Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or My Hero Academia/僕のヒーローアカデミア

Summary: Izuku meets an old man at a nearby shrine. A year into their unlikely friendship the old man has a request of young Midoriya.

Chapter One: A Task Passed On

It was late in the afternoon after school. The clouds were happy puffy shapes floating along in the sky. The sun was only just beginning to redden the sky as dusk approached. The city of Musutafu was a beautiful place when it was like this. All the colours just seemed more real, especially at this quiet out of the way shrine.

It was a place of refuge for one Izuku Midoriya, one where he didn't have to face Kacchan or the constant reminders he saw of his own quirkless shame.

Izuku smiled as he stepped under the tori gates. He was a short boy with dark green eyes and hair, it was quite the oddity amongst the normal humans of the world. He had a small dusting of freckles that only served to make him seem even younger. His school uniform was a bit rumpled from the long day, not to mention dodging Kacchan and his rough housing made it hard to come home unscathed.

Today had been okay all things considered, he had managed to stay out of the spot light, sinking into the background as he fervently made notes on some of the newest heroes. He knew if he wanted to have even a chance at being a hero he needed to be a hundred times more informed than anybody else.

"Uzumaki-sensei! Are you well today?" He punctuated his greeting with a smile and a bow. Staring up the steps he gazed at the person he had come to think of as his mentor.

The old man had bleach white hair and such a wrinkly face nobody could tell if he was staring you in the face or not. He wore a dull dark orange yukata which looked it had seen better days. He was sitting at the top of the steps cross legged staring out to the horizon.

"Midoriya-chan, back again so soon? I swear you only just left! And don't call me Uzumaki! It's Naruto!" Izuku could hear the honest confusion in his mentor's gravelly voice. He felt sweat fall from his brow, honestly it had been three days since he last visited…wait a second he had been sitting in that same place before as well!

"Mah mah, sorry Naruto-sensei!" Frowning slightly he noticed the small number of leaves that had collected on his mentor's knees, "You've been sitting there since last Fire day haven't you?" Izuku couldn't keep the deadpan expression from his face as he watched his mentor mull over the statement.

"Hmm." For a moment he watched as blue milky eyes opened to stare at the sun before he grinned crookedly. "A sage can forget himself sometimes. I understand now what Gamamaru felt like!" Several chuckles emerged.

"Naruto-sensei you shouldn't sit out for so long, your brain will start to cook!" Izuku frowned as he watched the old man wave off his concerns with a single withered hand.

"Never mind me. I'm a sage I'll sit where I please, wind, rain or sunshine!" His stubbornness hadn't changed at all since Izuku met him that first time. "Instead tell me how has your training been going?"

Izuku frowned, ever since he had met Naruto-san he had been training. He had started slowly at first with basic exercises then onto more difficult weighted jogging, never too much to harm his developing body. He was short enough as it was and Naruto-san had warned him off using too much weight.

Still his progress was slow, sure he wasn't a limp noodle anymore but it was nothing compared to a real quirk using hero. He could probably out run any normal human his age now but against someone like Kacchan he was still miles behind. He was beginning to realize the all too human limits he was stuck with beyond which he could never climb.

He forced a smile and laughed, "It's going great!"

"Hmph." He watched his mentor's withered face twitch before turning an eye to him. "You are a poor liar Midoriya-chan. Tell me your worries."

Izuku felt his lips pull into a frown; he always tried to avoid talking about it to Naruto-sensei. The old man was trying his best to teach him how to train and better himself. The main thing was he didn't want his Mentor to know he was quirkless, it had never come up in conversation and Naruto had never asked.

He sighed, if he couldn't talk to Naruto-sensei about it then there would be nobody but his mother to speak to and she only gave him pained sympathetic words. He didn't want sympathy, he wanted someone to believe he could actually do it, to become a hero!

He sat down next to Naruto and stared down the steps to the red tori gates.

"I…I want to be a hero." Izuku quietly wrung his hands and glanced at his mentor, "But…I wasn't born with a quirk…a-and…can I be a hero without one?"

The old man looked down his face was in deep shadow and his wrinkles only added to the effect.

"No. One without power can never change anything." Izuku's eyes widened as he felt his heart drop somewhere down into his stomach. Sensei…didn't believe he could do it? He saw the memories of the doctor from when he was four flash before his eyes.

"Your best giving up you don't have a quirk…"

"But one without the heart and a will to do good cannot be a hero either, and that is not something so easily attained." Izuku looked up tears pooling in his eyes, he wiped them away as he watched the old man continue.

"I knew you were quirkless from the very beginning Midoriya-chan. I could see that desire in you, a desire to do good to save people even in the face of superior power." The old man's head creaked to the side as he glanced at Izuku out from the corner of his eye.

