Chapter 331: Great Mighty Celestial Dragon!
"…Captain, that's the situation. Hydra knows S.H.I.E.L.D. better than anyone, so I hope Hydra can provide some support in the next phase of the operation."
Naruto addressed the Captain Hydra.
"No problem. But before that, we need to confirm Gray Wolf's location first…"
Just as Obito finished speaking, an explosion erupted on the outskirts of Konoha, and with it, a towering tree shot up from the ground.
"Lord Hokage, that direction leads to the Konoha Prison."
Ever since Naruto had taken office, serious crimes had become rare in Konoha. But petty crimes like theft still occurred occasionally.
Konoha Prison.
"Wood Style: Four-Pillar Prison Jutsu!"
Wooden pillars formed a prison cell, trapping Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame, and Kiba's ninja dog, Akamaru.
"You bastard! Let us out already!"
Kiba gripped the wooden bars tightly and shouted at the fourth Gray Wolf clone in front of him.
Shino stood quietly to the side, secretly directing his insects to gnaw at the wood. Meanwhile, the aged Akamaru lay weakly nearby, letting out faint whimpers.
"Kiba, Shino, are you two alright?"
Naruto, now in Sage Fox Mode, descended from the sky, with Obito close behind.
"Naruto!" Kiba's face lit up as he looked at him. "That's the guy! He destroyed Konoha Prison and took all the inmates with him!"
"I know." Naruto nodded, his face tense as he stared at the fourth Gray Wolf clone. "No need to keep up the disguise, Gray Wolf—no, Orochimaru!"
"Heh… hehehe…"
The fourth Gray Wolf clone let out a sneer as he removed his black cloak. "You only got it half right. I am Clone No. 4 of the great Gray Wolf."
"No matter which number you are—if you harm this village or its people, I'll never let you get away with it!" Naruto said firmly, then glanced at Obito beside him. "Captain, let's do this together."
"Mm."
Obito nodded and hurled his shield at Gray Wolf Clone No. 4. The shield, forged from Hydra's vibranium, was the most indestructible in the ninja world—it could withstand any form of attack.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!"
In addition to Wood Style, the battle-savvy Gray Wolf clone could also use Wind, Fire, Earth, Water, and Lightning Style jutsu.
He slammed his palms on the ground, summoning a wall of earth to intercept the incoming shield. The shield ricocheted off the earth wall and returned to Obito's hand.
Naruto followed up immediately with his own attack, giving Gray Wolf Clone No. 4 no room to breathe.
In Sage Fox Mode, Naruto leapt over the earth wall, forming a Rasengan in his hand and hurling it at the Gray Wolf clone below.
"Sage Art: Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan!"
The orb swelled instantly in his hand.
"Wood Style: Deep Forest Wall!"
Several vines erupted from the ground, forming a layered shield in front of him.
As soon as the Rasengan made contact with the Deep Forest Wall, it exploded violently, and the resulting shockwave shattered the Four-Pillar Prison holding Kiba, Shino, and Akamaru. Obito braced behind his shield, holding firm.
Naruto landed and quickly pulled back to Obito's side to regroup.
As the dust from the explosion cleared, what appeared before them was a grotesque wooden shield with a demonic face—
Wood Style: Slander Technique.
One of the top-tier defensive Wood Style techniques.
"Sage Mode!"
Gray Wolf Clone No. 4 pressed his palms together behind his wooden shield and entered Sage Mode as well.
Compared to humans, animals seemed to adapt more easily to Sage Mode.
A golden dragon tattoo appeared across his back.
"Since your attacks are done—then it's my turn!"
Gray Wolf Clone No. 4 leapt into the air, raised his right hand, and began forming one-handed seals.
"Great Mighty Celestial Dragon, Honored Earth Treasury, All Buddhas of Prajna, Prajna Paramita—Flying Dragon in the Heavens! Go!"
Obito, who had been chatting with Shunhi in the group chat, instantly recognized the jutsu from prior intelligence.
"Naruto! Watch out!"
Obito stepped in front of Naruto, raising his shield.
"Captain, do you know what this is?"
"Yes. Most of Hydra's records are lost, but I know one thing—this jutsu can't be blocked head-on!"
Just as Obito spoke, the Flying Dragon in the Heavens launched by Gray Wolf Clone No. 4 reached his vibranium shield.
Though the shield wasn't shattered, the golden dragon bore down relentlessly, forcing Obito back step by step.
"Captain!"
Naruto placed both hands on Obito's back and called out to Kurama inside him.
"Kurama, give me a hand!!"
Only when the Flying Dragon in the Heavens was almost upon them did Naruto fully feel its overwhelming pressure. Kurama, being a beast, had sensed the danger even earlier.
If this hit them, it wouldn't just kill Naruto—Kurama would die too.
"Take my power, Naruto!"
Kurama's chakra surged through Naruto's palms and into Obito. A golden Nine-Tails cloak wrapped around him.
"…We stopped it."
Obito gasped, peeking out from behind the shield. The golden dragon had vanished, and the ground between Gray Wolf Clone No. 4 and himself was stripped bare—the paving stones completely obliterated.
"I once saw your file from the original body," said Gray Wolf Clone No. 4, looking at Obito—or rather, at the vibranium shield in his hand. "Captain of Hydra, that shield is your organization's ultimate relic, forged from the toughest vibranium metal in the universe. It's said to be impervious to all attacks."
After Hydra disbanded, a large portion of its internal intelligence was lost. Ironically, S.H.I.E.L.D.—its old enemy—knew more about Hydra than the current Hydra did.
"…So my shield's that amazing, huh…"
Obito looked down at the shield in his hand, deeply moved.
"Gray Wolf, an attack of that magnitude—you shouldn't be able to use it again any time soon, right?"
Naruto took a deep breath, trying to calm the lingering shock from witnessing the Great Mighty Celestial Dragon, and stared at the clone.
"That's right. An attack of that scale—I can only use it once in the short term. In fact, that was my strongest move."
Gray Wolf Clone No. 4 replied with a calm expression.
"In that case, Gray Wolf—surrender!"
"Surrender? Wood Style: Multi-Wood Clone Jutsu!"
Gray Wolf Clone No. 4 split into dozens of wood clones, and each of them revealed Mangekyō Sharingan, summoning Susanoo that spread in all directions.
"Naruto, if you don't hurry and stop my wood clones, your whole village will be reduced to rubble."