"Oi broccoli, hurry up!"

Izuku frowns as he huffs and puffs after his new best friend, Naruto, "Don't...call me...that!"

Naruto jogs in place as he waits for Izuku along the pedestrian walk of Takoba Municipal Beach Park, "Did you not sleep last night?"

Izuku nods his head, "They had a Best of All Might rerun for 4 hours straight last night,"

Naruto rolls his eyes, "Seriously? You had that on record, you broccoli! Why the heck would you watch a rerun when you have been watching it for the last decade of our life?!" He then uses his tail to grab a falling water bottle that had broken out of a ripped plastic back of a very sickly looking man, "Whoa there!" He hands the man the bottle, "Here,"

The man smiles at him, "Thank you, young man,"

Naruto stares at him, "Did your doctor seriously let you go out of the ICU?"

Izuku gawks at Naruto, "Naruto!"

Naruto shrugs, "What?! I know a lot of people escaping from hospital saying a punctured lung is just a flesh wound, dattebayo!"

Izuku frets, "Punctured lung is definitely not a flesh wound!"

Naruto waves his hand, "Meh, don't shout at me! I heal fast and extra days at the hospital is just wasting when I could be training instead,"

Izuku palms his face and bowing, "I'm sorry for my weird friend, sir,"

The skeletal man in large clothes chuckles, "Never mind that, young man. It is good to show concern when you see someone sick walking around. Alas, there is nothing more that the doctors can do for me so...here I am,"

Naruto hums, "Man...with all the healing Quirks around? What kind of accident were you in?"

Izuku swats at his ear, "Naruto, you don't just go around asking people that!"

Naruto looks at him, "No. Izuku, if you want to be Pro-Hero, you need to know all these," His instructor persona comes out as he explains, "With all kind of healing Quirks in the hospital, only something fatal could cause this sort of permanent injury. Naturally, you must learn from his incident so that you won't get caught in the same situation yourself, got it?"

Izuku is already writing in his notebook, an instinctual habit at this point, "Got it,"

The man smiles, "Oh? You're going to enter U.A?"

Naruto nods, "Only the best! Especially if Izuku is going to back me up as my brain!"

The man looks at Izuku, "The...brain?"

Izuku chuckles, "Yeah...I'm Quirkless but Naruto figures that I don't really have to be on the field. I could just help with...well, Quirk analysis and all that stuff. Though U.A only accepts students with really flashy Quirks so I might end up in General Study,"

Naruto nods, "But just because he's going to be the brain doesn't mean he doesn't need training. Even if he doesn't have strength or speed Quirk, he can still train his body to keep up. I mean, humanity have gotten this far even without Quirks so even if people with a Quirk have an edge, you really shouldn't look down on a natural genius like Izuku here! His Quirk analyses is something else, dattebayo!"

Izuku blushes, feeling embarrassed by Naruto's high praise before a stranger. The blond always does this because people will always look at Izuku weird for wanting to be a Pro-Hero even without a Quirk. He will always remind Izuku that he have a brain that can level the playing ground. Also, the man's dim blue eyes have taken a skeptical look when he heard Izuku's admittance to being Quirkless. Something that Izuku is no longer ashamed of.

The man then asks, "Why not the Support Class? You can help create support items to help your friend,"

Izuku thought about it, "Maybe I should register for that too...thanks, mister!"

The man hums before asking, "Why did you want to be a Pro-Hero?"

Izuku blinks before answering, "I want to help people with a smile like All Might!"

Naruto snorts, "He's obsessed with the man. If he's into older men, maybe he'll even propose to him!"

The skeletal man suddenly coughs out blood, shocking the two, "Mister!!"

The man waves his hand, "I'm fine!"

Izuku glares at Naruto with a blush on his face, "Don't joke about that! I admire him, sure, but not like that!"

Naruto's ear can hear the skeletal man chokes almost silently, "...thank god..." But he will file that for later. Instead he asks the man, "What's your name, Mister? Mine is Naruto and this crybaby broccoli ("Don't call me that!") is Izuku,"

The man smiles, a bloody handkerchief shoved into his back pocket, "Yagi...Toshinori. I'm glad to hear that you are not down about the lack of Quirk and still wants to a be a Hero. I'll admit, I am a little skeptical since...since life as a Pro-Hero can be deadly even with a Quirk as powerful as All Might. So when I heard that you are Quirkless, I...I feel fear for you. But since you mentioned about other ways to be a Pro-Hero, I realize that maybe I'm too quick to judge you. I wish you luck, Young Izuku!"

