The air crackled with raw energy as the "Capture the Flag" game commenced. The arena, sprawling and dotted with various buildings and obstacles, became an instant battlefield.
From the Blue Team's starting position, two distinct surges of power immediately became apparent, confirming Minato's earlier predictions.
One was a series of concussive explosions, ripping through the very fabric of the arena. Each blast sent dust and debris scattering, leaving smoking craters and shattered obstacles in its wake. This was Katsuki Bakugo, a human guided missile, his usual scowl intensified by fierce determination. He moved with a terrifying, unbridled ferocity, his hands constantly sparking and detonating. He didn't care about finesse; his goal was simple: reach the enemy's leader and obliterate anyone who dared to stand in his way. He wasn't merely running; he was destroying his path, turning the landscape into his personal warzone. "OUT OF MY WAY, EXTRAS!" his furious roar echoed, a guttural prelude to every explosive step. His eyes were locked on the largest structure in the distance – the presumed location of the Red Team's leader.
"WOAH! BAKUGO KATSUKI IS OFF TO A TYPICAL EXPLOSIVE START!" Present Mic shrieked, his voice filled with a mix of excitement and terror. "HE'S NOT JUST RUNNING, HE'S PAVING HIS OWN PATH OF DESTRUCTION! WHAT A MANIAC!"
Aizawa, rubbing his temples, muttered, "He's effective, but predictably reckless. He'll leave himself open if he isn't careful."
In parallel, a chilling wave of ice began to spread with astonishing speed. Shoto Todoroki, focused and silent, glided across the ground, his right side emanating an endless torrent of freezing power. Unlike Bakugo's chaotic rampage, Todoroki's advance was controlled, strategic. He encased obstacles in thick ice, creating smooth, rapid pathways for himself while simultaneously freezing any opponents or hindering their movement. His heterochromatic eyes, sharp and calculating, were also fixed on the distant leader's building. His objective was equally singular: reach the five-point target. He was a force of nature, an unstoppable, glacial advance.
"AND ON THE OTHER FLANK, IT'S TODOROKI SHOTO, GLIDING ACROSS HIS OWN ICE HIGHWAY!" Present Mic narrated with gusto. "HE'S A ONE-MAN BLIZZARD, FREEZING EVERYTHING IN HIS PATH! A TRUE CONTRAST TO BAKUGO'S BRUTE FORCE!"
"His efficiency is remarkable," Aizawa observed, a hint of professional respect in his tone. "He minimizes effort while maximizing tactical advantage."
The Red Team's defensive line, positioned at the edge of their designated territory, braced for impact. They had expected this direct assault from the Blue Team's heavy hitters.
Tsuyu Asui, her large, unblinking eyes scanning the oncoming threats, crouched low. Her long, prehensile tongue was coiled, ready. Nearby, Toru Hagakure, completely invisible, adopted a similar ready stance, her presence only hinted at by the slight disturbance in the air around her. Both had a crucial, daring task.
Bakugo, caught up in his destructive charge, finally breached the invisible perimeter of the Red Team's defensive zone, his explosions still rocking the ground. He was so fixated on the leader's building, so consumed by his own momentum, that he failed to notice the subtle movements near him.
Just as he roared past a low wall, a flash of something green darted out. Asui's incredibly long, adhesive tongue shot out with astonishing speed and precision. It latched onto something small in Bakugo's back pocket – his flag! With a swift tug, she plucked it free.
"GOTCHA, RIBBIT!" Tsuyu croaked, her voice barely audible over Bakugo's ongoing blasts.
Simultaneously, barely a whisper of air, Toru struck. As Todoroki glided past, his focus absolute, Toru, moving with phantom-like silence, extended an invisible hand. Her fingers, nimble and exact, brushed against the fabric of his uniform, locating the single-point flag that each participant carried. With a quick, practiced flick, she snatched it away.
Before Bakugo or Todoroki could even register the loss, Asui, with another rapid flick of her tongue, flung Bakugo's flag high into the air. It soared over the chaotic arena, arcing towards the distant, complex terrain that marked the Red Team's attacking zone. Toru, having secured Todoroki's flag, also tossed it with surprising force, aiming for the same far-off location.
