Sorahiko Torino/Synopsis

History
Sorahiko Torino never wanted to be a Pro Hero. However, as it was the only way to legally work towards a certain goal, he went ahead and got his license, and became the fastest Hero of his time with his Quirk: Jet. At some point, he met Nana Shimura, becoming her friend and ally, and learned about the origins of One For All and its previous heirs. One day, she told him about a strange dream she had, in which she saw one of the previous users who simply told her "It's not time yet..."

Sorahiko witnessed when Nana left her son Kotaro at a foster home. Later she tells Sorahiko she had to cut all ties that connected her with her son and scrambled the family tapestry in an attempt to keep him safe from All For One, a decision that Sorahiko respected. He was also there to comfort Nana when she started breaking down for having been forced to stay away from her son.

One day, Nana told him about Toshinori Yagi, a boy whom she had met. He was Quirkless but possessed a true heroic spirit so she decided to choose him to be the next user of the One For All Quirk. Thus, Gran Torino became part of the U.A. High School Staff as Toshinori's homeroom teacher. With Nana, he mentored Toshinori, delivering brutal "practical training" in which he beat the young hero mercilessly. During one training session with Toshinori, Gran Torino punched him so hard in his stomach that he vomited. Gran Torino admits having been rough on Toshinori, accidentally instilling an innate fear within him.

During Toshinori's final year, All For One came for One For All, leading to Toshinori, Gran Torino, and Nana to confront him in a deadly battle. Despite the three of them working together, the villain was too powerful with Nana being wounded, and Toshinori and Gran Torino being defeated shortly afterwards.

Realizing they won't be able to win, Nana decides to do what is necessary and forcibly pushed Toshinori out of the way. He calls out to his master as Gran Torino swoops in and flies him away. Nana says she's leaving the rest to Toshinori and asks her friend to make sure his dreams come true. With her back turned, Nana points to Toshinori, signaling his time has come to take her place. Nana turns to her successor and with one last smile, reminds him that she's counting on him to save the world.

Toshinori tearfully screams for his master as Gran Torino flies away filled with grief, shedding a single tear as the evil mastermind thanks her for entertaining him before he finishes her off with a powerful explosion created from a surge of black lightning, which destroys the entire island.

As a promise to his close friend, Gran Torino continued training Toshinori in her place. However, Toshinori was demoralized and distraught after the death of his master, and was unable to train properly to his potential. Thoughts of revenge plagued Toshinori's mind and he wished to avenge Nana, who he saw as a true hero. During one of his training sessions at U.A., Gran Torino reminds Toshinori that no matter what city he hides in, All For One's reach will find him as he has influence everywhere. Toshinori replies that he needs to try and fight back so he can become the Symbol of Peace and passionately throws a counter punch.

Gran Torino kicks Toshinori hard on the ground and sits on top of him while enjoying his favorite taiyaki treats. He reminds Toshinori that his enemy is a man with monstrous abilities who's walked the earth for more than over a hundred years, expressing that he will never defeat All For One in his condition. Frustrated, Toshinori cries while saying his master gave up everything to raise One For All's next torchbearer and admits he thought of her as his own mother.

Gran Torino lifts his sobbing student and tells him he needs to cross the ocean after he graduates. He fears that if Toshinori doesn't escape the villain's reach, then Nana's sacrifice will be for nothing. Grieving, Gran Torino asks Toshinori if he understands why Nana let him escape. He asks Toshinori to save his power and train in the United States so All For One could not reach him and to gain experience as a hero. This conversation restored Toshinoi's resolve with a new purpose. Toshinori took his advice and takes a plane to America after he graduated from U.A. in the later spring.

After several years, All Might returned to Japan and, in a short time, became the No. 1 Hero of the country. By then, Gran Torino has been retired from the Hero Works and resigned from the U.A. teacher position. Eventually, All Might has risen in power, and his heroic acts led him once again to finally face All For One, with Gran Torino assisting behind-the-scenes in the encounter.

