The Endeavor internship arc in My Hero Academia serves multiple purposes in the story. On the surface, it allows Izuku Midoriya, Katsuki Bakugo, and Shoto Todoroki to train under the No. 1 Hero and improve their combat abilities. However, beneath the action and character development lies one of the manga’s most important pieces of foreshadowing: Hawks’ secret message to Endeavor.
At the time, Hawks appeared to be working closely with the Meta Liberation Army and its newly formed Paranormal Liberation Front. His behavior raised suspicions among both heroes and readers, creating uncertainty about where his loyalties truly lay.
During a meeting with Endeavor, Hawks handed him a seemingly ordinary book, but hidden within its highlighted passages was a coded warning about the massive threat facing hero society. This message became a turning point in the story because it revealed Hawks was still working as a double agent while secretly preparing the heroes for an upcoming war. Let’s break down what the message meant, how Hawks created it, and why it was so important to the Paranormal Liberation War arc.
The Context Behind the Endeavor Internship
Following the Joint Training Arc, U.A. High School resumed large-scale work-study programs to prepare students for future conflicts. The rise of Tomura Shigaraki and the growing influence of the League of Villains had made it clear that a major confrontation was approaching.
During this period, Deku, Bakugo, and Todoroki chose to intern under Endeavor. Unlike their previous internships, this opportunity placed them under the direct supervision of Japan’s top-ranked hero. Endeavor aimed to teach them how professional heroes process information, predict criminal activity, and react instantly to threats.
At the same time, Hawks was carrying out an extremely dangerous undercover mission. Acting on behalf of the Hero Public Safety Commission, he infiltrated the organization led by Re-Destro and gained the trust of the Paranormal Liberation Front. His goal was to gather intelligence without exposing his true allegiance to the heroes.
This dual storyline eventually converged when Hawks met with Endeavor and passed along critical information disguised as an innocent gift.
Why Hawks Could Not Speak Freely
One of the most important aspects of Hawks’ message is understanding why he needed a code in the first place. By the time of the internship arc, Hawks was under constant observation from members of the Paranormal Liberation Front.
The organization was rapidly expanding and included thousands of followers spread across Japan. Because Hawks had successfully earned the trust of key members, any suspicious behavior could have exposed him as a spy and resulted in his immediate execution.
Open communication with Endeavor would have jeopardized years of intelligence work. Hawks therefore needed a method of delivering information that would appear harmless to anyone watching him.
The solution was deceptively simple. He gifted Endeavor a book and instructed him to pay attention to certain highlighted sections. To everyone else, the exchange appeared completely normal. In reality, Hawks had embedded a warning within the text itself. This allowed him to communicate vital information without alerting the enemy.
How Hawks’ Secret Code Worked
The code hidden inside the book relied on selecting specific characters and words from highlighted passages. When read in sequence, those selected sections formed a coherent message directed at Endeavor.
The encoded warning informed Endeavor that the Paranormal Liberation Front had become an enormous threat. Hawks revealed that the organization possessed a massive number of members and was actively preparing for a large-scale operation against hero society.
Most importantly, the message contained a timeline. Hawks warned that the heroes had only a limited amount of time before the enemy’s plans were put into motion. This information gave the Hero Public Safety Commission and professional heroes an opportunity to begin preparing countermeasures.
The brilliance of the code was its subtlety. Anyone casually reading the book would see nothing unusual. Only someone specifically instructed to analyze the highlighted sections would uncover the hidden warning.
This scene also demonstrated Hawks’ intelligence. While he is often portrayed as laid-back and carefree, the coded message highlighted his strategic thinking and ability to operate under extreme pressure.
What the Secret Message Actually Meant
The hidden message essentially warned that the Paranormal Liberation Front was preparing for war. Hawks had discovered that the League of Villains and the Meta Liberation Army had merged into a single organization with tremendous resources and manpower.
This new group was far more dangerous than anything the heroes had previously encountered. Rather than acting as isolated villains, they had become a structured movement capable of launching coordinated attacks across the country.
The message also suggested that hero society was in greater danger than most people realized. While the public continued living normally, the Paranormal Liberation Front was quietly growing stronger and more organized.
Perhaps the most alarming revelation involved timing. Hawks indicated that the enemy would soon complete its preparations, meaning the heroes needed to act quickly if they hoped to prevent catastrophe.
