A civilian's commission

After Hashirama first took Kazemori Masaki to Shikkotsu Forest, Masaki no longer needed him to lead the way. Every day, the little slugs in Shikkotsu Forest used the Reverse Summoning Technique at the appointed time to summon Masaki from Konoha Ninja Village, then went with him to drink the Spring Water.

Kazemori Masaki had little curiosity about the rest of Shikkotsu Forest. He simply went to the spring, drank a bowl of Spring Water, and let the little slugs left in Konoha Ninja Village summon him back, living a steady routine between three places.

He had to admit that the Spring Water in Shikkotsu Forest had a remarkable effect. In just a week, Masaki could clearly feel his strength increasing, and the chakra he produced surpassed what he had managed before in both quality and quantity. Delighted by this, he worked even harder at his daily training, adjusting to his steadily growing power.

If possible, Masaki hoped this change would continue. However, like a secret medicine, the Spring Water's effect on the body gradually diminished over time. No matter how effective it was, it could not escape that rule.

Kazemori Masaki felt some regret, but he accepted the outcome. Drinking more Spring Water might have brought benefits as great as when he first began taking it, but considering its "side effects," Kazemori Masaki chose not to do so. He wanted to strengthen his body, but he did not want to risk his life.

Even so, Kazemori Masaki's constitution had improved far beyond what it had once been. According to Hashirama, his physique could now compare with that of some Senju clan members whose bloodline was particularly strong. Before, in terms of physical robustness alone, he had not even measured up to Satomi, a woman.

After personally experiencing what an improved constitution felt like, Kazemori Masaki was unbearably envious of the Sage of Six Paths' descendants. In another world, readers of that manga had called it a prime example of bloodline supremacy. Now he sincerely wanted to agree with them. Those descendants of the Sage of Six Paths were all born lucky.

Fortunately, although Kazemori Masaki did not possess a true Six Paths bloodline, the nourishment of the Spring Water still allowed him a glimpse of the heights those descendants could reach. Even without Sage Mode, he could gradually keep pace with his fellow students, and his control over Sage Mode had also improved.

Training under Tobirama was lively, and time passed swiftly. Before long, Konoha Ninja Village entered its tenth year. As Kazemori Masaki continued his busy days, a trace of worry gradually grew within him. According to the story, Madara Uchiha would attack either this year or the next, and Hashirama would die within the next few years.

In another world, many people had speculated about what could possibly kill a monster like Hashirama. Zhenghui believed that Hashirama had suffered extremely serious injuries in his battle with Madara Uchiha, directly shortening his life. Hashirama was not truly immortal. Even the Sage of Six Paths had died when his natural lifespan ended. Hashirama could not compare with him, so it was entirely natural that the toll of successive battles could wear his body down and kill him.

Besides, Madara Uchiha's return with the Nine-Tails had posed such a tremendous threat that Hashirama had nearly exhausted all his strength. Only by exploiting his opponent's equally weakened condition and deceiving him with a Wood Clone had he managed to end Madara's life.

In his heart, Kazemori Masaki had already come to regard Hashirama as a father. He truly wanted to prevent Hashirama's death, but Madara Uchiha, returning with the Nine-Tails, was far too powerful. Not just in Konoha Ninja Village, but throughout the entire shinobi world, Hashirama was the only person who could stop him. Against such an opponent, Hashirama would have to use everything he had.

Gathering the strength of others might have eased Hashirama's burden. However, experts of that caliber could be counted on one hand. Considering whether he could persuade them, the uncertainty of when Madara Uchiha would return, whether Hashirama would believe an attack was coming, and all the other factors, Masaki sorrowfully realized that Hashirama facing Madara alone seemed unavoidable.

Sometimes, a clash between people who were far too powerful left others without even a chance to intervene. Kazemori Masaki had truly come to understand that fact.

Kazemori Masaki could find no solution. Even when he devised a plan, careful examination revealed that it had no chance of working. It seemed he could only accept the outcome in which Hashirama died shortly after his battle with Madara Uchiha. The only way he could repay Hashirama was to do his utmost to protect the life's work he left behind.

Under the shadow of Madara Uchiha's uncertain return, however, Kazemori Masaki and the others encountered another matter. Tobirama asked all seven of them to gather in the Hokage Building. When Kazemori Masaki arrived, he saw both Hashirama and Tobirama there, with a middle-aged man in civilian clothes standing beside them.