All Might prevailed and defeated All For One, but the brutal battle was very costly as All Might suffered serious injuries, which burdened his abilities to use One For All on a timer. Gran Torino was there alongside Recovery Girl and his Sidekick, Sir Nighteye, who all tried to convince him to retire and pass on One For All to someone else. All Might refused to retire from the hero's life despite his injuries, and despite the fact that if he continued on that path he would die in 6-7 years, as Sir Nighteye warned him.

U.A. Sports Festival Arc
Following the League of Villains' assault on the U.S.J., Gran Torino's old student: Toshinori, pens him a letter. In his letter, Toshinori explains that he has found a successor and has passed One For All to a young boy named Izuku Midoriya.

Vs. Hero Killer Arc
Prior to the U.A. Sports Festival, Gran Torino sent out an internship offer to Toshinori's new disciple. When Izuku arrives near the workplace destination and enters and tries introducing himself, he was horrified to find the elderly retired Pro Hero on the floor seemingly dead with blood-like liquid splatter below him and screams that he was dead.

Gran Torino suddenly props up, shocking and relieving Izuku that he is still alive. He explained that he was carrying a plate of sausages with ketchup on them, but fell and got ketchup everywhere. Gran Torino asks the boy his name to which Izuku tells him his name and that he is from U.A. However, Gran Torino does not recall nominating him. He suddenly remembers, calling Izuku "Toshinori" in the process, much to Izuku's annoyance.

Izuku tries to leave the apartment to speak to All Might on his phone, but Gran Torino asks Izuku to fight him with One For All, saying that he wants to see how well Izuku can handle One For All, wanting him to put his Hero costume on and fight him. Gran Torino once again forgets who Izuku is.

Thinking that Gran Torino is playing games with him, Izuku declares to the elderly Hero that he needs to learn how to control his power as soon as possible since All Might is running out of time, telling the elderly Hero that he doesn't have time to be fooling around. Izuku starts leaving, visibly disappointed. Suddenly, Gran Torino jumps and leaps in front of Izuku at an incredible speed, stopping Izuku from leaving. Gran Torino reveals he was merely putting up an act and tells Izuku that since Izuku has a goal to learn how to control his power, then he has all the more reason to stay. The elderly Hero asks Izuku to use One For All and fight him.

He continues to mess with Izuku, putting on a fake senile persona and asks for the boy's name repeatedly. He briefly shows his true nature to challenge his new protege to try and strike him with a smash to gauge his adaptation to One For All. Izuku does not take Gran Torino seriously and tries to leave because he believes the old man isn't in any shape to mentor.

Gran Torino drops his façade and stops Izuku by activating his Quirk and using it to jump around the room. He scolds Izuku for using his Quirk recklessly during the Sports Festival, and does the same to All Might, who Gran Torino calls a blunder when it comes to teaching. He tells Izuku that he can't stand to see how Izuku uses his Quirk and tells him if he wants to learn more about One For All, then he should stay and put his Hero Costume on.

Seeing his true persona, Izuku makes the connection between All Might's split personality and Gran Torino's, and decides to take the challenge seriously.

Their duel begins, but Izuku is unable to keep up with Gran Torino's incredible jumping speed and is constantly hit from all sides. Izuku predicts that Gran Torino will attack him from behind. Izuku's prediction turns out to be correct, allowing Izuku to get into position to hit Gran Torino, but Gran Torino pushes Izuku's arm out of the way. He is impressed when Izuku analyzes his movements and tries to counter, but Gran Torino is able to easily evade and pins Izuku to the ground, defeating him.

Gran Torino tells Izuku that his movements are too rigid because there is discord in his mind and his loyalty to All Might has become a shackle. Gran Torino tells Izuku that his main problem is that he thinks One For All is special. Izuku asks Gran Torino to explain what he means, but the elderly Hero tells Izuku to ponder his advice while he goes to get food. When he returns from the store, he overhears Izuku realizing that he has to make One For All an extension of himself if he wishes to master it. Gran Torino ponders that Izuku's thought process is flexible and was impressed. Silently, Gran Torino muses over Toshinori's choice for One For All's ninth holder and successor.

