Devil From The Heavens

Chapter 31: Exposed

Soon After The Siege Of Konoha...

The Eight Tail Jinchuriki's body fell limp as the beast was successfully drained. Two Zetsu came and went with body in tow as Madara rolled his neck and shoulders. The ritual always left a kink in the neck. There was only one left now.

It was just a matter of stopping by the ruins of the Hidden Leaf and plucking the Kyubi up. It wouldn't be much to leverage the citizenry into making Naruto give himself up. The boy was altruistic, far too so for the world they lived in, and he'd exploit it.

It'd have to be soon as the next full moon was coming up oh so very soon. With all the Tailed Beasts, his years of planning would come to fruition and he could finally rest. They would fight and fight and more would die but, in the end, they would all sleep in everlasting bliss. No one would know suffering anymore.

When they looked up at the Sage's greatest work, The Infinite Tsukuyomi would ensnare them and he would look upon a grateful world.

Even if they would never know why.

Zetsu, the real one, interrupted his thoughts. "Lord Madara." / "Bad news incoming."

The plant man rose from the ground next to him and fell in lockstep next to the Uchiha. Things were going so well too.

"What is it, Zetsu?"

"Konoha has been nearly annihilated in its entirety but-" / "Your pet project is still alive. The banshee they have as a Hokage is personally keeping him kicking."

Madara rounded on Zetsu. That shouldn't be possible. The man was supposed to be a corpse at the bottom of a lake; how was that not the case?

"And you're sure of this?"

"Absolutely. They have him protected at all times." / "Doesn't help that he left some of their best guys alive. Jiraiya, the aforementioned Kage, Kakashi, Shikaku, etcetera."

"It would have been impossible for me to not only get in and potentially kill him but also get out safely. I opted to bring you this information instead." / "Smartest decision we could have made, really."

It was divine providence that the mask didn't burn off of his face from the sheer rage that bubbled inside of him. Nothing that involved that fucking oaf ever turned out successful; he couldn't even die right. He wasn't a fool. Broly would be gunning straight for him the moment he was able to stand.

He couldn't have that.

Madara stuck a finger into the plant man's chest. White Zetsu's eye widened in shock while Black Zetsu's narrowed with contempt.

"Send ten- no, fifteen of our strongest Hybrids over to the Leaf right now! They either come back with Broly's head or they don't come back at all!"

"B-b-but sir, that's half of our current supply!"

"That wasn't me asking for your opinion." He pushed the plantman away as he turned around. "Now do as I say and send them out!"


"Does he always eat like this?"

The twinge of horror in Shizune's voice made Konan sigh. Why did she feel embarrassed right now? "He's normally more...restrained."

Broly swallowed and his neck expanded to accommodate all the food going down. "Only cuz the food you gave me was utter shit." He dove back into his bowl. "Fuck me, this is good."

"I...need to check on other patients." She opened the flap of the tent reluctantly. It almost felt like leaving a ravenous pet unattended. "Please chew before you swallow."

Konan chuckled once the woman left. "It's good the battle left the forest around the village mostly untouched. They'd be unable to feed you otherwise."

The Saiyan polished off his food and put it on the massive pile on the floor beside him. She'd stopped counting after thirty. Where did it all go? Broly burped and it practically shook their tent. She grimaced.

"It's been, like, a week, I'm hungry" He gestured to half the pile. "That's more my normal appetite."

"Meals like this are normal for you?"

"For Saiyans in general." He shifted and let his legs dangle over the edge of the bed. "We need to eat a lot more due to our...ah, what's it called?" His face scrunched in thought. "Meto- mater- matabal-"

"Metabolism?"

"Yeah, that."

"Saiyans," She let the unfamiliar word float in the air for a moment. "Is that the name of your clan or your species?"

"My species." He frowned momentarily. "It feels weird saying that out loud. Makes me sound like an animal."

"Given how you ate your meal..."

"Hilarious."

"I've been known to be." Konan deadpanned. She knew it landed when his lip twitched. She hadn't had such a lighthearted interaction in what felt like years; it actually left her somewhat discomforted. But she was willing to do it without complaint. As much as he hid it, Konan knew the man was in pain. Some levity would help alleviate it. It worked for her when she first met Yahiko and Nagato.

