Devil From The Heavens

Chapter 26: The Monster Known As Hate

"Naruto." The man smiled at the young man's awestruck face. "I worked it into the seal spell that I'd appear in your psyche if it ever happened that the seal unraveled to the point that you had sprouted the eighth tail." He followed up to answer the question on the younger shinobi's expression. He glanced back at the Kyubi.
"Truth be told, I'd hoped it never get this far since I didn't want to see you again, Nine-Tails."

"His name's Kurama." Naruto interrupted before the fox could let its displeasure be known. "He's been a big help to me so at least do that."

The man frowned as he looked back at Naruto. Did he just-?

"Unlike your fellow villagers, Hokage," A dark chuckle escaped Kurama as if the fox had read his mind. "I've been there for him so if you wish to lay blame for this, look to them first."

A pit steadily formed in the Hokage's stomach. There was too much there to unpack and not enough time. He needed Naruto alone. Minato lifted a hand distractedly as his mind raced through the possibilities. "...Let's go somewhere quieter." With a snap of his fingers, the two were suddenly in a white void.

"What has the Third Hokage told you?" He asked with some trepidation. "About me?" He clarified.

Naruto took a slack jawed look around before he replied. "Not much, just that you sacrificed your life to save the village from Kurama."

The Hokage's lip turn down. "I guess he wanted to suppress as much information of the Nin- of Kurama," He quickly corrected himself as Naruto's eyes narrowed. The boy was too defensive and he found himself asking why? "As possible. It makes sense given that if people knew about you, Naruto, you'd be targeted."

The younger shinobi's head snapped to the dead Kage. "You've said my name twice now, how do you know it?"

"I know it because I gave it to you." Minato smiled as his questions were put to the side for the moment. He put a gentle hand on the young man's head.

"You're my son."

The words hit the boy like a blow to the heart and, after some moments of stunned silence, a well of emotions spilled onto his face. Happiness, anger, betrayal, grief, and more followed each other and tears trailed down his cheeks even as he smiled at the news. Naruto wiped the tears away with his sleeves. It was such a sight to see, his son all grown up, and it had Minato-

And then Naruto socked him in the gut.

Naruto pushed his groaning father away. "Why would you seal the Kyubi into your own son?! Do you have any idea what I went through because you did that?!" More tears flowed down his face and snot bubbled in his nose. "I was so alone. The grown ups looked at me with fear and contempt and no one wanted to be friends with me! I just wanted to be accepted or even tolerated so I trained to become as strong as I could!"

Minato blinked as the words rang in his ear. The pain that hit his heart far eclipsed the one in his gut. Fear and contempt? But Hiruzen, he was supposed to-! The Fourth Hokage numbly straightened up Naruto's face reddened with anger.

"So I met Iruka, Kakashi, and Pervy Sage and they trained me and I was happy because I was stronger than ever! And just when things were looking up, the Akatsuki showed up! I trained harder than ever but I couldn't stop them from killing my friends! Gaara died because I wasn't fast enough, I wasn't strong enough, and the only person who could help me was Kurama!"

Naruto impotently wiped at his face again. "Damn it, I don't even know what I'm saying, am I supposed to be happy or mad, I don't know!"

"Naruto, how -"

"No, stop, I don't care." His son looked away. "It doesn't matter why I have Kurama sealed in me; I'll deal. After all, I am the son of the Fourth Hokage." He finished bitterly.

Minato was at a loss. How was his son failed so thoroughly? Where was Hiruzen? Why did the villagers hate his son? Why did no one intervene? The questions kept on coming and, with no answers in sight, the Hokage could only look down in shame. He did this to Naruto.

"...It had to be you." He said after some tense moments of silence.

Naruto looked back at him in confusion. "What?"

"The vessel for Kurama had to be young. Anyone too old would die from the sealing and release him back into the village." Minato explained as his eyes rose to meet Naruto's. "I couldn't ask anyone else to sacrifice their child for the village that I was responsible for protecting and...I believed in you. I sealed half of his power in you because I believed you could master it."

