Saitama didn't know about the establishment of the Hero Association.
To be precise,
according to the original progression, it wasn't until three years later that he learned from Genos—
that being a hero meant receiving a salary.
As for the penniless Saitama, let alone surfing the internet,
he couldn't even afford the channel fees for his television at home.
He could only watch the free disaster warning news and weather forecasts.
"My name is Aokiji, and I'm currently working as a professional hero."
"Professional... hero?"
Saitama was visibly confused.
He just wanted to greet another hero he had met for the first time and check if it was someone he knew from before.
"Isn't a hero just a hero? What does 'professional' mean?"
Aokiji wasn't at all worried about changing the original plot and explained:
"The Hero Association is a large charitable organization founded by a multi-millionaire with government authorization for armed operations. You become a professional hero after passing their tests."
"Hero salaries are paid from public donations based on the work performed."
"Given current trends, if someone calls themselves a hero in the future without joining the Association and being registered on the hero roster, the public might treat them as a lunatic."
This was also Saitama's original experience.
Despite being the strongest,
having defeated countless enemies,
and saved the public countless times,
he was constantly doubted and ignored.
Almost all his achievements were credited to King, who just happened to be passing by.
When reading the manga back then, it was fine to treat it as a joke for a laugh.
Now that he had come to this world himself, Aokiji didn't want to see such a frustrating development again.
"Professional, huh..." Saitama's brow furrowed in conflict.
He chose to be a hero purely out of interest.
If an interest becomes a job, can it still be considered an interest?
But there's a salary... Although he didn't have many material desires, he still needed money to live.
"Even though it's a job, there are currently no attendance requirements or performance reviews, so you can maintain your own pace of life."
Aokiji gave one more reminder and stopped trying to persuade him.
In the original timeline, after Saitama learned about the Hero Association, he took the initiative to drag Genos along to join.
Changing the plot was simple.
He just needed to let Saitama know about the Hero Association ahead of time.
"Thank you, Aokiji. I'll give it some thought." Saitama waved the flyer in his hand. "But I have to go now, or I really won't make it to the sale day event."
"Let's go together. I just moved nearby and need to buy some things too."
Aokiji informed the Association about what had just happened.
The Association was currently using him for promotion, so they would be even more attentive in handling such matters.
The rest of the way went smoothly.
No Monsters, no criminals, no evil organizations.
During this time, Aokiji expressed his approval of Saitama's current training method and encouraged him to stick with it, even if he decided to join the Hero Association.
The original story hadn't finished yet; who knew how strong the Monsters appearing in the future would be?
Besides, the way his next progress bar increased might not necessarily depend on fighting Monsters.
The responsibility of maintaining peace in the long term...
...was better left to those on the lawful good side.
Walking out of the supermarket with bags of all sizes, Aokiji rummaged through a bag:
"Here's some premium beef for you. Consider it a thank-you gift for speaking up for me earlier."
"Aokiji, you are definitely a true hero!" Saitama said solemnly.
"You're way too easy to buy off," Aokiji quipped and bid him farewell.
"I'm off. Come over to my place sometime."
"Bye."
Saitama held cheap, near-expiry ingredients from the sale in his left hand and a box of premium beef in his right.
He watched as Aokiji walked away.
The other man's tall, handsome appearance and now-famous face frequently drew glances from passersby.
"Professional hero, huh..."
"I'll give it a try."
—Three days later—
"Yo, Aokiji, I've arrived."
Bang walked into the villa's backyard with a chuckle.
In the backyard, regular, muffled thumping sounds echoed continuously.
Each strike was like a giant's heartbeat, causing the air and ground to tremble.
Aokiji was repeatedly punching a massive, twisted block of metal.
Just like what Garp had taught Aokiji.
No Haki, no Devil Fruit abilities.
Tempering pure physical body and will.
Seeing Bang arrive, Aokiji stopped his movements.
He picked up a towel from the side to wipe off his sweat.
Aokiji: "Garou didn't come with you?"
Bang smiled and said:
"That kid says he's no match for you right now, so he's practicing desperately every day. He'll come looking for you on his own once he feels he's made progress."
Aokiji: "No wonder you're so happy. He's been well-behaved these past few days, hasn't he?"
Bang: "Yes, thanks to you. He's working incredibly hard now, and incidentally, he's stimulated the others to work even harder."
"However," Bang's tone became faint.
"That ice slide you made has made my dojo very lively these past few days."
"A crowd of people climbs the mountain all day long to take photos, check in, and ride the slide. It's almost become a tourist attraction."
"You're welcome," Aokiji said without a hint of guilt.
"You could charge a fee. We'll split it 30-70, and I'll reinforce the slide for you once a week."
"Forget it. After those kids finish their cultivation every day, they run off to compete with the tourists for the slide, claiming it's to relieve muscle fatigue with ice."
"Hehe, did that fellow Garou play on it?"
"Him?" Bang stroked his beard. "He just took one look and muttered things like, 'As expected, it wasn't full power,' and 'This isn't enough.'"
"All of Garou's energy has been completely drained and invested in you."
"...Don't talk so suggestively."
That sounds weird.
As expected of an old man who still calls people 'Onii-chan' at his age.
"Let's start the cultivation."
Aokiji was shirtless, his full and coordinated muscles forming a perfect and natural visual treat.
He stomped on the compacted ground beneath his feet and said:
"I've deliberately packed the ground here tightly over the last few days. It's perfectly fine for cultivation, and filling it back in if it gets damaged is easy."
Bang assumed a stance, his expression becoming more serious:
"Then let's begin as we agreed."
Cultivation, after all...
...is naturally most efficient through sparring!
Not just in combat, but in any field with a competitive nature.
Aokiji also assumed a stance.
Unlike Bang's exquisite and ancient style,
the Aura he radiated was one of bold, powerful, and raw force!
This was the hand-to-hand combat style Aokiji had learned from Garp!
"Iku-zo, Bang!"
With that, he threw a punch!
Without the coating of Armament Haki.
He didn't use Observation Haki perception either.
Not even using the Six Powers.
A punch of pure physical strength!
He wanted to use the most direct contact to experience and understand Bang's martial arts!
Bang slowly raised his hand.
—Water Stream,
—meandering leisurely.
...
(End of Chapter)
[I will Release 2 chapters everyday]
[Please Throw some stone]