"Everyone, he wishes to commission our village for a mission. After careful consideration, Tobirama and I have decided to accept it. We're entrusting its execution to you," Hashirama said, gesturing toward the middle-aged man.

Everyone was startled. Ninja were generally hired by a lord to carry out various missions, while Konoha Shinobi Village now worked directly for the nation. Everyone in the village was supposed to serve the Land of Fire. Surely they would not go so far as to accept commissions from civilians. Even during the Warring States Period, when ninja had held a lowly status, that had never happened.

At present, Konoha Ninja Village consisted entirely of ninja clans of varying sizes. Even the orphans it took in came from ninja families, whether their ancestry was clear or their line of inheritance had been broken. Hashirama either treated them as members of a ninja clan, as with Masaki, or had a clan take them in, as with Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura—

Each ninja clan received land from the nation according to its standing, providing for its livelihood. Even Masaki, the sole remaining member of his clan, had land managed on his behalf by the Senju Clan. In other words, the ninja of Konoha Ninja Village could all sustain themselves without taking on other missions.

In later years, the influx of civilians into Konoha Shinobi Village, along with the Ninja Academy system established by Tobirama, would allow civilian ninja without a family legacy to emerge. But they would not possess the land that ninja clans held, so naturally they could not support themselves in the same way. They could only earn their living by accepting missions. Perhaps that was why Konoha Shinobi Village would later take on all sorts of strange assignments.

Hashirama and Tobirama might already have foreseen that future and begun preparing for it. Of course, it was also possible that this middle-aged man's plight had stirred Hashirama's compassion, leading him to accept the commission. Judging by Hashirama's personality, Kazemori Masaki felt the latter was more likely. However clever Tobirama was, the Ninja Academy had not even been established yet, so it seemed unlikely that he had foreseen those later circumstances.

"Mr. Ichiro, please explain the situation to them," Hashirama said to the middle-aged man with a smile.

The middle-aged man named Ichiro eyed the seven young people before him cautiously. Of humble birth, he had never had an opportunity to interact with ninja. He had come to commission them on the off chance they might help, only to nearly be thrown straight out the door. Hashirama had happened to pass by, seen what was happening, and brought him here.

"My name is Ichiro. I'm a farmer from a village on the other side of the mountain," Ichiro said. "We used to live peacefully, but recently, a band of mountain bandits appeared there. They come into our village every so often and leave us with no peace. We really can't stand it anymore, but we don't know what to do. By chance, I heard them mention this place. They said you'd do a job as long as you were paid. From the way they spoke, they seemed very afraid of you, so I thought perhaps you could help. That's why—"

Ichiro hurriedly pulled a tattered pouch from inside his clothes. It held some old coins. "I hope you can drive those people away. Please!" he said, bowing deeply.

The seven exchanged glances. To be honest, the money this middle-aged man had produced was far too little to warrant sending ninja out. But since Hashirama and Tobirama had said they would accept the mission, they could hardly object. Kazemori Masaki stepped forward and helped the man straighten up. "Don't worry. We'll accept this mission."

"Really?" Ichiro was overjoyed. He had been deeply worried that this money would not be enough to persuade the people before him. Though they looked young, they still frightened him.

"You've come a long way, Mr. Ichiro. You must be tired. Go and get some rest first. We'll set out right away. Perhaps by the time you wake up, we'll already have completed the mission," Kazemori Masaki said with a smile, noticing the fatigue on Ichiro's face.

Ichiro was doubtful, but Kazemori Masaki's tone inspired confidence. For some reason, he felt he could trust the young man before him. As he relaxed, the exhaustion of his journey swept over him all at once, and he nearly collapsed. Kagami Uchiha immediately caught him, then glanced at Hashirama and Tobirama. Seeing them nod, he escorted Ichiro out to rest.

"...That's the situation with this mission." Hashirama explained the village's location and a few other details to the remaining six, then continued, "I have no particular demands. You may handle things as you see fit based on the local circumstances. In short, put Mr. Ichiro's worries to rest. Though this mission is simple, I hope you'll demonstrate the results of your training."

The six answered, "Yes," bowed to the two men, and left together. They met up with Kagami Uchiha on his return, then hurried toward Ichiro's village.

(End of chapter)