"Move faster! If any of you idiots drop a bird statue, I'm ripping your heads off!"
"Yes, Boss! We'll be careful!"
His goons scrambled across the luxury shop like locusts with poor impulse control, sweeping anything bird-shaped into bags. The Penguin strutted behind them, practically humming as he basked in his own ego.
He twirled his umbrella. "La la la… everything's going perfectly~"
His underlings traded helpless, dead-inside stares. Everyone knew the rule: disrespect the Penguin's bird collection, and you might as well write your will on a napkin.
Too bad his fairy-tale moment didn't last.
A calm, irritated voice cut through the chaos.
"So you're enjoying yourself? Cute. But your good days just expired."
The Penguin's eyes snapped open. He jerked his head upward.
"Who the hell said that?! You talking to me, brat?!"
Ryuuto stood on the rooftop, arms folded, Katie Dee hugging him from behind like a tiny koala. Her cheek rested on his shoulder, a sleepy little sparrow perched atop his other one.
And both were giving Penguin the kind of look you use on trash you stepped in.
Katie Dee cupped her mouth. "Ryuuto-nii… is that the legendary 'Birdman'?"
Ryuuto smirked. "Birdman? No way. That thing is like… the discount version that never finished evolving. Don't stare too long, you'll catch something."
Katie Dee gasped. "Right! Virus prevention! Birdman germs!"
Their synchronized disgust hit Penguin like a slap, and he exploded.
"You two defective gremlins!" He hopped nearly three meters straight into the air, face purple. "You think you can mouth off to me?! I'll rip your jaws off!"
Behind him, his goons shivered.
"The boss is pissed…"
"We're so screwed…"
"Last time he got this mad, three cops disappeared. I still have nightmares…"
Their glares turned murderous, locking onto Ryuuto and Katie Dee.
Ryuuto didn't flinch. He just raised an eyebrow.
"I mean, look at you. You're seconds away from being plucked and boiled into soup. Maybe don't act tough?"
Katie Dee nuzzled closer, absolutely unbothered. "Mm. Ryuuto-nii's got this."
That was the last drop.
The Penguin let out a chilling laugh and raised his umbrella like a scepter.
"You want death? Fine. Men! Cut them into ground meat! Toss them in the river afterward. Whoever brings me the boy's head gets double pay!"
"YES, BOSS!"
The thugs charged with folding chairs, bricks, and the confidence of people who do not understand the concept of consequences.
They expected an easy kill.
They expected wrong.
Shadow Clone Technique!
A thunderous roar tore the alley as hundreds—literal hundreds—of Ryuutos materialized, rushing forward like a tsunami of fists and fury.
"What the—!?"
"Too many! Too many—!"
"Run! Retreat—AHH!"
The clones bulldozed them effortlessly, dropping dozens in seconds. Screams echoed through the street.
Katie Dee sat on a lamppost Ryuuto placed her on, swinging her legs. "Do your best, brother!"
"You bet."
Konoha Gale!
Ryuuto blurred through the crowd, striking with fluid, savage precision. Every kick cracked the air; every punch sent bodies flying. Within seconds, the street was a graveyard of groaning criminals.
The Penguin, instead of panicking… started clapping.
A slow, eerie applause.
Ryuuto blinked. "What? Did I beat the sense out of you? Is this your survival mechanism or something?"
"No," the Penguin sighed dreamily. "I'm delighted. Truly delighted. It's been so long since I've seen prey this perfect."
He stepped forward, tapping his umbrella along the ground, eyes gleaming with predator's hunger.
"I'm going to enjoy this."
...
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