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Description
Naoaki Noma was a soldier of the Imperial Japanese Army's Seventh Division, holding the rank of first-class private. He served in the same unit as Genjirou Tanigaki, Tamai, and Okada, and was part of a group that tracked Saichi Sugimoto and Asirpa early in the gold hunt. Noma bore a large scar on his left cheek, a wound sustained during the Russo-Japanese War.

Noma's background included time spent with his grandfather, who worked as a charcoal burner in the mountains and was killed by a brown bear. From his grandfather, Noma learned how to behave when encountering a brown bear: stand still, remain calm, and maintain eye contact while speaking to the animal. This knowledge proved useful when he and his comrades faced a bear in the wilderness, and Noma was noted for his composure in that situation.

Personality-wise, Noma was quiet, unassuming, and unflappable. He did not speak much or show strong emotions, but his steady demeanor in dangerous situations marked him as a reliable soldier. He followed orders without visible hesitation, yet he also became one of the soldiers who joined Ogata Hyakunosuke's rebellion against Lieutenant Tsurumi, indicating that his loyalty was not absolute. His motivations were not deeply explored, but his participation in the rebel group suggests a willingness to defy his commanding officer when aligned with Ogata's plans.

Noma's role in the story was primarily as a supporting member of the Seventh Division, appearing in scenes where the division pursued the tattooed prisoners. His most notable moment involved a face-off with a brown bear, where he demonstrated the bear-avoidance method passed down from his grandfather. Later, he was among the soldiers who conspired with Ogata, though his individual actions in that conspiracy were limited.

In terms of abilities, Noma was a competent infantryman with standard military training and combat experience from the Russo-Japanese War. His unique skill was his understanding of bear behavior, which set him apart from his peers in the harsh wilderness of Hokkaido. He did not display any exceptional fighting prowess beyond that of an ordinary soldier. His character development was minimal, as he remained a background figure throughout the narrative, but he provided a small but memorable glimpse into the kinds of ordinary men who made up the Seventh Division.