"Is it taken care of?" Danzo stood in his office, looking out the window at the rising orange sun.
"Yes, Danzo. The media has eaten up the story. No one besides online conspiracy theorists believes what she's saying. Although, there is one Journalist at the Daily Heroics Network who has been very vocal about you in a negative light."
"I see... perhaps Hawks can do something about that. How about *cough cough.*" He covered his mouth, "How is *cough cough* ack!" Danzo hit his chest as he coughed uncontrollably.
"Danzo? sir?"
Danzo reeled over and caught himself on his desk. He felt something building up in his throat and scrambled for a paper towel. He hacked blood into it and stared down with a grimace as his cough settled down.
"Sir, are you okay? Do you need me to send someone again?"
"No... I'm fine. We'll continue this later," he hung up before he could get a response and grabbed his cane with a bottle of painkillers. After downing a couple he thought, 'It's rapidly getting worse... How much longer do I have?' He felt the sharp straight cracks going down his face. 'I can't risk taking much longer to prepare Sasuke...' He paused and stared at a drawer.
His face strained before opening it and pressing a button on the bottom, opening a false bottom in the drawer. He spotted a syringe with a red fluid inside and grabbed it, stashing it away in his robe with a hesitant hand. 'This is going to be a gamble… a really stupid one…' he coughed again and pursed his lips, 'But I have to risk it. Before that though...'
He opened his office door and called to a passing man, "Is Hawks here right now?"
"Yes sir."
"Get him for me."
"Right away sir!"
Danzo strolled back over to his desk and hid the bloody napkin. He sat on his chair and Hawks came in with his usual casual smile. "Yo, what's up Danzo?"
"Hawks, we haven't talked in a while." 'You've been a laid-back yes-man so far... but is that always going to be the case?'
"Yeah, been so long you grew a third wrinkle going down your face." 'That line... is it the quirk I think it is?'
He faked a smile, "Wrinkle, yes... I know it's been a couple of months or so now, but I never asked. How have you handled Crow's death?" He put his hands together and the temperature in the room dropped.
Hawks was non-reactive, 'Is this a test?' His smile dropped "This is sudden... I'm doing fine, he was a good hero... sad to see him go..."
"Is that all you feel?"
"Well, I've only met him a handful of times. He was gone as soon as I was recruited here," he shrugged. "How did you feel?" 'A freak like you felt nothing but glee I'm sure.'
Danzo spread his hands out, "It was... a tragedy for Japan to lose a strong hero like Crow. It's a good thing we still have you, you're on track to surpass his rank soon." 'Even if you've never been attached... he could have told you things you shouldn't know... but there's no way to know.'
Both of their eyes burrowed into each other, analyzing everything they could. Hawks rubbed the back of his head, "Yeah, I've been hustling a lot... you ok? You have some blood on your mouth."
Danzo tensed up and wiped it off, "Ah, how unclean of me. That was from a sandwich I ate earlier. In any case, I have a job for you. Do you remember when that woman Nagant tried to assassinate me?"
Hawks scratched the few hairs on his chin, "Nagant? Oh yeah! I saw her in the news recently. Something about accusing you of trying to kill her, right?"
"Yes, you forgot about her?"
"Well, it's not like she had the opportunity to be my mentor or anything."
"Fair enough. Regardless, there's a certain journalist of the DHN who has been trying to push an absurd message supporting Nagant. Can you... persuade him otherwise?"
"Sure, why's a random journalist matter though?" 'This old man is so power hungry that he can't accept a random journalist being against him?'
"Dissent supporting a death row prisoner while demonizing the Safety Commission can lead us down a steady road of societal distrust. Especially since the symbol of peace is retired now. The last thing people need is some news network telling them to question the people who have their best interest at heart. I'm sure you understand the importance of keeping the peace, don't you?"
He paused, "Yeah, the peace is important. Alright, I'll take care of it. Is that all?"
"That is all."
Hawks did a mock salute and left. Danzo sighed, 'He seems no different than before Crow died... but he is our best spy agent. He could be up to something for all I know... damned spies can't even keep up with him... Either way, it'll be safer to replace you eventually.'
Close to UA, Sasuke, Mina, and Tokoyami walked together through a city street. Mina asked, "So guys, which agencies are you going to?"
Tokoyami answered, "I was invited by Hawks to come to his agency."
"Oooooo, birds of a feather flock together as they say."
