"I hate myself everytime we do this," she whispered in his ear. She did. She'd hate herself. Hate herself for giving into a villian. For missing the smell of his cologne and the feel of his weight while on top of her. She hated the cycle they were in. She hated-

"I'll love you enough for the both of us," he replied back as he entered her and she relished the experience of sight and sound vanishing, of the moment when there was only them. In that one moment things could be as they were before everything turned bad. Before the "incident". Before she was shown her own conformity, her own cowardice. She didn't desire a simple life, she needed it. And yet, she gave herself to one incapable of such smallness.

She loved him, as best she could, as much as she could. But he was a storm, his emotions and passions ran deeper than anyone she'd known before or since. The only thing greater was his resolve, broad shoulders that could withstand all challenges. She was normal. One raindrop amongst many.

And as she clung to him, legs and arms wrapped around his larger frame she had to ask, "W-why me?". Why her? Why not some top heroine or villainess? Someone as grand or as strong?

"Why me?" he asked in return as his pace increased. Clear thinking had become untenable but even if she were coherent she wouldn't have a response. Why him was so obvious as to hardly require thought. But she'd never voice it, her speech reduced to moans and broken syllables. It was only after their mutual climax that it would all come crashing down. Instead of feeling safe and loved in the arms of her man, she felt crushing sadness.

"In-"

"Why?" she asked, tears welling in her eyes. "Why couldn't you have just given in?" The sheet slid off her and revealed a baby bump. Feeling a breeze run around her tummy, Inko rubbed it gently.

"I saw people in need of help so I helped. I didn't cause any property damage, I didn't harm anyone. I just helped some people that needed it. And some hero gets jealous I'm stealing the spotlight so he tries to subdue me. No, I'm not built like that."

"But you kept escalating," she said.

"Only to match them. What had I done that was so wrong? I told some government agent no and they didn't like that so they sicced their dogs on me. I would have stopped fighting the second they did but they only stopped when I made them stop."

"And now you're the most wanted man alive. I love you but I-I can't raise a child with a criminal."

"Miss Midoriya?" the voice on the other end of the line called out.

"Yes, I'm here. Sorry," she responded.

"It's no problem, ma'am. I just want you to know he's been spotted within the city and we're sending security over. Please lock all exits and remain there until we arrive."

Inko vaguely remembered answering in the affirmative but made no move to do so. If he was coming for her, no lock would prevent anything. A part of her hoped she'd be the target but she knew she wouldn't get that lucky.

Tsuyu, Ochaco, Mineta and Izuku thought they knew the depths of hopelessness and fear when they saw the beast lay into Mr. Aizawa. They thought it couldn't get much worse than being forced to face that thing when none believed they stood a chance. All of them shaking, unsteady and terrified. When the thing called Nomu attacked they thought it was over, even as Midoriya raced toward it in a desperate attempt to buy time.

They had, collectively, exhaled in relief when the Nomu's charge was stopped. Until they saw who their savior was. Yellow, sunshine hair, black suit and orange Chuck Taylors. Their mouths went dry, Mineta actually fainted. It was him. The only villain to best the entirety of the top ten simultaneously. The one that almost killed Endeavor and beat All Might into submission. Most Wanted in Asia, Europe, and America. The Calamity.

Uzumaki Naruto.

"What is he doing here?" Shigaraki screamed.

"Because I know you hadn't intentionally violated the rules I'll give you and your men one chance to leave," Naruto said as he effortlessly held Nomu in place. His voice deep, his tone even. "In exchange, you'll tell All for One accidents happen once. Future carelessness will be seen as movement against me and the response will be swift and all encompassing."

"I'm here to kill All Might!" Shigaraki yelled, indifferent to who stood before him. Naruto said nothing. Instead, he ripped the arms off Nomu, swept it off its feet and with one fluid motion grabbed the monster by its ankle and tossed it into the sky where it was met with a Wind Style Rasenshuriken.

Shigaraki had a near meltdown over the destruction of their anti-All Might weapon but no one else seemed to care about him throwing a fit. All attention was on the recently arrived blond.

"Massacre it is," he said as he removed his suit jacket and tossed it to Midoriya. "Hold that for me, champ, this won't take long," he requested as he smiled at the green-haired boy. Midoriya would have denied it under penalty of death but that smile had comforted him in the moment, even as the notorious villain had just announced his intent to kill.

