CHAPTER 35: GAZE

"Let's see…your quirk Slip and Slide lets you turn any surface you touch slick and smooth…" Apotheosis tapped his pen along the edge of his notebook in thought. "You could use this for quick escapes like we discussed."

"Yes I've tried to use it to trip up police and heroes by slicking up the streets and sidewalk, but that causes me and my gang to trip too." The tan skinny thug dressed in leather and chains said. He'd been having trouble finding a practical use for his quirk. He's pretty much nothing more than a joke to the other members of the gang at this point.

"And you can't switch it off on command. It simply wears off over time." Izuku hummed in thought at this conundrum. He started tapping his pen along his scarf covered mouth. He wasn't the first low class villain and criminal to come to him for advice on better ways to use his quirk. Ever since word got out that he could analyze quirks, break them down, and come up with new applications for them, these low lives started flocking to him. Izuku didn't complain though. This was exactly what he wanted to help him find quirks that could be used for his Infinity Gauntlet.

"Perhaps some cleated shoes for yourself and your comrades so you all can keep your balance and not be hindered by your quirk. If you could learn how to skate then maybe you could glide on the slick surfaces. Or maybe it could be used to help move heavy objects." He started speaking a mile a minute. A common habit these thugs were used to.

"Excuse me, but are you the one they call Apotheosis?" Their little meeting was cut short by a newcomer. "I need to have a word with you." Izuku stopped his scribbling and looked up to see someone dressed in a white long coat with what looked like a modern plague doctor mask.

"I'm busy, come back later." Izuku told him.

"I don't have time for that." A long tendril shaped like the hand of a clock extended out from underneath his hood, stopping at the thug's face. "Leave." Izuku's client paled and stood up, quickly taking off.

"Impatient much. Please step into my office." Izuku joked since his 'office' consisted of two beaten up rusted desk chairs in a corner of the underground parking garage. He gestured to the seat opposite him but the bird masked man preferred to stand.

"I'm here representing the Shie Hassaikai, I assume you've heard of us." He started.

"Yes I've heard of all the old school Yakuza groups that are slowly fading away to memory." Izuku mocked. Just like quirkless people, organized crime families were dying breeds.

"Well we've heard of your exploits as a criminal consultant and my boss would like to offer you a job." The masked man ignored his jab and laid his offer on the table. "Your analytical skills would be very valuable to our organization and our leader would-" He was interrupted when the boy raised his gloved hand.

"I'm going to stop your right there." Izuku frowned underneath his scarf. "I'm a freelance consultant which means that I get to pick and choose my clients. I really enjoy that freedom, so why should I shackle myself to an organization that I know nothing about let alone an organization that's probably on its last legs."

"If you knew what I know you'd accept the offer." That tone of his voice sounded dangerous.

"Is that some sort of threat?" Izuku chuckled. "Am I being threatened by the lackey of a Yakuza group that's struggling to survive?" He was acting tough, but it was all a rouse. He lacked a quirk and had yet to finish his prototype force field generator, so he had no means to defend himself. Bluffing, a lesson he picked up very quickly while around criminals.

"First of all Kai Chisaki is not someone that you say no to." He said while simultaneously naming his boss. "Secondly he's working on something big that will put the Shie Hassaikai back on the map. You could be part of that if you did the smart thing and take the offer he's generously giving you."

"I'm going to pass." Izuku had already decided before the other finished his sentence. "While I'm a bit intrigued to see what this Chisaki thinks will bring the Yakuza back from the abyss, as a small time villain I'm not really looking to make a big splash at the moment. Even then I plan on debuting alone when that time comes. Plus as I've already said your groups a dying breed and I don't want to be there when it finally goes belly up"

"Alright have it your way." Another arrow shaped tendril extended out from under his hood. "I'll just bring you to Kai and you can tell that to his face and we'll see what that gets you." The appendage stopped an inch away from his face as the click of a cocked gun was heard.

"That's our little hired brain that you're messing with." That very gun was pressed to the back of the bird masked man's head. Izuku just chuckled seeing that back up had finally arrived.

