Though it might have been a bit redundant, Uchiha Fugaku was restless and felt compelled to handle the arrangements.
Takuya let him be.
"Whatever makes you happy," Takuya thought. "It's not like they're my people. They're all Uchiha. However they want to handle things, it has nothing to do with me."
Because of the strategic location of the Land of Bears, Takuya was stationed there by Orochimaru.
Looking at a map, the Land of Bears was a narrow strip of territory wedged between the Land of Water and the Land of Fire. If one had to describe it, its shape resembled a certain long, slender peninsula from Takuya's previous life.
The territory extended close to several key military islands belonging to the Land of Water, making it an important position. It wasn't surprising that Hōzuki Jirō chose to try and ally with Hoshigakure.
Unfortunately for him, Hoshigakure didn't take the bait.
The Mist and Leaf Villages were at war, but that had nothing to do with the smaller villages like Hoshigakure.
"We don't have the resources or the stomach to meddle in a war like this," was essentially their stance.
After Takuya's people visited Hoshigakure to deliver a warning, they wisely stayed in their village, taking on a "we won't leave unless we absolutely have to" approach.
The daimyo of the Land of Bears had already fled to another country for safety. With the war between Konoha and the Mist not yet resolved, there was always a chance that the Land of Bears could become a battlefield. As long as he wasn't an idiot, there was no reason for the daimyo to risk staying.
Even if there was an unspoken rule about not harming the daimyo during conflicts, rules could be broken. What if someone with a death wish decided to go after him?
Sure, assassinating a daimyo would mean condemnation from the entire shinobi world, but if a person didn't care about their own life, would they care about the consequences?
Especially after the events a few years back, when the Sand Village had caused trouble in the Land of Rivers, making all the daimyos of smaller nations anxious. They pressured the Land of Wind's daimyo, demanding an apology from the Third Kazekage, but the Kazekage didn't care.
The Sand Village had set a dangerous precedent, throwing every small nation's daimyo into a state of paranoia.
The moment they sensed something wrong, they'd flee to safer lands, only returning once the war ended.
Fugaku wasn't only setting traps and hiding sentries in strategic spots—he also had his clan build several wooden cabins, even reserving one specifically for Takuya.
"The ANBU delivered some medical supplies along with medics. The wounded clansmen are recovering well," Uchiha Mikoto reported.
"We also haven't seen any signs of the enemy, except for a scouting Mist boat passing near the coastline earlier today. They didn't show any intention of landing."
"We'll probably be here in the Land of Bears for a while," Takuya said.
"Yeah, it seems like we might be here for some time," Mikoto nodded.
Given the strategic importance of the Land of Bears, Orochimaru wouldn't have left Takuya here if it weren't vital. Tossing a branch into the campfire, Takuya crossed his legs and said, "We'll wait. Unless the tide of the war changes, we're not going anywhere anytime soon."
The war between the two villages had already reached a fever pitch. Both sides launched relentless raids against each other.
One day, Konoha forces would strike the Mist's island bases. The next, Mist shinobi would sneak inland to assassinate Leaf ninja.
Staying in the Land of Bears or returning to the main camp didn't make much of a difference to Takuya.
If anything, staying here was more leisurely.
Knowing that Takuya was stationed in the Land of Bears, Yagura didn't send troops to launch frequent raids. Occasionally, there'd be a scouting ship, but they never lingered.
On the frontlines, the battles only grew more intense. Every now and then, Orochimaru would pass information through ANBU delivering supplies, keeping Takuya informed of developments.
Days turned into weeks, and in that time, life had been uneventful for Takuya. At least, he was growing closer to Mikoto.
After all, with nothing else to do besides training, Takuya filled the gaps by flirting with her.
To be honest, even the Uchiha members felt more like they were on a holiday than at war.
As long as they didn't break any rules, Takuya let them do whatever they wanted.
As long as they didn't cause trouble or make things difficult, and fought well when it mattered, Takuya didn't care how they spent their downtime.
It wasn't like they were a large unit of hundreds or thousands—just a few dozen. No need to be overly tense.
Fugaku initially wanted to be stricter, but under Takuya's influence, he eventually gave in.
If their leader was so relaxed, Fugaku couldn't very well tighten the reins. It would just cause discontent among the clan members.
"If Minato and Nawaki knew that I was in the Land of Bears just training and eating, they'd probably be jealous to death," Takuya joked.
"Pfft~~~"
Takuya's comment made Mikoto laugh.
She rubbed her slim waist, feeling that she'd been a bit too indulgent lately. Once this mission was over, she'd have to train hard again. She couldn't afford to let herself go.
Mikoto had seen it happen before—once-beautiful kunoichi letting themselves go, abandoning their training, and eventually turning into someone completely different.
Once that happened, getting back into shape was nearly impossible.
"Takuya, aren't you worried about gaining weight eating like this?" Mikoto teased.
"..."
Takuya paused, mid-bite. He gave her an aggrieved look.
"Mikoto, I'm still growing…"
"Oh…"
"And besides, my training regimen is intense. There's no way I'd gain weight."
"So don't worry about it, Mikoto. I—huh?"
Just as he was teasing her, Takuya suddenly stopped, looking out towards the ocean.
Their camp was set up on a mountaintop, giving them a clear view of the sea. Those with keen vision or sensory abilities could even spot movement along the coastline.
Takuya saw several ships approaching, all flying the Mist Village banner.
Quickly finishing the last of the roasted meat, Takuya sighed.
"I thought we could relax a while longer, but it looks like the enemy has other plans."
"I'll go notify the Clan Head," Mikoto offered, standing up.
Takuya reached out and gently stopped her.
"No need. He's already on his way."
______
Bonus