It was strange to think of her childhood spent scraping by as an orphan as better days but, here she was, nostalgic.

Konan spotted some subtle movement of the air near the ground.

"They're here."

"How do yo-

As he spoke, Tsunade came through with Jiraiya and a blond woman. Ino Yamanaka if memory served right. As inevitable as this was, the thought of delving into the man's head felt irresponsible, almost dangerously so, but Tsunade deemed the risk necessary. The thinking was his body was similar enough that it could be reason his mind functioned similarly as well. The former Akatsuki opted to trust the medic-nin here as she was responsible for saving the man.

Broly blinked at their entrance and shot a look at Konan. "Show off."

"Broly, Konan."

The Saiyan nodded his acknowledgement as Konan bowed her head. "Lady Tsunade."

"What's with her?" Broly asked as he stretched. That was a good meal. He pointed at the Sannin. "I get why you two are here but I don't recognize her."

Tsunade gestured to the woman beside her who refused to look in the Saiyan's direction. "This is Ino Yamanaka. Her techniques specialize in the mind, specifically interacting with it. While I understand your willingness to share information, we need it to be as accurate as possible given what you've told us already. She'll be able to delve into your memories and gather details you might not even realize you missed."

Konan tilted her head. "Have you determined if that is possible? He doesn't have chakra so wouldn't the technique falter?"

"Not to mention I'm an alien so, y'know, things might be different up there."

How Tsunade wanted to sigh at that. All their theories and research into the possibility of a super Jinchuriki was promptly rendered useless when Broly shared that nugget of information with them earlier that morning. He also explained that strange construct they had found at the beginning of all this. To think the Sage himself captured an alien and buried him for centuries was simultaneously bewildering and the most explanatory explanation they've gotten so far.

The Kage waved away their concerns. "We don't have to worry about physiology here. You're basically identical to us save for some minor details such as tenketsu points, how you process drugs, and the locations of organs."

Broly made a face at the end of the list. "That...doesn't sound minor."

She nodded in response. "Yeah, I was downplaying it. It was a miracle you survived our surgeries." Tsunade raised a hand to cut off the inevitable questions. "But I am telling the truth in regards to your head. We ran our fair share of diagnostics and your brain is structured nearly identically to ours."

He thumbed over to Konan. "What about-?"

Tsunade stepped aside. "Jiraiya."

The Toad Sage nodded before he started his explanation. "The seal on your head, as best as I can tell, was designed to grow and adapt with you over the years but it's clear it wasn't intended to say on you as long as it did." The sealmaster pointed at his own temple. "Long story short, it has, quote unquote, burrowed into your head and created a rudimentary chakra network. I'd compare it to a newborns. As it stands, it's too underdeveloped for use in techniques but it should be enough for Ino here to get in there."

"How come Danzo wasn't able to capture him with his Sharingan?"

Jiraiya grinned at that and tapped at his head. "Foresight on my part. I hid a chakra suppressing seal in his improvised cell as a just in case measure. That's not to say I knew about what Danzo would do but I wanted us to be prepared for anything at this point and I made sure to not tell anyone." He chuckled with smug satisfaction. "Could not have done it better if I planned it myself."

Tsunade waved the Sage away before he reveled too much in his 'genius'. "Alright, anymore questions before we start?"

Broly looked to Konan for reassurance. She shook her head.

Tsunade noted the interaction. "Good. Go ahead, Ino."

The woman nearly flinched at the sudden acknowledgement. She was hoping that being so quiet would miraculously allow them to forget her. She shouldn't have agreed to this. Ino had never felt so small as when his eye passed over her and her trembles grew ever stronger when their eyes met. The harsh lighting cast blackened shadows over his face and so she remained ignorant.

Tsunade assured her that he'd been under Akatsuki control when he attacked. That he wasn't truly the beast that had atomized her father in the blink of an eye. That left her entire clan dead. She was all that was left and somehow it wasn't his fault even though it was his hand that did that.

"Hey," Tsunade's voice, much gentler and right by her ear, grounded her back in reality. "I know it's scary but we're here for you. It's going to be okay."

The supportive words helped and she steeled her will. Her father did this all the time, she could do this too. Ino reached out to Broly and his head bowed in return.

