Hello all, I'm not much of a writer, but I've been daydreaming about writing this since Kushina's character was introduced. I've always been a bit disappointed in the character development of the girls of "Naruto," (they're all so bad ass! I wish they got more "screen time," so to speak) so I wanted to take a stab at writing about my favorite character's past.

This story will focus on Kushina and will eventually focus on the romance of Minato and Kushina as well as the Third Shinobi War. I plan to create some non-canon background stories just because we know so little about Uzushio, Whirlpool, and Kushina's family, but I'm hoping to stick to canon otherwise.

Chapter 1: Uzushiogakure

The Present

The war was over. The Allied Shinobi Forces were healing and going home to their families. Villages were recovering and rebuilding and a time of peace was being ushered forth by the creation of the Shinobi Union. While the matter of Uchiha Sasuke still rested in the hands of the union, life was beginning to return to normal for Uzumaki Naruto.

Naruto himself was not sure what to consider normal. He grew up alone and came of age on the battlefield. His life had been war until now. Without the war, all he had left was his friendships and Konoha. Although he'd been ordered to rest and heal, he couldn't help but busy himself with assisting with the injured, offering input on the newly formed Shinobi Union, and assisting in rebuilding Konoha.

As another day of hard work came to an end, he surveyed the village from the top of Hokage mountain; it still looked broken, but slowly the ruins were being overtaken by new buildings.

He thought of his mother, Kushina, and of her village. It had been reduced to ruins as well, but when the fight was done, there was no one left to rebuild it. Naruto wondered what Uzushiogakure was like. He imagined open waters filled with fishing vessels and children swimming. His curiosity began to poke at his mind. He knew nothing about his mother's home.

The Past

Uzumaki Hayate darted from tree to tree in the hills surrounding Uzushiogakure. He spotted one of his shadow clones five hundred feet to the east. He paused on a wide branch and cupped his hands to make the sound of a fish owl. The clone stopped and made eye contact with him. Hayate nodded his head to the south. The clone nodded. Hayate produced another clone that continued north while he moved slowly and silently towards the south with the other.

As he moved, he could see where Takako river, glistening in the afternoon sun, turned into the bay and emptied into the ocean. The village rose around the water. Hayate smiled at the sight.

His shadow clone began to descend out of the trees towards the forest floor. The forests here were filled with dense pine, but through the trees, he spotted a flash of brilliant red; it seemed his opponent had finally found him.

"FOUND YOU!" Boomed his opponent from below at Hayate's clone. "Did you really think I'd follow you deeper into the forest, father? I know your tricks."

"You're dangerous near the water, Kazuki. Can you blame me for trying?" His shadow clone replied before unraveling a scroll that unleashed a wave of kunai. He watched as his son dodged all of them with ease. Kazuki was no child. He would soon be a jōnin. He only just turned 14, but he was rather exemplary for his age. Hayate expected nothing less of his own son.

Hayate smiled from his lookout spot high in the trees.

"And I found you." He whispered as he looked up to see yet another red blur.

The real Kazuki, wielding his sword, leaped towards him. Hayate didn't budge and Kazuki prepared to strike him. Instead, he reached for a small pocket in his sleeve and removed a small scroll. As Kazuki's sword began to fall just above his head, Hayate stepped aside and reached for the blade. He unrolled the scroll along the blade's length and in an instant the sword was gone, sealed away within the scroll. Hayate then turn his attention to his son and began to battle him in the trees.

Above the battle below, a young girl, barely 8 years old, watched from atop a swaying tree.

"Get him, dad." She whispered while clenching her fists in anticipation. Suddenly, a figure appeared in the tree next you her.

"What are you doing here, little sister?" Her older brother asked. How did he find me? Oh man, I'm in trouble now! Kushina studied her older brother's face. He was six years older than her, but his face was still youthful and full, although checkered with pimples, but he was a teenager after all. His long red hair was tied in a knot on the back of his head. Kushina was still shocked by how tall he was now; her brother grew suddenly so much taller over the summer. He was nearly as tall as their father now, but not even close to being as broad. Kazuki still looked uncomfortable in his tall, gangly body. Kushina wondered when she would get her growth spurt.

"Uhhhh…" Kushina reeled. "I'm just watching, you know!"

"Right. Well," Kazuki shifted in his tree. "How about you help me take down our old man and I'll promise not to tell mom." Kushina imagined the fury she'd face if her mother found out she'd snuck out into the forest again.

"Okay, Kazuki-niichan." Kushina watched her father evade every one of Kazuki's punches below. "What's the plan?"

"You restrain him or just distract him long enough that I can strike."

"How?" Kushina questioned.

"That's for you to decided, little sister." Kazuki said as his shadow clone vanished in a puff of smoke.

Kushina's eyes narrowed. Kazuki and her father had abandoned their shadow clones and now fought on the forest floor. Kushina leaped down to get a closer view. She slid onto a branch and nearly fell, but it seemed her father had not heard.