Izuku doesn't know who this man is and how they ended up telling him about his wish to enter U.A but...he smiles at him, "Thanks! Other than Naruto, no one really believed that I can do it! I'll do my best, Mister!"

Yagi smiles at him as Naruto grabs Izuku wrist, "Come on! Enough stalling, soldier! We are going to be late to school, dattebayo! Bakatsuki will be even more insufferable if we break our perfect attendance record!"

Izuku complain, "You don't even like school!"

Naruto answers, "I am doing this out of pure spite for the mutt!"

"Seriously?!"

Yagi watch at the two odd boys leave on their way. He shakes his head and chuckles. He admits that hearing that the Izuku boy wanting to be a Pro-Hero despite being Quirkless made him feel helpless. He doesn't know what to say had the boy come to him as All Might and asked if he can be a Pro-Hero like him without a Quirk. Once, when he was at his peak, he would say that anyone can be a hero. But after so many deaths and losses, he shrink at the thought of feeding the boy a false hope that could lead to his death. All Might might be many things but he is not a liar. He can't look at the hopeful face of someone that society will destroy if they go on this particular path and lie just to make the other person feel better. These days, he hardly feel like himself anymore.

He presses his hand against his scars, "I really wish that kid good luck,"

For the next few weeks, he will come across the duo running along the stretch of Takoba Municipal Beach Park. He admires Young Izuku's tenacity. Especially during the weekends when Naruto had Izuku clear up the junks at the beach. When he asked them, Naruto complained about Quirkist gym. The blond then continues, "Izuku might be a dying breed of humanity but that doesn't mean that they should isolate him,"

Yagi sighs, "Yes...I never like people who are Quirkist though maybe I almost became one myself,"

Naruto looks at him, "You feel sorry for Izuku, don't you?"

Yagi blinks before asking, "Is it that obvious?"

Naruto shrugs, "I can sense people's negative emotions. Something of a passive that I can't turn off. But I'm going to make Izuku strong. He will be a symbol of humanity's unbreakable will. I know that he can be great, even without a Quirk. I mean, we have underground Pro-Heroes like Eraserhead that doesn't have a flashy Quirk and relies solely on normal physical strength to put his possibly more powerful opponent down. The only thing that give him an advantage over Izuku is his Quirk. But Izuku is smart, frightfully so. Sometimes I swear that natural talent of his to analyze a person's Quirk and figure out it's weakness is a kind of a passive Quirk itself. Alas, he have them toes so...yeah. That is all him and no one should feel sorry for him,"

Yagi hums, "Really? That...that is remarkable,"

Naruto grins, proud of his protege, "Yeah! Best of all, it's just Izuku being human!"

Yagi watch the broccoli pulls a fridge slowly to a corner where he collected the junk, "I see,"

Naruto looks at him before saying, "You're a Pro-Hero, aren't you?"

Yagi cough out blood from the shock, asking, "What makes you think that?!"

Naruto hands him a wet tissue, "It's obvious. You are not looking down on Izuku for being Quirkless. You're worried for him because you faced things that even the great All Might couldn't survive without injuries. And even if now you're supporting him, you still feel worried about him. And you feel sorry for him not because he's Quirkless, but because the world is cruel to Quirkless people. I think only people who know what its really like being a Pro-Hero can feel such empathy for him. It's different from people like his mom," He sighs, "Don't get me wrong. Aunt Inko is great mom but because she's a great mom, she can't wholeheartedly support Izuku's dream. She loves him too much,"

Yagi sighs, wiping his blood on his mouth and admitting, "Yeah...I am..."

Naruto asks, "Your injuries...did you retire because of them?"

Yagi smiles, "On it...actually,"

"Naruto!" They look to see Izuku coming at them, shirt off and showing his strong muscles. Izuku gasps, "Can we spar now?"

Another thing Yagi learned from watching them do their things these past few days, is that Naruto is a great at martial art. Even now, no matter how Izuku is coming at him, Naruto will have the boy eating sand. But he will also make Izuku stand back up over and over no matter what. But his taunts are...

"Stand up or there will be more casualties!"

"Is that the best you can do? No wonder people die!"

"Are you really a hero? That's a good joke!"

Yagi is almost reminded of military drills. But the taunts are surprisingly realistic. He keeps tearing at Izuku's self worth and will to keep on fighting. But he will also praise him...

