At least Minato had a friend?
Minato's mother had always told him to be wary of Uchiha.
"Minato, dear, the Uchiha are dangerous. They're very strong, but not that nice." Kaa-san said, her eyes crinkling with worry. "They're a dangerous clan. Don't try to talk to them, they won't respond."
Minato knew his mother was very wary of shinobi, and the Uchiha were not dear to her at all, so he took it with a grain of salt. But nevertheless, he had heard some mutters about how "egotistical" and "solemn" they were.
When he met Machiko, he admitted those stereotypes had been completely and utterly blown away.
On the first day of the Academy, the teacher invited everyone to introduce themselves and say some things about themselves. Minato tried to subtly sit away from the two girls with dark hair, one straight and one spiky, and black eyes.
Minato had been first, quietly saying he lived with his mother, Sayuri, he wanted to be a ninja to protect her, and that he liked home made cooking.
After a few others, they got to the Uchiha girls.
Mikoto had gracefully stood.
"My name is Uchiha Mikoto, I live with my mother, my father, and my sister-" she gestured to the other girl. "I wish to become a strong kunochi and embody the Will of Fire. I enjoy training and I enjoy dango."
She seemed similar to what Minato imagined Uchiha to be, except less proud. That was good, because even if he was on only polite terms, that was better then an enemy.
Machiko had then shot in the air, beaming so widely Minato was taken aback.
"Yo, what's up! I'm Uchiha Machiko, I live with my parents, my cute little sister-" Mikoto stuck her tounge out "Oh shush I was born first-and hmm. I want to be Hokage, but first I'll be a teacher and have a trio of little genin to brainwash. I like training with Ero-sennin, whose badass but sorta perverted but whatever. I like tomatoes, don't judge me, and I like… setting things on fire."
She was straight faced for about five seconds before she cracked up.
"Hah, just kidding! I actually like-well, I do like fire, but not really setting things on fire-sorta."
Everyone seemed to have different ideas on what was wrong with that statement.
"Ero-Sennin!?" The teacher gaped.
"Genin to brainwash?" Another boy asked (Shikaku, maybe)
"Setting things on fire?" echoed Minato, wondering if he misheard.
"You like tomatoes?" Shrieked an Akimichi boy.
Machiko looked at him for a moment.
"I also like lightly salted chips." She added
"Oh." He said, relieved. "That's okay."
She grinned cheekily at everyone, sitting down, while Mikoto looked amused and exasperated.
The rest of the day continued as normal, with Machiko sometimes raising her head to call out an answer.
At lunch, Minato had retreated to a tall tree, opening his bento and snacking.
Just as he was sipping his drink, a voice came from next to his ear.
"Yo,"
Minato swore he did not shriek like a little girl as he spun around and registered two things.
One, the Uchiha who liked setting things on fire and tomatoes, with spiky hair, was next to him.
Two, she was attacked to the side of the tree, chakra glowing on her feet as she carelessly defied gravity.
"How are you doing that?"
She blinked, glancing at her sandaled feet.
"Oh, Ero-Sennin trained me."
"Who?"
"Jiraya-sensei." She replied, grinning. She paused for a moment, glancing thoughtfully at him.
"Although, he says to introduce himself as…"
She struck a dramatic pose.
"Jiraya the great and handsome wandering toad sage and world class pervert!"
"Uh, oh. Right." Minato mumbled, for lack of anything better to say in response.
She looked at him for a second.
"I like you." She decided, reaching and grabbing his hand. "I'll get Ero-Sennin to train you early."
"…"
Minato was speechless.
"You'll let me train with Jiraya-sama?"
She gave a careless shrug.
"He was gonna train you anyway."
"H-he was?"
She paused.
"I have actually no clue. But I like you and your hair. So yes."
She patted him on the head
"Be at training ground seven at three. I love your hair. Okay bye."
She spun on her heel and skipped of, heedless of the baffled stare Minato had.
Well, Minato had a friend now.
Oh my gosh his hair.
I love his hair it's fabulous.
This is going to be an interesting year/