They all heard stomping behind them and turned their heads to see Midoriya running by. Sasuke asked, "Midoriya? Where are you going?"
He yelled panting as he kept running, "Sir Nighteye's agency! Sorry, can't chat!"
Midoriya disappeared around a corner and Tokoyami said, "Odd, where are you two going?"
Mina cheesed, "Edgeshot agency."
"The same agency?"
They arrived at the train station and walked up the stairs. Mina answered, "Yup, we both got personally invited. Besides, someone needs to babysit."
Sasuke rolled his eyes and Tokoyami chuckled as the train arrived, "Of course. Well, we shall meet again at the end of the study."
"See ya!"
"Bye," while boarding the train, Sasuke felt his phone vibrate and checked a text from Hiruzen. 'Hm? He wants to meet for something important? He'll have to meet me in Musutafu then.'
A couple of hours later, both Mina and Sasuke arrived at the agency. "Ever meet Edgeshot?"
"Yeah, met him back at the hospital when you were in a coma."
"Oh, how'd that go?" Sasuke asked.
They made their way up to the main dojo, "It was nice; I've mainly trained with Tenten, though."
The doors open to reveal Tenten with a warm smile, "Mina, Sasuke, come in."
Mina high-fived Tenten and they entered. Edgeshot stood in the center of the room with his arms crossed, "Welcome back."
"Hey."
"Hiiiii."
Edgeshot glanced at Tenten, "Tenten, can you take care of Mina? I'm better at doing things one on one."
"Of course."
"Awwww," she frowned.
"You two will train together eventually, just not today."
"Alright, well what are we doing this time?" She guided Mina out with her.
Tenten answered, "I'll be teaching you a mix of stuff Sasuke learned during the internship and some new things."
Tenten closed the door behind them and the sensei and student turned back to each other. "Your blade is still intact, right?"
Sasuke unsheathed his blade, "Yeah it's fine, I haven't had the opportunity to use it yet. What did you have planned?"
"Before we talk about what I have planned for you, what have you improved since the last time I saw you?"
Sasuke sheathed his blade and pulled down his sleeve, revealing some small canisters wrapped around his wrist, "I've had practice making more things; I've been using these special spray paint canisters to make some constructs look authentic, too."
"That's a good way to disguise things, what about for your Susanoo?"
"It's a complete upper body with armor. I've got a bow and arrow now, too."
He raised a brow, "Really? Good, we can skip over learning to use that tool then. You're mostly going to be refining your skills and going on patrol here, but there is one tool you're gonna learn to use," he pulled a bundle of wires out of a pouch on his leg, "Wires."
Sasuke held the wires, "How are wires supposed to help me in a fight?"
"Think of it as a way to turn your shuriken into boomerangs. You can set up traps with it too. I'll show you."
He threw some shuriken at a wall, but before it could reach, he pulled his wrist back and the shuriken returned to him. He caught it and handed it to Sasuke. "Could you see the wire?"
"No," he held it up between his fingers. "It's really thin."
"Exactly, that's part of the surprise. You give it a try."
He gestured to a wall and Sasuke created a shuriken, throwing it at the wall. He tried to imitate when Edgeshot pulled it back, but the shuriken fell flat.
Edgeshot patted his shoulder, "You'll get the hang of it, let's work on it more."
In the dojo in the next building, Tenten and Mina did a light spar. Mina threw some punches and kicks that Tenten easily blocked, "You can't do it with me for obvious reasons, but make sure to incorporate acid in normal attacks when you're fighting villains."
"Yeah, I'll—OW!" A tennis ball struck Mina in the face and she rubbed it. Tenten lightly punched the other side of her face. "Do we really need tennis ball machines to shoot at me while we do this?"
"Of course we do, it's part of your awareness training. You gotta take this seriously, Mina. I just landed another hit on you 'cause you got distracted," She put her hands on her hips.
"I am taking this seriously! Let's go again, I just haven't done this before."
They both got in position and fought again. Tenten went for a sweep kick which Mina jumped above. Mina tried to kick her in the head, but she caught it. Another tennis ball shot at Mina and she tackled Tenten while she held her leg.
Tenten yelped as they fell and Mina stood up, offering a hand to her, "Does that count?"
Tenten accepted the hand, "Sloppy, but yes that counts."
"Instant progress, hehe. Maybe by the end of the month I'll be teaching you."