The next morning, Gran Torino finds Izuku slightly injured from training on his own the previous night. Izuku tells Gran Torino that he was trying his new method but found it to be difficult. Gran Torino comments that it is difficult due to him only just discovering the proper method of using One For All and states that All Might was able to use One For All normally when he first obtained it thanks to his body. Gran Torino informs Izuku that All Might couldn’t handle One For All emotionally due to it being passed down by a late friend. Izuku is fascinated by All Might’s past and asks about All Might’s predecessor, much to Gran Torino’s surprise.

Izuku receives Gran Torino's new microwave in the mail to replace the other one Gran Torino broke yesterday during their mock battle and they prepare some frozen taiyaki pastries.He's surprised to learn that Izuku knows virtually nothing about the seventh holder of One For All.

Izuku sets up the new microwave and warms up the breakfast, which is taiyaki. However, Izuku prepares them incorrectly and angers the old man. Gran Torino berates Izuku, telling him to put the pastries on a smaller plate so they can rotate in the microwave and cook evenly.

His comment causes Izuku to realize Gran Torino is actually making a hint, and the parallel between himself and the taiyaki in comparison to his next problem with One For All; that he has been using One For All on one body part and not on his whole body. Izuku activates One For All throughout his entire body with Gran Torino being impressed with Izuku's quick learning. He asks if Izuku can move while using One For All throughout his body, to which Izuku replies that he is not sure. Gran Torino asks if he can test whether Izuku can move around while using One For All throughout his body. Izuku replies that he can and decides to challenge him once again to hit him with a smash.

Gran Torino tells Izuku that if he can move around while having One For All coursing through his body, then he will be drawing a clear line from how he was during the Sports Festival. Gran Torino says that their mock battle will be three minutes for starters. After stretching out, Gran Torino sets the time limit to three minutes for their rematch and kicks the energy out of Izuku right from the start, hitting Izuku from behind, and stopping the flow throughout Izuku's body.

He attacks Izuku from all directions while Izuku stands helplessly unable to counter. After falling to the ground, Izuku realizes that Gran Torino's speed is too fast for him to counter and decides to regroup. Izuku crawls under the couch and activates One For All throughout his body again. Gran Torino heads towards the couch, but suddenly, Izuku punches the couch away, sending it flying and stopping Gran Torino's attack.

Izuku's distraction keeps Gran Torino off him long enough to activate his new technique: Full Cowl and he leaps at Gran Torino and nearly strikes him. After evading, Gran Torino moves to strike Izuku from behind, but the young man jumps above his sensei and goes to strike him with a smash. Once again Gran Torino narrowly dodges and counterattacks, sending Izuku flying into a nearby wall.

Gran Torino sees that three minutes are up and ends the mock battle for now. Izuku laments his lack of ability to keep the activation of One For All throughout his body properly. However, Gran Torino compliments Izuku's intelligence.

Unbeknownst to Izuku, he managed to graze Gran Torino's cheek, prompting the old man to think over his student's monstrous potential. The elderly Hero notes to himself that Izuku has dramatically changed in such a short space of time and compliments Izuku for being able to graze him with a cut to Gran Torino's face, even though he was using his own power earnestly. Gran Torino tells Izuku that he must get used to using One For All throughout his body and informs him that they will continue training after breakfast, but all the taiyaki have spilled onto the floor.

This infuriates him, enough so to scare Izuku into running to the store to buy more. After breakfast, Izuku continues his training with Gran Torino.

Sometime later, they continue training until Gran Torino decides to move on to the next phase, to avoid Izuku developing strange habits from their sparring matches, he wants to take Izuku to fight real villains in Shibuya Tokyo.

They take the bullet train to Shinjuku station and Gran Torino comments that they're going late to have more fun with more skirmishes. They pass through Hosu City when suddenly a strange monster breaks into the train with a pro-hero in its grip. Gran Torino leaps into action and tackles the beast out of the train, through the air and into a building within the city limits.

The Nomu breaks out of the building and attacks a few civilians indiscriminately. Gran Torino does his best to stop it, but the beast nearly attacks two nearby bystanders when Endeavor arrives and stops it.

