It's three years after Kushina first woke up in Urahara's shop that she meets one Ichigo Kurosaki. He's a cute thing, all small with a round face and fiery temper and reminds Kushina far too much of herself.
And there's also the fact he's getting picked on for his hair.
Kushina takes one look at the scene and it's like a flood of anger and sadness and hurt hits her all at once. She remembers taunts and hair pullers and a small, red haired girl with bloody fists and tears in her eyes as she screams, leave me alone, dattebane! I never asked to have tomato hair!
It nearly drives all the air out of her lungs, and she sucks on her teeth as she pauses mid step.
(Urahara told her not to get involved too much with the living-even with a gigai it's risky-but Kushina is much too stubborn and a bleeding heart to boot.
Really, Urahara should have known she'd do what she thinks is right and damn the consequences.)
"Hey, brats! What do you think you're doing, dattebane!"
The bullies startle, but Ichigo's still scowling as she bounds up in three easy steps with a grin that's slightly on the terrifying side of the spectrum. Kushina won't hurt them, of course, they're little kids, but she's not above scaring the living shit out of them.
"Um," one stutters, the ringleader probably. "We were just playing." Kushina's smile widens, showing a bit more teeth. "Bullshit, 'ttebane! I have eyes, you know! You got three seconds to scat."
Kushina has never seen a bunch of kids move so fast in her (after)life.
"I could have handled it myself," Ichigo grumbles, and nearly flinches when Kushina turns her grin on him.
"What was that, dattebane?" she cooes, but her eyes soften a bit, and her grin turns less harsh as she crouches down to be eye level. "I'm sure you could have kid, but you shouldn't have to. This is what adults are here for, dattebane."
Ichigo colors slightly, ducking his head with a scowl. But Kushina deals with Jinta on a daily basis, and really, if it came to a battle of stubbornness Kushina would win hands down, so she just grins and reaches out to ruffle his hair without a care.
"Don't let those idiots get you down, 'ttebane! Your hair is awesome, orange is such an awesome color!" she says cheerfully, ignoring the offended noise Ichigo makes. "You know, I use to get picked on too, kids use to call me tomato head. At least they did until I kicked all their asses."