Disclaimer: Okay. Unfortunately we don't own Naruto or Kakashi or any of those characters. But we do own Jowen. She's all ours :)

Anyways Enjoy!

---- Chapter 1 ----

I smoothed my skirt, once again. This time I stared down at my large hands and shifted impatiently within the small confines of my transportation. I couldn't wait until we were out of the city and I could drop this guise of being a lady, and slip among the guard once again. Still, while I was still under my father's watchful eye, I would please him and at least pretend that I was a lady. I didn't want to bring shame to him again.

My name, was Lady Jowen Tzu. I'm not a lady, never have been. I was born to this curse, being told how to stand, how to walk, when all I wanted to do was run and fight like the guard. Like a shinobi. Unfortunately, my wild dreams brought shame to my father when I fled from him. I cannot do that again. So here I sit, uncomfortable and hot waiting in a small wooden compartment to be carried off somewhere to make a visit with one of his friends.

This life disgusted me, but by now the guard were my friends. When we got out of the city, they would allow me to dress up as one of them and carry the wooden box empty. My freedom would already be here if it wasn't for the threats father had been receiving. Unfortunately, someone got it into their head that they would kidnap me, and so father's been receiving warning from his intelligence as well as from the person themselves. So, my dearest father, misguided though he was hired a ninja to escort me over to this estate.

So, here I was, sitting in this stuffy wooden cage waiting for some half-rate, kunai-flinging, headband-wearing idiot to tell me what to do. I can take care of myself perfectly fine when I'm with the guard. In fact, I've helped them fend off several assassination or kidnapping attempts! Ugh, and who was this guy to make me wait anyways? He was probably full of self-importance and would jump at shadows. I just hoped I could slip out and join the guard when we left.

As one of the guard, everyone called me Jo, and treated me just like they would one of their own. Between me sneaking out all the time, and them hanging around me, these people practically raised me. They knew a lot more about what'd make me happy than my father ever could. Not that he paid much attention other than making sure I wasn't disgracing him by running around in pants or anything. I had to keep all my decent clothes in another room since he started checking my closet every week!

This stuff was hot. Where was that idiot anyways? I looked up at the sound of voices, and cursed the rice-paper shielding me from view. I couldn't see anything in this! The guards' call sounded and I was lifted up. As we started moving, the contraption swayed side to side with the guards' steps it was called a litter. How absolute appropriate for something that should only litter the ground, and stay there broken and forgotten.

As much as it annoyed me, I was used to this, and kept perfectly still to make sure my transport wasn't hard on my friends. I wasn't a light girl anymore. I had grown a lot taller and muscular. Father said it wouldn't do to have such a 'masculine' daughter. He believes I should be this frail little weak thing, and has even offered to set me up with a dietician so I could slim down. As much as I loved him, his obsession with appearance was no use. I trained in secret to become the best warrior I could, and vowed to prove to him that I could make him proud of me even if I was a girl.

The swaying continued, and I attempted to read the scroll in front of me. It was some legend or other. I was researching them, because I liked our history. Also, because it was the only thing father let me read since I got into the warrior scrolls and started practicing what I read.

I sighed; I guess I'd given him quite a bit of trouble.

"Why are we stopping?" I heard an unfamiliar voice ask. The sound wasn't particularly deep, but was definitely male. It sounded calculating, intelligent even. I was gently set down, and I heard the river. Perfect. I could finally shed these annoying garments. I ignored what the guards were saying, and slipped out the hatch. Hiding in the bushes, the sound of the river concealed my steps. I changed, and rejoined the group, nodding slightly to the head guard.

He winked at me, and hailed to move out. Suddenly, I found myself slammed against a tree, knife at my throat. A single silver eye stared at me, face covered by a mask.

"Who are you and why are you here?" he demanded. A bandanna covered his left eye, marked with the sign of a leaf. A leaf ninja, so this must be who father hired!

"What do you mean? I've been here the whole time!"

"No you haven't." he pressed the knife tighter against my throat, "You slipped in while we took a break. Let's try this again. Who are you and why are you here?"

...

So. That's the first chapter. If you liked it then Review! Just so we know you want us to continue it. And just cause I'm slightly evil we probably won't update till we got 3 reviews. Come one. It's not that many!

-Jowen & Arramel