Flower Capital, Rakshasa Town, prison.
After Kyoshiro and Shinobu had finished checking the surrounding area and confirmed there were no hidden sentries, they slipped onto the prison roof.
Shinobu carefully used the power of the Ripe-Ripe Fruit to corrode hole after hole into the roof, inspecting the prisoners held in the cells below.
Before long, she spotted the person she had come for through a freshly corroded hole.
Ashura Doji was in one of the cells, metal shackles locked around his hands and fetters binding his feet.
He slumped on the floor with his back against the wall, his eyes shut as though deeply asleep, soft snores coming from his mouth.
Because he had been severely wounded in his battle with Sephiroth, he was not fit for immediate interrogation.
Therefore, Fukurokuju had not questioned him yet. Instead, he had even given him some simple bandaging and treatment.
Fukurokuju intended to let him recuperate for two days before trying to pry the whereabouts of the other Kozuki Family remnants from his mouth...
Outside Ashura Doji's cell stood two soldiers armed with spears, keeping watch.
Shinobu turned to Kyoshiro beside her and asked quietly:
"Ashura is down there. What do we do now?"
"I have a way!"
As he spoke, Kyoshiro pulled a blowpipe from his robes.
He first estimated the distance to the two soldiers, adjusted the angle of the tube, then blew two steel needles in quick succession, striking both men.
The needles were coated with a powerful anesthetic. Even a black bear would be knocked unconscious within seconds.
Whenever Kyoshiro transformed into Ushimitsu Kozo at night to break into homes and steal, he used this anesthetic. It never failed!
In only a breath or two, the two soldiers slumped against the cell bars, then collapsed unconscious.
Kyoshiro turned to