Minato set down his pen and folded his hands, blue eyes moving between the two shinobi standing across from him. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Itachi stood near the window, arms loose at his sides, watching Minato with the calm, unreadable expression he wore like a second skin. His hitai-ate caught the light.

He paused, and the smile widened just a fraction.

A beat of silence. Then, from the corner of the room, a sharp intake of breath.

She'd been leaning against the bookshelf, arms crossed, honey-brown eyes fixed on the far wall like she was counting the seconds until she could leave. Now she straightened, jaw tight.

Tsunade's head snapped toward him.

Minato's smile remained perfectly pleasant.

Tsunade's left eye twitched.

She didn't look at Y/n when she said it. Her hands had curled into fists at her sides.

Minato slid a scroll across the desk. The mission details. Waiting.