A/N: We're now all caught up on the ao3 stuff. After this, updates are going to be super irregular.

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Kushina loves her baby cousin, with her squishy pink cheeks and stormy grey eyes. She's loved Shiori ever since she was in Auntie Nanami's tummy, and she loves her even more after she's out of it. Shiori is the first cousin Kushina's had that's hers. Not her mom's, or her dad's, but wholly and entirely Kushina's.

Nothing is going to change the fact that Kushina will always protect what's hers.

So she doesn't let herself be disappointed that there's something wrong with Shiori. She doesn't let herself notice the adults whispering and arguing. She doesn't let herself notice Auntie Nanami coming home with bloodied knuckles and puffy eyes.

Kushina loves her little mochi ball, and no amount of weirdness is going to deter her.

-:-

People say it's such a shame, such a pity, that such a child was born into the main branch. How horrible, they say, that a princess of Uzushio is so much lesser than others. People call Shiori broken, or wrong, or slow, and these people are usually family, so Kushina isn't allowed to hate them, but she kind of wants to.

Shiori is smart.

Like, really smart.

Like, way too smart for a baby that's supposed be "slow" or "damaged" or whatever other dumb stuff the others say.

Kushina can just feel it, in the tiny ways her eyes pinched when someone says something annoying, or her mouth tilts up when Uncle Kenshi says something as dry as a Suna desert.

Shiori is smarter than most babies, and she understands what's going on around her in a way she probably shouldn't.

(Shiori is sad.

Really sad, in a way that Kushina can't properly describe because she's never felt that way. Kushina isn't quite sure how she knows, but she does, and the knowledge of it sits like a boulder in her stomach. Her baby cousin, her sweet little mochi, stares into the void like she's watched the world disappear and she wishes it had taken her with it.)

Kushina won't admit it, but it scares her; the fact that she can't understand Shiori.

-:-

Kushina starts taking Shiori outside.

It starts because Kushina feels too big for Auntie Nanami's wing of the main house, the shoji doors wrapping around her like a prison cell. She's been inside too long and she's burning with energy, so she figures there can't be much harm in taking Shiori outside. It's not like Mochi is doing much besides tracing the grain of the wood with her tired grey eyes.

So, she scoops up the chubby baby and they go exploring.

(And Shiori stares, but it's different, somehow. There's an intent, or maybe even just an appreciation for what she's seeing.

She makes soft, huffing hums when she looks at the trees.

Her eyes go soft when she sees birds or squirrels.

The sea breeze hits her nose, and she leans against Kushina's chest with a heavy sigh.)

Kushina keeps taking her outside, and tells Auntie Nanami it's to get her some fresh air, but that's a lie. The real reason Kushina takes her outside, day after day, like clockwork is something much more important than the baby's health.

(Shiori stares at the outside world like she's looking for something.

Kushina thinks it's a reason to live.)

-:-

One day, they come to the high white walls of the compound.

Shiori stares, eyes wide and bright as they trace the eb and flow of the seal.

And Shiori? Her grumpy, tired, sad lil mochi?

She reaches out for the safety and legacy of their home.

(With a wide grin, Kushina knows that they've found it.)

-:-

Kushina isn't sure how to feel about Grandpa anymore. On one hand, he's her Grandpa, who taught her how to read, and who watched her when Mom or Auntie Nanami were busy helping Uncle Arashi with all his paperwork. He taught her how to swim, and buys her ramen on the weekends, and tells her stories from his childhood in Konoha, and keeps every drawing she's ever made for him.

He also said they should drown Shiori rather than let her taint the Uzumaki Clan.

(Auntie Nanami said, with her chakra flaring out like a tsunami, that if anyone was tainting the Uzumaki with their presence, it was Grandpa.

Auntie Nanami said that no true Uzumaki would ever consider doing that, and it showed that he was only an Uzumaki by marriage that the thought even crossed his mind.

Auntie Nanami said that she was ashamed to share blood with him, and if it were up to her, she'd have him excommunicated from the clan and sent back to Konoha.

Auntie Nanami said a lot of things about what ought to be done to Grandpa for daring to think of kinslaying, but Grandma is still the Clan Head, so it isn't up to Auntie Nanami.

Auntie Nanami said a lot of things, and Kushina agrees with her.)

So, even though she loves Grandpa, she holds Shiori tight to her chest.

And when Grandpa asks about Shiori's progress, Kushina lies through her teeth.

And when Grandpa asks to see Shiori's progress, Kushina gets ready to run.

But then Shiori does the second thing Kushina has ever seen her do of her own accord, wriggling until she's set on the ground. Her tiny mochi-cheeked cousin sends their grandfather the dirtiest look possible and then drags herself towards the wall like she has something to prove.

(Maybe she does.

Maybe people will always be asking Shiori to prove herself.

Maybe Shiori will never be enough for others.)

But Shiori is always going to be enough for Kushina, so even if she doesn't make it to the wall, Kushina cheers like she fought a bijuu to a standstill one handed. She cheers, and cheers, and laughs when she sees her brilliant little cousin flip off their grandfather with the smuggest look Kushina has ever seen on her squishy little face.

-:-

"I'm teaching Mochi to crawl," Kushina declares to her mom at dinner. Mom, tired and hazy from the all-nighter she pulled with Uncle Arashi, gives her a distracted, "That's nice, dear," before blinking as the words get processed. She looks at Kushina with confused, narrowed eyes.

"Shiori? You've gotten her to crawl?"

(Kushina wants to feel offended on Shiori's behalf, but she has to admit that it does sound kind of unbelievable, given the toddler's track record.)

Kushina beams at her mom and nods vigorously.

"Yeah! She really likes the wards, so if I put her on the ground a little bit aways, she starts trying to get to them, dattebane."

Mom looks skeptical, but she smiles and reaches over to ruffle Kushina's hair.

"That's some good thinking, princess. Where'd you get those brains, huh? Definitely can't be from me," Mom says with a laugh, and Kushina laughs with her. They continue to eat their dinner, with Kushina telling mom about everything she's done the last two days. It's not particularly deep conversation, but Mom is paying attention and asking questions today, so it's good.

There's a lull in the conversation when Mom asks if she can come see Shiori's crawling. Kushina agrees easily, saying, "Of course! We can both cheer her on, dattebane!"

Mom smiles, soft and tired in the way all her smiles have been since Dad died.

"I'm so proud of you, Kushina. You know that, right?"

Kushina smiles, ignoring the way tears burn in her eyes as she says, "Of course, Mom."

-:-

The next day, there's a small crowd to watch Shiori's crowd, because Mom told Auntie Nanami and Uncle Kenshi, and Grandpa told Uncle Arashi, so now they're all looming over Shiori who sits on the ground.

(Shiori leans into Kushina, as if she's trusting her to protect her from all the expectant faces, and Kushina goes all warm and gooey inside.)

Kushina crouches down, ignoring the indignant squint Shiori gives her. Softly, she smiles at her little cousin.

"Don't be scared, Mochi," Kushina says. I'm right here to protect you.

"We're all rooting for you," Kushina says. You're an Uzumaki, you can do this.

Shiori scans her face with her too smart grey eyes, before they go determined.

Shiori crawls with purpose for all to see. Kushina roars her pride for all to hear.

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A/N: Review and let me know what you think, or drop ideas on where you'd like to see the story go. Can't promise they'll happen, but I could use the inspiration lol