He wanted to reach out to his son, to embrace him as any father should, but he stayed where he was.

"It must have been hard for you. I'm sorry, I really am. Though I suppose it's little consolation after putting you through all that difficulty."

There was a pregnant silence that lasted between them as Naruto seemingly wrestled with what he was told. Minato wished he could give his son the space needed but he was on a short timetable and so he got his son's attention.

"There is a reason I went through the trouble to do all this." He started once Naruto looked in his general direction. The boy didn't want to look him in the eyes. "When...Kurama attacked the village, I learned there was a mastermind who orchestrated the attack. Quite a formidable shinobi, someone you'd need extraordinary strength to stand against and hope to defeat. I believe he'll target our village again."

Naruto scoffed and shook his head. The image of carnage that greeted him earlier was till so fresh in his mind. The smell like burnt meat and ozone still lingered in his nose. "The entire Leaf Village has already been destroyed."

"Yeah...I saw. From inside your mind."

That threw the boy for a loop. "What, you watched that?"

Minato nodded. It was horrifying what had become of the village he had given his life for. "I know about Broly too."

"So was Madara the one who attacked the village before? Using Kurama?"

"He was an Akatsuki, one who wears that mask." Naruto made a shocked noise and the Hokage knew that they were talking about the same person. "When we fought, he saw through every single one of my moves. It was extraordinary. I believe he and this 'Madara' you mentioned controlling Broly might be the same."

Naruto threw his hands out in frustration. "But why would he target the Leaf Village? What's he up to? Why do all this?!"

While Minato didn't know why this particular man wanted to destroy Konoha, he'd seen this pattern play out. Men who believed they'd been wrong, sometimes justifiably, who weren't happy way the way things were, or were changed, traumatized, by constant violence often looked for a why behind the chaos. Even if it was simple, random happenstance that tore their lives apart.

From there, fear and anger was poked and prodded at by outside forces. Be it a stranger, a book, or their very leaders, something catalyzed that fear, that anger, into hate. Radicalized rational shinobi into warmongers or terrorizers. It happened before the villages, it happened during, and it will happen in the future if nothing changed because their society was built with that consequence in mind. As collateral damage for their supposed order.

"As long as this shinobi culture exists, there may never be true peace and order." Minato answered after some moments. "The question of peace might have been brought up to you but finding a solution is difficult. In order to protect what's precious, wars are waged. As long as there's love in this world, there will also be hate and some will take advantage of that hatred."

Naruto didn't look confused so much as in wonder that the Hokage was saying it. It was so antithetical to the lives they lived. "Wha-what are you saying?"

The Fourth Hokage look at his hand. How many lives had he taken? How much had he birthed with his actions? "As long as we have this ninja system, this monster known as hate will live. It will give birth to more Madaras, victimize more people like Broly. One could even say it was this system that created Madara and enslaved Broly. Jiraiya bequeathed to you the quest for the solution that will end this hatred."

"But how can I when I can't- I can't forgive Madara. I won't." Naruto grit his teeth as he clenched his fists. "He's done too much an-and-and-!" The boy shook as the words struggled to get out. "And I hate Broly too. I know I shouldn't but I can't help it!" Tears streamed down the boys face.

Minato put a hand on his son's shoulder. Once he did however, the wind was knocked from him again as Naruto slammed into him with a hug. He returned the embrace.

"I know."

"Please, Fourth Hokage, tell me!" The boy asked muffled against his robes. "What should I do?"

"You must find that out for yourself because even I don't know."

The boy separated, his eyes puffy and red. "But if you or Pervy Sage don't know, how can I ever be expected to find out?! I mean look at me. I'm angry, all my friends are dying, I'm not a great ninja! How's a guy like me supposed-!"

Minato squeezed his shoulders and Naruto quieted. "I'm certain you'll be able to find the answer because I believe in you completely."

"You do? Do you really think I can?"