"WHAT?! WHAT WAS THAT?!" Present Mic shrieked, barely comprehending the lightning-fast maneuvers. "WAS THAT ASUI?! SHE JUST SNATCHED BAKUGO'S FLAG! AND DID HAGAKURE JUST GRAB TODOROKI'S?! THE INVISIBLE GIRL IS STEALING FLAGS LEFT AND RIGHT!"
Aizawa's eyes narrowed. "Clever. Using their focus and momentum against them. They anticipated the direct charge."
Bakugo, mid-explosion, suddenly felt a telltale lightness in his back pocket. His eyes snapped wide, his head whipping around. He saw his flag tumbling through the air towards the horizon. "WHAT?! MY FLAG?!" he roared, his explosive fury momentarily replaced by stunned disbelief. "YOU DAMN EXTRAS! GIVE IT BACK!"
Todoroki, too, felt the subtle absence. His head tilted almost imperceptibly, his heterochromatic gaze tracking his own flag as it arced away. His stoic facade cracked just a fraction, a spark of annoyance in his usually composed expression.
Their primary objective, the leader's building, was momentarily forgotten. Their flags, their points, were now compromised. Driven by pride and the instinct to retrieve their own points, both Bakugo and Todoroki immediately pivoted. Their forward momentum became a furious retreat, their powerful Quirks now propelling them towards the distant flags, back into the heart of the Red Team's territory.
"OH! THE BLUE TEAM'S HEAVY HITTERS ARE RETREATING! THEIR FLAGS HAVE BEEN STOLEN!" Present Mic exclaimed, the surprise evident in his voice. "WHAT A BOLD OPENING MOVE BY THE RED TEAM'S DEFENSE! THEY'RE PLAYING THIS SMART, LISTENERS!"
Aizawa hummed. "A calculated risk. Drawing the powerful combatants away from the leader, while sacrificing a small number of flags in the process. It's an effective diversion."
As Bakugo and Todoroki furiously closed the distance towards their flung flags, they found themselves not in an open sprint, but within the reach of the Red Team's main defensive line. Minato had planned for this. He had positioned his team strategically, not just at the perimeter, but deeper within their zone, creating multiple layers of defense.
Bakugo, still fuming about his stolen flag, rounded a corner, only to find Mashirao Ojiro, Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu, and Denki Kaminari waiting for him. Ojiro stood in a balanced martial arts stance, his powerful tail coiled. Tetsutetsu had activated his Steel Quirk, his body transformed into gleaming, hardened metal. Kaminari, ever-nervous but determined, had his hands sparking with contained electricity.
"OUT OF MY WAY, DAMN EXTRAS!" Bakugo bellowed, immediately launching a powerful "Blast Rush Turbo" to propel himself forward, aiming to overwhelm them with sheer force.
"Not so fast, Bakugo!" Ojiro yelled, swinging his thick tail like a whip. The tail struck Bakugo mid-flight, a surprising blunt force that knocked him off balance for a split second, forcing him to adjust his trajectory with an explosion.
Before Bakugo could fully recover, Tetsutetsu charged. His steel fist, gleaming under the stadium lights, swung in a wide arc. "You won't get past me!" he roared. Bakugo met the blow with an explosive counter-punch. BOOM! The impact sent a shockwave through the air. Bakugo's explosion was powerful, but Tetsutetsu's hardened body absorbed much of the force, allowing him to push back, creating a grueling, close-quarters slugfest. Sparks flew where their hardened forms met explosive force.
"IT'S A HEAD-TO-HEAD BRAWL! BAKUGO VERSUS TETSU! TWO EXPLOSIVE PERSONALITIES CLASHING!" Present Mic narrated with delight. "AND OJIRO IS SUPPORTING, USING HIS TAIL TO HINDER BAKUGO'S MOVEMENTS!"
