The beast pounced again. Naruto dodged, but the creature's claws grazed him, and a wave of despair washed over him—old pain, failures, loneliness.
Kurama's voice rumbled in his mind:
"Don't let it in, kid. You've faced worse."
Naruto clenched his fists.
Then he closed his eyes.
He thought of Boruto and Himawari laughing in their home.
He thought of Hinata's quiet smile.
Of Team 7.
Of Iruka's kindness.
Jiraiya's faith.
Nagato's forgiveness.
Konoha—his precious people.
Warmth filled him.
Kurama growled approvingly.
"There it is. Your light."
Naruto opened his eyes, now glowing bright gold.
"Let's do this!"
Golden chakra erupted around him—not Kurama's, but raw, blazing will. Even the torches flickered brighter.
He charged the beast. Not with a jutsu.
But with pure determination.
The Hoshigan shrieked as light burned through its darkness. Naruto slammed his hand against its chest, shouting:
"You can't break hope!!"
The beast convulsed as golden cracks spread across its form—until it finally exploded into a burst of shimmering dust.
Silence followed.
Raiden collapsed, fading back into a stone-like form.
"Thank you… Hokage of the Sun…"
Naruto knelt beside him.
"I won't let what you protected be forgotten."
Raiden smiled.
"Then the world is safe… for now."
And with that, he turned to dust that drifted into the air.