Having turned back to the Shigaraki and Kurogiri, the pair watched the Uzumaki remove his tie and roll up his sleeves, signals he meant to attack them. Kurogiri hoped a delay in their acquiescence wouldn't doom them.

"Uzumaki-sama, we hadn't known you had interests here. Forgive my colleague, we will depart immediately."

"And your comrades?"

"I'll collect them as well, sir." He saw the nod and thanked the man, dragging Shigaraki away. Apparently satisfied that the threat had retreated, Naruto made his way over to Aizawa. The students tensed as they watched his approach but became confused when he chuckled.

"Guys, he's already hurt. I gain nothing by harming him more. Relax, I'm here to help," he reassured them. Once arrived, he placed a hand on Aizawa and the students watched in mild awe as the man seemed to heal instantly.

"I appreciate the assistance but I can't let you do what you came here to do," Aizawa said just loud enough for Naruto to hear.

"Be rational, Shota," Naruto admonished. "Do you think I came here on a whim? Or that I'd allow myself to be stopped by anyone? That I'm not willing to fight everyone?". Shota was slow to respond. This felt like a moment where fates could diverge. He was one of the few to know the real story of the "villain" Uzumaki Naruto instead of the Hero Public Safety Commission's propaganda. In their quest to stamp out anything they couldn't control they gave rise to a symbol of villainy equal to All Might. It was irrational

To say the least.

"Not here, Uzumaki. Not like this." Shota realized he wouldn't be able to stop the man but he was still responsible for the mental and physical wellbeing of his students and this was a shock Midoriya didn't need right now.

"I'm not going to blurt it out but I know what it feels like when everyone around you knows more about you than you know about yourself. It's isolating, you start to wonder who you can trust."

"Why now?" Shota asked. From what he knew of the situation, Midoriya Inko requested Uzumaki keep his distance to protect their son. He'd done so up til now, so what had changed?

"Several reasons but you aren't the person who is owed those answers." Finished with the discussion, Naruto left Shota and returned to Izuku and friends. "If you ladies wouldn't mind, Izuku could I talk with you for a moment?" Naruto requested. Naruto saw the concern on their faces so he reassured them. "I just want to talk, we won't be but twenty feet away." The former ninja smiled when Izuku nodded.

"How's Inko?" Naruto asked once the two were alone. He saw his son crane his neck, face ridden with shock. He laughed at the display, all kids think their parents came into existence with them. "Yes, I know your mom, Izuku. How is she?"

"Well… sir?" he said with hesitation. Naruto didn't visibly react but hated the awkwardness. He remained silent hoping Izuku would give him more than well. "She just got her black belt in jiu jitsu a few months ago and was really happy about that."

"Does she still compete?" Naruto asked but knew the answer.

"Not as much but occasionally. I try to get her to do it more often but she doesn't like all the attention of the bigger competitions."

"It makes her anxious," Naruto added in agreement. He wished he could have helped her more with it but treating it as a problem for him to solve or a defect she needed to fix would have only added to her problems. She managed and had a life, whatever her struggles.

"And how about you? How are you liking UA? How's your training?"

"Um, no offense, Mr. Uzumaki, but why do you care?" Izuku forced out after several moments of internal deliberation. Naruto scratched the back of his head, it was as good an opening as he was going to get.

"Well, Izuku, I care because-"

"Naruuuuuuuuutttttttttttooooooooooooooooooo!" a booming voice yelled and Naruto felt his agitation spike. All Might, puffed up and a head full of steam arrived like thunderclap. But it wasn't just him, much of the UA faculty was here along with several other pros. Naruto grabbed the red feathers that tried to attach themselves to Izuku and flung them away. When they didn't return he assumed Hawks got the point. Though, he'd give props for getting the kids and Aizawa out of the building.

"Stay here, Izuku, everything'll be fine," Naruto said.

"Wait, I can explain to All Might, you haven't done anything… today."

"I appreciate that but it won't be necessary. Matter of fact, you should treat this like a learning opportunity. I hear you're really good with Quirk assessments and decent with battle strategy so consider this an intermediate lesson; the limitations of a numerical advantage." As Naruto spoke, Endeavor, Edgeshot and Kamui Woods revealed themselves.

"I'm assuming you've seen recordings of the incident and know the basic limitations of groups attacking a single opponent. Right, Izuku?"

