MHA: Akatsuki

"I'm cooked."

The thought barely had time to settle before Mirko lunged. With a powerful leap, she shot into the air, her muscles coiling like a loaded spring before she rocketed toward Yahiko, fist cocked back.

Her speed was blinding.

Yahiko's corpse, calm as ever, raised a hand, intending to repel her away with Almighty Push—

But then, his body froze.

A sudden, chilling realization struck Satoshi.

The cooldown.

"I forgot about the cooldown..." Satoshi thought.

His eyes barely had time to widen before—

BAM!

Mirko's fist smashed into his chest, and the force sent Yahiko crashing down like a meteor. The impact shattered the ground beneath him, a thick cloud of dust erupting into the air.

For a second, there was silence.

Then—

Cheers.

The crowd that had backed away roared in excitement, their fear melting into loud shouts and applause. Some clapped, others whistled, as if they had just witnessed a decisive victory.

Mirko, still smirking, cracked her knuckles. "Hah! That's it?" she scoffed. "Didn't think you'd go down that easy."

She rolled her shoulders, her sharp eyes watching the dust settle. "I was expecting more from Akatsuki," she continued. "Especially from that 'Evil Angel' I keep hearing about." She tilted her head. "So tell me, masked guy—" her grin widened, showing sharp canines— "What's your name?"

The dust finally began to clear.

And then—

Yahiko's corpse began to rise.

Slowly. Deliberately.

His movements were unnatural, his posture eerily calm despite the powerful blow he had just taken. His cloak, tattered from the impact, still billowed slightly from the lingering force.

Then, Yahiko's voice, deep and absolute, cut through the air.

"I am Pain."

His gaze pierced through her, through the heroes, through the very city itself.

"And soon enough… all who oppose true justice—"

"Villains."

"Corrupt heroes."

"And the rotten government officials who have twisted the meaning of heroism—"

"They will all come to understand pain."

The air around him felt heavier, as if the very atmosphere was bending to his words.

"They will know pain."

Yahiko's piercing gaze remained locked onto Mirko, his voice unwavering, carrying the weight of his words.

"The Akatsuki will make sure of it."

"We will bring true peace."

His words hung in the air, as if etching themselves into the minds of all who listened. Then, his expression remained impassive as he tilted his head slightly.

"We will meet again, Rabbit Hero."

"Or perhaps… you will face another member of the Akatsuki next time."

Mirko's ears twitched, her sharp instincts flaring.

"Like hell you're getting away!"

With explosive force, she launched herself forward, her fist reared back, aiming to strike him down before he could escape.

But—

Puff!

A sudden cloud of white smoke burst from where Pain stood.

Mirko's fist cut through the haze, dispersing it completely—but her eyes widened as she realized.

Pain was gone.

The ground where he stood was empty.

The crowd murmured in confusion, and the other heroes tensed, their eyes scanning the surroundings.

Mirko clicked her tongue, scowling as she snapped her gaze around. Left. Right. Above.

But no matter where she looked—

He had vanished.

"Damn it," she muttered under her breath, her fists tightening.

Meanwhile…

Inside a dimly lit room, far from the battlefield—

Puff!

Another cloud of smoke appeared, and in an instant, Pain stood within the confines of the Satoshi's home.

The real body, Satoshi, let out a deep sigh of relief as he sat down, running a hand through his hair. His chest rose and fell, the tension from the battle still lingering.

"That was close…"

He leaned back, exhaling.

"If I had lost Yahiko's body, it would've been a problem."

The Animal Path's summoning had pulled Pain back just in time, preventing what could have been a disastrous loss.

Satoshi sat on the floor, his body trembling slightly as he released his control over Yahiko's corpse.

The connection severed, and the moment it did, an overwhelming exhaustion crashed into him like a tidal wave.

His chest rose and fell rapidly, his arms felt heavy, and his vision blurred for a moment.

"Damn it..." he muttered under his breath.

His body was completely drained.

He clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. I really need to improve my body…

Despite his abilities, despite all his progress—he was still forced to sit here, panting like a dog, barely able to move after a single encounter. If Mirko had kept pressing, if he didn't have the Animal Path…

"Tch."

He scoffed, shaking his head. And to make it worse—

"The damn system isn't even giving me a reward?"

His lips curled into a frustrated sneer. No notification, no rewards, nothing. After all that?

His head dropped back against the wall as he let out a long exhale, his irritation lingering for a few seconds before he just—gave up.

Satoshi pushed himself up with what little strength he had left, staggering slightly before collapsing onto his bed.

The softness of the mattress was a welcome relief, and his body sank into it as exhaustion overtook him.

"Facing Mirko wasn't in my plans..." he thought, staring at the ceiling.

It was a close call. Too close. But—

A small smirk played at his lips.

Even against Mirko, even against the heroes—

He promoted Akatsuki.

He escaped.

Hours later...

As the city bustled with life in the evening, a live news broadcast aired across televisions and online streams.

The screen flickered to reveal a female reporter, standing in front of a large screen displaying the words:

"Akatsuki: A Growing Threat?"

She adjusted her posture, holding a microphone close as she began her report.

"What started as a rumor—a so-called 'angel of justice' hunting down villains—has now escalated into something far more concerning."