"That is something I cannot teach." The wind blew slowly carrying the small browning leaves away from the elderly man's legs. "I've been looking for someone for a long time now Izuku. When I saw you staring into that shrine on the day of our meeting I recognised you."

Izuku couldn't help the expression of confusion creeping over his face as he stared at the old man, "Sensei…?"

"You reminded me of myself a long time ago, so very brash, wilful and yet utterly powerless to do anything." His mentor's head sunk as he stared into dust before him. A slow sigh came from deep within as if letting go of a very wearisome burden.

"I want to thank you Izuku for giving this old man a chance to pass on something very precious." A withered hand clutched his chest in a stressed manner before sighing.

"Izuku, I have a story I must pass on, one directly linked to your own world. Firstly I am not just an old man that likes to sit outside in the sun." Craggy lips pulled into a half grin as the old man's head tilted to the right.

"I came to this world from another by way of what you might call a quirk power. In doing so I may have damned this entire world." Izuku couldn't help but feel his jaw drop open. This was so out of the blue, why now and did he even believe the old man…the sun did get awfully hot after all!

"Quirks as you call them are a unique evolution Izuku. One I accidently introduced when I entered this world in the year nineteen twenty." Izuku could only widen his eyes in shock before narrowing them. Was he serious? He expected him to believe that?

"Sensei…have you been eating dog biscuits again?" A sharp whack to the head was his answer, cradling his head in pain he glanced up at a sudden coiled roaring sound unleashed directly beside him.

Stretched out before his face his sensei held up a swirling sphere of energy, it seemed to coil within itself forever a never ending typhoon of threads! A quirk? Energy manipulation? But it looked far more structured than anything he had seen any other hero produced…most quirks seemed to manifest in a controlled way yes but it was hardly on the level of precision shown here.

"This is chakra. A manifestation of my physical and mental energy, where I came from this was a skill anyone could nurture if they so choose." His fingers coiled in on themselves and orb shrank down to nothing before disappearing entirely. Izuku could only watch intently at the display already taking mental notes. The old man held out his hand palm up and above each fingertip a single element emerged. The tiny nodes of each element played about, fire burning, wind blowing, lightning crackling, earth rolling and water flowing.

"This is called a nature change; with this I'm causing my power to reflect that of nature. This is as I'm sure you know is impossible for even a human with a quirk. Heroes only manifest one particular skill in their entire life-time." Izuku could only stare at the floating elements. His sensei was right. Quirks tended to manifest in only one way, be it physically or in the manner of an outward projecting power. His sensei had just shown him something impossible by the standards of the modern world…was he seriously telling the truth?

"Still not convinced? Hmph ungrateful brats these days…" Izuku watched in shock as his sensei…changed for lack of a better word, one moment there was an old man sitting there and the next there was a beautiful lady with twin tails and a voluptuous chest resting where his mentor had been.

"S-s-sensei? What?" A moment later and smoke exploded from the form returning to the same old withered man.

"Believe me now? That's three different quirks by my count…?" Izuku could only nod numbly his eyes still burning with the image of the busty lady.

"S-so what caused quirks in the first place?" He watched as his sensei's expression descended into gloom.

"They are a symptom of the problem I created. When I travelled to this world I tore a tenuous barrier that had naturally sealed this world's energies. The results are very much direr than just a few minor mutations." Izuku was beginning to feel concern, what on earth was he getting into?

"This world's natural energy has been running wild for years now, the strength of this world's power is far greater than my homeworld's was. This has resulted in the rampant manifestations you have witnessed as 'quirks'."

"In my home the vast majority of the natural energy of the world had been sealed in a physical form, originally one form then nine beings of immense power. In this form they had limited influence on the people of my home. It was contained and safe as any power of that magnitude could be." Izuku pulled out his note book and began furiously noting down the details.

"After the majority of my life was over I made a plan. The nine beings couldn't be left in the world we had created together. Their power was far too great to be left to the hands of the next generation, the temptation of misuse was simply too great. So I left with them using a technique my oldest friend had perfected. When he sent me here however we hadn't accounted for the difference in how this world had developed. Where as in my world the natural energy eventually coalesced into one single creature yours formed a shell or barrier between that energy and your physical world. When I arrived it was like an egg cracking with the force of a tsunami."

"Over the decades I lived here I tried to reseal it but in its current form it is simply impossible to do even with my powers. I needed to wait until it manifested in a physical form…and that is decades or more away…and as you can see I am at the end of my natural life." He gestured to his wasted hands and wrinkled appearance, Izuku looked up in surprise he knew sensei was old but how did he know he would die? Slowly he considered the idea of sensei no longer being here, it filled him with mute dread.