"Allow me to properly introduce you. Say hi to the C ranked villain known as Shackle Bolt, leader of the Chain Gang. You met one of their members a few minutes ago. He was that man you rudely shooed away." The Yakuza representative turned slowly to see a large burley man with a spiked Mohawk, dressed in leather with chains wrapped around his sleeves. Behind him were the rest of the gang, some pointing guns at him and some holding bats wrapped in chains and barbwire.

"Shackle Bolt, this is…I'm sorry I didn't get your name?" Izuku was very amused, they could tell by his tone.

"It's Chronostasis to you." He finally introduced himself coldly.

"You see Chronostasis, I might not have been active for long, but I have made a few friends here and there that see value in me." Izuku smiled at seeing the man retract his quirk back into his hood.

"Very well then I'll leave, but expect a visit from Kai Chisaki soon." He turned around to leave without starting a fight with the armed gang poised to attack him, but gave one last ominous heads up. "And just a fair warning Apotheosis, he's anything but merciful to people that disrespect him." When he was gone and the Chain Gang lowered their weapons Izuku nearly doubled over.

"Oh wow! I almost threw up there." He panted wiping the sweat from his brow. "Thank you for the save Shackle Bolt."

"No problem kid. You may not be part of the gang, but we consider you a valuable ally." The villain said.

It was a month later that Apotheosis went and joined up with the League of Villains. He wasn't big on joining a villain organization at first, but they had given him the work space he needed for his project. Luckily he never encountered the leader of the Shie Hassaikai.

"Now that everyone's here we can begin." Sir Nighteye started off. "As you are probably already aware, myself and the police have been investigating the Shie Hassaikai group for some time." His two sidekicks Centipeder and Bubble Girl stood behind his chair. The surrounding tables were filled the various heroes that he called upon to help with his investigation like Fat Gum, Ryukyu, Rock Lock and Erasure Head. Also in attendance were five U.A students that found themselves involved in this investigation. First was Mirio Togata his own intern. Then there were Fat Gum's two interns Tamaki Amajiki and Eijiro Kirishima, who had encountered a villain who used the quirk erasing bullets first hand. Lastly Tsuyu Asui and Nejire Hado, working under the dragon hero Ryukyu, were there.

"Isn't that one of the few remaining Yakuza groups?" Aizawa questioned. Nighteye nodded in confirmation.

"In the past few months there have been several incidents where villains and criminals have been using quirk cancelling bullets." The former sidekick explained. "None of those who we captured wouldn't say where the bullets were coming from and some didn't know anything at all."

"A complex distribution network then?" Rock Lock realized.

"Nothing could be traced back to the any specific group until recently." Nighteye revealed that the gangs that purchased illegal drugs obtained them from the same distributor that also had dealings with the yakuza group. They believed that this distributor was the intermediary that the yakuza were using to get there drugs and bullets out into the street. Nighteye also had a theory they had about the current captain of the Hassaikai, about the nature and function of his quirk, called Overhaul.

"In a recent breakthrough we were able to acquire one of the quirk erasing bullets thanks to the efforts of Fat Gum's intern Eijiro Kirishima." The B.M.I hero quietly praised his student. "We discovered human D.N.A inside, along with host of various chemicals."

"Obviously they are using someone with an erasure type quirk to make these things." Ryukyu realized. "With Chisaki's ability to deconstruct and reconstruct anything, he's probably crafting bullets with this person's blood."

"According to our records none of the members of the Shie Hassaikai have a quirk that could erase others as far as we know." Centipeder told them.

"Which leads me to the current dilemma." Nighteye sighed as he was about to bring up an unpleasant theory that he recently came up with. "Two days ago Mirio Togata ran into Kai Chisaki during a routine patrol. There He encountered the man's daughter, a young girl named Eri." Before he could continue there was a commotion downstairs near the entrance of the agency. The heroes were put on guard when hearing the noise, wondering if they were under attack. The door to the meeting room was pushed open by a large robotic arm and in stepped Director of the H.R.D Izuku Midoriya followed by one of his robots. The heroes and students froze and some went to stand in a panic, wondering if this was one of his inquisitions inflicted on those he deemed fraudulent heroes.

"No need to get up on my account." Izuku tried to put them at ease. "I'm just looking for the head of this agency and host of this meeting."

"What are you doing here!?" Nighteye did stand up from his seat when he realized that Midoriya was here for him.

