Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Naruto characters or places. I only own the characters from Earth/our world. Even then, they are based on actual friends of mine.

Author's Note: Yay for finishing the chapter on time! Boo for writers' block on the next. (shakes fist at Muses) Curses! I'm still trying to figure out what Sasuke and them are up to when Sam wakes up. Grr. I think I know, but writing it will be hard. Gah! The posting schedule might be off though the next few weeks. It's Christmas vacation, and I think my brother and I are heading home Wednesday-ish? We'll be spending a lot of time with family and friends, so I'm not sure how much time I'll get to work on chapters. I'll do my best, though. In the mean time, I have a little contesty sort of thing for you all. I need pranks -- good ones -- funny and possibly messy but with no real bodily harm involved. Why you ask? Do you recall Kaitlyn's last words in her second chapter? (evil laugh) Well, a little sneak peek for you all: her next chapter will be entitled "The Prank War". So, pm me your prank ideas. They might just appear in the chapter at some point! Yay! You'll get credit and special thanks and everything! Now that that bit of business is taken care of, on to Jowan's chapter! Sorry for leaving you hanging so in the last one. I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 36: Our Little Leader

JOWAN

The girl stops, black cloak lined in purple flames fluttering behind her as she slowly turns to face me. Her eyes are slightly wide and confused, seeking my face. The puzzlement only deepens. "I'm -- sorry?" she chokes out.

At first, I flush slightly. Did I make a mistake? As I look at her, though, I become more confident that this is in fact my friend. "Katie, it's me Jowan. I know I look different, but honestly. It's me."

She peers at me closely. "Jowan?" she inquires slowly and softly.

After glancing briefly at Jiraiya, who's looking curiously between the two of us, I add, "Or Tsunade, if you want to keep up with tradition, dear Kurenai."

Katie gasps. "Jowan! It is you. Oh, my -- how?"

I don't know where to start, but before I can manage to say anything, Jiraiya pushes himself to his feet with a grunt. "Tsunade?" he inquires, looking at me. His eyes then flick to Katie. "Kurenai? Am I hearing you correctly?"

Katie flushes. "Long story, yeah," she mumbles. She seems about to say more when she stops and frowns slightly, a strangely frustrated expression on her face.

I chuckle at that look on her face. "What?"

She shakes her head and smiles at me. "It's nothing." Katie turns and bows to Jiraiya. "I must say, it's an honor to meet one of the legendary sanin, especially you, Jiraiya." A smirk plays across her face at the last comment.

I can't help but smile at her dramatic -- if short -- speech. Trust Katie to be diplomatic at a time like this to try to draw his attention away from my usage of our "Naruto names." Apparently, it works, because a wide grin spreads across Jiraiya's face. I recognize that look. Dear Lord . . .

"Oh, but it is my pleasure to meet a beautiful young lady such as yourself." He steps closer to her, and she lifts an eyebrow at him. "Perhaps I can interest you in a proposition. You see I'm not only a great sanin, but also a famous author as well. However, you see, my next book is a bit lacking as of yet. You seem to be a sensible woman. Perhaps you might be interested in helping me with my --"

Katie, bless her, smiles sweetly at him and interrupts, "No."

Jiraiya sputters and makes an attempt to alter her answer, but Katie ignores him completely, stepping over to me with open arms. "It's good to see you again, Jowan, even if you do look . . . different."

I laugh, mostly at the sight of Jiraiya deflating behind her, and wrap my friend in a hug. "Same here." That's when I know something off about our embrace. I have to lean over. That's not right.

I step back and look at her. "Is it just me, or are you --?"

Katie visibly twitches. "Don't say it."

Though I know it'll probably hurt, I can't help but laugh. "You've shrunk! I'm albino and you've shrunk. Oh my God, this is hilarious!"

My friend frowns. "I'm so glad you find it amusing," she grumbles bitterly.

"Aw, don't be a sourpuss," I say teasingly. "You know I'm just teasing." Her frown deepens and I give her a sweet smile. "I love you, Katie," I declare in a sing-song voice, knowing she can't resist it.

True to my memory, Katie's unable to fight back the smile. She sighs in defeat. "Alright, alright. I'll forgive you this once. Just don't make a habit of it, alright?"

I give her a salute. "Yes, Little-Leader-sama."

Katie throws her hands up, groaning. Jiraiya, of course, is still utterly baffled. My friend glances at him and bites her lower lip. "Perhaps," she suggests slowly, looking around the street at some villagers who are watching us curiously, "we should take our -- er -- reunion somewhere else."

Grinning broadly, I wrap my arm around her shoulders. "Great idea, girl! Jiraiya was just taking me to get something to eat. You should totally join us."

Katie agrees, though I can see that there's some reluctance. That's probably just because of Jiraiya, though. What woman in their right mind, after all, would willingly go out to dinner with the biggest pervert in the Naruto world? Well, me for one, but I have an excuse. Jiraiya and I have come to an understanding -- any perversion on his part results in pain -- lots of pain.