Despite its burns, the Nomu responds by activating a few of its Quirks. Before it can attack, Gran Torino propels himself through the air and smashes into it with enough force to break the road. With the creature defeated, Gran Torino calls for himself and Endeavor to restrain and turn it over to police before moving to support other heroes in their efforts against the remaining monsters. Endeavor claims that his sidekicks will handle turning the Nomu over to the police while he supports the pros alone, and instead asks Gran Torino to head to a certain address.

Once there, Gran Torino finds Izuku and his classmates prior to defeating Hero Killer Stain. He's angry with Izuku for leaving the bullet train and kicks him in the face, berating him for not staying put like he asked. In spite of his anger, Gran Torino is relieved to find Izuku alive and ponders over the similar personalities of Izuku and his predecessor. Pro Heroes sent by Endeavor arrive at the scene, followed closely by a flying Nomu. Gran Torino warns everyone to get down, but the beast swoops down and grabs Izuku. Gran Torino worries that it will elevate too high for him to pursue, but Stain recovers in time to save the boy by killing the beast.

Endeavor catches up and desires to fight with Stain, but Gran Torino pleads for him to stand down. The villain turns to face Endeavor and his allies, instilling fear into each one of them with his ferocious willpower and bloodlust. The malefic aura only dissipates when Stain falls unconscious standing up, relieving Gran Torino and the others.

The next day at the Hosu General Hospital, Gran Torino and Manual visit Izuku, Shoto and Tenya. He wants to yell at Izuku, but introduces the boys to the Chief of Hosu Police instead. Chief Kenji Tsuragamae informs the boys that their mentors, Gran Torino included, and themselves must receive strict punishment for using their Quirks on Stain without permission. Shoto becomes angry with the police official, but Gran Torino asks him to hear Chief Tsuragamae out. The Chief lets the boys off the hook, but Gran Torino's pay is docked and his teaching license is revoked for the next six months.

Later on, Gran Torino calls Toshinori to complain about Izuku and discuss the Hero Killer. He explains that although he only met Stain briefly, the villain managed to instill great fear deep into his soul. He goes on to say that Stain's fanatic ideology and charisma will likely rally villains behind the League of Villains. Gran Torino surmises that if the leader of the League of Villains predicted this would happen, then he is a brilliant strategist. All Might and Gran Torino agree that it is likely All For One has returned. To conclude their conversation, Gran Torino urges his former student to tell Izuku the whole truth about One For All.

The internship concludes at the end of the week and Gran Torino bids farewell to his young student outside his apartment. Izuku thanks Gran Torino for teaching him to use One For All better, but Gran Torino reminds him to maintain control and stay within the five percent limitation.

Izuku asks Gran Torino why he never became a famous Pro despite his strength. The latter admits to never wanting to work as a Pro Hero and claims he only got his license to work towards a certain goal. He tells Izuku to ask All Might to fill him in and then returns to his senile state. He asks Izuku his name, and finally, Izuku realizes the answer his mentor is looking for. Izuku replies that his name is Deku, garnering a nod of approval from Gran Torino. The old man returns to his home and muses about the day when the name Deku will be celebrated as the new symbol of peace.

Hideout Raid Arc
Two days after the Vanguard Action Squad abducts Katsuki Bakugo from the training camp, Gran Torino is recruited put of retirement to join the Hideout Raid Team. This team is tasked with infiltrating the League of Villains hideout in Kamino Ward. Prior to the mission, Gran Torino asks All Might why he was recruited alongside so many other Pro Heroes. All Might tells his old master the team needs him because All For One is sure to get involved. Gran Torino's team goes with the Police Force to the villain's secret hideout.

All Might breaks into the hideout and Kamui Woods restrains all the villains with his Lacquered Chain Prison move. Dabi tries to use his fire to burn the wooden bonds, but Gran Torino zips right into the hideout and delivers a swift kick to Dabi's face, telling him that it's best if he stays put. This knocks the villain unconscious and All Might commends Gran Torino and Kamui Woods. Gran Torino tells all the villains to take their arrest very seriously and to cooperate.

Tomura Shigaraki orders Kurogiri to open a Warp-Gate. Edgeshot suddenly uses Foldabody to pierce the villain's body and makes him fall unconscious. Gran Torino reminds the villains to take things seriously. He reveals identities of most of the villains. The Police discovered their true identities without much information to go on. Gran Torino then asks Tomura where All For One is hiding.

