"Even though the time was brief, I'm grateful for the guidance you gave me, Master," Kaminari said sincerely, bowing slightly to Edgeshot.
"Mm."
Edgeshot's expression remained calm as he replied, "I've learned much from watg you as well. For that alone, I owe you my thanks."
He paused briefly before tinuing, "I'm still refining my 'Shuriken Teique,' but I should have it perfected by the time of your 'extracurricur activity.' I'll teach it to you then."
"'Extracurricur activity'?" Kaminari blinked in fusion, his mind lingering on the phrase. Did that mean there would be more opportunities like this workpce experien the future?
"Let Eraser Head expin it to you," Edgeshot said, cutting off further inquiry. "I won't spoil it for you."
He gnced up at the sky before urging, "Alright, time's up. You should get going."
"Yes, sir!" Kaminari responded with a firm nod. Bowing deeply once more, he decisively turned around and headed toward the same station where he'd first met Edgeshot.
"Kaminari!"
Edgeshot's voice suddenly called out from behind, stopping Kaminari in his tracks. Before Kaminari could look back, Edgeshot's voice carried a meaningful warning.
"Stay true to yourself. Never waver from your vis."
"I will!" Kaminari responded softly but resolutely. Without turning around again, he desded into the underground passage and disappeared from sight.
"...I hope so," Edgeshot murmured, letting out a heavy sigh as Kaminari faded from view.
"Having such a talented disciple be worrisome," he muttered to himself. "I just hope he takes care of himself."
As his words fell, Edgeshot's body began to shimmer. Within moments, he turned pletely transparent, vanishing without a trace.
---
Elsewhere.
"Hmm… As expected, the i is buzzing with news about the 'Bus I,'" Kaminari muttered, now at the Shinkaform. His Pikachu-themed backpack hung from his shoulders, a suitcase taining his hero e in one hand, and his phone iher.
"Eh?"
A notification popped up in the er of his s. The headline read: "Twenty-two-Year-Old Huakes Down a Five-Meter Giant Bear!"
"Wow, they reported it already?" Kaminari clicked the link and skimmed the article. It featured the video he had sent to Ryoichi Sato, alongside text that matched what he'd expected.
"But with 'Stain' being so pht now, this probably won't go viral for a while," he muttered, shaking his head with a small ugh. Exiting the article, he whispered to himself, "Well, it's not my problem anymore. Whether it brings fortune or disaster depends on their luck."
About seven ht mier, the Shinkansen pulled into the ptform. After the ing crew finished preparing the carriages, Kaminari boarded and found his seat.
Thankfully, the jourhis time seemed uful. Settling into his seat, he began to refle his pns, especially the versation he had had the day before with Dr. Tenma.
The reason he'd reached out to the doctor was simple: his hero e. Not that there was anything wrong with his current suit, but he wao add a new feature. The idea was ambitious, so he had sulted Dr. Tenma to see if it was feasible.
After all, it was just a cept. The one who would bring it to life was Dr. Tenma himself.
Fortunately, the doctor had been intrigued by the idea. Half-jokingly, Dr. Tenma had even invited Kaminari to join as a "creative sultant" for his projects, with the promise of a sary. But Kaminari wasn't ied in the job, so he hadn't asked about the pay.
"If Dr. Tenma bring this idea to life, I might actually pull off something close to the Fifth Kazekage's teiques!" he thought to himself, a spark of excitement flickering in his chest.
With that thought, Kaminari leaned bad let the Shinkansen carry him home at high speed.
---
At the edge of a forest, trouble was brewing feshot. He was now surrounded by a dozen peculiar-looking individuals.
"Edgeshot, huh? I'm sorry, but we have a few questions for you. Would you mind giving us some answers?" A figure who seemed to blur the liween man and oke. Despite his delicate features, the Adam's apple betrayed his true gender. He pyed with a pink aura that danced in his palm, his tone sly and mog.
"The so-called 'Witch of Entment.' A criminal who's been wanted for four years… How bold of you to appear in front of me," Edgeshot said coldly, his expression unreadable.
"Quite brave," he added with a sharp edge to his voice.
Despite the tension, the "Witch" merely chuckled and waved his hand dismissively. "Brave? Not quite. But I've been… inspired. You see, I've taken an i in a few expensive etic products tely. And wouldn't you know it? I just so happeo find a list that seems promising."
"Oh?" Edgeshot's tone was ced with disdain. "I suppose my bounty has risen enough to tempt you into taking such a risk?"
The "Witch" ughed lightly, shaking his head. "You misuand. My target isn't you. I wouldn't dare pick a fight with someone like you, I'd have to be suicidal to try."
He slowly traced his bright red tongue over his lips, smudging the pink lipstick slightly. His smile widened into a predatrin. "I'm looking for Kaminari Denki. He's been with you retly, hasn't he?"
Edgeshot's eyes narrowed slightly. "Why are you looking for him?"
"Let's just say I've been through hell in that forest trying to track you down. But fortune must smile upon my beauty, because the moment I step out, who do I see? You. How lucky is that?"
Edgeshot didn't respond immediately. His thoughts raced as he tried to piece together why this group was targeting Kaminari.
"And since you're here, I might as well save myself some trouble and capture all of you," Edgeshot decred, his tone cold and resolute.
The Witch raised an eyebrow but didn't seem surprised. Instead, the pink aura in his palm intensified. "Before we start, though… Would you be so kind as to tell me where he is? It would make things so much easier."
Edgeshot scoffed. "As if I'd betray him to the likes of you."
"Oh, I see. You're still loyal," the Witch teased, though greed sparkled in his eyes. "Well, let me be clear: he has something very valuable. Something worth a cool ten million dolrs. Tempting, isn't it?"
The Witch paused to rub his stomach dramatically, pretending to savor the thought.
Edgeshot's mind flicked to the golden bat uniform Kaminari had been carrying. "So that's it," he thought grimly.
"Figured it out, didn't you?" The Witch smirked, his pink aura crag. "So, are you going to tell me where he is, or shall we do this the hard way?"
Edgeshot's hands moved in a blur, four shurikens appeariween his fingers. "I'll give you my answer: Stay here, where you belong, you vermin!"
In an insta shurikens flew from his hands, arg faintly with precision. Their speed was blinding, leaving only bck streaks in their wake.
"Why must it always e to this?" the Witch sighed melodramatically, though his as betrayed none of his feigned fatigue. A wave of pink fmes erupted from his body, surging toward the shurikens.
"For ten million dolrs, I'd take on All Might himself!" he snarled, his tone suddenly venomous. "So what's a mere No. 5 to me?!"