"And so I turned my eye to look for someone to take on the burden. I know it is selfish of me to place my mistakes and burdens upon you…but I simply have no choice. Understand Izuku if this natural energy manifests its full power it would be great enough to destroy the entire planet if it so desired." Izuku nearly swallowed his tongue at the tone his sensei had taken, he had never sounded so serious before. Gone was the whimsical ramen obsessed old man and replacing him was a frightfully serious doomsayer.

"W-what can I do? I can't do anything about that Naruto-sensei! If I can't even become a hero to a single person I can hardly save the whole world…maybe you should talk to All Might he would definitely know what to do!" A small chuckle emerged from the grim figure the old man cut.

"All Might is a fearsome fighter but he is no thinker. His power doesn't lend itself to subtlety that well. Besides there would be little room within him for what I intend…" Old milky blue eyes opened fully for the first time in Izuku's memory. "…And do not assume I would ask you to do this without any tools." A small smile showed for a moment, "Give me some credit Izuku…now sit before me face to face…"

Izuku stood with trepidation and sat down to mirror his sensei. This wind was blowing at an unnatural pace; he could feel something very wild and yet undeniably ordered emanating from the man before him.

The old man raised his right hand and formed a small fist. Izuku raised his eyebrows, a fist bump? Really?

Raising his own fist he met the opposing knuckles with a small tap. Like static electricity something sparked between them, it raced through every nerve in what felt like an everlasting heartbeat.

With a jolt of burning fire his vision went stark white

"Hmph…do you think this is wise Naruto?"

"We haven't got much choice left Kurama…I waited too long. You know how weak I've become."

"He seems a nice boy…I like him!"

"You like everyone Chomei…"

"Maah…."

"Hmm I don't mind him I suppose. He's still just a brat though…"

"So was I once shukaku…"

"Hmph…."

"I wonder if he likes cats?"

"Of course the Neko had to ask the stupid question…"

"Shut up Kurama! What if he doesn't like weird fox rabbit things?"

"Peace…even after all this time you all still fight…"

"It hasn't been that long for us really…two hundred years is just a blip to us after all."

"Hmm I forgot you were all nearly a thousand years old when I met you all."

"And don't you forget it brat!"

"You know a lot of what you are will fade when we do this, I cannot seal you all within Izuku his body simply isn't ready for the strain, even with what I plan to do. I can seal a tiny part of you within him but most of your being will be joined to the natural energy of the world…when you finally manifest you will pull a great deal of power with you at which point Izuku can seal you properly. At least this way we can avoid all the world's power manifesting in one chakra being."

"We know the risks…it's not like you haven't told us what would happen before."

"I just hope the brat will be up to it…Conquering us will not be easy even without the extra power granted by this world."

"I'll be sure to teach him what I can before I die…and of course everything else will be left to him in my will…"

"Heh never thought we would all die together…"

"Everyone dies Kurama…it's a natural part of all life. Even chakra beasts…"

Turning away from his internal conversation Naruto regarded Izuku, the boy had collapsed after touching chakra for the first time. Not a surprising reaction all things considered.

He lay prostrate inside the shrine, his breathing coming in short gasps as the power that held him worked its magic.

Naruto sat in seiza next to him, his hands hovering over his body. He was pushing the last remnants of his Rikudo power to its limits as he forged the chakra circulatory system from scratch. Unlike most shinobi Izuku would be uniquely gifted, a powerful system of pathways with affinities to all major elements. He smiled as he watched all eight gates form. So nostalgic…

And one last thing…

Naruto glanced at his right arm, it was still bound up in bandages even after all this time. The flesh beneath if it could be called that appeared just as young and hardy as it was a hundred years ago. Honestly how did Hashirama die with an entire body of this stuff?

Palming the first kunai he had touched in years he slashed the arm free from his failing body. Opening Izuku's shirt he cut a small incision in the boy's chest. Placing the slowly dissolving arm upon the wound he focused on the appendage with a half ram seal. Instantly the arm returned to the pseudo zetsu state it had once had before it had been attached to him.

Focusing intently on his Rikudo chakra he worked the material into the wound. Forcing it into Izuku's body he attached the material to every vital cell that made up his newly formed chakra circulatory system. With this, Mokuton would be within his grasp, it would be a vital skill in facing what would be the resurgent tailed beasts. Naruto could only hope it would be enough. Unfortunately any Rikudo chakra he could share would be long since exhausted by the time Izuku faced even the first of the biju to be reborn. The boy would be on his own.

Letting out a sigh he sat backwards exhausted at the effort. The small amounts of biju chakra had also been sealed no the boy's shoulder in nine small connected seals, a derivative of the eight trigrams sealing formula. A gift for the direst of circumstances.

