The first thing people found out about Mikoto Uchiha was that she had married the clan head, who was at best a misguided, stubborn politician and at worst a chauvinistic wanker. Nevertheless it painted Mikoto as a respectable trophy wife, for she'd been known in her younger years for her looks.
Then they realised that beneath all of the fine clothes, demure attitude and polite conversation was an absolutely lethal Uchiha. She had a way with words, a love of subtle sarcasm and blunt analysis hidden within appropriate flattery. She walked silently, a tell-tale of a veteran ninja-indeed, Mikoto had outranked her husband out in the field. Her genjutsu capabilities had been feared by the Tsuchikage himself, and her sharingan had been well-honed.
The third bombshell was her parentage, Fugaku Uchiha had married down. Mikoto had only memories of her father, who had been imprisoned later in his life after a disagreement with some of the elders. It was plain to see that she was a direct descendant of Izuna, but only through a bastard son. No-one ever suspected that the noblewoman all young Uchiha girls aspired to be was, in fact, low-born.
Maybe that was why Kushina couldn't help but gravitate towards her former teammate, a strong capable kunoichi who was more adaptable than ANBU's most promising. The Uzumaki almost had her hands full with her pussy of a boyfriend, but she could always make time to push Mikoto's buttons-the impromptu sparring and creative use of foul language was quite cathartic, even if the illusions were a bitch to break out of. They were comrades irrespective of rank, status or circumstance.