"Guard duty, and seeing what I had missed." Others were worried about how long he'd been gone and whether he was taking care of himself. (Spoiler: just barely.)

He wouldn't even get the chance to leave again, with things dwindling down and Obito worrying about his health and where they stood, it seems like he was being taken off missions so he could feel like he belonged to the Leaf again. He can chat while chopping, sliding over the small piles when they're ready.