He smirked at the questions. "Well, a parent's duty is to unconditionally believe in their children." That's when Minato noticed that his hands had grown transparent. his limited time had passed so much faster than he wanted. "Now, then, I'm afraid it's time for me to go. My chakra's starting to fade."

The boy looked utterly lost. "No, don't go!"

Minato reached out to the void at Naruto's abdomen. "I'll rebuild the seal now but..." With a twist, the seal was back to its original state. "...this will be the last time." The Hokage smiled at his son even as he dissipated. "The Hidden Leaf can be rebuilt, Naruto. You can do it." The Kage then snapped a ghostly finger. "Oh, one last thing. Give Hinata space. You both need it."

Naruto wiped his eyes with the sleeves of his jacket. There was a lot said and more to process but in the end, he smiled.


Hagoromo looked around at his new surroundings. That last clash between Broly and the boy had seemingly acted as a bridge between the seals and pulled them all into a single mindscape. It was a damp sewer of all things with a massive cell at the end of the hall with an ever familiar face.

The Sage smiled as he folded his legs and sat on the air. In spite of the circumstances, seeing him all grown up warmed his heart. "Hello, Kurama. How have you been?"

"Hagoromo Otsutsuki, the Sage of Six Paths." Kurama's voice boomed sardonically. "Or so it appears to be."

"Oh it's me." He chuckled with mirth. "Or, to be more precise, I'm a fragment of his chakra he left behind."

The fox scoffed and the sewers rumbled. "How do you expect me to believe such a claim?"

"Well, when you were but a kit, Matatabi and Son Goku conspired together to prank you," He chuckled at the memory. He had to personally step in afterwards to prevent Kurama from hurting his siblings. "...which resulted in three of your tails becoming bald for some time.

The Kyubi's tails flicked to and fro as the Beast scrunched his eyes at the recollection. That was embarrassing and he had to isolate himself for days to grow his fur back to presentable levels. "You're...not him, you're merely a scrap..." Kurama laid down on his paws as his expression softened. "...but you are from him."

"That I am." Hagoromo reached out to rest his hand on his son's snout. "You've grown so much since we last saw one another and yet, you're half missing."

Kurama looked away as the reminder frustrated him. "That fool Minato only sealed half my power into his son when I was forced to attack his village." He looked back to his father. "It's not the first time these humans have used us as mere tools."

The Sage pulled his hand away. "Is that why you have so much hatred in your heart?"

A flash of shame ran across the fox's face before it was quickly replaced with a snarl as he stood. "How could I not?!" He roared with anguish. "It's been 16 years since I was last free! And before that, it was decades more!"

"And you chose to take it out on a boy?" Hagoromo made his disappointment known. "I saw what was happening, Kurama. If he breaks the seal now, he would die."

Kurama's eyes widened minutely at the tone in the old man's voice and he found he couldn't look him in the eye anymore. It would have been better if the Sage was angry at him.

"So what? These shinobi die by the dozen a day. One more wouldn't hurt."

"One, at all, is too much."

"So I'm just supposed to waste away in here? Wait until he dies in Kami knows how many years only to be put into yet another vessel?" The fox paced around and its tails crashed against the walls and floor. Did this fraction of the old man really reflect his thoughts? Would the real Hagoromo say such things? "When does it end? Doesn't my freedom matter to you?"

"Kurama." The tone had the fox snapping to attention. The man was his father in all but blood; there were instincts he couldn't ignore. "I love you more than you can ever know."

Kurama opened his mouth but nothing came out. He shook for a moment before he laid back down in front of Hagoromo.

"I just want to be free."

The Sage put his arms around the fox's snout in an embrace. "Speak plainly with the boy; let go of your hate and be vulnerable with him. I'm sure he'll surprise you."

It was clear that Kurama didn't believe him but he was willing to do as asked and that was enough.

"And if he's like the rest?"

"Being within his mind scape, so close to his soul, I know he isn't."

The two then heard a splash on the other side of the bars.


The Saiyan blinked and he was no longer burning. He fell onto his hands and knees as he took in massive gulps of air. He sat back and rubbed at his arms fervently as the phantom sensation of being seemingly digested stuck with him. Where did this water come from? One moment, he was about to gut the boy and the next he was here.

