Kushina knew Mizuki was faking it.

There was something in that smile that didn't quite sit right. As if she was going to say anything though. She and Mizuki adored each other and there was something mischievous about that smile. But Mizuki is such a good-two-shoes (most of the time) that she couldn't be sure.

As if hearing her thoughts, Mizuki winks. Kushina is half-convinced that her best friend is a mind-reader.

At that moment, almost as if she's planned it, an explosion goes off. Their teacher, Aomi-sensei grumbles something about troublesome brats before he gets up to go check out. Everyone knows it's a prank and Aomi is more likely to laugh than tell anyone off but he has to make sure. And if it is one, offer a token protest.

Kushina turns suspiciously to Mizuki who gives her an innocent look.

Her friend/cousin stands up from her desk and walks to the board where Aomi's been teaching them Fuuinjutsu. Kushina has no idea what she's about to do. Everyone knows that Mizuki hates talking to more than three people at once, so why is she standing in front of the board like that? She's not sure whether to be proud or exasperated when she comes out with:

"This is wrong." her cousin says, frowning.

Her other cousins turn to face the front. There's forty one of them in total and they all sit in silence as Mizuki turns away from scrutinising the board.

"Fuuinjutsu works by channeling chakra for a certain purpose, right?"

One of her cousins near the back looks like he's going to blow up - probably because Mizuki's explanation is very basic - before he gets elbowed in the side. Kushina can't quite see who it is from here and he'd better be glad for it because if he upset Mizuki, Kushina would prank him into next week.

"Essentially, yes." He manages to say in a surprisingly condescending tone considering he's only said two words. Kushina is reluctantly impressed.

"And chakra works by fulfilling our demands, doesn't it."

"Well, yes but that's a very-"

"So if we command our chakra, the seal will form itself, won't it?" Mizuki cuts him off. She doesn't even do it meanly, she just does it mildly like she stopped listening after yes. Kushina smirks. Her cousin is cool without even realising it and if she did it on purpose, that's even cooler! She wants to learn too.

"No. There's a reason we have to use hand signs."

Mizuki smiles challengingly. Kushina knows she would never do so if she wasn't sure it would work. Mizuki has been practicing without her! It's not like Kushina gets bored when she mentions experimenting and stops listening or anything. Sure.

"Let's try it."

The rest of their time until Aomi-sensei comes back is spent experimenting. No one is quite as proficient as Mizuki of course but obviously she understands her idea best. Kushina has never done this before, never told her chakra what she wanted and allowed it to guide her hand. She finds that she doesn't wish to stop. It's so easy!

Before Aomi-sensei walks back in, they have put all the Evidence away. This is their secret. For now.

If he wanted to know, Aomi-sensei shouldn't have left - but why was he gone so long?

(It takes one week for Aomi to realise there's something slightly different about what they're doing and he asks as Aomi-ojisan so no one can resist. Mizuki is now stuck re-teaching the elders once a week. Kushina finds it hilarious.)

"How did you do it?"

"I asked Michika-oba to make sure he was eating well."

Kushina grins. Mizuki is such a genius!

Michika-obasan is always worried about how much they are all eating. Once a month, she gathers everyone on the beach to have a meal. All two-hundred-and-forty-six of them. She refuses to let anyone else cook too. Kushina loves those days - particularly when she is allowed to eat ramen. Kushina loves Uzushio and she never wants to leave.

"Now I have to teach everyone else! I'm only 9! What does that id-stu-urghh-I can't find a word! What does Aomi want me to do with everyone else? I don't even want to do it!"

Kushina can't stop laughing, especially when her friend screeches and storms off. She forgets that Mizuki too is an Uzumaki.

Kushina's not laughing minutes later when Mizuki convinces everyone that she needs an assistant and that Kushina is the perfect candidate, ignoring the fact that at least three of her other cousins were better. She's not laughing when she has spend three hours a week helping them! Three hours! She does have other things to do.

Unfortunately, her cousin overhears her and Kushina doesn't have an answer for what other things are. Kushina is actually enjoying it.

She yells at her cousin for calling her an assistant instead and ignores the knowing look on her face by turning her back to her and walking away. She can't even find in it her to get annoyed when Mizuki yells "Have fun!". There's no trace of laughter in her voice. Mizuki means it.

"At least they're more funner that you!" she snaps, her tone devoid of any actual bite.

She can almost feel the smile on Mizuki's face as she walks away, careful not to do anything to confirm the fact that she's actually enjoying it.

It's only much later, when they ask about the explosion, that they learn Aomi-sensei was gone so long because he was busy activating seals. When they ask why, he simply reminds them that Iwa haven't made a move in months and he wanted to be ready.

Far away, in said place, a trembling man recounts terrifying whirlpools, roaring waves and a non-existent island. He claims it was like chasing a ghost. He will recover but it will take time. He will never try to attack anywhere again - retire into a civilian lifestyle and enjoy his life.

The man is one of the only survivors of the Uzushio massacre.