"Y-yes. Space is a limitation. Only so many people can attack at once and the more diverse the skills the more limited that spacing becomes."

"Good lad," Naruto complimented. "But you must assume your enemies are aware of this limitation as well and have devised stratagems to counteract it. This is a battle of stages. All Might and Endeavor are misdirects, they'll attack head on but they aren't the keys to victory."

"T-then who is?" Izuku asked.

"She's out of view for the time being but if hard doesn't work they go soft. Don't worry, this won't take long."

As soon as Naruto said that Snipe fired several rounds. Naruto caught them between his fingers, refusing to move until he chose to. All Might rushed in and Naruto tossed the bullets at Endeavor to slow his approach. With his free hand he caught All Might's punch, the collision created a shockwave.

"You've gotten weak, Old Man," Naruto mocked. All Might attempted to answer with a follow up punch but was intercepted by a knee to the chin. The power of the blow, and Naruto releasing his fist, caused All Might to fly back. Kamui Woods sent a barrage of tree branches. Naruto stayed still, he knew it wasn't the real attack.

"Burn!" Endeavor yelled as he ignited the branches and created a great blaze.

"Ugh!" Kamui grunted as a fist buried itself into his abdomen. All Might arrived to aid his fellow hero and unleashed a chain of punching combinations powerful enough to cause shockwaves but Naruto dodged or deflected them all.

"How can you fight alongside Endeavor knowing what he's done, All Might? Does the peace you symbolize end at the front door?" Naruto teased as he continued to evade the onslaught. The two were going at such a furious pace that no other hero could get involved and Naruto's only attacks were throwing shuriken at the feathers still trying to apprehend Izuku.

"What? No answer, hero? Physical and emotional abuse are ok as long as you're a favored dog of the Commission?"

"Whatever his flaws, you are the greater danger, Naruto. You represent the belief that the powerful should get to pick and choose which laws they follow and which they don't!" Naruto slipped through All Might's offense and landed a palm strike above his heart. The blow stopped the hero's momentum long enough for Naruto to execute a one-inch punch and send All Might flying, blood spewing from his mouth.

Endeavor thought it was his time to truly go on the offensive but Naruto suddenly appeared before him and felled him with a series of hooks to his body, cracking several ribs. Once on the ground, Naruto kicked Endeavor away like a stray can. He returned to Izuku's location and waited.

"They need to herd me, Izuku. One, to get you away from me and secondly, to make me go to their second stage instead of bringing it to me. Edgeshot will try, Gang Orca and Cementoss are meant to disorient me. Watch."

Izuku did just as he was bade. He watched the notorious Uzumaki dismantle the heroes, taking out Edgeshot before he moved on to others. Ectoplasm was next, his clones offering no resistance. Cementoss attempted to corner the Uzumaki while Gang Orca used his sonic waves to disorient but he blitzed the aquatic mammalian hero before turning on Cementoss. On and on it went until he walked back over to the lone remaining UA student, Midnight tied up in wire and being carried over his shoulder.

"She was the lynchpin. Not a bad plan, they don't know if her quirk would affect me or not but once it was clear I knew their endgame they couldn't adjust. Planning is fine but rigidity is death. Gotta flow. Smooth is fast, ya know?" Naruto explained and Izuku nodded. While he didn't think anyone could mimic the Uzumaki's style, the larger principles of his approach could be utilized elsewhere.

Both heard grunts and the sound of a body shifting. Naruto turned to see All Might returning to his feet. He casually tossed Midnight to the man, forcing the hero to catch his fellow instructor. Izuku didn't know how he did it but several tori gates fell from the sky and created a barrier around the fallen heroes. They were trapped and Izuku realized he was alone with no knowledge of if more support was coming. He heard the hapless banging of fists against the barrier's walls. All Might's punches matched the pulse of Izuku's heartbeat, which felt like it was in his ears.

He moved. He didn't know why. He should have been terrified, a part of him was but the cowardice of being a passive observer while real heroes tried their best… he couldn't standby any longer. His flying cross was caught, the midair high kick that followed it was blocked and Izuku was tossed away like he weighed nothing.

"What are your win conditions, Izuku?" Uzumaki asked calmly as he allowed Izuku to return to his feet. He heard All Might yell at him to flee but he couldn't. The very idea turned something sour in him. He didn't run When everyone said his quirk was weak and useless, when he could only stick leaves to his body, when he was picked on. He didn't run.

