After thinking for a few more moments, Ace finally discovered a better, quieter, and far more efficient way to eliminate Orochi's minions.
He could kill Orochi at any time — that wasn't the problem.
The problem was the minions.
If he left them alive, they might hunt other samurai… or even the people Ace had already saved.
So, he made a decision:
Tonight, he would kill the minions.
Tomorrow, he would kill Orochi.
With that thought settled, Ace stepped out of the Shogun's mansion, dressed in the full black Deshiga uniform of a high-ranking ninja. The moonlight reflected faintly off the cloth as he walked toward a grand mansion nearby.
Kyoshiro's mansion.
Kyoshiro — the top boss of the Flower Capital's underworld, the leader of the Kyoshiro Family, and publicly known as one of Orochi's most trusted men.
But Ace knew the truth.
Behind the name Kyoshiro…
stood Denjiro — one of Oden's retainers.
So naturally, Ace thought: Maybe Kyoshiro could help.
But that plan ended before it even began.
The guards at the gate respectfully informed him:
"Kyoshiro-dono is currently at the Oiran's place."
Ace froze.
Then he remembered.
Of course — Denjiro was protecting Hiyori.
That explained everything.
So that idea was useless.
He would have to act alone.
Ace sighed, adjusted his mask, and slipped away into the shadows.
A few moments later, he returned — but not as himself.
He now looked exactly like Fukuro Asaba, a high-level officer Ace had encountered earlier… and quietly executed.
It was one of Ace's lesser-known talents — a technique he learned in the Shinobi Academy.
By tightening his throat muscles, he could alter his voice to mimic another person perfectly.
As soon as the palace guards saw him, they bowed deeply.
"Fukuro Asaba-sama! Do you have urgent business this late at night?"
Ace — speaking in a hoarse, gravelly imitation of the officer — nodded stiffly.
"Urgent report. Gather all available men.
There is rebellion near Udon Prison.
Babanuki-sama demands the immediate support of Shogun- palace forces."
The guards blinked.
Udon?
That was Kaido's territory.
Someone attacking that place was either insane… or unstoppable.
"B–But why us?" one guard muttered before he could stop himself.
Ace snapped his head toward him.
"Are you idiots questioning orders?"
The guard swallowed his fear.
Ace continued sharply, "If someone can cause trouble in Udon, they might also attack the Flower Capital. Our presence will deter that. Kaido's forces will reinforce us anyway. We are simply the decoy unit."
The explanation was enough.
It wasn't perfect, but it was just logical enough to silence doubt.
And in Wano, if someone above you explains something…
it must be true.
Still, the head guard hesitated.
"What about Orochi-sama's personal safety—?"
Ace slammed his hand against the wooden railing.
"Orochi-sama is guarded by Kyoshiro and the Oniwabanshu.
Does he need you?"
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Then—
"YES, SIR!"
Within minutes, under the furious bark of "Fukuro Asaba," the guards mobilized.
Eight squads.
Ninety men.
All armed.
All loyal to Orochi.
They marched out of Orochi's mansion, through the Flower Capital, and straight toward the outskirts.
Citizens peeked from behind paper doors and lantern-lit windows, confused yet silent.
The sight of Orochi's men marching at night was rare… but no one dared question it.
Just like that—
Ace successfully evacuated nearly every guard from the Flower Capital.
And he led them…
right into the darkness outside the city.
Toward the midpoint between Udon Prison and nowhere.
A perfect place.
A silent place.
A killing ground.
---
Once Ace confirmed that no human presence existed within a 10-kilometer radius, he finally relaxed his stance.
The night wind brushed against his cloak as he exhaled slowly.
Then—
his figure shimmered.
A twist of heat.
A flicker of light.
And the disguise of Fukuro Asaba dissolved.
Standing in his place was Ace, unmasked and unhidden.
The moment the transformation completed, the ninety samurai around him stiffened instantly. Their hands flew to their swords, muscles tightening.
Even the head samurai, the captain of the group, stepped forward with narrowed eyes and a faint smirk.
He had suspected something from the beginning.
In truth, the captain had quietly noticed three suspicious points on the way here:
1. The Reason for Departure
Udon Prison was Kaido's domain—
not Orochi's.
Why would an officer of the Shogun rush them there so urgently?
It made no sense.
The explanation sounded believable on the surface, but it scratched at his instincts.
2. How Did the Officer Know?
If something truly happened in Udon,
news wouldn't reach Orochi's palace that quickly.
So how did a high-ranking officer know?
And why would he personally run with the soldiers instead of sending orders?
Most of Orochi's officials were slow, clumsy, and untrained.
No officer ever marched with them.
They simply couldn't keep up and weren't brave enough.
Yet this officer matched their pace effortlessly.
3. His Behavior Was Different
The way he spoke…
The tone…
Even the mannerisms…
They were not quite right.
The captain recognized it, but stayed quiet.
Not out of loyalty—
but out of ambition.
If this was an imposter, then he could expose him…
kill him…
and gain huge merit with Orochi-sama.
His greed kept him silent.
Now, as the disguised officer turned into a stranger, his grin widened.
"So I was right," he muttered under his breath, hand drifting toward his blade.
Ace, however, remained unaware of the samurai's internal gloating.
He simply judged the situation:
Ninety elite guards.
Surrounding him completely.
Ready for combat.
Perfect.
With a calm nod, Ace stepped forward.
"These people really are the so-called elite of Wano," he thought.
"Strong bodies. Sharp blades. Absolutely no brains."
Then he raised his voice so all ninety could hear:
---
"Well, people…"
Ace smirked.
"…you're all surrounded. By me. If you want to survive, fight. If you try to flee—don't bother. You can't outrun me."
Before they could even shout in protest—
Ace attacked.
His fingers snapped upward.
A fiery glow bloomed at his fingertips.
Flame Bullet Barrage.
This was the same technique Ace once used…
but now refined.
Improved.
Sharper.
Faster.
From two fingers of each hand, tiny fire bullets shot forth—
fast, numerous, and deceptively small.
Several samurai scoffed.
"Such small flames?"
"Tricks."
"He thinks we haven't fought fire before?"
Wano rarely encountered Devil Fruit users.
Only Orochi and one other had devil fruits—
and neither were Logia.
To them, Ace looked like a flashy magician.
Until—
The first bullet hit a samurai using full Armament Haki defense.
A tiny spark.
A micro-second pause.
Then—
💥 BOOOOOOOM!
A thunderous explosion erupted, swallowing the samurai in fire.
The armored warrior disappeared inside the blast.
When the flames faded—
nothing remained.
Not even ash.
That samurai had been born to serve Orochi…
and died faster than he could even scream.
---