Chapter 8: Showdown – Todoroki vs Natsu, Part One

**Chapter 8: Showdown – Todoroki vs Natsu, Part One**

The sun hung low in the sky, its amber glow casting long shadows over the sprawling urban landscape of Training Ground Beta. Building B, the designated battleground for the second match, stood tall and imposing, its metallic exterior gleaming faintly under the fading daylight. Unlike its counterpart, which had been reduced to rubble by Midoriya's overwhelming power, Building B remained pristine, its cold, unyielding structure a stark contrast to the fiery tension brewing within.

Inside the uppermost floor of Building B, Todoroki and his teammate Shoji stood in a dimly lit room. The pale light filtering through the narrow windows cast elongated shadows across the metallic floor, creating an eerie, almost otherworldly atmosphere. The faint hum of the building's ventilation system was the only sound that broke the silence, amplifying the tension that hung thick in the air. In the center of the room sat the objective of their mission—a sleek, black prop designed to resemble a nuclear warhead. Its smooth, reflective surface mirrored the cold determination in Todoroki's heterochromatic eyes.

Todoroki paced slowly, his boots tapping softly against the steel floor, each step echoing faintly in the hollow space. His hands were clasped behind his back, his expression calm but calculating. Finally, he stopped, his hand resting lightly on the cold surface of the warhead. His voice, steady and measured, broke the silence.

"The objective is to defend this for ten minutes. But frankly, that sounds boring. I think I have a better idea."

Shoji, standing quietly by the door, his multiple arms folded neatly across his chest, raised an eyebrow. His masked face betrayed no emotion, but his voice carried a hint of curiosity. "A better idea? What are you planning?"

Before Todoroki could answer, the scene shifted to the observation room, where the students of Class 1-A were gathered, their eyes glued to the multiple monitors displaying live feeds from the cameras scattered throughout the battlefield. The room was thick with anticipation, the air heavy with unspoken thoughts and nervous energy. The flicker of static on the screens and the occasional beep of equipment were the only sounds that broke the silence.

Iida, freshly returned with Uraraka and Bakugo, entered the room with his usual brisk stride. His sharp eyes scanned the monitors, his expression a mix of urgency and curiosity. "Has the match already started?" he asked, his voice cutting through the tension.

Kaminari turned around, a grin spreading across his face. "Nah, you made it just in time."

"How's Midoriya doing?" Mineta chimed in, his voice tinged with concern.

Uraraka's face tightened for a moment before she answered softly, "He's with the nurse. This one was rough. Like during the entrance exam... when he hurt himself helping me."

The room fell into a heavy silence as the students exchanged somber glances, each recalling Midoriya's unyielding determination and the toll it had taken on him. Bakugo, standing at the edge of the group, clenched his fists, his teeth grinding as the memory of his defeat resurfaced. His mind swirled with resentment: *Deku... you damn bastard...*

All Might, standing at the back of the room, his face unusually stern, decided to break the tension. "What's done is done. Focus on the fight ahead. Learn from what you see."

Mina Ashido, leaning forward and resting her chin on her palm, muttered, her eyes shifting toward the screens. "Who knows how this will go... Anything can happen."

Mineta snorted. "It's Todoroki we're talking about. Do you really think he's going to lose?"

Kirishima, his expression unusually serious, countered. "Don't underestimate Natsu just because of Todoroki's name. Sure, Shoto's Endeavor's kid, but..."

Yaoyorozu smiled faintly, her fingers tapping rhythmically on her chin. "We don't know much about Natsu. Personally, I'd put my money on Todoroki, but there's something... odd about Natsu. The way he spoke to Todoroki, without an ounce of fear... Is it confidence, or...?"

Kaminari chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Come on, guys. We're talking about Natsu. He probably doesn't even know who Todoroki is."

The room fell silent for a moment, as everyone blinked and exchanged glances. Strangely enough, they all seemed to share the same silly thought: *He's probably right.*

Meanwhile, down in the lower floors of Building B, Natsu and his teammate Sero strolled casually through a dimly lit corridor. The air around them was thick with tension, though Natsu's carefree smile betrayed no sign of concern. His black-and-gold hero costume, adorned with the bold word "Salamander" across his chest, gleamed faintly in the low light. Happy, the blue flying cat, perched comfortably on his shoulder, his wide eyes scanning their surroundings.

Sero, visibly uneasy, glanced sideways at Natsu, who walked confidently with his hands behind his head. "Seriously... Did you *have* to provoke Todoroki before the fight?"

Natsu's grin only widened. "Isn't it better this way? Now he'll go all out."

Sero threw his hands up, exasperated. "How is that better for us?!" After a sigh, he added more seriously, "Okay, just answer me this: You *do* know who Todoroki Shoto is, right?"

Natsu's blank expression gave Sero all the answer he needed. "He... He really doesn't know, does he?" Sero muttered to himself before sighing again. "Never mind. Todoroki's Endeavor's son. You know... the Number Two Hero?"

Natsu's smile didn't falter. "And?"

Sero could only stare in disbelief. He wasn't sure if Natsu was fearless or just completely clueless.

"At least tell me you know what we're supposed to be doing in this exercise. You *did* show up late, after all."

Natsu's eyes sparked with excitement, his hand tightening into a fist. "All we have to do is beat them down, right?"

"Exactly!" Happy cheered from Natsu's shoulder, pumping his tiny fist into the air.

Sero groaned, rubbing his forehead. "What's with that thing anyway? You should leave before you get hurt." Then, looking back at Natsu, he added, "I don't know if I have good luck or bad luck having you as a partner. But whatever, if we're playing by your rules, let's do this. I think I can take Shoji... What about you? Can you handle Todoroki? There's no way I stand a chance against him."

Before Natsu could answer, the temperature in the hallway plummeted. Sero's breath became visible in the sudden chill, and a sharp cracking sound echoed down the corridor as frost began creeping along the walls, freezing everything in its path.

Without hesitation, Natsu grabbed Sero's arm, pulling him upward just as a wave of ice engulfed the corridor. The floor, walls, and ceiling became a frozen landscape, the air biting and frigid.

Sero's wide eyes reflected the shimmering ice as they landed back on solid ground. His heart raced, while Natsu, landing beside him with a soft thud, still wore that familiar grin.

Crack! The ice beneath their feet fractured slightly from the impact of their landing.

Sero's voice, breathless with shock, finally broke the silence. "Did he launch an attack before even knowing where we were?"

Natsu, still smiling, clenched his fists, flames flickering faintly around his knuckles. "This is gonna be fun."

Happy, hovering beside them, shivered, rubbing his arms and sneezing. "It's like we went from summer to winter in a second. I hope I don't catch a cold."

Sero, snapping out of his daze, looked back at Natsu. "So... what's the plan now?"

Natsu raised his glowing fists, his eyes scanning the icy ceiling above them. His grin widened as the flames around his hands grew brighter. "Isn't it obvious? We turn this place upside down!"

Upstairs, Todoroki stood calmly, his hand resting on the icy wall. Shoji watched him carefully as the frost on Todoroki's hand began to melt away.

"Think that'll be enough to stop them?" Shoji asked.

Todoroki's cold gaze drifted to the prop they were meant to protect. His voice was as calm as ever. "Of course not. That was just a little greeting. Let's see what Natsu does next..."

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