A Pleasant Meeting *NK, Sanji Sanada*

A small girl with fiery red hair and sky blue eyes could be seen walking into the tall, iron gates of Konohagakure, grinning widely as she flashed her headband at the guards, signifying she was a ninja of the village. The guards allowed her to pass without much question when they saw the headband, making the genin grin wider. "Thanks!" she chirped happily, skipping into the village while whistling. After several minutes of skipping, the newly- made- half- Senju found what she was looking for: a small white stand that had a crimson red tarp over it. She walked in, ignoring the stares of the other customers, and sat down at the counter. "One bowl of miso ramen, old man!" the girl demanded, smiling. Home sweet home, she thought to herself happily as she inhaled the spicy aroma of noodles.

Sanji was out walking the streets with no other real purpose on his mind, until a familiar red caught his eye as it quickly turned the corner. Sanji jogged over to the corner and looked around it, seeing the red-haired girl enter the noodle stand. He had heard some rumors about what happened to Sachiko after happening upon a conversation two other ninjas were having. Sanji had been worried since, but it seemed that Sachiko was okay. He walked into the noodle stand and looked down at Sachiko, nodding in greeting as he sat beside her." I thought you left the village."

Sachiko grinned happily as she saw Sanji sit beside her. "Heya Sani! How are you doing?" she asked kindly to her friend before frowning angrily. "Left the village? Why the heck would I do that? I'm a ninja of Konohagakure- this is my home! The reason why I was gone for so long was because I was in intensive care from blowing myself up."

The young red- head had the decency to blush as she admitted the last part. "But I'm fine now," she mumbled before grinning again as the noodle man reluctantly handed her order of noodles. "Thanks! Itadakimasu!" the girl grinned happily before gourging down her noodles happily.

"Oh, yeah, I'm part Senju now or something like that," the girl added while eating her noodles before swallowing. "Anything interesting happen with you?"

Sanji looked at Sachiko as she quipped back, seeing the annoyance in her gaze." Forgive me, I didn't know." he says. He didn't really ask either, not directly, anyway. Sanji ordered his own pork ramen and then set the menu down before looking over at Sachiko again." Part senju, eh? Interesting. I wonder how that works... do you think you could potentially use wood release now?

Sachiko looked at Sanji, a feeling of guilt clawing at her gut. "Sorry, Sanji, I'm just a little tired from all that walking from Sunagakure. Also, hm... I'm not really sure...," the girl looked thoughtful for a moment before shrugging and then grinning happily at her friend and giving him a playful glare. "Now what about you, Mr? How have YOU been? Anything exciting happen while I was gone?" the girl asked kindly, her grin beginning to stretch as wide as the Cheshire Cat's.

Suddenly, a thought hit Sachiko in the head and she looked at her friend seriously, a playful twinkle in her eye, whining, "Mom threw a party during the time I was gone, didn't she? No fair! She didn't invite me!"

Sanji played things cool as he usually did, nodding as his food arrives and staying quiet while listening to Sachiko, all the while going about the business of separating his chopsticks and tasting the broth for any seasoning needs. He sat the bowl back down and looked down at the red-haired genin." Well, I became a chuunin. Other than that, nothing in particular has went on with me..." he replies.

When her expression turned serious he was rather confused." Party? If she did, I wasn't invited either." He says. After a moment he puts down his chopsticks and gently embraces Sachiko." I'm glad you're okay, by the way." he says softly.

Sachiko's sky blue eyes widened and the small girl blushed furiously. "T-thanks...," she stammered, smiling before her eyes widened at what her friend said. "What?! You became a chunin? Congratulations, Sanji!"

The little girl's eyes shone as she hugged her friend tighter and asked excitedly, beginning to bounce in her little stool/seat, "What is it like being chunin? Do you get more respected and get better missions?! Tell me, tell me!"

Releases her from his grasp and sits back up, picking his chopsticks up again and taking a bite of his noodles, slurping them up quietly before shrugging lightly." Thanks, I don't feel much different, except that I have a lot more work to deal with now inside the village. As for missions I haven't had anything spectacular as of late, but to be honest that's a blessing." he says to her, gesturing to her own food as if encouraging her to eat.