Suddenly, multiple Nomu get warped into the hideout through a black liquid. Gran Torino tells Edgeshot to stop Kurogiri, but the Ninja Hero confirms that it's not Kurogiri's doing. Katsuki Bakugo is swallowed by the black liquid. Gran Torino fights off the Nomu and asks All Might what they have to do now. All Might replies that he fears All For One has already maved his move.

The black liquid begins to consume the bonded villains. Gran Torino yells for the heroes to stop them, but they disappear within seconds. More Nomu attack and Gran Torino tells All Might to counter. All Might sends the Nomu flying with Oklahoma Smash and then decides to go after All For One at the Nomu Factory while Gran Torino and the rest of the Heroes deal with the Nomu teleported to the hideout.

Meanwhile, Izuku and his friends rescue Katsuki from the battlefield while All Might fights All for One. Magne, Mr. Compress, Spinner, and Twice try to pursue them using Magnetism. Mt. Lady foils their attempt to send Compress after the students. Gran Torino arrives and knocks the rest of them out before they can send someone else flying after Katsuki. All Might says Gran Torino is too slow, to which the old man replies his old protégé is simply too fast. Gran Torino scolds All Might for Izuku arriving on the battlefield and says that they're too much alike in a bad way.

All For One recognizes Gran Torino as Nana Shimura's friend. Gran Torino prepares to deal with Tomura and Himiko himself. He attacks Tomura, but All For One sends all the villains through a Warp-Gate by forcibly activating Kurogiri and Magne's Quirks. All Might attacks All For One. The villain uses Warping to put Gran Torino in the path of All Might's punch. Then All For One uses Impact Recoil to invert the shockwave created by the punch, sending All Might back. Gran Torino is injured and All Might apologizes for accidentally striking his teacher.

Gran Torino remains momentarily unconscious while suspended in the black liquid. All For One attempts to kill him with an enhanced Air Cannon. All Might grabs Gran Torino and pulls him out of the way before countering with a Detroit Smash. Gran Torino wakes up from the shock when All Might crushes All For One's mask. He notices All Might has reached his limits and is beginning to revert back to his true form.

All For One taunts All Might about his master and All Might tries to strike him out of rage. All For One takes advantage and blasts All Might towards a helicopter. Gran Torino flies in and grabs All Might just in time. He reminds his former student not to get distracted like the initial fight between the two six years ago. The old man notes that All For One's Quirks and fighting style have changed completely. He advises All Might to use his wits rather than brute force. Gran Torino tells him he needs to enter crisis mode and asks if the Symbol of Peace can still fight.

All For One attacks with a maxed out Air Cannon that blows Gran Torino away. All Might takes the brunt of the attack to save a nearby civilian. He's weakened so much that he reverts completely back to his weak true form, revealing it to the world. Gran Torino notices All Might can only make his arm muscular and worries that he can't take any more of the villain's attacks. Endeavor and Edgeshot arrive to assist All Might, having already dealt with the remaining Nomu. Kamui Woods comes to help rescue the defeated heroes. Each of them encourages All Might to win.

Gran Torino recalls talking to Nana about Toshinori for the first time. She told him that Toshinori was kind of crazy because he wanted to become a pillar for peace and justice for society. Gran Torino believes that Toshinori is this pillar and everyone's number one hero. He silently tells All Might that the entire world cheers him on, including his students who aspire to be just like him.

All For One blows the other heroes away and then activates his ultimate combination of Quirks. All Might uses advice from both his masters to gain the upper hand on his nemesis. All Might is able to win by using the remaining embers of One For All in his final attack: United States of Smash! The world watches and praises All Might for winning. He enters his muscular form one last time and Edgeshot says he shouldn't push himself. Gran Torino tells Edgeshot to leave All Might alone because the Symbol of Peace still has one last job to do.

Following All For One's arrest, Gran Torino was recovering from the brutal fight with All For One, and he and Naomasa visit All Might recovering in the hospital. All Might confirms he cannot use One For All anymore and says he still desires to go after Tomura. Gran Torino says he cannot because now he knows that Tomura is Nana's grandson.

