Nana Shimura: The Tragic Catalyst Who Single-Handedly Set the Stage for All For One and Tomura's Reign of Terror Nana Shimura is not just a hero in My Hero Academia — she is the unintentional architect of its greatest villains and the collapse of hero society. Every major disaster, from the creation of Tomura Shigaraki to the near-victory of All For One, stems from a chain of her decisions driven by fear, grief, and misguided heroism. But she didn't act alone; the other early One For All (OFA) users — Kudo, Bruce, En, Daigoro, and Hikage — compounded her mistakes through their own failures, shortsightedness, and inability to break the cycle of violence. This analysis breaks down every single way Nana (and her fellow vestiges) doomed the world, step by step, incorporating their synopses and the series' "stupid decisions" tropes that allowed AFO to exploit those flaws.
The Foundational Flaw: Nana's Abandonment of Kotaro — The Butterfly Effect That Birthed Tomura
Nana's husband is killed by a villain (likely AFO or his agents), leaving her with young Kotaro (age 5–7).
You'd expect: Nana to protect her son by going underground, relocating the family, or seeking help from allies like Gran Torino. Heroes like the Wild Wild Pussycats or Enji Todoroki (pre-abuse) managed families despite threats.
Instead: She completely abandons Kotaro to an orphanage, alters records to erase ties, and forbids All Might/Gran Torino from ever checking on him. She leaves a vague letter: "Mommy has to fight bad guys, so I can't come home. I love you."
Result: Kotaro grows up traumatized, viewing heroes as selfish abandoners who prioritize strangers over family. This resentment defines him, leading him to:
Marry Nao and have Hana and Tenko.
Enforce a "no heroes" rule, abusing Tenko for any interest in heroism.
Befriend AFO (who exploits his hatred), father Tenko as a vessel, and allow AFO to swap Tenko's Quirk for Decay.
Trope tie-in: "You'd expect Kotaro to seek therapy or question heroes rationally." Instead, he internalizes Nana's abandonment, passing the trauma to Tenko — who snaps, kills his family, and becomes Tomura. Nana's "protection" directly creates the series' main villain.
How Kudo's Resistance Movement Enabled AFO's Long Game
Kudo (2nd user) forms a resistance against AFO's rising empire, recruiting Bruce (3rd user) and others.
You'd expect: Kudo to prioritize stealth, avoid direct confrontations until ready, and build a network that could protect families like Nana's.
Instead: He raids AFO's base to kill Yoichi (AFO's brother), but spares him and rescues him instead — kickstarting OFA's growth but alerting AFO to their existence.
Result: AFO massacres Kudo's entire resistance, kills Kudo, and hunts down every woman/child in his bloodline. This forces Nana (7th user) into her abandonment mindset, as she sees the cost of fighting AFO head-on.
Compounding mistake: Kudo passes OFA to Bruce, who flees overseas but gets tracked and killed by AFO. Bruce's "distraction" tactic (drawing AFO away from Hikage) fails spectacularly, as AFO just kills him and continues hunting.
Trope tie-in: "You'd expect Kudo to verify Yoichi's loyalty before rescue." Instead, this act of mercy gives AFO a personal grudge, leading him to target Nana's family decades later. Kudo's "heroic" impulse dooms generations.
Bruce's Failed Distraction and the Chain of Weak Successors
Bruce (3rd user) receives OFA from Kudo and flees with survivors to distract AFO from Hikage (4th user).
You'd expect: Bruce to go fully underground, coordinate with Hikage for a joint strike, or destroy any records that could lead AFO to future users.
Instead: He leads a high-profile escape overseas, making himself an easy target. AFO impales him and kills him, but not before Bruce tests OFA transfer mechanics (DNA + will).
Result: AFO learns more about OFA's mechanics from these failures, allowing him to plan long-term (e.g., grooming Tomura). Bruce's death leaves Hikage isolated, who wastes 18 years hiding instead of fighting.
Trope tie-in: "You'd expect Bruce to fake his death or split the group." Instead, his "noble sacrifice" achieves nothing, as AFO just moves on to the next user. This pattern of "run and hide" from early users lets AFO consolidate power unchecked.
En's Quick Death and the Legacy of Inadequate Preparation
En (6th user) receives OFA from Daigoro (5th user) after Daigoro's death.
You'd expect: En to train rigorously, ally with Nana early, and use Smokescreen for guerrilla tactics against AFO's empire.
Instead: He fights AFO head-on, gets cut in half, and barely passes OFA to Nana via hair ingestion.
Result: Nana inherits a barely-powered OFA, forcing her to train All Might from scratch. En's rushed transfer (no time for advice) leaves Nana without key knowledge, contributing to her fear-driven abandonment of Kotaro.