A kaleidoscope of colors and sounds passed through the kunoichi in an instant. A whole lifetime of unrestrained, unfocused memories crashed over her and it was a Herculean effort to not be instantly flung back into her body. Her dad had warned her of this. That delving into someone's mind would be overwhelming in the best cases.

She had experience with this technique, she was heir to the clan head after all, but a key part was that her own mind was calm with no distractions. A hard sell under the best circumstances and these were far from the best circumstances.

Ino felt her grasp of the technique slipping. She had to ground herself in the Saiyan's head with a memory, any memory.

She latched on.


"Madara requires you for a mission."

Samehada stopped just as its scales grazed Jugo's back. The sword seemed to groan in disappointment even as the man below let out a relieved sigh. Ape, as Suigetsu took to calling him given his tail and staunch refusal to be corrected regarding primate anatomy, drew the sword back and held out a hand to the downed shinobi. The Zetsu picked Jugo up and gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. Around the two, the rest of Taka groaned from the beat down that Ape had given them up to this point.

Suigetsu rose from his prone position and his eyes locked onto Samehada. He'd get that sword back one of these days but the Zetsu had to be around for that.

"Ape's leaving? I thought his whole thing was to train us?"

"Plans change."

Karin offered her arm to Sasuke. Her forehead was soaked in sweat; he'd already demanded she heal him twice today. Luckily for her, the Uchiha pushed her away. The kunoichi fell on her rear with heavy breaths. She could barely move.

Sasuke accosted Zetsu. "Like I give a damn! He's helping me get stronger and I'm helping Madara, that was the deal!"

"We'll leave you with another one but-" / "This is Madara's orders. Take your complaints up with him."

Ape gave them an apologetic shrug and turned to leave but hesitated for a moment before he turned to Karin. He signed to Zetsu and the plant man waved him on.

"Please be quick."

Ape knelt to Karin and put a hand to her forehead. Moments later, her breathing calmed and some color returned to her. The redhead blinked a few times as Ape helped her up. She was wobbly but able to stand regardless. She muttered a quiet thanks and the Hybrid grinned before he followed Zetsu out of the room.

As the two made their way to the rest of the awaiting hybrids, Black Zetsu sneered.

"You're getting too attached to them. You're a whetstone sharpening Madara's tools. Remember that."

Ape scowled but didn't respond. For how little time he'd been alive, he knew where he stood on the hierarchy. He'd grin and bear it if it meant he stayed with Taka. They rounded a corner and there were fourteen other Hybrids waiting. This was the most he'd seen at one time.

"You'll have two primary objectives on your mission." / "The first and most important will be the elimination of Broly." / "Second will be the retrieval of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki." / "Any questions?"

No response.

"Good. Ape will be leading the mission." / "Your mission starts now. Do not return unless it is successful."


Ino pulled away seconds later with a scream and Broly flinched at the sudden disconnect. It was disorienting suddenly being back in the real word.

"Ah," He grabbed his head a splitting headache hit him. "Be a little more gentle, will y-"

Her hyperventilating cut him off as it transition into wracking sobs. She backed away, paler than death, until her back hit Tsunade. The Yamanaka twisted and, with pleading desperation, tried to push past her. The Kage didn't budge; her own bewilderment needed answers.

"Ino, what happened?"

"We need to get away! He's-he's a monster!" The memories hit her and fresh fear compelled her to run. Jiraiya had to help Tsunade hold on as the woman threatened to break her grip. "I just blinked and they were gone! It happened over and over!"

There was a sudden shift in the energy of the room. Broly could handle their horror, he'd seen it before, but the fear that Konan showed brought him shame. He held up pleading hands. "Wait, I'm not-"

Ino interrupted. "I saw billions die! Planets like ours!" She sobbed and grabbed at her head as images of the carnage refused to leave. "The laughter, it's all I can hear! Make it stop!"

Shizune ran into the tent and Tsunade gestured to the kunoichi in her arms. "Sedate her and get her out of here."

Broly watched the two leave with a steadily growing trepidation. Was his chance at fixing things already ruined? Why were things getting harder now and not easier? Konan wasn't even looking at him. None of them were. They were scared.

