[True, Crow pretty much has them covered on the axe front with Red Tomahawk! However Hijikata has a different view on Arashi's versatility on the mission.]

His strength lies in his flight and his wind magic, both of which need space to unfold their full potential, and going underground may be the more promising approach here. Trees can survive even if they get felled, that's why new saplings will grow from old stumps. However destroying its roots will be more difficult and dangerous.

[While he talks he turns a new page, and his eyes light up as he sees the information he's been looking for - not about the prison, but about the tall tree, which constitutes a landmark.]

Crow, we've got the location! It looks to be just south of the lake where the Land-of-Maidens totem statue is, probably an hour or so to walk.

[He pauses as he recalls what sort of welcome he got when he tried to exit the lake on land...]

Or longer if we have to deal with those scorpion warriors.