"Relax. I'm merely here to offer my support." He said as he walked around the tables of gathered heroes. "My department has also been investigating these quirk erasing bullets for a while and like you Sir Nighteye, we've also traced it back to the Shie Hassaikai group."

"This is a private meeting." Nighteye argued. "How did you even know we were meeting to discuss this?"

"You should know by now that nothing gets by the Hero Regulation Department." Pulling out a digital tablet he showed him the official forms signed by the commissioner of police, as well as the president of the H.P.C, and backed up by the prime minister's seal. Giving him permission to take part in this matter. "Sadly our investigations are being merged into one. I'd rather conduct this myself, but orders are orders." Izuku sighed. "And to top it all off they didn't put me in charge so the floor is all yours Sir Nighteye. Go on continue. I'll just fill in the gaps."

"Alright." Nighteye kept a warry eye on him as he returned to his seat and resumed the meeting. "As I was saying Lemillion here encountered the girl and was quickly accosted by Chisaki himself."

"When and where was this?" Izuku suddenly asked.

"Excuse me?" Sir Nighteye frowned at being interrupted.

"Time and location please?" The boy raised his voice just a tad.

"Imperial Street, Monday at 12.35 P.M." It was Mirio that supplied the answer. He had memorized that moment, because he felt terrible having to leave that poor girl alone with that man. Even though Sir told him that he made the right decision, it still felt wrong.

"Thank you." Izuku waved his Titan robot over and repeated the information that the older boy told him. From the machine's eyes a holographic image was projected in the center of the meeting tables. It appeared to be a minimized version of the street that this encounter occurred at. "The Titans record everything that happens in their sight. All I need is a time and location and I can bring up that information." The heroes and students watched as the scene played out. Mirio was walking along the sidewalk when out of an alley a white haired girl stumbled out. She nearly tripped and fell if the hero in training didn't catch her. "Pause." The green haired director ordered. "Zoom in and enhance." The transparent 3D image froze and focused in on the child in Mirio's arms. "Is that the girl? Her name is Eri right?"

"Yes." Sir Nighteye was annoyed by his presence at the meeting, but he was at least grateful for the visual aide. "There's no birth certificate on record. Due to what we know about Chisaki's quirk and the bandaged and terrified state of the child, there's a possibility that he's using her to create these quirk erasing bullets." When Nighteye was finished the young director continued with what he discovered.

"In my investigation my men acquired some of these bullets, taking them back to the lab I was able to find trace amounts of D.N.A and various chemicals, because of these compounds I was unable to breakdown the quirk factor in the genetics." Izuku supplied. "But I was able to identify the age and gender that the sample came from. Your hunch is indeed correct Sir Nighteye, it came from a little girl." He ordered his robot to bring up another set of images. "My top agents were able to successfully follow a known member of the group and infiltrate the main base of the Shie Hassaikai." The hologram displayed a basic layout of the mansion, detailing a rough path into a secret underground facility full of rooms and corridors. "My men weren't able to get very far before I had them pull out, but they were able to gather information which allowed me to deduce where the girl is being held." A room on the map was highlighted showing the most likely place she was.

"Impressive." Erasure Head complimented, he too was grateful for the information that Midoriya gave them. This must be what it's like to be on the same page as the so called mastermind for once.

"Indeed." Nighteye agreed a bit miffed that Midoriya was several steps ahead of him already. He could definitely see how Allmight and other heroes were easily outsmarted by him now. "In fact you don't seem to need us, so what are you doing here Director Midoriya?" He wondered what the teenager was up to.

"This is a hero investigation into an organized crime group. I can't personally take action due to the government restrictions placed on me unless the situation reaches a dire level." Izuku quickly explained, much to his frustration. Normally he'd just crush these Yakuza bastards, but he had to sit back and let the heroes handle it. However the second they find themselves in over there head he'd step in to take care of it.

"I see." Nighteye realized that even Midoriya had some limits he had to abide by. Plus with the information that he supplied they'd be able to move in almost immediately. "Thank you for your support Director Midoriya, we should be able to make a move on the Shie Hassaikai and rescue the child."

