Yes, yes, I know. I said I wouldn't work on a story other than J 3:16. BUT in my defense, this story is technically the pre-quel? of J 3:16, so I think I can be forgiven. It's also just a collection of drabbles, and not really a complete story.

I just absolutely adore the relationship between Kushina and Mikoto, and they wouldn't stop bothering me about having their stories told! I couldn't do anything about it, obviously, so here it is!

The first time they meet is sporadic.

The first time they meet, they are both young and bustling with energy.

The first time they meet, they are naive.

Mikoto is sore and angry. The rage that burns in her gut flares up her spine and makes her head spin. She is more than just what everyone expects her to be. She is more than a pretty flower that's decorates the room. She is a talented kunoichi, can hit moving targets with her kunai with more accuracy than anyone her age, can already spit out the Great Fireball and have it burn the tips of the grass on the other side of any river. She's come to the Naka River again to prove to herself her worth.

But no, she has to have poise and sweetness as well as elegance exude out of her at every single waking moment, because she is a woman.

Instead of screaming in anger, she gathers up all her anger and aims it at a stone with one hard kick. She regrets it immediately, and glances around to see if anyone had witnessed the act that would have brought shame to the Uchiha Clan. Before she can let out a sigh of relief, there's an audible yelp in the bushes in front of her.

From the bushes, a child rolls out, clutching at her head and groaning loudly. The girl has long, flaming red hair that's tangled up with branches, and her bright violet eyes glow underneath all the dirt on her face. Mikoto stares at the body in alarm, wondering if she should pretend it wasn't her and walk away (with poise) or if she should apologize.

"That hurts!" the child (a girl, Mikoto realizes) cries. "Why'd ya have to do that?!"

Mikoto hurries over to the girl's side, and leans down to offer her a hand. "I'm sorry, I didn't—"

The girl ignores her hand, and stands up on her own, sticking out her tongue. "That wasn't very nice!"

Mikoto purses her lips. "Maybe you shouldn't have been in the bush in the first place. What were you doing there?"

(She hates how she sounds so much like her brother)

The girl blushes furiously. "People can be in bushes if they want to, 'ttebane!" With that, she gets up and dashes away.

Mikoto clenches her fists. She doesn't deserve to be treated so rudely by someone she barely knows. But before she turns towards the river, she sees something small and light brown hidden underneath the roots of another bush not far from where the girl had fallen out of. She reaches down to pick it up, and sees that it's a brush, though for what, Mikoto's not sure of.

Uzumaki Kushina is engraved on the side. It's not a name that she's familiar with, and she's been taught about all the major and minor clans in Konoha.

She tucks it into her shirt. Uzumaki is a unique name, so it won't be that hard to find the owner.

(She's not like her brother. She doesn't think she's above everyone else, and she's going to be polite for the sake of being a good person)

The first time they meet is sporadic.

The first time they meet, they are naiive.

The first time they meet, they are completely unknowing of what's to follow.

I'm interested to hear what y'all think. Always welcome constructive criticism!