What do I do? She thought, adrenaline pumping from the scare of her nearly falling, and then it came to her. I know.

With a scream, Kushina slipped and fell. She cried out for her father as the air rushed around her small frame. The wind was knocked out of her when her father's arms grasped her in mid-air, but she didn't loose sight of her mission. Her father set her on the ground and kneeled next to her. Kushina stood up.

"Kushina! Are you—" Hayate exclaimed. Kushina grabbed his wrists and, banking on surprise, pulled her father's arms around to his back. She held his arms as best as her tiny hands could. In that instant, Kazuki was there with a kunai to her father's neck.

Silence filled the forest.

"Gotcha." Kazuki said at last.

"You needed your 8 year old sister's help to beat me." Hayate spoke quietly, but intensely. "You risked her life to beat me?"

"I…" Kazuki stumbled. Kushina released her father as he began to stand.

"Father," Kushina began "It was me. I made the choice to fall, you know. Kazuki asked me to distract you, that's all, you know. And-and… I knew you'd catch me."

Hayate turned to face her.

"Never risk your life unless it is worth it, Kushina. An Uzumaki does not die without meaning. Do you understand?"

Kushina didn't understand. She was alive and well, wasn't she? But she looked up to her father and nodded anyway. Hayate's face softened for a brief moment.

"But, your strategy was effective. When you know your enemy, you know their weaknesses. You were wise in that decision, Kushina. Instead of trying to beat me down, you made only one strike to my weakest point." Hayate continued.

"But, I didn't strike you…" Kushina said, confused.

"It's a figure of speaking, little one. You put my precious daughter at risk; she's my weak point."

A wave of emotion overcame her. Kushina felt tears in her eyes and threw herself around her father's leg.

"I'm sorry, daddy! I didn't mean to scare you!"

"Don't cry, Kushina. Just don't do it again." Hayate said as he lifted her up and placed her on his shoulders. "As for your brother, well, Kazuki and I are going to have a chat."

Kazuki bowed his head in shame, realizing his mistake. The shadows of the trees began to stretch and the sunlight began to turn amber in color. The three Uzumakis began to make their way downhill towards Uzushio.

"What were you doing out here anyway, Kushina?" Her father asked.

"Um," Kushina stalled. "I followed you guys. I like to watch your training. It's funny when Kazuki get's beat up, you know."

"Hey! I thought you were on my side!" Kazuki exclaimed.

"That's before you let me fall out of a tree for you!"

"That was your idea, not mine! I didn't know you'd do something so dangerous!"

"Yeah, whatever, you know."

Hayate smiled.

The Land of Whirlpools was small, but it did not lack in beauty. The small island nation was covered in forested hills that turned into mountains as one moved inland. A great river that began in those mountains, the Takako, flowed down towards the small coastal plain and turned into an estuary before it emptied into the oceans churning waters. Uzushio was built there, its white stone buildings, pale and bleached by the salt water, rose out of the ground where the bay turned into the ocean. The soil there was fertile enough for small farms and the foothills were fine for orchards, but the people of the Land of Whirlpools were mostly fishermen. The ocean, with its abundance of fish and marine life provided more than enough food for the island and the seafood chefs of Uzushio were a known to be the best throughout the world. In Hayate's opinion, his wife was the best of them all, but it was his duty as a husband to think so. Even still, the smell drifting out of the Uzumaki household was mouth watering.

"KUSHINAAAAAAAA!" A voice bellowed from inside as Hayate opened the front door. "WHERE HAVE YOU—" His wife emerged in the entryway wielding a pot; she paused at the sight of her whole family in the foyer. Kushina hid behind her father's legs. No one was scarier than her mother, even if everyone knew she was all bark and no bite.

"You promised!" Kushina cried to her brother.

"Oi, I promised not to tell. I didn't promise to make sure she didn't notice you were gone!" Kazuki mumbled in response.

"Oh, hello dear." Uzumaki Miko said as she lowered the pot and pecked her husband's cheek.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, Miko. I must have slipped my mind. I allowed Kushina to observe Kazuki and I training today." Hayate explained to his wife. Kushina made a mental note to thank her father for saving her butt from her mother's wrath. Kushina's habit of sneaking out of the house was becoming a bit much for Miko's temper. Miko sighed and smacked her husband with the pot.

"Next time, remember! I was worrying all evening when she didn't come home from her lessons!" Miko exclaimed. Hayate winced and rubbed the spot on his head where the pot made contact. Miko, seemingly satisfied, leaned in and kissed it.

"I'm glad you're all home. Why don't you clean up? Dinner will be ready soon." She said.

"Kushina, why don't you help you mother in the kitchen once you're cleaned up… Kazuki, you will meet me in my office to talk about today's training." Hayate said.

The two siblings nodded.

