Ebara froze at Sakumo's words.
"He's clumsy," the madam said, chuckling. "Why keep him, sir?"
"Someone's gotta serve us," Sakumo replied, winking at the courtesans. "Can't have these lovely flowers running errands."
He tossed the five thousand ryō Ebara lent him onto the table.
The madam's eyes lit up. "Well said, sir! Enjoy yourselves. I won't disturb you."
She left with the other women.
"Come here, kid. Rub my legs," Sakumo ordered.
"Y-Yes…" the child replied timidly, trembling but stepping forward.
With small fists, the kid began massaging Sakumo's legs.
Sakumo noticed bruises on the child's arm but said nothing, sipping his drink.
His hand brushed the wine bottle, discreetly sprinkling an illusion-inducing drug.
"Pour the wine. Fill their cups too," Sakumo instructed.
His move didn't escape Ebara, who smirked inwardly, intrigued.
Three minutes later, the four courtesans slumped onto the table, out cold.
"What's…" the child gasped.
Sakumo grabbed the kid's hand, tearing at their collar.
Rip!
The clothes came off.
Ebara nearly cursed Sakumo but stopped short.
Not only was the child a boy, but his body was covered in scars—whip marks, cuts, barely any clear skin.
Ebara's anger flared.
He'd noticed bruises on the boy's arm earlier (Chapter 67), but this was worse.
Sakumo's eyes turned colder.
"Take off your shoes and socks," he ordered.
The boy, shaking, hesitated.
"We're not bad people. We're here to help," Sakumo said gently.
Ebara added, "Those scars will heal soon. You don't want more, do you?"
The boy's eyes filled with fear, but he complied, removing his shoes and socks.
On his foot was a simple tattoo: a circle enclosing a triangle.
A jagged scar slashed through it, vivid red.
Ebara's gaze sharpened.
The Cult of Jashin.
Hidan, a future Akatsuki member, came from this cult, wielding a bizarre ritual to transfer injuries to enemies—Asuma's eventual killer (Naruto canon).
Hidan was from the Land of Hot Springs.
Ebara hadn't expected Jashin's traces here.
A slashed forehead protector marked a rogue ninja. Did the scar through the tattoo mean the boy escaped the cult?
"What's this symbol?" Ebara asked.
"It means I'm a Jashin reject…" the boy said quietly.
"Reject?" Sakumo frowned.
"Those who fail the selection… can't meet Lord Jashin…"
"Have you seen Jashin? Or the cult's members?"
"Never Jashin, just the followers…"
"Do you know where the cult is?"
"What do you know?"
The boy's story unraveled a horrific tale.
He and others were raised in caves, never seeing daylight, fed strange substances to strengthen their bodies.
There were at least a hundred like him—some born in the cult, others kidnapped.
At ten, they faced Jashin's selection.
Those who passed gained "immortal" powers, unharmed even by blades.
Failures were blindfolded, sold to places like Flower House as laborers.
He'd failed the first round and ended up here.
His scars came from the selection's brutal tests—enduring pain to earn Jashin's favor.
The stronger the endurance, the more they were valued.
"Does this place connect to the cult?" Ebara asked.
The boy shook his head. "I don't know, but at least seven others here came from the cult."
Ebara nodded. "Put your clothes back on."
The boy dressed, trembling.
"Go to the door. Watch for anyone coming," Sakumo ordered.
"Yes," the boy obeyed, hurrying to the entrance.
"You get the picture," Sakumo said to Ebara.
"Yeah," Ebara replied. "Is this a mission from the Third, or a personal favor?"
If it was from the Third, a matter this big wouldn't fall to Sakumo alone.
"A favor," Sakumo said. "An old woman's granddaughter went missing in Prosperity Town. She suspected Flower Street. I investigated and traced the girl to Flower House, but she vanished. That's when I found the Jashin cult."
Sakumo had already met others like the boy, which is why he singled him out.
"Sounds like she was sent to the cult," Ebara said.
"Exactly," Sakumo agreed. "Also, I found something else. Children born to Flower Street women by accident? The cult takes them."
Ebara's eyes glinted. "So Flower House and Jashin are likely in cahoots."
Sakumo nodded. "Right. Following Flower House's trail is our best shot at finding the cult."
"Got a plan?" he asked Ebara.
Ebara grinned. "Simple."
He whispered to Sakumo, whose eyes lit up. "Let's do it."
They reassured the boy they'd get him out soon, warning him not to mention their questions.
Ebara grabbed the fruit tray and smashed it against the door.
"Hey, madam! What kind of trash is this? Bring us your top girl!"
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