Naomasa inquires about Nana's inleage and Gran Torino explains that her husband was killed and she put her only child into foster care to protect them. Nana also requested that Gran Torino and All Might have no communication with them. Before leaving, Gran Torino tells All Might that he and the police force will handle pursuing the League of Villains. All Might's job now is to raise Izuku to become the new Symbol of Peace.

Shie Hassaikai Arc
On the phone with Izuku, being told about his intentions for an internship, Izuku asks if he is accepting anyone. Gran Torino tells him he has got enough on his plate to be taken of him but realizes no one else reached out to him at the U.A. Sports Festival. Izuku says he will do whatever it takes to be the Number One hero. Gran Torino then suggests he should speak with All Might. Izuku mentions Shota Aizawa told him to use the connections he made at the festival. At the End of the Call Gran Torino says All Might should be able to introduce him to a number of people, such as his former sidekick.

A few days later, Gran Torino attends the meeting regarding Shie Hassaikai in Sir Nighteye's offices. During the meeting when Centipeder mentions observing Overhaul and Twice making contact. Gran Torino mentions about it being related to the League of Villains, and that is why he and Naomasa Tsukauchi were called. Telling Izuku to listen, he admits he never thought it would come to him being dragged into quite an annoying situation. When Sir Nighteye mentions about Kai's daughter being covered in bandages, Gran Torino asks what they expected of the world of superheroes as it all takes is the thought and anyone can do anything.

When tensions between Sir Nighteye and Fat Gum begin to flare, Gran Torino says they must not lose their cool. If they make a misstep trying to capture them it could end up fanning the flames. Similar to how Stain's arrest gave League of Villains a PR boost - This time with Kai trying to release a Quirk destroying weapon. It is possible that those motives are also at play.

Shortly afterward, Sir Nighteye thanks everyone for their cooperation and the meeting ends. Standing next to Sir Nighteye, the latter asks him if the reason he directed Izuku towards him was to mediate his relationship with All Might. Gran Torino denies it and says it was just a thought that crossed his mind and asks what he thinks. Sir Nighteye says they are both similar including the madness in their core that he could never understand.

During the battle between the Pro Heroes and the Eight Bullets, Gran Torino and Naomasa Tsukauchi have managed to track down and find Kurogiri with the help of eyewitness reports and have subdued him. Gran Torino tells Kurogiri that if they arrest him, the League of Villains will fall apart. As Naomasa warns Gran Torino about Kurogiri's Quirk, Kurogiri asks Gran Torino if he knows of the rumors about a "ruffian" appearing on the mountain where they are at and the reason he is here is to speak to the "ruffian".

Gran Torino would prefer Kurogiri to tell him all about it behind bars. Suddenly, a huge noise reverberates in the area which catches Gran Torino's attention. An enormous beast that towers over trees appears with a boombox around his neck, which surprises Gran Torino. Kurogiri states that the ruffian is one of All For One's faithful servants: Gigantomachia.

He and Naomasa are seriously injured and the task force suffer severe casualties at the hands of Gigantomachia, but they managed to take Kurogiri into police custody, at the cost of allowing Gigantomachia to escape, after having completely destroyed a large portion of the mountain.

Later, Gran Torino phone All Might to inform him they captured Kurogiri, and to warn him about the threat posed by Gigantomachia, which he defines as a walking disaster.

Joint Training Arc
Because Izuku had a dream where the vestiges of One For All communicated with him, Toshinori calls Gran Torino to ask him if his master Nana ever mentioned anything to him about similar visions.

Hours later, All Might receives a call and walks over to a private area to speak to Gran Torino. Gran Torino tells him about Nana's dream about One For All, The old hero mentions that around the time when Nana inherited One For All, she had dream about a strange figure shrouded in dark fog telling her "It's not time yet..."

Paranormal Liberation War Arc
Gran Torino continues to collaborate with detective Naomasa to obtain information that can help locate the whereabouts of Tomura Shigaraki and the other members of the League of Villains. They try to interrogate Kurogiri, but he shows no sign of confessing or disclosing anything about the League of Villains, rather talking about useless stuff only to be completely unresponsive when bringing up the League of Villains.