Aizawa nodded slowly. "Tetsutetsu's hardening is a good counter to Bakugo's explosions. He can absorb the concussive force."
As Bakugo was engaged in his brutal exchange with Tetsutetsu, Kaminari seized his opportunity. "INDISCRIMINATE SHOCK," he yelled, unleashing a focused burst of electricity. It wasn't a wide-area discharge, but a directed surge aimed at Bakugo's position.
Bakugo, already dealing with Tetsutetsu's blows and Ojiro's tail, was forced to use his explosions to dissipate the electricity, creating a defensive screen. This momentary distraction allowed Tetsutetsu to land another solid punch, pushing Bakugo back.
"DAMN IT! YOU CHEAPSHOTS!" Bakugo roared, enraged. He was getting overwhelmed. The coordinated assault, the constant pressure, the surprising durability of Tetsutetsu, and the irritating stings of Kaminari's electricity were forcing him onto the defensive. He couldn't yet unleash his full power; he was waiting to use it when he fought Minato. He needed to create space. With a series of rapid, powerful explosions, he unleashed a concentrated "AP Shot" towards Tetsutetsu, pushing the steel hero back, and then used a "Stun Grenade" to momentarily disorient Kaminari and Ojiro, creating a smoke screen.
"BAKUGO IS PUSHING BACK! HE'S OVERWHELMED, BUT HE'S STILL FIGHTING WITH FIERCE INTENSITY!" Present Mic yelled.
Aizawa's eyes remained fixed. "He's taking a step back. Smart. He knows when to disengage and re-evaluate."
Bakugo, momentarily creating distance, snarled, "I'll be back for that flag!" and began to retreat towards the Blue Team's side of the arena, his explosions now propelling him away from the engagement.
Meanwhile, Todoroki faced a different, more cerebral challenge. As he skated closer to his flag, he was intercepted by Fumikage Tokoyami's Dark Shadow, Kyoka Jiro's Earphone Jack, and Tenya Iida's Engine Quirk.
Tokoyami's Dark Shadow emerged, a swirling, formidable entity, acting as a dynamic shield and a powerful offensive arm. It lashed out, forcing Todoroki to dodge and create defensive ice walls.
"Dark Shadow!" Tokoyami commanded, his voice grave. "Contain him!"
Todoroki responded by sending a massive wave of ice towards Dark Shadow. The sentient Quirk, however, flowed around and through the ice, its shadowy form adapting to the environment. The clash between light and shadow, ice and darkness, was visually stunning.
"IT'S DARK SHADOW VERSUS TODOROKI'S ICE! A CLASH OF ELEMENTAL PROPORTIONS!" Present Mic bellowed. "WHO WILL PREVAIL IN THIS EPIC STANDOFF?!"
Aizawa nodded. "Tokoyami's Dark Shadow has both offensive and defensive capabilities. It's a strong counter to Todoroki's wide-area attacks."
As Todoroki was locked in his struggle with Dark Shadow, Jiro struck. Her Earphone Jacks extended from her earlobes, plunging into the ground. She sent out a powerful Heartbeat Wall attack, a pulsating sonic wave that traveled through the earth, aiming to disorient Todoroki.
The ground vibrated violently, disrupting Todoroki's footing and making him stumble. The attack didn't cause physical damage but broke his concentration, making him momentarily lose focus on his ice manipulation.
"JIRO'S SONIC ATTACK! A DISORIENTING BLOW TO TODOROKI!" Present Mic cheered. "SHE'S DISRUPTING HIS FLOW!"
Taking advantage of Todoroki's momentary disequilibrium, Iida, with his Engine Quirk roaring to life, executed a blazing-fast "Recipro Burst." He shot forward, a blur of motion, aiming a precise, high-speed kick. "RECIPRO BURST!"
Todoroki, recovering quickly, managed to block Iida's kick with a rapid deployment of ice on his arm, but the sheer force of Iida's impact, combined with the earlier sonic disruption and Dark Shadow's constant pressure, pushed him back. He was forced to slide several feet, losing valuable ground towards his flag.
