"Took you long Reiko" a silver haired girl crossed her arms as Reiko Katou took a seat on the bench and sighed, looking over at her teammate she grinned and grabbed one of the odangos and popped it in her mouth making the other gasp.
"MY PRECIOUS ODANGO!" Screamed thhe silver haired Chie as Reiko giggled, "You can have another one on me when we get back to Konoha" she stated as Chie looked at her with puppy eyes. "I promise" Reiko smiled as Chie jumped up and down in complete joy. "Are you sure you're a Jounin? You act more like a Genin to me" Reiko giggled as Chie stuck her tongue out, "Meanie" she pouted as Reiko stood up from the bench. "I'm rested, let's go. I have to report a few things to my mother" Reiko said as Chie nodded and the pair began their walk back to Konoha, the Village of Hidden Leaves.
"So, how's Suna?" Chie inquired as Reiko smiled, "Doing great, Gaara's doing a superb job as Kazekage" she contonued as Chie nodded. "And your boyfriend?" Chie wiggled her eyebrows as Reiko blushed ever so slightly and giggled, "Well, he's still the same old doof" she replied as Chie nodded. "I think he's changed though, from the Chunin Exams but that was long long ago" Chie remarked to which the other nodded to.
"Temari is still in town right?" Reiko asked as Chie nodded, "I think she's supposed to leave in a day or so" she explained as the former nodded. "I'm amazed that you can go back and forth from Suna and Konoha" Chie smiled as Reiko rubbed the back of her head, "It's the least I could do for him dear." Reiko responded with a small smile. Being the Kazekage's siblings, Temari and Kankuro had special responsibilities that they attend to and couldn't go out of Suna at will - or that is how Reiko liked to put it.
"I missed the village though and my mother's endless nagging" Reiko laughed, by mother, she meant Konoha's 5th Hokage: Tsunade. "How's Sora?" Reiko asked as Chie looked at their surroundings, "You've only been gone a week" she giggled, "He's fine, he's on a mission with Guy-sensei's team right now" Chie continued as Reiko nodded.
"Has Naruto and your dad returned?" Reiko looked at Chie who in turn whined, "No and in my opinion he should right now! He's missing out on a lot of things if you ask me" Chie ranted as Reiko laughed. "Did you break up with someone again?" Reiko inquired aa Chie grinned, "No, I'm actually dating someone right now." She winked as Reiko blinked and giggled. "Do I know who you're dating?" Reiko crossed her arms as the latter nodded.
"He's one of your closest friends actually" Chie explained as Reiko's eyes shot wide open, "Don't tell me... Are you dating Neji?!" She questioned as Chie nodded. "Oh my..." Reiko trailed off as Chie laughed, "Actually, we've been together since last week" she puffed her cheeks as Reiko scratched her head. "I didn't even know, Chie what the heck" Reiko mumbled as Chie giggled slightly, "It's okay, Sora doesn't know either" she explained as Reiko sighed.
"I was here last week, why didn't you tell me?" Reiko asked as Chie giggled, "I tried to but you kept on shrugging it off because you were as busy as hell" she replied which made the former nod; "Fair enough" Reiko giggled as they reached Konoha's main gates.
"Oh! Hey Reiko! Hey Chie!" Waved a pink haired shinobi as Reiko and Chie entered the village, "Hey Sakura!" The two said in unison as Sakura Haruno smiled.
"Reiko-neechan!" Remarked the third Hokage's grandson: Konohamaru as he emerged from behind Sakura, "Hi Konohamaru, how's it going?" Reika smiled as the latter crossed his arms. "We just got back from that 'Catch the cat' mission" Moegi giggled, "By cat they mean Tora" Sakura added as Reiko laughed. "If I was that cat I would run away too, to be honest" Reiko said as Konohamaru laughed; "That's what I said!" He remarked as the two shinobis at the gate just smiled.
"If you only arrived earlier Reiko-sama, you might have seen him!" Kotetsu Hagane remarked as Sakura, Reiko and Chie exchanged glances. "Do you really think?" Chie looked at Sakura who in turn looked at Reiko who nodded. The three of them made their into the village while Konohamaru's team trailed behind them.
"Finally!" Chie shouted in excitement as Reiko and Sakura went to a halt, Chie on the other hand went straight for her father: Jiraiya and knocked him down into the ground. Reiko whined as she looked up at a post and smiled, 'so it is true' she thought as she glanced at Sakura who then shouted: "Naruto!".
The blonde haired shinobi jumped down from the post upon hearing his name, "Woah Sakura!" Naruto Uzumaki remarked as he turned his attention to Reiko; "You've both shrunk!" He joked as I laughed, "You just got taller Naruto" Sakura sneered as she looked at Chie who seemed to be having a wrestling match with her father at the moment.
"Break it up you two, break it up" Reiko chanted as she pulled Chie away from her father, "Nice to see you Jiraiya-san" Reiko chimed as the sage nodded with a small smile. "At least now I know that someone's happy to see me" Jiraiya glared at Chie who crossed her arms, "Psh, it's not my fault that I couldn't even send a toad to tell my daughter that I was still alive" she retorted as her father sighed.
"We're on our way to see your mom Reiko, maybe you would like to tag along" Jiraiya offered but before Reiko could respond a loud thud errupted from behind them and Naruto was face down on the ground with an angry Sakura scolding him. "Something's never change huh?" Jiraiya laughed as Chie and Reiko did the same.
"Guys, if you're done, meet us at the Hokage tower!" Reiko remarked as Naruto looked at Reiko and effortlessly slipped out of Sakura's grasp, "I'll race all of you!" Naruto beamed as he ran towards the direction of the tower. 'You're still the same after all Naruto' Reiko giggled as they made their way towards the Hokage Tower.
./././././././.
"Welcome back Naruto" The Fifth Hokage exclaimed as Naruto gave her a thumbs up, "To test your newly developed skills, I would like you and Sakura to fight against someone" Tsunade grinned as Naruto's face lit up, "I haven't given him any missions at all to allow him to rest"she continued as the door opened to reveal Temari and Shikamaru Nara, to Naruto's surprise.
"Is Shikamaru my opponent?" Naruto inquired as Tsunade shook her head, "Then... It must be" Naruto turned to Temari who raised her eyebrow; "Who are you again?" Naruto scratched the back of his head as Temari groaned. "She's Temari, my future sister-in-law" Reiko giggled as Tsunade hissed, "Not on my watch" she gritted between her teeth as Reiko laughed.
"Here's my report mom" Reiko placed a scroll on Tsunade's desk before walking out the room, dragging Chie behind her as she did so. "Has Kankuro even popped the question yet?" Chie inquired as Reiko shook her head, "What a doof" Chie sighed as the latter chuckled. "Well, let's give the guy some time, I don't think I'm ready yet either" Reiko smiled as the other giggled; "Whatever you say Reiko" Chie smiled as they both made their way towards the town.
