(A/N) Hello! I hope you all had a very merry Christmas! And I wish you a happy new year in advance. For the record, you could classify Kushina and Mito's relationship as queer platonic, given they're raising a kit together.
They had arrived for the final round of the chuunin exams only a few days early, but they used the few days they were there before the big day to explore the village. It was mostly sandy beiges and light browns, so their bright red hair, especially among the mostly blond or brown haired inhabitants of Suna, stood out.
Naruto, for his part, seemed to enjoy Suna, even with the mini sun hat Kushina insisted on sticking on him to protect him from the sun. He babbled at everything he could see, making grabby arms enough that they made sure to put sunscreen on them every half hour or so.
On the night before the Chuunin exams, they were invited to a dinner with the Kazekage, with a note assuring them that the Kazekage himself had several children, and he didn't mind if Naruto came along.
"He says that like we'd leave him alone." Kushina remarked snarkily.
Mito chuckled. "Perhaps that's why he affirmed that Naruto was welcome. He figured we'd take offense if he didn't clarify that."
Kushina considered it, then shrugged, holding up one of the two kimonos she'd brought. "This one or the other one."
"The other one, it's more durable and less dust will show up," Mito replied absently, changing Naruto's diaper.
"Thanks Mito!" Kushina chirped, putting away the first kimono and drawing out the second, changing into it quickly. "Naruto almost ready?"
Mito finished changing the diaper, then dressed him quickly. "He is now. Hold him while I get dressed, and I can do your hair if you want."
Kushina lit up. "Really?"
Mito chuckled, finishing with Naruto and handing him to her. "Yes. We should have plenty of time."
Kushina cradled Naruto happily, cooing softly to him. "We have formula packed, right?"
"Yes, and instructions included with it," Mito agreed, changing her clothing. "I made sure everything was in there, trust me."
"Alright!" Kushina chirped, sitting down on the bed.
Mito finished dressing, then sat down on the bed. "Alright, we have plenty of time to do your hair."
Kushina beamed, planting herself right in front of Mito on the floor.
Mito shook her head at the red hair currently full of tangles, pulled out a comb and a brush, and resolved herself to at least two minutes of detangling the long hair. For all that Kushina loved her long hair, she really didn't take enough care of it. She rarely bothered to brush it most days, let alone pull it back.
She had a sneaking suspicion Minato had usually done Kushina's hair each morning, and before him, probably her mother. Hence why Kushina didn't usually remember to take care of her hair, other than using a clip or two to hold it back when it got in the way too many times.
Mito carefully pinned the last braid in place with a senbon with a bell on the end, having gone for a fully up hairdo, figuring it'd be best against the winds of Suna.
"All done," Mito said, adjusting one of the senbon. "And just in time too, we need to leave."
Kushina hopped up to her feet, and Mito was glad for the extra pins she'd put in. Hopefully, the hairdo would hold up. It should, but you never knew. Especially with Kushina.
They were on their way quickly, Naruto covered in the little baby carrier strapped to Kushina's chest, and dozing peacefully.
Luckily the Kazekage residency wasn't too difficult to find, they only had to ask for directions once with Mito's excellent navigation skills. Mito suspected they would've been lost for a few hours had she let Kushina navigate. While the guppy was good at many things, she doubted navigation was one of them, especially in unfamiliar areas. Although, Mito reflected, glancing at her partner. She wasn't really much of a guppy any more, she'd grown and married and had her own guppy.
Ah well, Mito still remembered the small girl, bright eyed and bushy tailed who ran in and turned the place upside down like a human twister. That lit up her last days with tales of what her relatives had been getting up to in Uzushio, what the fleets were doing.
Who had grieved with her when Uzushio fell.
But now was a time for looking forward. They had a date to make after all. A chance at alliance. And Mito would take it.
It had gone well. Naruto had done well, placed with the Kazekage's children. They'd seemed to have fun, especially Naruto and the Kazekage's youngest, Gaara, Mito believed. She had her suspicions the guppy of the sand was a jinchuuriki, she could sense the energy, which while she was a very adept sensor, almost as good as Tobirama, she was pretty sure any sensor, even Hashirama, who was barely a sensor, and that was just because of plants and his botched sage mode, probably could have sensed it. The seal on the boy was clearly stupidly weak, even for a weaker biju like the one-tails.
Mito was an Uzumaki, she had a very healthy fear and respect for the biju. If Gaara was leaking demonic chakra everywhere, the seal couldn't be strong enough to contain the beast.
"Oh, and Kazekage?" Mito said, as she stepped out the door. "Perhaps get Gaara's seal looked at. I'd be happy to take a look at it and fix it up for you before we leave."
"Out." He snapped.
Mito smiled sharply at him, and closed the door behind her. "He'd better get that sand guppy's seal looked at or I am stealing the guppy and fixing the seal myself."
Kushina laughed, loud and clear. "Didn't take you for the type!"
"When it is a child's life in danger and a biju, I will go to any length to ensure it is the safest it can be."
Kushina just hummed cheerfully in agreement.
(A/N) And there we go! All done! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, and have a wonderful new year! (PS, if you're into Haikyuu, go check my Ao3 Flux_Uchiha for my new Haikyuu fic!) Or come bother me on my server with the code pnQAF39