This warning became the foundation for the heroes’ later strategy during the Paranormal Liberation War. Without Hawks’ intelligence, the heroes would have been forced to confront the enemy with far less information and preparation.
Endeavor’s Reaction to the Message
Endeavor immediately understood that Hawks was risking his life by sending the warning. As the No. 1 Hero, he recognized the seriousness of the information and the potential consequences if Hawks were discovered.
Rather than reacting publicly, Endeavor treated the message with the discretion it required. He shared the intelligence through appropriate channels while maintaining the secrecy necessary to protect Hawks’ cover.
This moment also highlighted the growing trust between the two heroes. Earlier in the series, Endeavor struggled to connect with others and often acted independently. By this point in the story, he had become more willing to cooperate and rely on his fellow heroes.
The coded message therefore served as more than a tactical warning. It symbolized the changing nature of hero society as professionals began working together against a common threat.
For Endeavor personally, the incident reinforced the immense responsibility that came with his position as the No. 1 Hero after All Might’s retirement.
What Deku, Bakugo, and Todoroki Learned During the Internship
Although Hawks’ message was the biggest plot development, the internship itself played a major role in the growth of the three U.A. students.
Endeavor taught them that professional heroes must do far more than win fights. They need to gather information, predict threats, rescue civilians, and resolve incidents before they escalate. This broader perspective helped the students understand what separates elite heroes from talented trainees.
Deku focused on improving his control over One For All and developing his emerging abilities. Bakugo refined his combat instincts and learned to apply his strengths more efficiently. Todoroki continued growing both as a hero and as an individual while steering his complicated relationship with his father.
Their experiences during the internship prepared them for the challenges that would follow during the Paranormal Liberation War. The lessons they learned under Endeavor became essential once the conflict finally erupted.
Why Hawks’ Message Was a Major Turning Point
Many fans consider Hawks’ coded warning one of the most important moments in My Hero Academia’s middle storyline. The scene marked the transition from localized villain conflicts to a nationwide crisis.
Before this point, the heroes generally reacted to threats as they emerged. After receiving Hawks’ intelligence, they began actively preparing for a large-scale military-style operation against a highly organized enemy force.
The message also increased tension surrounding Hawks himself. Readers knew he was operating in dangerous territory, but the code emphasized just how precarious his situation had become. Every interaction with the Paranormal Liberation Front carried the risk of exposure.
Furthermore, the scene reinforced the theme that information can be just as valuable as power. While many battles in My Hero Academia revolve around Quirks and physical strength, Hawks demonstrated that intelligence gathering and strategic planning can shape the outcome of entire wars.
This made the coded message one of the most impactful non-combat moments in the series.
The Connection to the Paranormal Liberation War
Everything Hawks revealed ultimately led to the Paranormal Liberation War Arc. Armed with intelligence about the enemy’s structure, locations, and plans, the heroes launched a coordinated strike against the organization.
The operation targeted multiple locations simultaneously in an attempt to eliminate the leadership before they could execute their strategy. While the heroes achieved several early successes, the conflict quickly escalated into one of the most devastating battles in the series.
The war fundamentally changed the hero society. Massive destruction, numerous casualties, and surprising revelations damaged public trust in heroes. Events involving Shigaraki, Dabi, and the Todoroki family pushed society into chaos.
Looking back, Hawks’ message was the first clear indication that such a disaster was approaching. It served as an early warning for both the characters and the audience.
Without that warning, the heroes would have entered the conflict with far less preparation, potentially resulting in an even greater catastrophe.
Why the Secret Message Remains Important
Years after its publication, Hawks’ coded warning remains one of the most memorable examples of espionage in My Hero Academia. The scene successfully combined suspense, character development, and long-term storytelling.
It showcased Hawks at his best, balancing intelligence, courage, and sacrifice while operating behind enemy lines. It also demonstrated how much trust he placed in Endeavor by sharing information that could have cost him his life.
The message elevated the internship arc beyond a simple training storyline. What initially appeared to be a routine work-study program became a critical chapter in the buildup to one of the manga’s biggest conflicts.
For readers, the moment provided a look into the larger battle unfolding behind the scenes. It revealed that the fate of hero society depended not only on powerful heroes but also on individuals willing to take extraordinary risks to uncover the truth.