The Uzumaki household was built near the mouth of the bay and was tucked back in an area where the tall pines of the forests reached the shore. The only other houses nearby were inhabited by other members of the Uzumaki clan. This was their land; they'd been here since their family left the mainland many, many years before, and settled on the island. They became the Uzumaki clan and those who remained on the mainland became the Senju clan.

Kushina helped her mother place clothes on the line to dry. This was part of her routine every day. She would help her mother with chores in the morning and then in the afternoon she would head into Uzushio to study with her grandmother. Some days, her grandmother would lead her through slow but grueling physical routines, some days, they would practice chakra control, but they devoted time to her study of fūinjutsu and history every day. Kushina would rather be running around outside with her cousins.

Their grandmother did not privately tutor any of them, but, after her brother, Kushina was heir to the Uzumaki clan. Apparently being the clan leaders daughter meant you couldn't have fun.

"Kushina," Her mother said as they brought the laundry baskets into the house. "Will you do me a favor on your way to your grandmother's?"

"Sure, Mom." Kushina replied as she packed her satchel. Her mother handed her a lunchbox wrapped in a thin blue cloth.

"Your father forgot his lunch."

Kushina nodded.

"I'll stop by the council building on the way." Kushina tucked the lunch box in her satchel. "Bye, Mom!"

Kushina burst out the door.

"And don't run off after your lessons! I'll need help with dinner!" Miko shouted after her.

Kushina love Uzushio. She loved the clear waters of the bay, teeming with life. She loved the ocean, the eddies, and the caves that littered the white cliffs. She loved the village's busy nature, always filled with life and conversation. Kushina dashed down the dirt road that lead into downtown Uzushio. The road turned to white stone as she neared the center of the village. She knew every alley of the village; it was her playground.

"Hi Kushina!" A red haired boy called out.

"Hi Kouta!" Kushina waved to her cousin.

"What are you up to?"

"I have to bring my father his lunch before my lesson with Grandmother."

"Laaaame. Irri and I are trying to get people together to go cliff jumping."

"Awwww…" Kushina slouched. She wondered if she could get away with skipping her lesson, but the image of her grandmother and mother unleashing their wrath on her at the same time kept that impulse at bay. "I can't. I'll come find you after my lesson though!" Kushina sighed. "Do you know the time?" She asked, a bad feeling sinking into her gut. Kouta glanced at a watch on his wrist.

"It's nearly noon."

"NEARLY NOON?" Kushina cried. "I've got to go!" Grandmother would kill her if she were late again.

"See you later Kushina!"

I'll have to take a shortcut, I suppose. Kushina darted back a narrow alley and up a fire escape ladder. She darted across a rooftop towards the council building at the center of the village. She leapt over a small gap in between buildings and onto the balcony that encircled the rotunda of the council building. She smiled. If I'd been racing Kouta and Irri, I would have won.

She headed to her father's office only to find it empty. As head of the Uzumaki clan, Hayate had a place on the Uzushio council and he had recently been elected the Chief Councilor. She wandered down the halls towards the center of the rotunda.

"I got the raven this morning." She heard her father's voice say. "She's making the journey herself. She's coming here from Konoha."

"Mito-sama will make that journey?" Said another voice. Kushina paused outside the doorway to the council room. Mito-sama? Kushina knew that name, but she couldn't place it.

"Is she even able?" Said another. "She must be older than…"

"Will the Hokage join her?" The Hokage? She thought. Why would the Hokage come? She hesitated; this didn't seem like a conversation she should interrupt.

"No, the Hokage will not join her, although, he is sending his students as his representative. Nara Shikawa will be coming as well. I knew him during the Great War; he's a good man…" Her father responded before trailing off. "I doubt this is just a visit. The First Hokage's wife does nothing without a purpose."

"What to you mean, Hayate-sama?"

"Mito-Sama is the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails. Even her Uzumaki blood cannot keep her alive forever." Junchūriki? What is that? None of this made sense to her. Kushina made her way back to her father's office.

"You can't mean…?" She heard.

"Konoha may been seeking Uzushio's assistance in sealing…"

Kushina re-entered her father's office. The whirpool symbol of Uzushio was painted onto the center of his desk. Kushina placed her father's lunch at the center. She glanced at the clock on the office wall.

TWELVE-SEVENTEEN?! Grandma's gonna rip me a new one! Kushina made a bee-line door, but was stopped when she face planted into her father.

"Kushina?" Her father questioned. "What are you doing here?" He glanced at the clock. "You're late to your lesson. Grandma's going to punish you by making you practice calligraphy all afternoon."

"I—" She started. "You forgot your lunch." She pointed to the lunch box she has set on his desk.

"I did, didn't I?" Her father laughed and kissed her forehead. "Thank you, little one. Run on to your lesson. Tell my mother I'm the reason you're late."

Kushina smiled. I wonder if Grandma will make Dad practice his calligraphy for making me late.