"Happy to help." Izuku gave a genuine smile. With some more shared information between heroes a plan was soon laid out to conduct an arrest for Kai Chisaki and his underlings, but more importantly rescue Eri. The problem was that the U.A students were adamant that they help out with this operation, especially Mirio. Midoriya didn't have a problem with it as he would be bringing in his three knights to take part. Todoroki, Iida and Uraraka needed the field experience and this would give them an opportunity to show the fruits of their training.

With the meeting concluded the heroes and students left. Izuku was the last to leave. He had a lot on his mind. There was something about the little girl's face that bothered him. He couldn't quite place it though. Just as he created a portal to take him back to the base a voice stopped him.

"Director Midoriya!" Mirio called after him. Izuku canceled out the portal as he turned to face the older boy.

"What do you want?" He asked indifferently.

"I just wanted to thank you." Mirio bowed politely, smile ever present on his face. "Your resources and information have really helped Sir out a lot. The efficiency of your department is amazing."

'Suck up' Izuku thought to himself. "Well thank you. I just want this mess taken care of as quickly as possible. Quirk erasing bullets are a huge threat to the hero profession and society as a whole."

"More importantly we need to save Eri from that man." He reminded the younger boy.

"We're both in agreement on that." He was never one to leave a child to a lunatic's mercy. The hallway became awkwardly quiet. Even Izuku could tell there was some tension here. "Look you obviously have something you wish to say to me so please get it now. Don't worry I've already heard every terrible thing said about me. I'm sure you probably hate something that I've done"

"I don't hate you or what you've done." He suddenly said surprising the other.

"Really?" That honestly puzzled Izuku.

"I think you've done a lot of good for our country. The changes you implemented to the hero profession were really for the best. I want to thank you personally for that." Mirio truly meant every word. "I just think you should stop soon."

"Stop?" Izuku raised a brow at that comment.

"I think you've done enough." The taller boy said. "I'm not blind to some of the things you did to get this far and how some of which were acts of villainy, but when will it be enough. Look at everything you have accomplished. Isn't it enough?"

"Enough?" The green haired gauntlet user chuckled at that. "You know Allmight said something similar to that before I smashed him into a building." He noticed Mirio Togata's eyes hardened for a brief moment and decided to keep pushing. "You're very similar to him. I can see that now. I wonder if you have the same asinine naïve view of the world that he had." His smile remained, but Izuku could see the dagger-like glare aimed at him. He didn't seem to like Allmight being insulted. That was very obvious. With another light chuckled he turned away from him creating another portal. "As for stopping. I don't plan to. When everything is fair, just and balanced. Only then will I have finally done enough."

"What will you do then?" Mirio asked him.

"Probably retire. Find a successor to carry on my work and hand my infinity gauntlet over to them." He said without turning around. "Everyone needs someone to pass the torch to. Allmight and his arch enemy taught me that."

"Yet some people steal what was meant to be given to others." Mirio said under his breath, but just loud enough for Midoriya to hear. The director of the H.R.D paused before he stepped through the portal. The accusing remark was a little too specific.

"What was meant to be given to others? Are you perhaps talking about…" Izuku turned back around to face him again. "One for All?" Togata didn't respond, but the small flinch gave himself away. Izuku smirked and walked towards him. "Now I get it. The similar ideology to Allmight, similar physique, smile and hopeful personality. The fact that you're interning for an ex-sidekick of Allmight. The way you responded to my biting remarks about the former hero. On top of that knowledge of One for All." He wanted to laugh at how he didn't see it before. "You were meant to be his successor, the next holder of One for All and the new symbol of peace." Yes it made perfect sense. Mirio Togata was the perfect candidate for someone like Allmight. He has all the qualities to make a new symbol of peace.

"And what if I was?" Mirio asked him. What did it matter anyway? Midoriya had that power now.

"Your one of U.A's big three. You're very strong on your own so why did you accept the offer?" Izuku ignored his question and asked his own. "The idea of gaining more power was appealing wasn't it?" He knew because it was appealing to him as well. Mirio wanted to refute that claim, but knew there was no convincing Midoriya. He was obviously too stubborn for that. "And that's what it always comes down to. Power. Power. Power. Power. That's what makes a difference in this world. We humans as a species crave it." He smirked widely at Mirio. "The difference between you and I was that you, who already possessed a quirk, were happy to get what was to be handed to you on a silver platter." He stepped closer to the blonde student. "I on the other hand, the quirkless loser with nothing special. If I wanted something, I realized long ago that I had to reach out…" He extended his gauntlet clad left hand and held it right next Mirio's head, soul stone glowing brightly with its vile power. "And take it." He clenched his hand in a grip, making a loud clink. Togata didn't even flinch or look at the gauntlet. He kept his gaze locked with Midoriya. Not an ounce of terror or anxiety in his eyes. The freckled boy smiled at his iron nerves. "I like you." Izuku laughed as he broke eye contact and spun around to step through the portal. "You'll make an amazing hero."

