Back in the Hokage's office, Sakura laid out an old scroll—one recovered from ancient ruins decades ago but never fully translated.
Sakura looked tense.
"Naruto… these creatures you're fighting—they match descriptions of something called The Primordial Evils."
Shikamaru raised a brow.
"Sounds dramatic."
"They're real," Sakura said. "Or at least… they used to be myths. Entities formed before chakra was discovered. Before humans learned jutsu."
Naruto frowned.
"Why show up now?"
Sakura pointed to another line.
"When the Guardian of Flame falls, the bonds of the deep will break."
Shikamaru exhaled slowly.
"That guardian was Senju Raiden…"
Naruto's stomach dropped.
"So releasing the Hoshigan also released the others?"
"No," Sakura said quietly.
"They were waiting. Watching.
And Raiden's death was the final trigger."
Naruto tightened his fists.
Kurama murmured,
"Kid… there's another chakra approaching the village."
Naruto stood up sharply.
"Already?!"
A knock sounded—urgent.
An ANBU kneeling outside reported:
"Hokage-sama… a visitor has arrived from the Land of Iron. She claims another beast has awakened—one heading straight for Konoha."
Naruto's face hardened.
"Then we'll meet it head-on."
Shikamaru rubbed his temples.
"This is turning into a nightmare."
Naruto cracked his knuckles, a grin spreading.
"Yeah… but it's our nightmare."