The first time Kushina and Mizuki leave Uzushio for official purposes - they are to escort a man to Konoha. Previous trips have been to the shore to buy some supplies. The island has everything they need but it doesn't have everything they want. Besides, it's interesting to get off the island every once in a while. Kushina and Mizuki both love exploring. It's just a shame they don't really get the chance unless off on a mission. They are still young so they are not allowed to go gallivanting around yet. Yet.

Their whirlpool headgear securely on and their backpacks packed, the two leave with the man between them. Everyone turns out unhappy with this arrangement. He doesn't want two kids to 'babysit' and they both think his rude with non-existent manners. It's not even that, they're not happy with. The man complains about them, to their faces. He doesn't even have the decency to keep his thoughts in his head. He won't stop complaining about how they're both "Genin" derisively. They ignore him.

Uzushio has no genin, chunnin or jounin.

You are educated until you are proficient enough to protect another person thoroughly between the two of you and not die. Perhaps that is the equivalent of genin. Neither of them know.

Or maybe not.

Uzumakis do not leave Uzushio until they can do the above without truly revealing their capabilities. When they appear to have only large chakra stores and seals as abilities. When you can take out five men each by average speed and seals. Is that genin level? Kushina thinks jounin must be really impressive if that is it. Mizuki manages not to laugh. She thinks they must be chunnin.

When you are small yet sought for, you have two choices.

You can become big, big enough to be feared and to have greater target painted on your back. A page in the bingo book for yourself instead of simply one on the Uzumaki clan.

Or you can pretend to be small, to only fit expectations and try to keep the target the same size it already is. To only have people apprehensive because of the headband.

Uzumakis chose the second option.

So Kushina and Mizuki are careful. Careful to pretend they can only seal and have slightly larger chakra pools than normal. Pretend they do not sense the chakra thrumming everywhere. Pretend they are two inexperienced girls with the Uzu swirl and Uzumaki traits.

The mission is successful.

They disguise themselves well until a little distance away and take the man to the entrance. And because they are there, because Kushina wants to see the place that could have become her home, they enter. They do not remove their headbands for they are Uzushio's and Uzushio is Konoha's sister. That is they way it is meant to be. It is only that way in an ideal world.

They pretend they are comfortable there. They pretend not to notice the eyes on them, on these two children of Uzushio. They pretend not to care when people's eyes linger too long on them. They remind themselves that they are partners, that they are not alone. They go about the markets looking for interesting things and ignoring the skin-crawling looks as they are objectified.

They sit in the shops, ignoring the outside world, and taking in what Konoha has to offer - apart from lecherous men and people who stare and gossip way too much. It is nothing like Uzushio. That is okay, it is not Uzushio. What is not okay is they way they look at them. Kushina entertains the idea of kissing Mizuki to get them to back off but she doesn't know if they have some archaic views on the subject. Kushina doesn't get it - love is love. Mizuki might not love her romantically but Mizuki does love her so what is the problem? She understands that public intimacy can be a little uncomfortable but her Otousan says it is not that.

They visit Ichiraku's ramen so Kushina can try what was her favourite. The owner is friendly, even when he spots their headbands but they can tell he is tired. When they ask, he tells them his daughter, Ayame, kept him up wailing. When you have children, he says, know they will keep you up.

Mizuki does not let her discomfort show. Everyone has always assumed thing of her but she understands it's necessary to protect them so she doesn't inform him she is not planning to. Kushina on her other side, practically has her head buried in the food. Mizuki hopes she doesn't have to drag her away.

(She does. It takes a lot of cajoling but eventually they agree to stay the night and go the next one. Kushina wants to go at least once more. Mizuki is starting to think Kushina is going to end up staying here simply for the Ramen. But Kushina's not going to leave her like that and she knows it.)

Before finding somewhere to stay though, a nice relaxing trip to a bath house is in order. Kushina and Mizuki are Uzumakis and Uzumakis are of water. There is no better reward than time spent bathing together. The water is their element.

Both of them shed their clothes easily - there is no point in shame. When they hear a slight giggling though, they stiffen and decide to go elsewhere. They have been subject to this ever since they stepped foot in this place and they are reaching their limits.

As they leave, hand in hand to stop themselves doing something rash, they spot a white-haired man pinching the woman in front of them. In an extremely uncomfortable place. The woman keeps her face impressively blank but her chakra is seething. There is a feeling of resignation though and shame that they both clock.

Mizuki clenches her fist - but Kushina is gone. Frantically, she looks around for her. She wouldn't just leave...

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?"

Found her.