Aya's thoughts

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, only Aya and her grandma

Note: As you can see this is my first story, reviews are greatly appreciated, criticism or praise I really don't mind. And the chapters will be relatively small (like really small – less than 1000 words) for the next 17 days until my exams end and I have 4 months break. I can't wait! Enjoy

Chapter 2

Aya reached her grandmother's restaurant much faster, with Minato's help.

"Is this where you work?" He turned slightly to face her.

"Yeah, my grandma owns it but I help run it now, she's starting to get to old now to be here every day," Aya replied.

"That's a shame." He turned back towards the entrance.

"Aya! Where have you been?!" Oh hell, here we go again.

"You've taken so long that I've had to turn away three customers, what have you been doing!" Her grandmother hobbled out of the entrance, scaring a few customers on the way there. She turn to fix her glare on Aya, who now wished she hadn't had help with the bags, then at least they would shield her from her grandmother's wrath.

"Umm excuse me ma'am," Minato said from behind Aya, a look of surprise dawned on Aya's grandma's face, which was quickly covered by a smile that was slightly too wide.

"I apologize for keeping your granddaughter, my team-"

"Oh! That's quite alright, I don't mind, here let me take those from you," She quickly hurried over and stole the bags depositing them on the counter just inside the restaurant.

"But, grandma-"

"Its fine Aya, why don't you two go take a walk, it's nearly lunchtime, I hear that new ramen place near the academy is good, go on," She quickly hurried them out the door, before speedily retreating inside and slamming the front door of the restaurant, leaving a few customers standing outside looking extremely confused.

I should have remembered the weird obsession with setting me up she's had these past few weeks, that and her strange fixation on blonde haired men. This is awkward…

"Ah sorry about that, grandma can get a bit overly enthusiastic sometimes," she looked over at Minato, who was now looking back at the closed door with a red tint to his cheeks.

"Ah its okay, umm, why don't we follow her lead?" He laughed and awkwardly scratched his head, "I've been to the ramen place and its pretty good."

This day just keeps getting weirder.

"So Aya, have you always worked at your grandma's restaurant?" Minato asked her as they walked toward the new ramen stand.

"Ah no…I used to be a chunnin, until about a year ago…" I told him hesitantly.

I glanced down at the ground. I hope he doesn't push for details; I really don't want to talk about that mission any more than I have to, and informing the Hokage was enough for me.

"Oh, I thought I'd seen you before," he laughed awkwardly again, "Why did you quit?"

She looked down at the ground again, hunching her shoulders, "I'd rather not talk about it…these days I mostly just help my grandma with the restaurant and work at the hospital."

"The hospital? Are you a medical ninja by any chance?!" Minato quickly turned to me, surprised.

"Ah, yeah, I was." Why is he so…so happy…I'm really confused.

"Ah, sorry, its just one of my students, has a bit of an affinity for medical ninjutsu, and I've been looking for someone to train her, but most of you are in short supply right now, unfortunately." He gave me a pleading look that had a striking resemblance to my childhood puppy. His name was Nixon.

"Would you please consider training her?" He asked with his puppy face still in place. "You won't have to go on any missions, even once a week is enough. Rin works really hard on her own, but she does need help."

Aya sighed, I seem to be doing a lot of that these days, I suppose I could help her, its not like I'm overly busy or …Kumiko. Well, I have to move on at some point, and with the escalating international tensions, I should probably start sooner rather than later.

"Sure, why not," I looked up at Minato and gave him a small smile.

"Really! Thank you so much!" His puppy face vanished and he gave me one of his dazzling smiles.

"I'll tell her later today, and we can sort something out," he said smiling as we reached the ramen stand.

Aya couldn't help but smile just a bit more at the enthusiastic man. Maybe moving on will be easier than I thought.