When investigating about his person, they discover that he is a Nomu, and his Quirk is a combination of multiple Quirk factors combined into something new, which made it so complex that it took them time to notice. They also discover that the root factor bears a striking resemblance to a Quirk used by Oboro Shirakumo, an old high-school friend of Shota Aizawa and Hizashi Yamada who died in a villain attack.

Since Nomu with their own conscience seem to retain bits of personality from their past lives, Gran Torino and Naomasa decide to ask Shota and Hizashi for help, hoping that their bonds with Oboro may cause some reaction in Kurogiri, so they can extract information for the investigation. Once Shota and Hizashi arrive at Tartarus, they explain the whole situation and the reason why they are there. Shota says that if they think they can save him through their 'bonds' they're getting their hopes up. Gran Torino replies that with a strong enough basis, miracles can be possible.

Shota and Hizashi enter the visiting room where they start talking to Kurogiri. Kurogiri did not respond to anything from Shota or Hizashi, but soon their words finally manage to take effect, and the black fog that forms Kurogiri's head scatters enough to show the shadowed face of Oboro Shirakumo. Oboro manages to utter a single word, "hospital" before the fog hides his face again and Kurogiri blacks out, falling unconscious.

Naomasa and Gran Torino thanks to them because they have made progress. Gran Torino apologizes for having forced them to reopen an old wound but something's bound to come of it. When Shota wonders why All For One creates the Nomu, Gran Torino recalls a metaphor told to by the villain, in which he compares the creation of the Nomu as producing wine: trampling grapes (people) to extract the juice (Quirks) and letting them ferment into wine (Nomu).

That word turns out to be an essential clue in the investigation being carried out by the Hero Public Safety Commission, who have Hawks infiltrate the Paranormal Liberation Front, the new villain organization that emerged from the union of the League of Villains and the Meta Liberation Army. For several months, Hawks leaks essential information about the PLF to the Commission: hideouts, members, plans, strength, structure, etc., and most importantly, the location of its leader, Tomura Shigaraki, in the Jaku General Hospital.

By the end of March, the Commission organized the hospital raid and the attack on the PLF headquarter with a large force of Pro Heroes. Gran Torino joins the team of heroes led by Endeavor in charge of storming the hospital. Before the raid started, Gran Torino participates with other heroes in a meeting where Detective Naomasa informs them that Kyudai Garaki, the current board chairman of Jaku General Hospital, is Tomura's ally and that there is a section of the hospital that only he can access.

The raid begins. As one group of heroes evacuate hospital visitors, workers, and patients, the other pursues Garaki to his secret laboratory as they face the Nomu he releases to keep the heroes busy as he tries to wake up Tomura. Despite everything, the heroes defeat their creatures and assault his laboratory, destroying the capsule where Tomura was in the process and preventing him from waking up. Facing his defeat, a heartbroken Dr. Garaki declares that the Devil's Dream has finally ended.

However, the unthinkable occurs in a catastrophic event. Tomura Shigaraki as finally awakened, despite having previously verified that his heart was not beating. He immediately uses his Decay, which spreads rapidly through the laboratory, disintegrating everything in its path. Gran Torino charges in and quickly grabs Present Mic and Kyudai Garaki as he notices how Tomura's Decay was spreading to things he hadn't even touched, which is something they didn't know about. He yells to the Heroes to escape and not touch the cracks unless they want to die.

The heroes try to flee the laboratory, but only a few manage to escape before the decay destroys the entire hospital and expands to the nearby city.

After destroying the hospital, Tomura heads to the nearby city for Izuku, as something inside urges him to get One For All. Izuku decides to get as far away from the city as possible to as not to put people in danger, being followed by Katsuki. Tomura finally catches up with Izuku and Katsuki, reaching out to Izuku and demands to hand over One For All.