"I know you've killed many before, you've said so yourself, but was she...accurate in her recollection? Whole worlds?"

It felt like the universe itself wanted him to remain still but he nodded his head regardless. He wouldn't betray himself by lying now. He was proud of what he used to be when he went through it after all.

"Yes."

"Oh." Seconds of silence passed. "Was there purpose..?"

He shook his head. "No, I just...it was fun. I don't know what you may all have thought I was before this but I am- I was...fuck, how do I explain this?" He couldn't stand the sight of them. "I've seen your night sky. I'm the reason there are so few lights up there. Because it made me laugh to do it."

Tsunade tried her best to keep her cool here. How do you react to the news that the man in front of you had a kill count in the billions? Provoking him was out of the question but there was a palpable fear here. He said he wanted to help but how sincere was that? Was he waiting for them to free him before wiping them clean from the history of the universe?

"But I swear that's not me anymore!"

"Sorry if I'm hesitant to believe, Broly." Her tone was measured even as she eyed Konan. Were the two in on it? "After all, what's stopping you from killing us all after we break those seals?"

"What's stopping me from doing that now?"

The Hokage was about to speak before Jiraiya put a hand on her shoulder to interrupt.

"I'm the only one in the world remotely capable of removing those seals for starters but I have an idea." The Sannin gestured to his own back. "The seal to shut off your power. If I were to look at it, I can probably make adjustments."

The Saiyan's eye narrowed. "What does that mean?"

"If it can shut off your power, it won't be a stretch to have it shut off something else." Konan answered. Her gaze pierced right through the older shinobi. "A dead man's switch? Is that your idea, Jiraiya? Have your lives intertwined with his?"

The Toad Sage nodded and he was almost proud of his former student. A few words and she had him figured out. "Got it in one. If he wants us to trust him with all his power, he better trust us with his life."

Konan's brow furrowed and her fists clenched. This was the most emotion he'd seen from her. She must've been furious.

"This isn't acceptable."

"Killing my village wasn't acceptable."

"Jiraiya, enough." The Hokage's words brought an instant silence to the tent. "We were under the impression you were an innocent citizen at the beginning of all this. I hope you understand, now knowing what we know, that we're hesitant. If you are a changed man as you said, Jiraiya's idea is a good show of trust."

All eyes were on Broly now. There were innumerable emotions warring across his face as he struggled to make a decision. He could just say no. Even without all of his power, he was by far the strongest on the planet but could he go his life with such a weight on his chest? Would a man with weights on his limbs ever be truly free? Was the other choice at all better? They asked him to trade that set of chains with another.

He'd have to trust that the tampering of the seal would be exactly as they say and no different. If Jiraiya could make the seal lethal, and the only one with the knowledge to adjust the seals in the first place, who was to say he wouldn't put in a remote means of killing him with a word? Or a movement of the hand? How would he truly know if his life being tied to theirs was the only way the seal would kill him?

It was a gamble of the highest degree.

"I..."


Important Announcement!

There'll be no chapters for Devil From The Heavens or An Unburdened Fury in January! I'm taking a brief break from writing and will be coming back with a new chapter for AUF in mid-February with DFTH coming after.


Author's Note

Happy New Years!

Man, this was a heavy one folks. Hard as Hell to write too with all the holidays and stuff happening. x.x

But as a last chapter of the year? I think it's pretty solid. Lemme know what you think!

Also, really sorry to leave y'all with a cliffhanger right before the hiatus! I swear that wasn't planned lol.

Ent out.


Review Responses!

Isaiah Navarro: Aww, thank you!

Dontus -not Donut- Powerus: I hope you find the reveal here just as big lol

DTLA1992: As hard as these kinds of chapters are to write, they're always a good chances to let things breath and settle. It's why I like them so much.

Guest: This was actually the longest origin story for pirate Broly ever. He'll be in One Piece next. /s

SilverJoJo: It makes me so happy to hear that because I was nervous writing him like that as I didn't know what the reaction would be. As for Zenkais, Broly's been getting boosts for days now. If his power is ever fully released, he'd probably clap Buu at this point. lol

Reedz22: Thanks!

Flen99: I do my best!

fightingchampion: I don't see him staying long term either.