Devil From The Heavens

Chapter 17: In Wolves' Clothing

Moments Before...

Pain had barely moved since the fight had started. Had his future not currently depended on the outcome, Broly might have fallen asleep. That is until the sickly man seemingly had the wind struck out of him. The Saiyan glanced at Nagato and something cold ran down his spine. The man looked utterly broken. Like someone reached into and crushed him.

"What happened?"

Nagato looked at the Saiyan. It was like he had forgotten that Broly was there. "Quiet." The vessels by his throne held onto the man's hands as he slowly pulled them away. Thick black rods, identical to the ones in his avatars, jutted out from his forearms. His palms slapped together as tears fell from the man's eyes.

"I need to concentrate."

Something went horribly wrong up there. Broly stumbled when the earthquake hit. There was no way that was a coincidence.

He stared at Pain as blood ran from the man's nose.


It floated to the sky and there was a collective halt of breath. Kisame glanced with worry at Madara whose eyes remained locked on the black orb. Samehada shrunk back underneath the pressure of the chakra around them. The sword hungrily attack Tailed Beasts before; just what the hell is Pain doing? It formed a perfect eclipse above the trio but paradoxically, the area around them brightened as the light from the sun was bent around the gravity of the void.

Pillars of water and loose rocks from the shore floated upwards.

"With me, Kisame, now!"

The shark-like shinobi followed the order without hesitation. He'd never seen anything like this and he wasn't to stick around if he could help it. Only for an invisible wall to smack him away. Kisame slid along the surface of the water for a moment before it felt like he suddenly fell off a cliff.

"Wha-what?!"

There was a sudden chaos as it seemed the entire lake was lifted away from the earth. The shoreline fell to pieces. Trees were uprooted by the dozen. Kisame's wild eyes saw every moment. He swung Samehada as boulders threatened to crash into him. He had to get himself away from whatever that black hole was! He kicked off another massive stone and climbed up, down(?), a tree but it was like he was stuck in place.

Where was Madara? He looked around but the Uchiha had disappeared. Things were falling faster and faster. He wasn't outpacing the gravity. A stray branch caught him and the lake put an end to his escape. His body crashed against the planetoid that Pain's attack had become. He couldn't move, he felt so heavy. Kisame looked up once more as a boulder the size of a home headed his way.

He'd been bested. No slicing it any other way.

'At least it's a hell of a way to go.'

Meanwhile, Pain slammed his hands together and the gravity from his Planetary Devastation doubled. The very foundations of the lake rose into artificial floating islands.

Madara was still alive; he didn't need to see the man to know that. That void was simply an extreme example of brute force and that would never be enough to kill the Uchiha. He took this moment in the calm to restore his Animal and Preta Paths through Naraka. He refused to underestimate the masked man nor would he grant him the mercy of anything less than everything he had.

Up above, cracks formed in the planetoid's surface. Pain noticed with some amusement that Samehada had survived its wielder and dug its way to open air. Pain helped the sword the rest of the way as he pulled it to him. The weapon squirmed during its brief trip but calmed once he grabbed onto it.

He noted the blood that coated the weapon. Samehada slouched as if in mourning. While he didn't need it, some confirmation of Kisame's death was a weight off his shoulders. Kisame had spoke of the life the sword had but to be able to know pain like this? It was surprising. He handed it off to Asura who promptly placed the sword on its back.

"You're in the hands of Kami now, Samehada. Your pain will end in time."


Madara bristled at the sight of the sphere that floated in the sky. He lost a valuable asset with that attack and Nagato would be an idiot not to replenish his Paths with the time he'd gained. To cut his losses now would be unacceptable but in his current condition, he'd be a goner. Some movement caught his eye and he tossed a kunai.

"Whoa there!"

"Some welcome."

The Uchiha let out a long sigh; he was too on edge. "Zetsu."

The plantman emerged from the tree trunk he had briefly retreated to. He took a quick glance at the miniature planet that Pain had created. The strength on display was simply unparalleled. It was no wonder the man had the fear and respect of so many S-rank missing nin. Despite this, Zetsu had a certainty it would be for nothing in the end.

"We felt the battle and headed straight here. Well, we made a stop first-" The white half explained while the black half frowned. "I thought this was supposed to happen later."

"Nagato moved up the time tables." Madara gestured to his severely damaged half. It was a testament to his augmentations that he could walk and move, much less talk. "Kisame's early arrival is why I'm still standing."

"Then this is a good a time as any to test those abominations."

"What he means to say is that we've taken the liberty of releasing a few of the special batch once we noticed that you were fighting Pain."

And that's why he could always trust Zetsu. He always pulled through for him.

"Excellent."


He wanted to say Konan looked peaceful in death, as if she simply passed in her sleep, but her torn torso and wide eyes made that impossible. His heart burned and he, the real him, choked at the sight. The Uchiha would die. It may not be today, and it may not be for years, but in time he'd die for this. He thought about reviving her but she would hate the idea that he gave his life to save hers.

Not when their dream rested on his shoulders alone. Not with Madara still alive.