He also didn't know how he could win or what winning was in this circumstance. Holding this man back for a time? Getting him to drop the barrier? All Might couldn't have much time left, Izuku couldn't wait around to find his objective. He clenched his teeth and charged at the much taller man. He launched his offensive, punches, kicks, feints. He switched levels, going low, high, mid. Every trick, tactic or technique he could think of.

"Kenpo is an excellent base, it'll leave you well prepared to add different styles to it but you're too used to your opponent giving you openings," Naruto lectured as he ducked, dodged or deflected Izuku's attack. "Seasoned fighters won't do that so you have to generate your own offensive but that assumes you are, if not similarly skilled, then equal in speed or strength." Naruto slapped away a kick and lazily sent a teep to Izuku. The adolescent blocked it but was sent skidding back.

Izuku shook his arms, both feeling numbed from the single strike. Close ranged, at least solely closed ranged combat would not be enough. The UA first year flexed fingers and with all the speed he could and performed a chain of hand seals: Snake → Dragon → Horse →Monkey and thought Earth Style: Seismic Collapse Technique as he slapped both hands on the ground.

The area under Naruto fell into a previously non-existent sinkhole. He jumped away, avoiding falling in and escaping injury. Izuku was not deterred, having prepared for his target to escape. Hare → Tiger → Monkey → Rat, he sequenced. Two parallel, jagged rock structures arose from the ground and began to move toward each other. With ease Uzumaki leapt above the structures but Izuku, again, planned for his Earth Style: Crushing Cliffs Technique to not hit. It was meant to set him up for the real attack.

Bitching an exposed thumb from his fingerless gloves, Izuku summoned his lifelong friend. "Tetsuo, combo, skyward" Izuku said as he set forward with a new sequence of hand signs. Tetsuo did as well without missing a beat. The orange and red toad's Water Style: Gunshot merged with Izuku's Lightning Style: Electromagnetic Murder and raced toward the skybound Uzumaki. Izuku was hopeful the attack would land seeing no way for Uzumaki to avoid it.

Until he saw something he'd thought was an impossibility. A series of gestures no one else would ever have need for. But he could see the experience and wondered if the man was going slow for his benefit. Everything slowed down. His legs felt weak and he found it hard to breathe. The Uzumaki unleashing a massive amount of water, streaming with black lightning no less, was confirmation. His and Tetsuo's technique was overwhelmed and the counter was headed straight for him.

"Do not falter, Young Midoriya!" he heard All Might yell. No, he couldn't quit. The other heroes were counting on him. Whatever Uzumaki was to him, however he came to have chakra was immaterial.

"Earth Style: Earth Wall!" Izuku called out, uncharacteristically, as he created a forty foot high rock wall. He was breathing heavily, his emotional state caused his control to slip and he wasted more chakra than he would normally. The wall groaned but held back the avalanche of water.

"You ok, bro?" Tetsuo asked.

"Do you know who he is, Tetsuo?" Izuku asked.

"He's the reason you have the Toad Contract, bro," Tetsuo said and then followed up, "I was sworn to not say until he revealed himself. I'm sorry."

"I-it's ok. I think I understand. Let's hang out later, ok?" Izuku requested. Him being left in the dark hurt but he wouldn't lose his best friend over this, over him.

"Ok. One last thing, Izubro, where we originate from, Naruto was a bigger hero than All Might. Just keep that in mind," Tetsuo departed on those words. His toad friend's words had not helped. With the cessation of the fighting, the weight came. So much weight, on his chest. Breaths became short and harder to perform.

Why (hadn't he been in his life, had his mom lied, was he here now)?

Where (had he been, was he when his mom used to cry herself to sleep, did he get the nerve to show up)

What (was he supposed to do, opinion should he have of this man, did this mean for his career)?

How (could he forgive him, move past the lies, face the most wanted man on the globe)?

"Breathe, son," a soft voice cut through the storm of questions. "Just focus on the timing of your breaths. In two three; out two three. Everything will come in its time so just breathe." If he weren't actively riding out an anxiety attack, Izuku would have been annoyed that he found the man soothing as he had no right. When his breathing started to return to normal he felt a hand on his shoulder and was transported to the top of his earth wall.