Behind her, a video feed played, showing shaky security footage of a masked figure with two angelic wings engraved into their mask. The figure hovered in the air before, with a terrifying display of power, obliterating a group of thugs in a single devastating explosion.

"At first, many dismissed these reports as exaggerations or mere fabrications. However…"

The footage shifted—this time, it was from earlier in the day.

The screen displayed the masked figure of Pain, standing with an eerie calmness as he uttered a single phrase:

"Almighty Push."

A shockwave erupted, sending a pro hero crashing into the ground. The scene then cut to Mirko, the Rabbit Hero, as she leaped at the masked figure, landing a solid punch that sent him flying.

The footage stopped, and the camera panned back to the reporter, who had a serious expression.

"Just a few hours ago, another member of Akatsuki has revealed himself—one who calls himself 'Pain.' With overwhelming power, he held his own against a top-ranking hero and vanished without a trace."

The large screen behind her changed once more, now displaying two images.

The first was a masked figure with long black hair, a winged engraving on their mask.

The second was another masked figure with spiky orange hair, the cracked sphere engraving on their mask resembling shattered glass.

Both figures were clad in black cloaks adorned with red clouds.

"What's even more concerning is the ideology that this so-called 'Pain' has begun spreading."

The footage replayed the moment Yahiko stood tall, his voice calm yet commanding as he declared:

"Soon enough, all those who oppose true justice—villains, corrupt heroes, and the rotten government officials who have twisted the meaning of heroism— They will all come to understand pain."

"The Akatsuki will make sure of it. We will bring true peace."

The video paused on Yahiko's ominous stance before cutting back to the reporter.

"This declaration has sparked debate among citizens. Some believe these vigilantes are acting in the interest of justice, while others see them as nothing more than dangerous extremists."

She glanced at her notes before continuing.

"However, authorities warn that their so-called 'justice' is nothing more than lawless violence. The public is strongly advised not to be swayed by their words or ideology. True peace cannot be achieved through fear and destruction."

The screen behind her changed once again, displaying official hotline numbers for reporting tips, as well as statements from Pro Heroes and law enforcement denouncing Akatsuki's actions.

"If anyone has information about these individuals, they are urged to report it immediately. Akatsuki is not a symbol of justice—they are a threat, and they must be stopped."

With that, the segment concluded, transitioning into another news story.

...

The scene shifts to a room, where a certain black-haired woman sat on a couch, her red eyes fixed on the television screen.

Konan watched as the news segment on Akatsuki ended, her expression unreadable. She absentmindedly tapped her fingers against her knee, deep in thought.

"So, he's chosen to publicize Akatsuki..." she murmured to herself.

It was an unexpected move. Up until now, they had operated in secrecy—silent, precise, and without much attention. But now, because of him, the world was starting to take notice.

For a brief moment, she considered visiting his house, confronting him directly to ask why he had done this. But after a few seconds, she sighed and shook her head.

"No... it wouldn't change anything," she muttered.

Still, she couldn't deny it—his actions were going to make things much harder for them.

...

At the same time, in a small apartment, Izuku Midoriya sat on the couch, his green eyes locked onto the television screen. Beside him, his mother, Inko Midoriya, nervously wrung her hands together.

The news played back the footage of Pain's confrontation with Mirko, followed by the reporter's warning about Akatsuki. As the segment ended, Inko let out a heavy sigh.

"Things are getting more and more chaotic these days..." she murmured, worry evident in her tone. She turned to Izuku, her voice laced with concern. "Izuku… are you really sure you want to be a hero?"

Izuku didn't hesitate. He clenched his fists and gave her a determined nod.

"Yes, Mom."

But deep down, his thoughts were far more conflicted.

"It's too late to turn back now."

After all, All Might had entrusted him with his Quirk—with One for All. He couldn't just waver now.

Still, he couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in his chest. His earlier instinct about Akatsuki being dangerous…

"I was right."

...

In a small, dimly lit room, the sound of steady, controlled breathing filled the air. Satoshi was training, his muscles burning with effort as he pushed his body to its limits. Sweat dripped from his brow, but he didn't stop—not even for a second.

Unlike the rest of the neighborhood, which was glued to their screens, watching the latest news about Akatsuki, he had no idea about any of it.

And it wasn't because he didn't care.

It was because he was broke.

No TV.No smartphone.No internet.

All he had were the bare essentials to survive. His financial situation was that bad.

As he finished a set of push-ups, he exhaled deeply and sat back, wiping the sweat off his face. His thoughts drifted for a moment.

"I wonder how the public is reacting now…?"

A sigh left his lips.

"Not like I can check anyway…"

Without a way to follow the news, he was completely disconnected from the outside world.

That needed to change.

He leaned back against the wall, his eyes narrowing in thought. He needed money.

"Guess we should start hitting the black market soon…"

His fingers tapped against the wooden floor as his mind raced. Targeting bounties would be a good way to bring in cash. Not only would it help their finances, but it would also give Akatsuki more influence in the underground world.

And on that note, Satoshi thought about how having a certain money-hungry member would be great for this problem. As that thought hit him, he ranted once again on how unfair the system is as he almost lost Yahiko's corpse for nothing.