(Edited)
After bringing Fumori Masaki to the Shikkotsu Forest for the first time, Hashirama no longer needed to lead him there. Each day, a small slug from the Shikkotsu Forest would summon Masaki from Konoha using the reverse summoning technique. Once there, they would drink together by the spring.
Fumori Masaki wasn't particularly curious about other places in the Shikkotsu Forest. He'd drink a bowl of water by the spring, and the little slug would reverse summon him back to Konoha, allowing him to resume his steady life on the front lines.
The spring water in the Shikkotsu Forest had a notable effect. After just one week, Fumori Masaki could clearly feel his strength increasing, and his chakra had improved in both quality and quantity. Pleased with this, Masaki doubled his efforts during his daily training to adapt to his growing strength.
If it were possible, Masaki hoped the changes would continue. However, just like with secret medicines, the spring water's effects gradually diminished over time. No matter how powerful its effects were, they couldn't escape this natural law.
Though slightly disappointed, Masaki accepted this result. Even if drinking more spring water could provide the same benefits as before, he knew its "side effects" could be dangerous. He wanted to strengthen his body but not at the risk of his life.
Even so, Masaki's physique had far surpassed what it once was. According to Hashirama, Masaki's current physical strength was comparable to that of some members of the Senju Clan who possessed a strong bloodline. Previously, his physical strength wasn't even on par with female ninja like Rimi.
After experiencing this physical improvement firsthand, Masaki couldn't help but envy the descendants of the Six Paths Sage. In another world, some readers of a the manga would call him a believer in the "lineage theory." Now, Masaki fully agreed with those people—those descendants were naturally gifted.
Fortunately, while Masaki didn't possess the Six Paths bloodline, he could still enjoy the benefits it provided through the spring water. Even without relying on Sage Mode, he was able to keep pace with his peers and had gained greater control over Sage Mode itself.
The lively training under Hashirama and Tobirama's tutelage made time pass quickly. Soon, it was the tenth year of Konoha's founding. Despite his busy schedule, Fumori Masaki began to feel a growing sense of worry. According to what he knew, Uchiha Madara would make his move this year or the next, and Hashirama was fated to die in the coming years.
Many people had speculated why someone as powerful as Hashirama would die. Masaki believed Hashirama was injured during his battle with Madara, and that it directly affected his lifespan. Hashirama wasn't truly immortal. Even the Sage of Six Paths eventually died when his life force ran out. Hashirama wasn't on that level, and it was understandable for him to die due to internal damage from prolonged battles.
Moreover, Uchiha Madara, empowered by the Nine-Tails, posed an immense threat to Hashirama. The battle exhausted both of them, and only through trickery with a wood clone was Hashirama able to end Madara's life.
In Masaki's heart, he saw Hashirama as a father figure, and he wanted nothing more than to prevent his death. But the reality was that Madara, bolstered by the Nine-Tails, was too powerful. In the entire ninja world, only Hashirama could stand up to him. To face such an opponent, Hashirama would have to fight with all his might.
If the power of others could be gathered, it might help alleviate the burden on Hashirama. However, very few people were as powerful as Hashirama, and factors like the unpredictability of Madara's return and whether Hashirama would believe in the threat made it unlikely for others to assist. Masaki painfully realized that Hashirama would likely face Madara alone.
Sometimes, conflicts between immensely powerful individuals leave no room for intervention. Masaki had come to understand this truth.
No matter how many plans Masaki came up with, he found none of them feasible after careful consideration. He had to come to terms with the fact that Hashirama would probably die after battling Madara. The only way he could repay Hashirama was by protecting the legacy he would leave behind.
Amidst the looming threat of Madara's return, Masaki and the others were summoned to the Hokage Tower. Once there, Masaki saw both Hashirama and Tobirama, along with a middle-aged man dressed as a civilian.
"Everyone, this man has come to our village with a mission request. After careful consideration, we've decided to accept it, and we'd like you to carry it out," Hashirama said, pointing to the man.
The seven were surprised. Typically, ninjas were employed by lords to perform various tasks, and Konoha primarily served the Land of Fire. Ninjas were generally in service to the country and didn't accept commissions from civilians, even during the Warring States period when their status was lower.
At present, Konoha Ninja Village was comprised of various ninja clans. Even orphans adopted into the village were part of a ninja family, either by blood or inheritance. Each ninja was allocated land by the state based on their rank, and even if a family had only one remaining member, like Masaki, they were still taken care of by the Senju Clan. In other words, ninjas in Konoha were self-sufficient and didn't need to rely on civilian commissions to survive.
However, later generations of Konoha, due to a large influx of civilians and the establishment of the ninja academy, saw ninjas without clan heritage. These civilian ninjas didn't own land and had to accept missions to support themselves. Perhaps this was why Konoha would eventually accept all kinds of odd jobs.
Hashirama and Tobirama might have anticipated this future, preparing ahead of time. Of course, it was also possible that Hashirama was moved by compassion for this man, as Masaki thought the latter scenario was more likely, knowing Hashirama's character.
"Ichiro-san, please explain the situation to them," Hashirama said with a smile.
The middle-aged man named Ichiro looked at the seven young ninjas nervously. As an ordinary civilian, he had never had contact with ninjas. He had come to the village on a whim, and nearly got thrown out. Fortunately, he ran into Hashirama by chance, who brought him to the Hokage Tower.
"My name is Ichiro, and I'm a farmer from a village on the other side of the mountain," Ichiro began. "We lived peacefully until recently, when a group of bandits started attacking our village. They come frequently and disrupt our lives. We've had enough, but we don't know how to fight back. I heard some people talking about your village, saying that you could help for a fee. They seemed afraid of you, so I thought maybe you could help us."
Ichiro quickly pulled out a small, tattered bag filled with old coins. "I hope you can drive them away. Please!" He bowed deeply.
The seven exchanged glances. The amount of money Ichiro offered was meager, not enough to justify a ninja mission. However, since Hashirama and Tobirama had agreed to take on the task, they couldn't refuse. Masaki stepped forward to help Ichiro up and said, "Don't worry, we'll accept this mission."
"Really?" Ichiro was overjoyed. He had been worried that the money wouldn't be enough. Though young, the group of ninjas intimidated him.
"You must be tired from your journey. Please, rest for a while. We'll head out immediately, and when you wake, the task may already be complete," Masaki said with a reassuring smile.
Though still uncertain, Ichiro felt an inexplicable trust in Masaki's confident tone. As his relief set in, exhaustion from the journey overwhelmed him. Just as he was about to collapse, Uchiha Kagami caught him. Seeing nods of approval from Hashirama and Tobirama, Kagami escorted Ichiro to a place to rest.
Hashirama then briefed the remaining six on the location and specifics of the mission. "I have no special instructions. Just handle the situation as you see fit. Make sure Ichiro's worries are put to rest. Though this mission may seem simple, I hope you'll show the fruits of your training."
The six responded with a firm "Yes," bowed to Hashirama and Tobirama, and went out together. They rejoined Uchiha Kagami, and the seven of them set out for Ichiro's village.