All of a sudden, Gran Torino rushes in and grabs the two of them before flying in the opposite direction, having to survive the decaying after he escaped along with several other Heroes. He explains he heard Tomura's intentions so he knew something dangerous was going to happen. He also tells Izuku that facing Tomura now is a bad idea because his Decay is so powerful merely touching the falling debris will ensure instant death. Izuku tries to protest but Gran Torino reminds him that there are other Heroes that can still fight, and as powerful as he has become, he can't beat all of them.

With Eraser Head arriving to erase Tomura's Quirks, Gran Torino prepares to rejoin the fight alongside the incoming force of Heroes. However, him, Izuku, and Katsuki are shocked when suddenly a hoard of Nomu appear, preventing the Heroes from joining Endeavor and Ryukyu's assault on Tomura.

The villain gains the upper hand and charges forward to take Eraser Head out, leading Gran Torino to zoom toward to save him. All seems lost until Izuku and Katsuki arrive to hold Tomura back. The two say that as long as Tomura's Quirks are erased, they can fight alongside them, not wanting to lose their teacher, so agree to let them help.

While Katsuki, Endeavor, and Izuku attack Tomura, Gran Torino tackles him, asking how can he trample over Nana's memory, but Tomura replied with a question, not knowing who "Shimura" is. Endeavor and Katsuki then engage Tomura once again. Lying in a bad shape, Tomura explained his motivations to the heroes, but Endeavor attacked him immediately after he had a moment to cool off.

Tomura dodged this and was about to ambush Endeavor when suddenly Torino tackled him to the ground. He then tried to escape, but Tomura grabbed his left leg and crushed it before being shoved into the ground. While the other Heroes try and reach for him, Gran Torino looks up to Tomura's enraged and evil face. He recalls Tomura saying that Heroes hurt their own families just to help complete strangers from his father. Realizing why Tomura hates heroes so much, Torino questions the decision he and Nana made about her son. Just then, Tomura brutally smashes his arm through his chest, brutalizing Gran Torino, but he barely managed to survive the injury.

Soon after, Tomura attempts to use his Quirk again to finish everyone off, but Izuku jumps into the air carrying everyone with Blackwhip. Gran Torino wakes up and realizes that Izuku has finally unlocked and use Nana Shimura's Quirk: Float., which cause him to smile gratefully at Izuku's progress Izuku realizes his control over Blackwhip is decreasing, so he releases the Heroes telling them to take care of Gran Torino and the others. Endeavor tells his son to give everyone first aid.

Gran Torino is then treated by the paramedics and transported to a hospital. He manages to survive although in a very weakened state due to his injuries, having to remain bedridden. During the time that he remains unconscious, All For One seized control of Tomura's body and escaped the battlefield with a few allies, then assaulted several prisons and released numerous villains imprisoned there. All this causes the hero society to enter a crisis.

Facing this situation, and knowing that All For One will go after him sooner or later, Izuku makes the decision to leave U.A. in order not to put his friends and loved ones in danger, fighting against the villains accompanied by All Might, Endeavor, Hawks, and Best Jeanist to protect him.

Before he left, Izuku met the One For All predecessors again in his dreams. Izuku talked about his desire to save Tomura Shigaraki despite what he did, and his predecessors agree to help him, with Nana Shimura asking him to give Sorahiko her best. Acceding to Nana's request, Izuku visits Gran Torino and gives him her regards, which he accepts with a smile. He admits he should have tried to kill Tomura and advises Izuku to not be so rigid with his beliefs, saying that death can be seen as another form to save someone. Before Izuku leaves, he hands him his cape.

Final War Arc
In the month that followed, Gran Torino remains bedridden because of his injuries, while the last remnants of the Heroes engage the remaining villains in an all-out Final War. He watches the live broadcasts of the battles occuring, including Izuku's battle with Tomura and All Might's battle with All For One. Despite putting up a good, but brutal fight, All Might was defeated by All For One, who drags him to U.A. so that the world can watch as he kills the Symbol of Peace. Gran Torino tears up, calling out to All Might while the people around the world watch with fear and anxiousness, believing that his death will mark the end of an era. He silently begs for anyone to save him. As if his prayers were answered, Katsuki Bakugo, having survived after being nearly killed by Tomura, successfully steals back All Might from All For One's hands.