Third POV

As the countdown until the UA exams shortened, the nekos and their friends trained harder than ever. They ran obstacle courses, did mock fights, practiced their quirks, and faced their drawbacks. However, Shouta and Hizashi always made sure to keep the 4 boys happy and upbeat, even if it meant more breaks than Shouta thought necessary. The hero couldn't complain much though because he'd take the opportunity to nap while the kids were on break. However, the UA exams weren't the only countdown in motion.

Across town, in the tallest building in Japan, All Might sat in his meeting with the HPSC President. While All Might had spent the better part of his free time watching Izuku train, the HSPC was working to find a way to get the nekos, specifically Izuku, out of the custody of Shouta and Hizashi. "So how is it coming with young Izuku?" All Might asked from where he sat. Mera just sighed and shook her head, "Unfortunately, that rat was very thorough with how he filed both kid's legal papers."

All Might just sent her a hard glare, "So what? Your one of the most powerful people in Japan. The legal issues of a single child, especially one so important to the future of this country, shouldn't be a problem for you." Mera just gave the hero a scoff, "Of course not Yagi. It's not like we haven't collected anything. We have paperwork already for when that neko goes into your protection. However, the process is going slower than we anticipated since Endeavor worked with Nezu and personally gave up his parental right over the other neko. Without Izuku's parents, at least his mother, being alive and there being no criminal record against Erasurehead or Present Mic, it is making difficult to form any legal reason for them to give up custody."

"THAT SHOULDN'T MATTER!" All Might shouted, standing from his chair, "Izuku is the son of the greatest villain in Japan, which makes him a risk to Japan's safety if his father gets his hands on him. But, he is also the nephew of my mentor. Nana would have wanted me to look out for her nephew! She never had kids of her own but she always told me that if she had kids she would be so excited to introduce me to them. This is what she was talking about!"

"I understand that All Might, but at the moment we don't have enough to get you that boy. I have half of my investigators and analysis working-" The President was cut off before she could finish, "HALF! Is this issue only HALF of your concern?! Do you only HALF care about the future of heroes and that of Japan?!" All Might raged. At that, Mera glared at the hero. "Of course not. But I also have other matters to attend to as President. Besides I had another large part of my team looking into an easier way to get you some sort of interaction with the neko."

All Might was about to fire back before holding back and looking at the older female confused. "Look through this?" Mera reached into her desk and pulled out a packet of some sort before handing it to the hero. "You'd have to get a license before we can do anything but that is easier to get, and faster with my power, than what you are currently asking me to do." All Might flipped through the packet quickly before looking back at the female. "Is this what I think it is?" Mera just silently nodded. "I see. Very well, but I still want the boy in my custody." He didn't wait for her response before leaving the office, not noticing her dark smirk as he walked out the door.

After leaving the HPSC building, All Might began hopping rooftops looking for crime. He needed to burn off some of his anger and frustration and the best way to do that was by knocking out villains. He couldn't understand what was so difficult. Mera shouldn't have any problem getting enough material to build a case to his benefit. Any judge wouldn't see a problem with a child being in the care of the highest-ranked hero, heck he's had media on his tail for the past decade about him getting married and having kids. The hero just shook his head to clear his thoughts as he heard a scared scream and saw an explosion out of the corner of his eye.

He stood on a rooftop to observe the scene as there were already lesser-ranked heroes on the scene. From his vantage point, All Might concluded that a villain with a slime mutant quirk was causing chaos as the blob of disgusting green goo flooded an alleyway. The heroes present didn't seem to be doing anything other than holding civilians and press back. There were still explosions going off but it didn't seem to be from any bombs. Looking closer at the scene, he could see a blond child running around the blob, now seeming to stay in a single space, firing explosions at the villain. 

Explosion quir- wait, now that All Might thought about it, Izuku had a friend with an explosion quirk. Moving his focus off the blond, All Might looked at the villain, among the green goo, he could make out the unmistakable figure of a civilian struggling to claw at the goo. From that civilian, All Might had to be blind to miss the green hair that could only be the hero's prospective successor. All Might grinned and jumped high off the building, what a perfect chance to finally meet his successor.

"DETROIT SMASH!" All Might shouted as he slammed into the mutant slime. As he landed, he managed to grab a stray water bottle that was lying around, scooping up the seeming only solid part of the villain and depositing it into the bottle where the rest of the slime followed. Finishing off the villain in record time, the hero turned back to face the 2 teens. The blond was ignoring the heroes trying to help the two and fussing over Izuku, who was still crying and panicking while coughing up the goo that got into his mouth. All Might picked up a bag of what looked like an assortment of convenience store snacks, before walking over to the young duo.

"That was a very brave thing for you to do young man, but you have guts trying to save your friend here," All Might commented when he was close enough. Izuku and Katsuki looked up at the hero in awe as the hero bent down to give the bag of food back. "However, next time wait for the heroes to save your friend instead of using your quirk illegally. I am here to help civilians in need!" All Might proclaimed before turning to Izuku, "And you young man, are destined to be a strong and resilient hero. I saw how hard you fought the villain even when you were captured yourself. Good work and I look forward to seeing you progress as heores in the field."