"That's right, Izuku! Don't give up!"

"Keep on fighting! That's all you can do when cornered!"

"You will die only when I tell you too! Now back on your feet!"

By the time lunch rolls in, Izuku is black and blue on the sand, gasping for life. But studying Izuku's body, he is certainly in shape. Well, more than in shape, actually. The boy is all muscles. They are not bulky but they are certainly functional and practical, as shown during the spar. And Naruto is just as fit, if not more so. Honestly, how long have they been training like this?

Yagi offers to take them to lunch and then asks, "How long have you been training like this?"

Izuku answers, "Since 4,"

Yagi almost chokes on his blood again, "F-4?!"

Naruto nods, "I have been helping him train his body after I learned that he wants to be a Pro-Hero," He shoves a cut of fried chicken into his mouth before adding, "Obviously, I start out easy on him,"

Izuku deadpans, "Yeah...free running every weekend and running all around the kindergarten every recess is not easy on a kid's body, you know?"

Naruto quirks a brow, "But you had fun, didn't you?"

Izuku sighs, "I did...who knew using games as training works?"

Yagi laughs at their banter. He doesn't know how but he somehow gotten involved with them after that meeting with his water bottle. He even look forward to coming across them on their commune along the Takoba Municipal Beach Park. Naruto will always be ahead but Izuku will not be further than a step or two behind him. Meeting someone like Naruto is refreshing for Yagi who is actually feeling a kind of lethargy after receiving the unfortunate news about his Quirk. He is so used to feeling helpless and sorry for the Quirkless that he forget how powerful faith can be. To see Naruto believe in Izuku is inspiring, actually.

If only there are more people as kind as Naruto...

One day, after stressing his body far beyond what was advisable, he comes across a terrible scene. The street is on fire and the Pro-Heroes are gathering around the source but none of them are doing anything. Yagi watch as a boy tries to fight his way out of the slime Villain wrapped around him. He tries to move but his injuries causes him to pause. There are so many things he still have to do. If he fails now, society will collapse.

Yagi is not dumb. He can't be dumb to be the Number 1 Pro-Hero for as long as he did. Right now, if he collapse before everyone, then the system that was built on his pains and sacrifices will crumble. But as a Pro-Hero, he can't just do nothing. Torn between his personal desire to save the victim, a child, and his responsibility as the Symbol of Peace, the diminished hero named All Might for once wishes for another to do what he cannot.

"BAKATSUKI!!"

A familiar voice breaks him out of his anxiety and Yagi turns to see Naruto rushing in despite the explosions. The Pro-Heroes around him panics, "What?! Kid! Get out of here!"

Naruto shouts, "Use your damn brains, damn it!"

Izuku appears soon after, "Kacchan!!"

Naruto lashes out one of his flaring 9 tails at the Villain, using the wind pressure generated by his strong tail to slaps the most of the slime away from the boy. Izuku then steps in and grabs on the explosive boy's hand. Yagi listens as the boy inside the slime shouts, "Deku?! What are you-?!"

Izuku screams, "I don't know! My legs just moved! All I know is that your eyes! They are asking for help!"

Naruto slams his tails again and again at the slime who refused to let Katsuki go, "Keep pulling, Izuku!"

Yagi stares at the sight. When all the others Pro-Heroes hesitate, these two did not. And that boy, Izuku...the words he said sparks the dimming embers of dream inside him. Yagi forces his body to inflate with his Quirk and jumps into the fray, "Kids...you are really something else..."

Izuku gawks as a thick hand reaches for Katsuki's hand, "All...Might?!"

All Might pulls Katsuki but at the same time, blood burst out between his clenched teeth as he shouts, "Detroit...SMASH!!"

Naruto have to dig his tails into the asphalt as the wind pressure from the man's punch tears the slime Villain away from Katsuki. His eyes wide as he watch the Number 1 Pro-Hero does his job. However, at the same time, his memories clicked as he watch All Might wipes his bloody mouth, hiding himself from the eyes of many before holding that familiar bright smile towards the crowd. He looks at Izuku who seems to realize the same thing. And also why it must never be spoke aloud...

Their very sick friend Yagi is All Might.

However, while All Might 'entertain' the crowd, Naruto grabs a dazed Izuku and disappears before those annoying Pro-Heroes can lecture them or something. He knows how this society works, having been apart of it for a decade. Izuku will be put down since anyone with observational skill can tell from his shoes alone that he is Quirkless. While he and Katsuki will be praised and brown nosed for having a Quirk. Especially Katsuki for having such a powerful Quirk.