Tenten giggled and shook her head, "I'd like to see that. Let's get back to it."
At the end of the day, Mina, Sasuke, and Edgeshot ate dinner together in the main dojo around Tenten's summoned table. Edgeshot sat across from them Sasuke ate his burger slowly while observing Edgeshot. He asked, "Are you not gonna eat your ribs?"
"I'm just savoring the smell. Did you want some?"
"Nah... it might get cold if you don't eat it soon," Sasuke kept his eyes peered.
Edgeshot waved a hand, "If it does, then that's fine. It's too hot right now anyway."
Mina looked at him with a scrunched brow; Sasuke whispered to her, "Don't take your eyes off him."
"Why?"
"I wanna see what's under his mask... he's hiding it."
She smiled weirdly, "Huh? Alright?" She ate her natto while occasionally looking up at Edgeshot. Suddenly, the sound of glass breaking behind them made them both instinctively turn around.
Tenten scrambled for a scroll and summoned a rag and broom. "Sorry guys!"
'Wait!' Sasuke whipped his head back to Edgeshot as his mask slid over his nose. It was all gone, the ribs were bare to the bone, and his glass was empty.
"Tenten always makes the best meals. Wouldn't you agree, Sasuke?" He looked at him with a mocking smile through his mask like nothing happened.
Sasuke's eye twitched and sweat fell down his brow, "... Yeah..."
"Woah! How'd you do that!?" Mina exclaimed.
"I was really hungry."
Sasuke's phone vibrated and he checked it, 'Hiruzen's here. Alright,' he stood and turned, "I'll be right back."
Sasuke walked down the traditional Japanese halls and made his way out to the stone courtyard. The sun was about to fall behind the walls of the estate. He spotted Danzo on a bench. "You said you needed to talk?"
Danzo turned his head, "Yes. Do you remember when you were tested on to help with understanding the Nomu?"
As Sasuke got closer he noticed how unkempt Danzo's hair was, "Yeah."
"Your results were thoroughly analyzed. I believe it's because of your mother that you're here right now. Specifically, what she must have done while you had a fever as a child."
"What do you mean?" His hands left his pockets.
"Both you and your mother's quirks share the aspect of being both physical and astral; your brain scans revealed that your lack of brain deterioration can be attributed only to the quirk's astral manipulation."
Sasuke squinted, "But... my quirk was still dormant at the time."
"Exactly, so that can only mean your mother did it for you. She... somehow altered you so that you'd be capable of holding two quirks at once."
Sasuke stayed silent and processed everything he heard, '... Mom...' "Where are you going with all this?"
It was Danzo's turn to be quiet, he clenched his fist under his robe, 'I don't have much choice at this point...' "I have multiple quirks."
Sasuke's eyes widened, "... What?" Danzo stared at him firmly, "Wha... you've met AFO before?"
"No, it has nothing to do with AFO; I got them on my own."
"Like you were born with them?"
He shook his head, "I GOT them. I can tell you how, but it's not something you could ever… and I mean ever tell anyone else."
"... Tell me."
"About eight years ago, a black ops agent of mine discovered a lab operated by a scientist who was aligned with AFO. He memorized documents through a process known as... quirk duplication. The ability to extract an exact copy of someone's quirk from their DNA, and to imprint that on another person."
"How... how the hell can something like that be possible?"
"Through a grueling months-long process, but in the end, it's all worth it. Observe," With one hand, he sent a gust of wind that slashed a nearby tree branch, and then black flames emitted from him, setting it on fire in the blink of an eye and consuming it.
Sasuke's heart thumped when he stared into the black flame, 'Have I... seen that before? It feels familiar...' He turned to Danzo, "Who did those black flames come from?"
"The rank 3 hero: Crow. Amaterasu was his quirk," he hid his hands in his robe, "We had good relations, so around a year ago, he agreed to give his blood so that I could have his quirk."
Sasuke scrunched his brow, "Why do you even need multiple quirks?"
"Just security, I've had multiple assassination attempts against me."
Sasuke shuffled, "Why are you showing me all this out of nowhere anyway?"
Danzo took a deep breath, "Multiple reasons, one of which being that… I'm dying."
"You sure that isn't 'cause you're old?"
Danzo's mouth opened, then he chuckled followed by a cough, "No, I'm only 60," he felt the jagged cracks down his face, "When I got these quirks, I was fine at first, but these cracks started to mark my face. And my health has been rapidly deteriorating as of late. I'm not sure how much longer I may have."