Slowly Izuku began to breath easily again, the stress of the changes finally over. The boy would sleep for a few hours yet…hmm it would be best call his mother, Inko would even bring ramen!

Tottering over to the nearby phone Naruto fumbled through telephone number. Several wrong numbers later and he heard familiar voice on the line.

"Hello? Inko speaking…" He voice sounded stressed, no doubt worrying about Izuku not being back home yet.

"Hello, it's Naruto here. Izuku is here with me, he's come down with something do you think you could come round and get him?" His voice came out unevenly, he barely managed to stop himself from collapsing just there.

"Mr Uzumaki! Is Izuku alright! You don't sound well either! Are you at the shrine, I'll be right over!" He must have sounded even worse than he thought, the woman sounded like she was nearly in tears. The line went dead a moment later, he stared at the receiver feeling bereft…he didn't even get to ask for ramen…

Inko Midoriya arrived like a hurricane. She quickly set about making some food from the scant supplies Naruto kept there. Fretting over Izuku like only a mother could, she pulled out some old blankets and covered up Izuku's sleeping form.

She was a heavy set woman with a round kind face with dark green hair much like her son. She wore blue coloured sweater with a green skirt and white sandals.

Naruto could only look on as she dabbed at her son's brow with a wet cloth. Izuku shifted slightly in his sleep. Her dark emerald eyes were infinitely patient in that moment.

"You have a remarkable son Mrs Midoriya…" She looked up in surprise at the comment, "He has held onto his dream against all rational reason. It takes a strong will to do so…"

"Thank you…but you know about his dream…to be a hero?" Her eyes began to brim with unshed tears as she stared down at her son.

Naruto frowned. He had a choice here, faint support and continue on from his original excuses or tell the truth. The ninja in him desired to keep it a secret and train Izuku without anyone's knowledge for the rest of his remaining life. Another part of him wanted to avoid it, secrets and hidden knowledge had been the bane of his world. A mother had the right to know what had happened to her son…and what will happen.

"Yes...His wishes have been answered in a way," her eyes widened in confusion, "…No his quirk has not emerged after all this time. I…lied on the phone and I feel it is only right that his mother know what has truly transpired here…"

The piercing look Naruto received was likely a match for even Sasuke's own Rinnegan enhanced glares and was just as discerning. Her eyes flickered over his form only to linger on his empty right-hand sleeve.

"What have you done to my son…and where is your arm?" She was certainly more perceptive when she was jolted from her worry over Izuku.

Smiling wanly Naruto began the slow process of explaining his origins and the mistake he made in coming to this world. He watched as her expressions ranged from incredulous to fear. A few more exhausting demonstrations and she began to believe much like Izuku. Slowly her disbelief turned to pure anger.

"You…how dare you do this…" He voice was quiet with its fury, her eyes narrowed into chips of emerald ice. "You've given him power just so he can fight some impossible battle where he could almost certainly die all for a mistake you made?!"

"Yes, I did." The woman made to physically assault the old man before reining in her anger with shuddering difficulty. She collapsed next to Izuku, eyes filling with tears as she began to touch her son's hair. Her quiet sobs began to ring out soon after.

"I'm so sorry…"

Naruto winced as he felt himself get older by the moment. He hoped this was the right decision, instead of playing to his roots and keeping secrets like any good ninja he told the painful truth. He was using Izuku because he had no choice, because the world had no choice.

He stood on uneven legs and left the shrine for his favourite spot. Meditation would help settle his mind.

Author Note:

Often we have Naruto arriving in a world and making everyone look like idiots that haven't been trying hard enough. In this I wanted to show Naruto weak and at the end of his life needing to pass down a legacy because of his own mistakes.

I think I captured that quite well. Obviously Naruto's skill is immense here, with medical skills far superior to Tsunade coupled with the yang power of banbutsu sozo plus a little tailed beast assistance. His insertion of Hashirama DNA will take time to acclimatise to Izuku's body but he will be capable of using wood and manipulation of plants to a limited degree early on, nothing useful mind you. Over time that will change obviously due to it being necessary to fight tailed beasts effectively.

I'm planning on Izuku being a ninja that specialises in complex jutsu like space time ninjutsu. Hiraishin and its derivatives. Other jutsu will also feature such as the eight gates (not to its full level) and ninjutsu. He might even try his hand at Tsunade's techniques. Any comments or suggestions on this skill set?

All might will still be a big figure in Izuku's life but not quite what he was in canon. I'm still considering how to work him into the story. I might just drop it entirely. I can't forget thought that All Might is still looking for someone to pass his power onto, perhaps Izuku can still serve in that capacity even if he has power of his own.

Read and review please!