I'm only slightly surprised that once we're away in our little corner of the restaurant, Jiraiya drops the pervert act -- though it's hardly an act -- and becomes a rather serious sanin. I kind of see it coming, knowing I won't get away with using our "Naruto names" without some sort of questioning from him, especially considering that mine is Tsunade.

Katie -- being the new and unknown factor in Jiraiya's life, so to speak -- gets the brunt of the questions. Who are you? Where'd you come from? How'd you know Jowan? What'd she mean by calling you Kurenai and herself Tsunade? Why --? I finally have to cut him off to rescue Katie's sanity. I know mine's stretching thin.

"Will you let the girl breathe for more than two seconds, Jiraiya?" I demand angrily, punching him lightly on the arm. "Sheesh. It's not like she's an S-ranked criminal or something. Lay off, will ya?"

Jiraiya rubs my arm and gives me a pained look. Rolling my eyes, I turn my attention back across the table to look at Katie. She's shrugging off her cloak, taking advantage of the lull in questions to get seated comfortably in the booth. Something metal flashes on her arm as she folds the cloak next to her on the bench. I blink in surprise at the forehead protector tied around her upper right arm.

"Whoa! Where'd you get that?"

Katie blinks in surprise, glancing down at the item in question and flushing slightly. "Er, the squad I'm with gave it to me. Evidentially, they think if others believe I'm a ninja, they'll leave me alone."

Jiraiya's eyebrows furrow as he peers at the symbol engraved in the metal. "What would Cloud Ninja be doing in Fire Country?" he asked gravely.

My friend shrugs. "They don't tell me much of anything." She averts her gaze, staring out the window. "They left me here to keep me out of trouble while they finish their mission." Her eyes look troubled. Is she worried about them?

Watching her carefully, Jiraiya doesn't ask anything more. I bet he's trying to figure out the answer to his own question -- why Cloud Ninja are this far into the Fire Country. I know we're near the coast or something, more south than north. I open my mouth to say something -- to break the silence -- but Katie speaks first.

"You were standing furthest away." Her voice is soft and thoughtful, her eyes distant and somewhat calculating.

"Huh?"

Katie turns her blue eyes to me. "In the cafeteria, when it happened, I was in the middle. Kaitlyn and Ashley were both touching me -- Kaitlyn more clinging than anything, and Ashley grabbing my arm. Sam was kind of behind us, but she was closer to me than you were." I can see it in her face; she's in Leader-mode.

I try to follow what she's saying, and nod. "Yeah, and everyone else was pretty far. What's your point, though?"

"You're here. I'm here. Sam, Ashley, and Kaitlyn might then be here too. I first thought this all was some weird dream, but . . ." Katie shakes her head solemnly. "I know it's not. We're really here, you and I. They might be here too, and if they are, they could be in danger."

Jiraiya nods in agreement. "This world is dangerous enough for the people who are from here. For those of you who aren't . . ." He lets his voice trail off suggestively.

"That's exactly my point," Katie states with a serious nod.

I bite my lower lip, my chest tightening. I can see where this could possibly be going. We don't belong in this world. We need to find everyone else and get the hell out of here before someone gets killed. As much as I hate the idea -- seeing how it's so freaking cool that we're here in the first place -- I have to admit to myself that she has a point. I sigh. At least I can enjoy it while it lasts -- while we're looking for the others.

"We're heading for Konoha," Jiraiya tells Katie. "Why don't you come with us? We can see if anyone's heard anything about your friends and go from there."

Katie's eyes lose focus as she thinks this offer over. To my surprise, when she re-emerges from her thoughts, she shakes her head. "No. I'm going to stay in my current position. I might be able to gather information from the road. Considering how far apart you and I arrived here, Jowan, the others could be anywhere."

"So we've found each other now just to lose each other again?" I ask darkly. "That's real smart, Katie."

She shakes her head. "We won't lose each other. I'm in good hands, and so are you -- as long as you keep in mind what you know." Her eyes flick to Jiraiya and back to me. I can see the hidden message there. As long as you keep him away from the Rain Village. "Once you get to Konoha, stay there. When I find someone, I'll send them your way, alright?"

I reluctantly agree, after all, her plan does kind of make sense. Katie's always been the more logical one of the group. I trust her to do the right thing. We finish eating, keeping conversations on lighter subjects and away from anything "business" related, so to speak. After dinner, we part ways, going to our separate inns. Before we do so, though, Katie grabs my arm.

"I have a question."

"Shoot."

Her eyes seem troubled. "I know this might sound weird, but have you by any chance felt some sort of pain in your shoulder?"

I nod, slightly dumbfounded at her question. How could she know? I'd been thinking about it only a few minutes before we met up earlier in the afternoon. "W-why?" I ask, somewhat shaken. "Have you?"

Katie bobs her head, chewing on her lower lip and muttering, "I hope it doesn't mean something bad." Without any further explanation, she bids me a good night and good luck. "Be safe," she whispers as she hugs me one last time.

As I watch her head for her hotel, I can't help but feeling my stomach twist sickeningly, as if that was the last time I'd be able to hug her like that again. "You too," I murmur in her direction as I turn to rejoin Jiraiya.