All Might could feel his time limit approaching so he said quick goodbyes and left. He had finally a connection to his sought-after successor. It wasn't big, nor was it the introduction he was hoping for, but he could work with it. Now he was Izuku's savior and he could use that to his advantage later down the line. He'd have Izuku as his successor no matter what anyone says and only death would stop him now.

X At the same time X

In the training room of an underground facility, blue flames filled the space as a young man with pale and dry skin ran around, avoiding the attacks. Once the two got close enough to each other, they dove into hand-to-hand combat. A strike here, and punch there, followed by a dodge and an uppercut. The black-haired individual sent a fist coated in a thin layer of flames to the other's face, landing a hit and knocking the other to the ground. The one above spun around and quickly pined the other, avoiding the other's deadly touch.

"I win. Again." Dabi said smugly, before getting off the other. Tomura growled and glared up at the older boy. "Why do you keep beating me?!" Dabi just gave him a look, "Living on the streets will do that to you. Or maybe I just have a better motivation that pushes me to fight for what I want." Tomura knew Dabi was just riling him up, but the comment made him furious. He lashed out again only to be portaled to the other side of the room by Kurogiri. "Please stop Master Tomura. The fight is over and Dabi was simply teasing."

Tomura huffed again, grabbing the 4-fingered gloves that the caretaker/nomu was now handing him, "I know Kuro." Dabi leaned against the wall chugging his water before looking at Tomura again, "What do you fight for anyway? I know you said it was your brother but what happened to him?" Tomura glared at Dabi and began to walk to the door, "Okay don't say anything then. Didn't seem like you needed anyone to talk to anyway." Tomura paused with his grip on the door handle tightening.

Tomura huffed before groaning and turning around to face Dabi again. "My little brother was taken from my father before I was adopted. He and another boy were used as subjects in a quirk experiment. However, a few years ago, when we finally discovered who was part of the experiments, there was a raid on the facility and the Heroes 'saved' my brother. He was taken as a baby so he doesn't have any memories of my father. We want to get him back and out of the heroes clutches. My father wanted him to be his other successor alongside me, but I just want to give Izuku the childhood he was robbed of."

Internally, Dabi wasn't surprised by the first half of the information Tomura told him. He's known about the neko's past for years now. If he didn't he didn't deserve to call himself a brother to Shoto. However, the last sentence from Tomura was a surprise. Tomura's reason was somewhat sweet, but AFO's reasoning was cause for concern. He had let his father and Nezu know at once. 

Outwardly, Dabi plastered a shocked look on his face to show his surprise. "So the heroes have your brother and they're what trying to make him a hero?" Tomura just glared at the floor and nodded. Dabi let out a huff of laughter, "Well I'll help get your brother back since I want to save my own brother from my father's clutches. But, if I help you, will you help me?" Tomura didn't answer but he looked up at Dabi quizzingly. He just let out a hum and turned to the door, "You play video games?" Dabi looked confused now, "Huh?" 

Tomura chuckled, "If you're gonna be my right-hand man, we should probably get friendly with each other, scar-face." Tomura added the nickname after a second of pause before walking out the door. Dabi just let a grin plaster his face as he picked up the rest of his workout stuff and followed Tomura out the door and to the younger's room.

On the other side of the hideout, Hisashi sneezed at the unheard mention of his name, he ignored the sneeze and walked into the lab to meet with the doctor. Upon his entrance, the doctor stood with his back to the door as he jotted down data samples showing on the screens of the NOMU tanks. "Doctor," Hisashi greeted, causing the stubby man to turn and face the villain. "Master! So good to see you, but I see you have not brought the young master today?" Hisashi just shook his head, "Tomura is training with Dabi and Kurogiri today. Now tell me how goes our project?" 

"It is going very well." The doctor replied happily, "As you know, since Kurogiri, we have been making progress by leaps and bounds. In fact, I can happily announce that  we finally have a fully functional NOMU. However, while I would love to test it out in the city right now, I think we should hold off a little longer." Hisashi was confused at that thought and glared at the doctor. "Why?" The doctor waved his hands in front of himself quickly, "Um, well for two reasons. One, we should find the perfect chance to set this NOMU on All Might as we don't have more than one fully formed at the moment. The second reason is that it'll allow for more to form and will result in a larger quantity for you and the young master to get our youngest master back."

Hisashi couldn't see many flaws in that logic, but he wasn't pleased that there would still be a waiting time even after finally finding success in their multi-year project. "Alright, but I am putting all the pressure on you to make this NOMU the best. It needs to be more powerful than All Might so any quirk you think is necessary to add, you add. No hesitation." "Yes Master," The doctor bowed as Hisashi turned back to leave the room. "We will have my son back soon, and then we will destroy this disastrous hero society.

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Undercover Touya!