Two days later, alarms blared across Konoha.
A shockwave hit the village gates—hard enough to splinter the reinforced wood. Shinobi scrambled as a second blast followed.
Naruto flashed to the scene in an instant using Flying Raijin.
What he saw made his stomach drop.
A massive figure—easily the size of the Nine-Tails—towered over the gate.
It had a humanoid body of molten stone, cracks glowing like lava, and a horned face twisted in fury.
Shikamaru arrived behind him, panting.
"That… is not a tailed beast."
Kurama growled inside Naruto.
"That thing's chakra is old. Older than anything you've fought."
The creature roared, and a wave of scorching fire blasted outward. Jonin were thrown back like leaves.
Naruto didn't hesitate.
He entered Kurama Chakra Mode instantly and charged.
"Let's dance, big guy!"
He slammed a massive Rasengan into its chest—
But the creature tanked it.
Didn't even budge.
Shikamaru shouted, "Naruto! Its body regenerates from heat! You need something colder!"
Naruto grinned.
"Good thing I've got friends."
He bit his thumb and slammed his palm to the ground.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Gamabunta appeared in a burst of smoke.
The giant toad squinted.
"OI! Couldn't you call me for something smaller?!"
"Nope!"
The fire titan swung its arm, launching a river of molten flame. Gamabunta leaped, kicking up huge debris.
Naruto formed a new jutsu—wind chakra spiraling violently.
"Wind Style: Blizzard Rasengan!"
Cold, sharp winds condensed around the sphere, freezing the air around it.
Naruto and Gamabunta launched together—
Naruto smashing the Blizzard Rasengan into the titan's core.
The creature howled as frost spread across its molten body.
Cracks formed.
Then it shattered into a storm of glowing embers.
But the wind carried a whisper as the last ember died:
"Strength.
Wrath.
Soon, despair."
Naruto landed beside Shikamaru.
"This is getting worse," Shikamaru said.
Naruto nodded.
"We need answers. Fast."