Trope tie-in: "You'd expect En to evade and pass OFA secretly." Instead, his direct confrontation echoes Kudo's raid — heroic but stupid, giving AFO more intel on OFA's transfer method.
Daigoro's Reckless Fight and the Pattern of Sacrificial Deaths
Daigoro (5th user, "Lariat") receives OFA from Hikage.
You'd expect: Daigoro to learn from Hikage's isolation and build alliances, avoiding solo fights with AFO.
Instead: He confronts AFO directly, gets crushed under rubble, and passes OFA to En via blood.
Result: Another quick death, weakening OFA's chain. Daigoro's "fight hard" mentality influences Nana's sacrificial stand against AFO, where she dies smiling but leaves All Might traumatized and the world vulnerable.
Trope tie-in: "You'd expect Daigoro to retreat like Bruce." Instead, his bravado mirrors the series' trope of heroes charging in without backup, allowing AFO to pick off users one by one.
Hikage's 18-Year Hiding and the Wasted Time That Empowered AFO
Hikage (4th user) receives OFA from Bruce and hides in the woods for 18 years to "cultivate" it.
You'd expect: Hikage to use Danger Sense for hit-and-run attacks on AFO's empire, recruit allies, or at least monitor threats.
Instead: He completely isolates, training alone until OFA + Danger Sense ages him prematurely (dies at 40 of "old age"). Passes OFA to Daigoro on his deathbed.
Result: 18 years of inaction let AFO's power peak unchecked, killing Nana's husband and forcing her abandonment. Hikage's "hide and grow" strategy fails spectacularly, as OFA isn't strong enough yet when passed on.
Trope tie-in: "You'd expect Hikage to scout with Danger Sense." Instead, his hermit life echoes the trope of "isolated training montages" that achieve nothing, giving AFO free reign to expand.
The Collective Failure: The Early Users' "Pass and Die" Cycle
All early users (Kudo through Hikage) treat OFA like a hot potato: fight AFO, lose, pass it on while dying.
You'd expect: Coordinated multi-user attacks, long-term planning, or destroying AFO's network before direct fights.
Instead: Isolated deaths allow AFO to learn OFA's mechanics (transfer via DNA/will, resistance to theft). This knowledge lets AFO create Decay (modified Overhaul) for Tenko and groom Tomura as the perfect vessel.
Result: Nana inherits a cursed legacy, dying in her prime and leaving All Might to fight alone for 40 years.
Nana's Direct Role in All Might's Flaws
Nana mentors All Might but dies early, leaving him with "smile through pain" advice but no family support network.
You'd expect: Nana to warn All Might about her family, so he could protect Kotaro.
Instead: Her oath of secrecy prevents All Might from ever knowing about Kotaro until too late.
Result: All Might's lone-wolf style (no family, no backups) mirrors Nana's isolation, delaying AFO's defeat and allowing Tomura to grow.
Vestige Mistakes: The Afterlife Failures That Nearly Sealed the Doom
In the vestige world, the early users (especially Kudo and Bruce) initially reject Izuku for wanting to save Tomura.
You'd expect: Immediate unity against AFO, using their knowledge to guide Izuku.
Instead: Kudo/ Bruce turn their backs, delaying Izuku's full access to Quirks. Hikage sacrifices himself first, losing Danger Sense early.
Result: Izuku nearly dies multiple times; the internal debate wastes precious time, allowing Tomura to steal Quirks and nearly win.
The Ultimate Irony: Nana's "Heroic Sacrifice" Enables AFO's Greatest Victory
Nana dies fighting AFO, passing OFA to All Might with a smile.
You'd expect: A living Nana to defeat AFO or protect her family.
Instead: Her death gives AFO her hand (as Tomura's mask) and cements Kotaro's hatred. AFO uses this to groom Tomura, turning Nana's legacy against itself.
Trope tie-in: "You'd expect Nana to retreat like Hikage." Instead, her charge-in trope (like All Might vs. AFO) achieves nothing but her death.
Broader Dooms: How Nana's Legacy Created Systemic Failures
Hero society's "smile and save" ideal (Nana's words) leads to tropes like All Might ignoring Tomura's cries for help as a child.
Abandonment trope repeats: Endeavor abuses Shoto (mirroring Kotaro's abuse), creating Dabi.
AFO exploits the "pass and die" chain: Each user's death gives him more time to build his empire, steal Quirks, and create Nomu.
Final War: The users' sacrifices (Kudo exploding, En piercing, etc.) only work because Izuku rejects Nana's "kill him" advice — her final mistake nearly dooms the world again.
In conclusion: Nana's fear-driven abandonment created Tomura, and the early users' chain of failures (isolated fights, poor planning, quick deaths) gave AFO decades to exploit it