But perhaps his vengeance would be sooner than later. That was his thought when the masked shinobi reappeared underneath his creation. They stared at one another for several moments only for Madara to break the silence.

"It's a bitter curse to lose someone so close, isn't it?"

"I had thought you retreated." Pain responded.

"Thought or hoped?"

What was the Uchiha planning? Pain was tempted to simply drop his moon onto the Uchiha but a blind man could see how futile such a move would be as long as he had that damned Sharingan.

"This is your final chance, Nagato. You end this farce now and I might let you live. Without your eyes, of course."

"Arrogance doesn't suit one in your position, Madara."

The Uchiha chuckled. "Wrong answer."

The ground shook once more. His vision took on a sickly green tinge as a harsh gust of wind buffeted him. The blood in his veins turned to sludge. Agonizingly slow, Pain turned his head. This couldn't-shouldn't- the mushroom cloud in the distance left him sick. But Broly was right where- he saw him in front of his actual body! What- another explosion, barely a mile from the first.

He could hear the people panicking from here. He could see some of them be vaporized by a third detonation.

"Stop!" He took a hold of the moon and pulled it out of the sky. "STOP!"

The massive construct of water and stone fell apart from the sudden force that acted upon it. Great chunks of material fell upon a still Uchiha. Pain, followed closely by his Paths, sped towards Amegakure.

Not his home, not his people, he already lost Konan and Yahiko. What would he do without his village?

The group landed at the edge of the village and spread out. One villager, a young boy, bounced against Asura's leg. His fear changed to reverence and he yelled at the other villagers to proclaim Pain's arrival. The turbulent sea of people calmed as Pain lifted his hands to them. His Paths moved on. Panic was chaos and chaos killed; his people needed him. Several ninja landed in front of him, heads bowed in reverence.

"Lead my people from here! Keep them from harm's way!" He commanded his shinobi before he rose above the crowd that had gathered.

"These intruders will suffer me!"


Preta and Human were the first to find one of the insurgents. The dust was still heavy in the air but there was a clearly human shape within the crater of the initial explosion. The chakra within was unnerving; more of a shell hiding what lay beneath than a solid signature. It moved and the cloud was split by the sudden motion.

Pain winced as Human was vaporized in an instant. Preta was impotent as fingers wrapped around its skull and dug in. A paper white face was the last thing he witnessed through its eyes before its skull was pulled apart. They could be restored. His people were still in danger; he couldn't withdraw his Paths now. He had to try and slow them down.

Several miles away, he looked down on the crater from the top of a nearby building as Asura. Whoever set off this explosion was down there in the midst of the destruction laughing. It was a disgusting thought that someone would find this pain afflicted on his people funny. The Path pulled on its right hand and exposed a long row of a dozen micromissiles. The explosives launched towards their target with prejudice.

There was a flash of green as the missiles exploded. Another blast, separate from the rest, shook the skyscraper Asura stood on and the Path was suddenly weightless. Another flash and Asura shared the same fate as Human.

To the east, Animal stood by as its Rhino and Eagle summons were slaughtered with ease. The pale skin of this heretic was painted with splashes of crimson as it drove its fist into the rhino's skull. The sight was an abomination. It was like Zetsu had molded himself into the image of Broly. Its green tail swished lazily as the Broly doppleganger pulled its hand from the rhino.

The False Broly opened its mouth wide like a snake and its mouth shone with a brilliant light. Animal, along with most of the block, disappeared in the beam that erupted forth.

Pain shook with barely restrained anger. Above it all, He could only stare as his Paths were immediately overwhelmed by these...what were they even? They weren't exact clones but their power was unmistakably that of the Saiyan. Madara appeared on a roof next to Ame's God.

"What have you done?"

"It became clear to me that Broly was unreliable. So I created them. Many of them. Legions of Zetsu as well to support them. Not even the great Hidden Villages could stand against me."

The unspoken threat was there. There'd be no Ame should Madara not get the Rinnegan.

"Now, tell me where your real body is. Oh, and if you do anything to your eyes before I get to them..."

He glanced at the still fading clouds of ash.

"Well, I don't need to spell it out, do I?"


"I've lost."

Broly's neck nearly snapped as his head whipped around. "You what?!" He approached the emaciated man. "If this is some trick, I'll-!"

The solemn shake of Nagato's head felt like a sucker punch to the jaw. He couldn't continue under Madara's thumb. He wouldn't! Not when he was this close! If he'd lost, Madara would be stupid not to kill off the figurehead. Maybe that was the leverage he needed?

"Does he know about you?"

A nod. "Yes. And now, this location as well."

"He'll kill you once he gets here. There's no way he won't." He glanced down at the man's hands. Salvation was right there. "Release my power. I'll take care of him."

When Nagato didn't move, Broly felt the flame in him rise. Was this bastard really going to give up like that? After all this?! The Saiyan grabbed him by the neck and shoved him back.

"Look, you might not have a chance but I do! Now do it! Before he gets here!"

