Ryuuto moved first.
Eight Inner Gates. Seventh Gate blazing.
"Day Tiger!"
Chakra detonated from his body like a volcanic eruption. The air warped, then condensed into the shape of a massive white tiger made entirely of force. It roared forward, charging straight into Rocket's plasma beam.
BOOM!
The impact lit the prison like a billion-dollar VFX shot.
The beam shattered into glittering fragments, scattered like broken stardust.
Groot's jaw dropped.
Rocket's eyes bulged.
Neither one even had time to admire it.
Because the tiger turned its head toward them.
"RUN! THE TIGER'S GONNA EAT US!"
Rocket and Groot screamed at the same time, scrambling in opposite directions, scampering like terrified mascots at a theme park.
Ryuuto exhaled softly.
Two helpless idiots—thinking they could run from something like this.
He flowed more chakra into the technique.
The Day Tiger sharpened, almost solidifying into a living creature, its killing intent chilling enough to freeze the air.
"Master! Run! Groot will hold it off!"
Groot tried, bless his wooden heart. He lunged forward—
—and the tiger slapped him aside like a twig.
Wood splinters flew.
Groot bounced across the ground like a broken broom.
Rocket stopped cold. Thirty different expressions flickered across his face at once—shock, betrayal, heartbreak, and "I'm never getting my deposit back on that tree."
"H-huh?! W-wait—Groot!? GROOOOOT!!"
Ryuuto's voice drifted over him like a cold knife.
"Well? That's your bodyguard. Legendary performance."
Rocket barely turned before Ryuuto's killing intent slammed into him like an avalanche.
He couldn't move.
He couldn't breathe.
Ryuuto snapped his fingers.
"Lion's Barrage. Snake Fang."
A dozen serpent-like chakra whips burst from the ground, snapping at Rocket's sides, biting at weak points in his armor.
"OW—HEY! HEY! YOU SNAKE-BREEDING PSYCHO!"
Rocket shrieked as a serpent bit him squarely on the backside.
"I'M GONNA KILL YOU FOR THAT!"
He whipped out weapons and fired wildly in every direction.
Ryuuto didn't flinch. He bit his thumb and slammed his palm into a summoning seal.
"Tongue Technique. Let's bring out the loud ones."
Eight Ninja Hounds materialized in a puff of smoke.
Pakkun yawned.
"Seriously? Can't we sleep for once?"
"We demand DOUBLE snacks," another growled. "Or we strike."
"Yeah, yeah," Ryuuto said lazily. "Look. Furry toy over there. Bite him."
All eight dogs stared at Rocket.
Their eyes turned bloodshot.
"BITE HIM!"
"BOW-WOW-WOW!"
The hounds launched.
"WAIT—WHAT!?"
Rocket turned. Saw eight drooling dog jaws.
And immediately regretted every life decision he had ever made.
"How dare you sic dogs on me!?"
Rocket sprinted for his life, screaming. "I'M A RACCOON, NOT A CHEW TOY!"
"Come challenge me yourself, then," Ryuuto said calmly.
He extended one finger—
—and slammed the prison door shut behind the raccoon.
"Fight them properly. No running."
"FU—!"
Rocket vanished under a dogpile.
Groot lay twitching on the floor, barely conscious.
Before Rocket could retaliate again, Ryuuto blurred forward and kicked him across the room.
Sand spiraled up like a living creature.
"Sand Coffin."
Rocket was wrapped instantly, trapped like a squeaking burrito.
He glared at Ryuuto, defeated but still obnoxiously loud.
"Y-You'll never break me! I'm Rocket! A certified anti-terrorist guardian!"
"Congratulations," Ryuuto said. "You'll spend the rest of your life paralyzed on a prison bed."
He squeezed.
Rocket fainted instantly.
"D-Don't hurt my master… please…" Groot whispered, trembling.
Ryuuto smirked.
"I don't care about your little life."
He knocked Groot out with one casual punch.