At Konoha's frontline camp, dozens of miles southeast of Amegakure Main City.
Amamiya Maki stood at the camp entrance, with Minato and Nonō behind him.
Minato still gripped a Flying Thunder God Kunai tightly in his hand.
Over the past several days, he had traveled repeatedly between Amegakure Main City and the front lines, delivering intelligence and evacuating refugees.
His network of Flying Thunder God markers already stretched from Amegakure Main City all the way to the Land of Iron's border.
After days of constant travel, he had grown noticeably thinner than he had been before the war, but his bearing had become increasingly calm and reserved.
Nonō followed close behind, carrying a heavy medical kit on her back.
The three had barely stopped at the camp entrance when someone flung aside the flap of the tent ahead.
Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru were all waiting there.
Tsunade had been crouching outside the tent, taking stock of the medical supplies. The instant she looked up and saw them, her fingers loosened, and a roll of bandages fell straight to the ground.
She quickly rose and approached, her gaze passing over Nonō, then settling on Minato, before fixing firmly on the fresh, unhealed scar on Maki's face.
"I thought I'd have to start burning incense at your empty grave early."
Before she even finished speaking, she reached out and caught Maki's chin. The luminous green glow of the Mystical Palm Technique flared in her palm, and she pressed it directly against his wound, whether he liked it or not.
"Lady Tsunade, it's just a scratch. There's no need to waste chakra," Maki said helplessly.
"A scratch?" Tsunade's brows drew together slightly, and she pressed a little harder.
"Looks like you won't behave until you're dead."
Maki hissed in pain and stood obediently