Nagato weakly pushed his hand away. Broly was right. Madara wouldn't let him live past today.

But he couldn't risk Ame like that. Even if Broly did kill Madara, they didn't know where the rest of these Zetsu were which meant that Ame would still be endangered. To say nothing of what the Saiyan would do once he had his power.

Nagato put his hands together. Madara knew where to go; he didn't need him alive anymore.

"Outer Path - Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique."

There was a minor trembling in the cave as the King of Hell burst forth from the earth above ground. On the edge of Ame, its mouth fell open and the ethereal green wisps within were freed. All over the village, dead civilians and shinobi with bodies intact rose from the dead. In the distance, Naraka laid Konan's body down. Nagato's hair turned white and the man smiled.

"I am sorry I couldn't do more for you, Broly. But my people would die; I can't let that happen."

With those final words, Nagato's eyes fell.


The air rushed in to fill her greedy lungs. The last memory she had was water. Water and pain. Pain! Nagato!

Konan pushed herself up far too quickly and was promptly hit with a bout of dizziness. She stumbled and quickly fell only to be caught. It was Naraka but where were the other Paths? Where was Nagato? She was soaked. She looked down and noticed the immense amount of blood on her clothes.

The memories flooded her mind. The rod that had pierced her chest. The sharkskin that tore her open. There was no way she simply survived.

She looked to Naraka as the King of Hell disappeared beneath the earth. "Nagato, you didn't."

The Path gave her a soft smile. The regret she saw made her heart heavy. "I am sorry. He made me choose between myself or our home."

He fell to a knee and this time, she supported the Path. "Madara has recreated Broly in Zetsu's image. He claims to have an army. He must not succeed. You must go, Konan. Warn the other villages; he must not succeed. Our dream lives with you now. Please."

"What about you?!" The Path fell limp in her arms. "Nagato!"


His chest stopped moving. The man wasn't breathing and his own breaths only quickened. Did he-? The Saiyan grabbed Nagato by the shoulders and shook the man.

"What are you doing!" He yelled as he slapped Pain. No reaction. "Open those eyes!" There was a burst of blood as the back of his head hit the throne. There was nothing. He knew what that meant; he'd seen this a billion times.

"Nonono, NO!"

The man stayed limp as if to spit in the face of his despair. With a flare of hopeless rage, his fist met the corpse's jaw with a sickening crunch. The dam burst and the Saiyan's fury rained down on the dead god. Bones cracked and still warm blood flew as his blows fell.

"You piece of fucking shit!" He punctuated his words with another punch and crushed Nagato's right orbital socket. "Why do I even try with you?! You're all the same! Just using me!"

His next punch was stopped as a pale hand grabbed his wrist. Broly snapped around where his retaliatory fist hit a wall. With his face on it.

"Wha..?"

It threw him away with ease and his breath was forced out of his lungs when he hit the stone wall. That really hurt. Through the haze of his vision, he saw a tail. His first instinct was disbelief. His face? A tail? Was he going crazy?

"You managed to destroy an eye, you ape."

Someone picked him up by his hair. It was him. His skin looked like there was no blood flowing and his hair was a sickly green but it was him.

"Lucky for me, the remainder is my preferred choice."

There were two more behind Madara; one with an odd looking sword on its back. There was pressure in the room that weighed heavy on him. Was this what it felt like to be around him? He could hardly breath; it was enough to make him sick.

"All things considered, I quite liked Nagato even with this latest stunt he pulled. I'll leave his village alone for now. More people to live happily once my mission is complete. As for you..."

The masked man grabbed him by the chin. The Broly that held him forced his eyes open and Madara's gaze stared into him.

"I will release your power. You will go to the Leaf, you will cripple them, and you will kill their leaders. Leave the Nine Tails Jinchuriki alive."

Madara let go and Broly stood powerless against his word.

"And once you are done, drown yourself in the nearest ocean."


Author's Notes

Gah! Sorry everybody! I meant to post this as a Christmas gift but I forgot about it in the midst of the celebrations! Better late than never though right?

Short battle all things considered but this was always meant to just be a precursor to the next bit.

Depending on how I structure it, next chapter or the one after that will be Broly vs The Hidden Leaf Village.

Also, apologies to everyone who wanted Broly to react to Konan's death. With how things went, there was no real, organic way for him to find out before she was revived by Nagato.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year's to everyone!

Ent out.


Review Responses!

Abyss Emperor: Possibly, depending on how his assualt on the Leaf goes.

Jutten: I'm glad you enjoyed it! I love writing fight scenes.

Dragon Dagger P: Why thanks, I'm glad to hear it!

fightingchampion: Those darn Saiyans with their pride and all that.

Raos: I know what you mean, I actually enjoyed Tobi quite a bit before it was revealed he was Madara/Obito. As for writing a chapter without Broly, I can tell you that there was a bit of anxiety with that one for precisely the reason you mentioned. No need to apologize, I love long reviews.

Lord Asmodeus: A slave killing their master will always be cathartic.

die author: Nerfing isn't inherently bad. This story couldn't be written otherwise.