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After leaving the house, Fumori Masaki didn't know where to go. After some thought, he decided to visit Hashirama. Since abdicating, Hashirama had been spending his days at home, recuperating and enjoying time with his grandchildren, much like any other elderly person.
As a disciple of Tobirama and Hashirama, Fumori Masaki was well-acquainted with the Senju clan. He greeted familiar faces as he made his way to Hashirama's house. A maid led him to the room where Hashirama was resting.
Before entering, Fumori Masaki heard the sound of Hashirama playing with a child and a girl's happy laughter from inside. When the maid opened the door, he saw a blonde girl playing joyfully with Hashirama.
"Oh, Masaki," Hashirama said with a smile when he saw his visitor. "Look, this is my granddaughter, Tsunade."
Fumori Masaki knew at a glance that this girl was indeed Senju Tsunade. He had heard about her birth a few months ago, but had not yet seen her due to his training. Now, he could see how the future Fifth Hokage looked as a child.
"Hashirama-sama, how is your health?" Fumori Masaki asked after glancing at young Tsunade.
"Well, it's not great, but not terrible either," Hashirama replied casually. "I feel I might have a year or two left."
Konoha Ninja Village did not yet have a medical department, and medical ninjas were not systematically organized. Their methods were often unique and scattered. At this time, the best healer in the village was Hashirama himself. If even he said so, it was likely accurate.
Masaki felt a pang of sadness but knew there was nothing he could do. Hashirama, seeing his expression, said, "It's okay. I've been prepared for this. I've spent half my life at war. It's fortunate to spend my remaining years in peace and to enjoy old age. Unlike my father, who never had a day of leisure."
For those born in times of war, like Hashirama, dying peacefully was a kind of happiness. Masaki worried about the possibility of the Land of Lightning starting a war before Hashirama's death. Would he not die peacefully then?
At that moment, Senju Tsunade screamed, unhappy about being ignored. Hashirama quickly coaxed her, showing his skill in handling children. Soon, Tsunade was smiling again.
Hashirama held Tsunade in his arms and said, "You seem worried."
Fumori Masaki did not bring up the war but spoke about his disagreement with Rimi. He sighed and said, "I just don't want her to face danger, but she got angry. I didn't expect her to care so much about being a ninja."
"Why do you think that way?" Hashirama asked curiously. "Rimi is a ninja. Isn't it natural for her to perform her duties?"
Fumori Masaki was silent, realizing he had mistakenly applied the mindset of another world to this one. Here, ninjas accepted their responsibilities. Even Hashirama, who thought children shouldn't be on the battlefield, believed adults should fulfill their duties. Rimi was an adult and should naturally assume the responsibilities of a ninja.
"This is my fault. I should understand her better," Fumori Masaki admitted. Living in this world, he shouldn't deny others' beliefs.
"Masaki, if you really don't want Rimi to be in danger, you can protect her yourself," Hashirama suggested.
"I understand, Hashirama-sama," Masaki nodded. He realized the only thing he could do was to protect Rimi himself.
Hashirama, satisfied, said, "Alright. I have nothing to do now. If you have any questions about your training, just ask me."
Masaki had questions about the sage techniques, so he asked Hashirama how he used them. Hashirama didn't learn from the Shikkotsu Forest but had his own way of using sage techniques.
"You want to know about this?" Hashirama touched his chin thoughtfully. "Let's play a game, and I'll explain while we play."
"Huh?" Fumori Masaki was surprised when Hashirama took out a stack of cards from a cabinet. He remembered Hashirama loved gambling, which influenced Senju Tsunade's interests.
"Hashirama-sama, this isn't a good way to educate children," Masaki remarked, seeing Senju Tsunade's curious look.
"You don't have children yet, so don't lecture me on child education," Hashirama laughed. "Don't worry, it's harmless fun. You'll see."
No, if you knew your granddaughter would lose every gamble and winning would bring bad luck, you'd think differently. Masaki glanced at Tsunade, who was happily clapping her hands, and thought, 'She's already hooked.'
The game Hashirama played was popular in the capital. Masaki found it similar to card games from another world. Though the rules differed, the concept was the same: comparing high and low.
While they played, Hashirama talked about the sage techniques. Though he didn't learn from the Shikkotsu Forest, he borrowed some ideas from it. The Shikkotsu Forest's technique involved incorporating natural energy into the body, similar to Yang Release. Hashirama's powerful Wood Release came from his incredible Yang Release, enhanced further by sage techniques.
Masaki realized that, like Hashirama, his self-learned sage technique might be highly adaptable. He asked if the Sage of Six Paths learned from the Shikkotsu Forest, Ryuchi Cave, or Mount Myoboku.
"Of course not," Hashirama replied. "When I first visited the Shikkotsu Forest, the Slug Sage told me that the Sage of Six Paths didn't learn from any of these places. He created his own sage techniques and even guided the creation of the three great sage areas."
Masaki thought the Sage of Six Paths must have had his own sage technique inheritance. As the ancestor of ninjutsu, his techniques must be recorded somewhere. Perhaps Ashura and his descendants recorded the sage techniques in their scrolls.
'It seems I should try to collect records of Ninshu,' Masaki thought. 'Maybe I can find clues to the Sage of Six Paths' techniques.'