"And don't worry about Eri, with my support we'll save her." That was the last thing he said before the portal closed leaving Mirio alone. He wasn't completely by himself though. Sir Nighteye was just around the corner having listened to the whole conversation. He was quite proud that his student was able to stand tall in the face of someone like Midoriya, but at the same time he was worried. Now that Midoriya had figured out there was a connection between him and Allmight the young director would be keeping a close eye on him and it was never good when Izuku Midoriya had his gaze locked on someone.

H.R.D-HEAD QUARTERS

When Izuku was alone in his personal office he accessed the files from the Titan's data base again. The same one he brought up during the meeting. The hologram projector produced the recreation of Togata meeting the child Eri and the man known as Kai Chisaki. A few clicks on his key board and the holographic 3D image paused and focused on the girl.

'This is going to be a risky high stakes operation'. Izuku thought as he stared at Eri. He didn't trust that Sir Nighteye, the other pros and the police would have this under control.

"Did you tell them?" He turned to the shadow in his office where he saw Stain leaning against the wall. It was him and Himiko that were able to successfully infiltrate the yakuza's main base and get the information he so generously supplied to Sir Nighteye and his colleagues. Stain tracked down a low level lackey of the Shie Hassaikai that wouldn't be missed, cornered him, took care of him quietly, and then Himiko Toga drained all of his blood to take on his appearance. The rest was child's play.

"Tell them what?" Izuku smirked. "About how the League of Villains has joined forces with the Shie Hassaikai. No I didn't, but I think we both know that Shigaraki isn't on their side, not after their little violent confrontation." He chuckled. Though he was secretly a bit impressed that Tomura didn't lose his cool and outright murder him. Instead he was pretending to ally himself with Chisaki, most likely biding his time until an opportune moment to stab him in the back presented itself. The young villain was learning how to reign in his temper and use every situation to his advantage, just like All for One wanted for him. "It's not something they are us need to worry about."

"Why do you let Shigaraki continue to exist?" The former hero killer questioned. "He's a rabid cur, so why keep him around?"

"That he is, but a cur's weakness, properly manipulated, can be a sharp tool." Izuku smiled. Yes he could easily crush Shigaraki and what's left of the league at any time if he so desired. However Tomura had the potential to be a great villain. A villain so dangerous that whichever hero defeated him could be the new symbol of peace.

'How would Allmight feel about Mirio Togata defeating Shigaraki and being crowned the new symbol of peace by Izuku Midoriya?' The boy chuckled at the idea of it. That would certainly break what was left of the former number one hero. He'd have to put a pin in that thought later. For now he had to create a backup plan to rescue that girl in the likely event that this operation went to hell.

Another long wait I know. I'm trying to take my time with these chapters, but the time often gets away from me sadly. Also I know I'm kind of glossing over a lot of things, but this is fanfiction, so I'm heavily relying on you the fans to know the gist of what is happening as well as what the characters look like. I haven't skewed off of the canon yet, but that will probably happen soon.

That flashback in the beginning was actually a recycled scene from the early chapters of this story. In my rush to get to the point where Izuku has the gauntlet I skipped through a big period of time that he was a villain strategist and consultant. Remember a lot time passed during that. Those ten months canon Izuku spent training, Apotheosis was spending it working for criminals. In one of the next few chapters I'll probably talk more about the significance of that flashback and tell you guys about the original version of this story. It involved Izuku working for Overhaul before he joined the League of Villains. More on that next time.

Based off reviews it looks like Gentle Criminal is going to be in this. I have a role for him to fill already lined up. No he is not going to try and infiltrate U.A during the festival. He's going to do something bolder and probably dumber. You'll see.

Thank you for reading.