Uzumaki, his dad!, sat and Izuku followed suit. The man handed him a leather bound photo album. Izuku looked up to him in question but was greeted with the brightest smile he'd ever seen. "I know you have questions, you are owed answers. I thought I'd tell you a little about my life first. Is that alright?"

"Y-yes," Izuku muttered as he opened the book. The first picture was small, wallet sized and of a yellow haired man and beautiful red haired woman."

"That is the only picture I got to take with my parents," Naruto said. Izuku didn't understand until he really looked at the photo and saw the baby bump. "My parents and I were attacked the moment I was born. The man unleashed a great power upon the village and manipulated him into doing terrible things. They sacrificed themselves to save me and our village. My dad, your grandad, Minato, was the leader at the time and felt it was his responsibility to do so. He also believed I would be the only one able to defeat the man who killed my family before I'd ever get to know them."

"How could he think that?" Izuku asked. His dad was just a baby, how could anyone just believe that?

"It's complicated but partially because there was a prophecy, partially because my dad was an unparalleled genius so it made him weird, and partially he wanted to make himself feel better about leaving me alone in the world with a terrible burden."

Izuku nodded and flipped the page. The next picture was Naruto sitting in a chair, face splitting grin, wearing a hat too big for his head with an older man smiling fondly behind him. "That was Sarutobi Hiruzen, the third Hokage, what we called the leaders of my village. He appointed my father his successor but returned to power after his death. He was a kind, wise, and powerful man but greatly flawed. He trusted blindly and would allow sentiment to override logic.

I was widely discriminated against within the village. No one knew of my lineage, only that I contained the very force that ravaged the village but I didn't know I contained anything. I resented the villagers. I started to want to hurt them for their constant rejection. The old man made mistakes but he pulled me from my hatred and prevented me from closing my heart to others. For that, if nothing else, I'll always be grateful to him."

When Naruto said no more Izuku turned the page, the picture was of Naruto with a young man who had a scar over his nose. "That is Iruka-sensei. I wasn't the best student, for a lot of reasons, so when I failed the exam to become an official ninja one of the instructors used my desperation to trick me. The man intended to kill me but Iruka-sensei saved my life. He also defended my very humanity on the night I discovered what had been sealed into me. We managed to beat back the traitor and Iruka was there for many of the most important moments of my life.

The two would continue to work through the photo album, Naruto sharing tales of his time as a member of Team 7, of meeting his Godfather/Master and how he personally recruited the Fifth Hokage. As they moved forward, the story got darker and Naruto spoke of betrayals and war. Of a final clash between two brothers. Of death and consequence. But then things got bright again when Izuku arrived at a picture of his much younger mother. Several photos of them together. Then of Izuku in a hospital nursery. Izuku was amazed at how many pictures his father had of him, candids with his mother in the picture so she couldn't have taken them. His first day of school, promotion ceremonies at his dojo, etc…

"Just because you didn't see me doesn't mean I wasn't here," Naruto said to a teary-eyed Izuku, the boy trying and failing to contain his emotions.

"Oh, my, it seems you've made a mess, Mr. Uzumaki," a little voice called from below. Naruto rolled his eyes.

"Nezu," he greeted emotionlessly.

"I prefer Principle," the amalgamation said.

"Your dogs are more responsible for the destruction than I am," Naruto said, ignoring that last statement.

"Oh, dear, that won't do. Why don't you both come down here so we get this all cleared up?"

In a blink of an eye Naruto and Izuku were by the principle and following him to the barrier imprisoning the heroes. Nezu slipped something to Naruto, Izuku couldn't quite tell what but it caused his father to smile, deviously. Nezu stopped, as did Izuku, a few feet from the barrier but Naruto got right up on it.

"Hey, All Bitch, you like apples?" Naruto asked. The Symbol of Peace bristled at the name but nodded. Naruto slapped two plastic cards, one on each hand, against the barrier. It was a full hero license and a UA faculty id. "How do you like dem apples?"

New story, blame Razuhfy.

Quick notes:

I like All Might. This isn't a bash All Might story. However, Naruto has reason to dislike All Might and vice versa. So, when two superpowered beings that can level planets or change weather patterns don't like each other they get really petty. You've been warned.

Fourth Shinobi War happened differently.

Inko is still snacc size.

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Later!