"Broly." Hagoromo's familiar voice came up ahead of him. The man walked through bars that dwarfed him and reached out with a gentle hand. "Let me help you."

Without thinking twice, the Saiyan grabbed the hand and pulled himself up. He was glad to see a familiar face. The Saiyan pulled his hair down. Black, not blue. What the hell just happened? It looked like they were in a sewer.

"We're in the boy's mind." The Sage idly muttered, unintentionally answering Broly's question. "Kurama's chakra acted as a bridge between our seals."

"Not unlike when we Tailed Beasts convene with one another." An unfamiliar but cacophonous voice added. Broly looked over Hagoromo's shoulder. Behind him, a fox the size of an Oozaru with nine tails swirling behind stared at the two from the cell the Sage walked out of.

Something, or more likely someone, hit the water nearby. His own pain was forgotten for the moment as he turned to the noise. Naruto had appeared on the other side of the cell with his jacket open and a seal inked across his stomach. The boy's eyes were red and puffy.

"Broly? How did you get in here?" He exclaimed, his tone shocked. The young man spotted the Sage and confusion hit him like a brick. "Two Brolys?"

"It's me, kid." Broly tilted his head at the blond. It wasn't really something he noticed given the violent nature of their meetings but he was small. "I'd say I wish we met under better circumstances but this is the best for you if I'm being honest."

"Hey, I know we're, uh, fighting right now...I think." The present situation made a clear answer hard to discern. He shook his head when he pointed at the Broly lookalike. "But I don't know who this guy is."

The pseuo-doppleganger bowed to the blond. "I am Hagoromo Otsutsuki. You might know me as the Sage of Six Paths. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Naruto."

"Sage of Six Paths?" the name was vaguely familiar. He might have heard it once or twice growing up but it didn't ring a bell otherwise. He thumbed over to the Saiyan. "Why do you look like him?"

"I understand the confusion." The man replied with fatherly kindness. Hagoromo bowed his head. "To be more accurate, I am a remnant of of the original Sage left within Broly's seals. Due to his unique physiology and the extended time in which I resided within him, my form has been changed to what you see now."

A great boom shook the mindscape as the Kyubi fell back onto its haunches. "I can attest to his nature. He is what he says."

Naruto blink at the fox's proclamation. "Whoa."

Broly rolled his eyes. "We can't waste more time here!" The Saiyan made a gesture to all of them. "We're here talking for who knows how much longer. I'm not the smartest but even I can see, we can't blow this because one of us," He pointed between himself and Naruto. "...will kill the other very soon if we don't work something out."

The blond ninja nodded as his features became far more determined and he slapped a fist into his open palm. "Right! So what's the plan?"

"There are three seals on his body. One on his back, chest, and forehead. The chest cuts off his power entirely once it is activated and the back dictates how much he can have at a time." Hagoromo pointed to his own forehead. "This one allows the conversion of chakra to ki. It's what enables Madara to entrap him."

"So that seal's what will need to be focused on." Naruto put a hand to his chin in a thoughtful gesture. "But how do we get rid of it?"

"Only a descendant of mine who wields the Rinnegan can remove them normally."

"Apparently, I was meant to be awakened much earlier." Broly added bitterly. "Sheer rotten luck is what has me here so that severely limits our options."

Naruto perked up as he remembered an observation from his battle. "Wait, Kurama's chakra was having an effect on his seals. Could we do something there?" He looked to Kurama. "What do you think?"

Their bodies vibrated as Kurama made a thoughtful noise. "I can feel my chakra eat away at the seals. With enough exposure, I'm certain we can break it."

"Good luck holding me down for that." He idly scratched at a burn that wasn't there on his chest. "And not turning me into a burnt out husk before you manage that."