He doesn't want that kind of attention and even though Izuku is more confident than when they first met, where Katsuki's bullying were starting to push the boy into his shell, the broccoli is still too shy.

Not to mention that Izuku is still too hung up by the fact that he knew All Might's actual name...maybe...and that they are sort of-kind of friends from their morning jogging route. After a moment of walking home, he pats Izuku's puffy green hair, "What's up, broccoli?"

Izuku swats at his hand, "Don't call me that..." He then frowns, "Yagi...he's really sick, isn't he? That's why he hardly ever shows up these past months," The duration of All Might sighting have been taking a dip since the past few years and now that they have known the kind man personally, they understand why. Izuku asks, "How long do you think he have?"

Naruto hums, "Not long...maybe another year or two if he doesn't push himself, I guess?"

"DEKU! EXTRA!"

Naruto habitually replies, "What do you want, Reject?"

He have been pushing for Katsuki to realize that his habit of putting others down is far from heroic. In fact, just that evening after school, he told Izuku to take a swan dive. Something that Naruto almost throttle him for if not for a teacher walking past. But watching the walking bomb at that moment, Naruto can sense something shifting. The veil of childish innocence is lifting.

Katsuki sneers, "I don't need any saving, least of all from you two! In fact, you two did nothing, alright?! I did it myself! Got it?! I did it alone! I won't let a Quirkless rodent and his shitty extra friend like you two look down on me! You think I'll be grateful of you two? Dream on! Don't you dare look down on me! You shitty nerd and you stupid fluff for brain!!"

As the explosive bomb walks away, Naruto deadpans, "What is he, tsundere?"

Izuku sighs, "He's a tough cookie, alright,"

Naruto shrugs, knowing that the trauma will settle in later that night. As they continues on their way home, another voice calls out to them, "I AM HERE!"

Naruto shush the giant wall of muscles with on hand clasped over Izuku's mouth before he can start fanboying, "Pipe down! You want the Paparazzi to swarm us or what?!"

Yagi coughs out blood, becoming a skeletal man once more, "Oh. Right," He then jokes, "But I'm pretty good at slipping away from them, so don't worry about me!"

Naruto stares at him, recalling his early days after the war and the people that wants a piece of him, some literally, and says, "My condolences to your peace,"

Yagi nods, "Thank you," He then says, "A-anyway...I figured that you two figured out who I am. Are you two alright? My punch is pretty devastating after all," He then says, "Also...there is something I'd like to talk to young Izuku about,"

Naruto looks around before saying, "Know any place you feel secured to talk about whatever this is?"

Yagi suddenly remembers that they are in a neighborhood and it isn't a very secure place to talk what he wished to. Nodding his head, he takes them to an old beat up truck and Naruto have to keep his hand on Izuku's mouth as the boy completely forget about his training to not mumble when standing before his idol. All Might to Izuku is Hokage Naruto to Konoha. Naturally, those who doesn't know him have all sorts of ideas about him.

As he drives to a familiar beach, he looks at Izuku, "Young Izuku...there is something I need to speak to you about...privately,"

Izuku looks at Naruto, "Why can't you say it in front of Naruto?"

Yagi thought about it and realize that Izuku could use someone like Naruto knowing. Naruto is smart and extremely sharp. He figured out about Yagi's identity as a Pro-Hero though not exactly who. And he also kept it secret from Izuku, not wanting the boy to overwhelm Yagi as Izuku is something of a Pro-Hero otaku. Though he behaves childishly around Izuku, he shows a startling maturity and wisdom.

In the end, Yagi smiles, "Alright. But you can't share this with anyone else. It is important that this stay only with you two,"

Izuku nods, "Okay!"

Naruto hums, "Is it about your mysterious Quirk?"

Yagi smiles, "Yes..." He then starts explaining, "I know that the tabloid magazines pinned down my Quirk as type of strengthening Quirk. However, that is not true. You see...I was born Quirkless..." Izuku almost explodes then and there but forces himself to listen, "And this Quirk I have is an inheritance type Quirk, One For All. And this power," He parks in front of a familiar family restaurant, "I would like to hand it down to you, Young Izuku,"

Izuku blinks at him before his eyes rolls back and faint, falling to the truck's floor in an awkward pose.

Naruto looks at him with a sigh, "Look what you did. He overloaded,"

Yagi flusters, "Ah! Apologies!"