Aizawa's POV:

It was supposed to be simple.

A straightforward war game. Villains versus heroes. Nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing these kids couldn't handle. In fact me and Vlad are even trying not to go after them but let them find us..... it is not impossible to win if and that is IF they all work together as a team. That was something I highly doubted yet I also knew that Midoriya would be able to get them all together and hopefully lead them on.

But now... now everything was spiraling out of control, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

I rub a hand over my face, fighting off the exhaustion creeping in from the edges. I'm tired, yeah. These brats never seem to give me a moment's rest. But this... this isn't just exhaustion. This is frustration. And, as much as I hate to admit it, maybe even a little disappointment.

I've trained them better than this. At least, I thought I had.

First, they're dropping like flies. 

Kirishima, Kaminari, Sero—all down in record time. 

Not even with style.

 No fight, no finesse, just gone. 

And now Iida and Tokoyami? 

Captured in some elaborate trap I didn't set....

I highly doubt that it was Vlad as well...

I stand at the edge of the forest, watching as the remaining students stumble around like they're lost in a maze. They're on edge, constantly looking over their shoulders, waiting for the next strike. But the way they're moving, the decisions they're making—it doesn't add up. Not with what I've planned.

I pride myself on being prepared, on having contingencies for just about everything. But this? This wasn't part of the plan. Somewhere along the line, this exercise has taken a turn, and I don't like it.

I know my limitations. 

Sure, I've taken down a few of them but certainly not Iida or Tokoyami... a simple trap....., not like this. 

I don't play with my food. 

I knock them out, I move on. 

This whole... psychological warfare? 

It's not my style.

I squint through the trees, trying to spot Vlad King. He should be running interference, keeping Class 1B busy while I handle the brats from 1A. But even he seems to be struggling to keep up. That's when it hits me: someone else is moving pieces on this board.

The way these kids are being picked off, one by one, systematically—it's not just random. It's calculated. Too calculated.

It's almost as if someone is making this deliberately.

A sigh escapes me. I shouldn't even be entertaining this thought. My class is chaotic at the best of times, sure, but they wouldn't interfere with an exercise like this. Would they? No... no, that doesn't make sense.

But the evidence is piling up in front of me, and I can't ignore it any longer.

They're not just losing.

 They're being hunted. 

Someone's using these woods to their advantage. Someone who knows exactly where to hit them and how.

And that someone isn't us teachers.

I cross my arms, leaning against a tree as I observe the clearing where Tokoyami and Iida have been strung up. It's clever, I'll admit that. Almost impressive in its cunning, simple yet very efficent. It's more than just taking out targets—it's making a statement. Whoever set this up wants the others to see it, to feel the fear ripple through the group that no matter what they do, they are useless.

If I didn't know any better, I'd say a villain has infiltrated the exercise. 

But that's impossible.

I've worked with these kids long enough to know their quirks, their capabilities, their tendencies. None of them should be capable of this level of manipulation. And yet, here we are.

I step forward into the clearing, scanning the scene more closely. There's no sign of struggle, no evidence that Tokoyami or Iida put up much of a fight. The traps were too efficient, too quick. Whoever set this up knew exactly what they were doing. And that's what's bothering me.

Who the hell is pulling the strings here?

I crouch beside Iida, studying the way the ropes are tied. It's almost surgical, the precision of it. This wasn't done in a rush, and it wasn't done by someone who's new to this sort of thing. No... this is the work of someone who's been planning, someone who's been waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

I glance up at the trees, scanning the shadows. Whoever it is, they're still out there. Watching. Waiting for their next move.

And the worst part?

 I don't think it's Vlad or the Pussy Cats. 

I don't think it's anyone on my team.

I stand up, rolling my shoulders to ease the tension building there. My eyes narrow as I survey the forest. I've been outsmarted before—hell, I've lost battles I should've won—but this? This is different. This isn't just me losing control. This is someone taking it from me.

Could it be one of the students? 

No... none of them would dare....

Why should they?

They are in the hero team.....

But the nagging feeling in the back of my mind won't go away. What if someone did dare? What if one of them, for whatever reason, decided to disrupt the exercise? It's not impossible. These kids are smart. And reckless. Especially a few of them...and stupid sometimes too.

I start running through the names in my head, trying to piece together who might be capable of something like this. Bakugo? No, too brash. He'd blow something up before he could set a trap this elaborate. Todoroki? Too reserved. He wouldn't bother with mind games. Uraraka? I doubt it.

But what if it's someone I wouldn't expect? 

Someone who's always been a little... unpredictable?

I can't shake the suspicion that there's more going on here than I realize. My students have always been resourceful, but this? This is next level. And the more I think about it, the more it makes sense.

Midoriya....

I hesitate. Midoriya is talented, no doubt. He's got the brains to pull something like this off, and he's certainly observant enough to exploit weaknesses in his classmates. But why would he? Why go to this extent? What's the angle? Besides all that, he would never hurt a fly.... why should he do that?

I look around the clearing again, searching for any clues I might've missed. The traps are meticulously placed, the execution flawless. It feels like someone's been planning this for a while, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. It's almost... too good.

But that's ridiculous. 

Midoriya wouldn't sabotage his own classmates just for no reasons. 

Would he?

I rub the back of my neck, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling that's been creeping up on me since this whole thing started. Something's definitely wrong here, but I can't put my finger on what.

Just then, I hear the rustling of leaves behind me. I spin around, my capture weapon snapping into place as I prepare for an attack, but it's only Vlad King, emerging from the woods looking just as haggard as I feel.

Vlad King: Aizawa, what the hell's going on? We're losing kids left and right, and it's not from any of the traps I set up.

I sigh, letting my capture weapon relax.

Me: Yeah, I know. Something's off. I think someone's interfering.

Vlad King raises an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest.

Vlad King: You think we've got a mole? In the middle of a training exercise?

I shake my head. 

Me: Not a mole. A wild card. Someone's playing a game we weren't prepared for.... we never set the rule that they were not allowed to switch sides.....

He looks around, frowning at the sight of Iida and Tokoyami. 

Vlad: You think one of the students is responsible for this?

I shrug. 

Me: I don't know yet. But I'm starting to think we underestimated how far some of them might go to win... or make them lose....

Vlad King lets out a low whistle. 

Vlad: Damn. That person vmust be ruthless.

Yeah. 

And if my hunch is right, we're not dealing with a typical student anymore. 

We're dealing with someone who's playing a completely different game.

I glance back toward the forest, my mind racing. If it really is one of the students—and I'm starting to believe it is—then this whole exercise just became a lot more complicated.

And I can't shake the feeling that I'm not the one in control anymore.