Sasuke rubbed his neck, "So... you wanted me to do what my mom did to save you?"
"Ideally, but there's more than that. Your friend Midoriya, he was given a quirk—"
Sasuke opened his mouth, but closed it, 'Of course he knows about that...'
"— while he's fine right now, that'll change when he's older. He may just die sometime in his 40s for all we know. And not just that." He looked around, then dug in his pocket and pulled out a syringe, gesturing for Sasuke to take it.
Sasuke stared at it, "What is this?"
"You once asked me if I could help you get stronger, this is the way. This fluid is the culmination of months of work to put Amaterasu in a vial. I would view it as the strongest flame one could have."
Sasuke blinked and looked away, keeping his hands at his sides. "I... I don't need another quirk. My current one is enough."
Danzo frowned, 'This boy and his damned pride…' "You don't need to take it right now, but keep in mind that AFO has access to dozens of quirks and has put the world's strongest hero in retirement. Your quirk is strong, there's no doubt about that, but your mother gifted you with a quirk that allows you to sustain the load of multiple quirks! Something like this was made for you." He stepped closer and slid the syringe into Sasuke's palm, closing it, "Try to keep the safety of people like Mina in mind… you could be the one that finally puts down AFO as long as you play all your cards right."
Sasuke gripped the syringe and hesitantly put it in his pocket, "I… I have no idea where I'd start."
Danzo looked around at the windows as a shadowed figure disappeared from behind one, "You can figure it out, Sasuke. I have to go now."
"Wait... what would happen if I took this needle?"
He smiled, "Well, for me, it took months before my body adapted to the DNA and made it my own, but it may be different for you."
"Right... also, this quirk duplification you mentioned. If you've known about this for years, why haven't you gone public with it? Everyone could have a quirk."
Danzo smirked, "Just like me, other quirkless people would simply be shortening their lifespans. And the same would apply to people who already have quirks. It's for the public's own safety, trust me… although if you mastered your astral side, that might change." Danzo speed-walked away, leaving Sasuke with his thoughts.
'That should be sufficient motivation for Sasuke… this is still salvageable."
Sasuke felt the syringe in his pocket and slowly sauntered to his room, looking down the whole way. 'What the hell is going on? Quirk duplification? Accelerated death? Amaterasu? This is a lot…'
"Ehem," Sasuke looked up and met Edgeshot's eyes.
He handed him a plate with the rest of his dinner, "Going to bed?"
"Yeah, thanks..." Sasuke passed him and Edgeshot's side-eye followed.
"Who was that old guy you were talking to out there? You look like something's on your mind."
"He was some commission guy called Hiruzen. He was talking to me about... some stuff concerning my government checks."
Edgeshot's eyes narrowed, "Wanna talk about it?"
He turned away, "Nah, I'll be fine," he continued his way to his room, leaving Edgeshot staring at his back.
Once he reached his room that was as Japanese as the rest of the building, he locked the door and laid on his futon. He pulled out the syringe and stared up at it for a long time. There was a strange natural pull between him and the vial, like it was magnetic. 'Could Midoriya really be dying right now? All Might made it to his mid-fifties... but does him losing One For All put him in the clear now?... ugh, no way to know,' he thought back to the black flames he saw earlier. 'Hiruzen had a point… this has nothing to do with AFO, does that make it ok? Should I take it?' After a long pause he put the vial in a drawer; he looked up at the picture of him with his parents and took it, 'I'm not sure, but I'm sure of one thing,' He thought back to the lies AFO tried to tell him about his parents and frowned, 'They never could have done that...' His mom saving him from his fever flashed through his mind, 'I'm sorry for ever doubting you... Mom... Dad.' He laid his head against the picture frame. 'I... love you guys. No matter what I go for, astral training is worth it.'
He sat the frame back on the stand, and for the first time in years, he meditated.
—----------------
Wish I included more coughing scenes for Danzo in earlier chapters to foreshadow this better. I start work again this week so unfortunately chapters might slow down some, it won't take me months though.
Also I've been hinting at Sasuke's potential for multiple quirks for awhile now, but I'm not sure if he should take the injection. Even if he does, he won't be able to use Amaterasu for quite a while.
What do you guys think? Give me some feedback. Also let me know if things seem too fast-paced.