"IIDA'S SPEED! HE'S PRESSURING TODOROKI!" Present Mic shrieked. "THE RED TEAM'S DEFENSE IS COORDINATING BEAUTIFULLY!"
Todoroki realized that continuously fighting these three in their territory was a losing battle for his flag. He needed backup. With a powerful sweep of his arm, he made a wall of ice, momentarily pushing Dark Shadow back. He used the defensive barrier, buying himself time to retreat towards the Blue Team's side of the arena, his flag still out of reach.
"TODOROKI IS FORCED TO RETREAT! THE RED TEAM'S DEFENSE IS HOLDING STRONG!" Present Mic exclaimed. "WHAT A SHOCKING TURN OF EVENTS!"
Bakugo and Todoroki, fuming but pragmatic, linked up with their Blue Team attacking members who were now surging forward. Seeing their primary powerhouses on the defensive had spurred the rest of the Blue Team to commit to a full-frontal assault.
"DAMN IT! WE'RE GOING STRAIGHT FOR THEIR LEADER!" Bakugo roared, rallying his team. "DON'T LET THEM GET IN MY WAY!"
"We need to overwhelm their defense," Todoroki stated, his voice calm but firm. "Focus fire on their front line. We need to clear a path."
The Blue Team, now unified and energized by their top students' frustration, began to advance as a cohesive attacking force. Their numbers were greater, and their combined Quirks began to overwhelm the Red Team's defensive formation. Blue Team members like Sato with his Sugar Rush enhanced strength, and various Class 1-B students with their diverse Quirks, surged forward.
"THE BLUE TEAM IS FIGHTING BACK!" Present Mic shouted. "THEY'RE OVERWHELMING THE RED TEAM'S DEFENSE WITH SHEER NUMBERS AND POWER! IT'S A FULL-SCALE ASSAULT!"
Aizawa narrowed his eyes. "Numerical advantage now. The Red Team's strategy of drawing them in is paying off, but they'll need to hold their ground."
Bakugo, fueled by rage, unleashed a series of powerful explosions, tearing through defenses and pushing back Tetsutetsu. Todoroki, utilizing his ice, created both barriers and offensive blasts, making it difficult for Tokoyami to attack. They were breaking through.
However, while the Blue Team was trying to reclaim their flags and push through the Red Team's defense, Minato's Red Team attacking squad was already making significant gains.
Sero's Tape Quirk, Asui's Tongue, Shoji's Dupli-Arms, and Shinso's Brainwashing proved to be an incredibly effective combination for infiltration and flag capture. They moved with cunning and agility, exploiting the Blue Team's focus on their leader and their immediate counter-offensive.
Sero used his Tape to swing silently over obstacles and quickly secure flags from unsuspecting opponents. Asui's Tongue allowed for quick grabs from a distance. Shoji's Dupli-Arms with enhanced sensory organs allowed them to detect enemy movements and flag positions from afar. And Shinso, observing from the shadows, quietly engaged Blue Team members in conversation, activating his Brainwashing Quirk to temporarily incapacitate them, allowing his teammates to easily snatch their flags.
"THE RED TEAM'S OFFENSIVE IS SWEEPING THROUGH THE BLUE TEAM'S DEFENSE!" Present Mic screamed, his voice almost cracking with excitement. "SERO'S TAPE IS INCREDIBLY VERSATILE! ASUI'S TONGUE IS GRABBING FLAGS LEFT AND RIGHT!"
Through their stealth, agility, and well-coordinated attacks, the Red Team's offensive squad managed to infiltrate the Blue Team's territory with remarkable efficiency. They bypassed the main thrust of the Blue Team's offensive, their focus instead on collecting points.
They had already secured two more Blue flags from unsuspecting or distracted opponents who were too focused on the central battle. Adding these to the flags snatched from Bakugo and Todoroki earlier, the Red Team now held a total of four Blue flags. The point count was steadily climbing in their favor, even as their own defense was facing overwhelming pressure. The game was far from over, but the Red Team had just landed two critical early blows.