other as opposing forces. They were far too stubborn to let go of this—far too attached to the outcome to simply walk away.
Kakashi felt that they were both holding onto the unfinished business that lingered with their female teammate. Naruto, who had promised Sakura he would return Sasuke to the village, and Sasuke, who wanted to give his apology for everything. Somehow this had become shackles that made them refuse to accept the tuanting reality.
Pushing back his chair, Kakashi stood, "Let's go."
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