"That I can be of assistance with." Hagoromo tapped his staff onto the ground and the rod shifted form into an archaic rune. There were chunks missing and parts seemed to be holding on by a thread. "This is the seal on Broly's head. As you can see, Kurama has done a number on it." The Sage pointed out a specific point where three lines intersected. "Here, If you can strike precisely, the seal will collapse and be rendered nonfunctional without injury to Broly."

"So weaken it with the furball's chakra and then break it there?" Broly summarized to a nod from Hagoromo. "Do you think you can manage that, kid?"

Naruto nodded. He already had several ideas that could potentially work.

"Great." The Saiyan crossed his arms. "So how do we get out of here?"

"Naruto!"

"Don't go any closer! The fox's chakra will flay the flesh from your bones."

The blond's eyes bulged out at the voice that rang out over the mindscape. "Hinata?!" He practically screamed. She was in dire need of medical attention! What was she doing there?

That was Konan too, Broly thought in horror. What were they doing here?! They were going to get themselves killed! Naruto and the Saiyan's eyes met and the two were keenly aware that they were sharing the same thought.

"Kurama, could you?" The Sage asked.

The fox scoffed. "Fine."


Outside the mindscape, Konan and Hinata anxiously awaited a fair distance from the eldritch shape of toxic chakra and burning blood that held the two powerhouses. Even Hinata, body fortified by Sage Mode, could not risk stepping closer.

The construct suddenly burst and Broly fell away, his body blackened, while Naruto stumbled back. Hinata sprinted over to her fellow Sage and caught him before he himself hit the floor. He looked to the Hyuga with awe.

"Hinata? I thought you were-!"

"Naruto." She looked to Broly who was struggling to his feet. Red cracks appeared on his skin with every movement. Konan stood between the Saiyan and them with wings spread.

"Uh, right!" The shinobi put a hand to his scroll as the Saiyan eyed him like prey. "Don't ask how I know but I can end this." Before Hinata could say anything, Naruto unfurled his scroll and summoned one of his clones. It popped moments after and he was back in Sage Mode. The blond then put his hands together and a thousand clones popped into existence around them.

He hopped to his feet as Hinata adopted her Gentle Fist stance and Konan flew well above their heads.

"We're setting you free if its the last thing I do, Broly. That's my promise, believe it."

Naruto gestured to the two women and leapt away. They looked at each other, hesitant to take eyes off Broly, but they followed him.

Broly charged forward but he was slow, It was clear that the weight of Broly's injuries was finally dragging him down. The horde of clones rushed to meet him. Several twisted around the Saiyan's sluggish punch and smashed their sage-enhanced shins into the Akatsuki's mangled arm. He cried out as blood sprayed against the swarm. Four were crushed as Broly brought his fist down and the ground shattered, unintentionally blinding the Saiyan. Broly's palm lit up and he swung up. A tsunami of ki ripped through the horde but they were undeterred by the show of power.

Moments later, dozens of kicks and punches rained down on the man who struggled to fight back against the mob. Flecks of ash and skin fell off him in clouds. With every one he punched through, three more filled the gap. they targeted his injured arm and he was forced to hold it tight against him lest they completely disable it. He grabbed one by the face and crushed it against the ground. Green raced down his arm into the earth and everything exploded.


Author's Notes

Next chapter is the last in this conflict. For realsies. c.c

Thanks for all the kind responses to the previous Author's Note!

Ent out.

P.S. There were some weird Guest reviews (you know who you are) that I've elected to not respond to. You weirdos.


Review Responses!

DTLA1992: I don't know if that's the sentiment he would walk away with. c.c

SilverJoJo: We'll see how things pan out soon...

Abyss Emperor: Wait no more, friend!

Dontus -not Donut- Powerus: Like in the cartoons when they have a fire on their ass, haha

streak02: Yeah, it kinda got a bit out of hand I'll admit! But the action concludes next chapter definitively.

fightingchampion: Love the response! I really wanted to emphasize the power difference there, glad it came across!

Isaiah Navarro: That's a cool idea that I haven't thought about! I'll need to see about including that somehow.

Kingkong101: I was sitting for most of it so between 4 and 5 feet, I think.