Chapter 10
The test and her lie
An hello I would just like to say thanks for the favourite followers and revoews you guys are awesome
Oh and Naruto does not belong to me Rachel dose.
Time skip
"Naruto where are you?" she called, she heard a soft giggle.
"Oh were could he have gone too" she pretended to look around the living room though it was obvious he was behind the curtain, she could see his feet poking out and she could see his outline.
"Oh, no what ever shall I do I can't find Naruto." Another soft giggle.
"Well I'll just have to eat this yummy candy then"
There was a whoosh sound and little feet padding over to where she stood he tugged on her pants leg.
"Oh there you are Naruto you're a great hider" she bent down and scooped him up and sat him on her hip. He giggled when she tickled him.
"Candy." he said.
"Here you go." she gave him a soft piece of white chocolate, it would melt in his mouth, there was a knock at the door. "There Mikoto, now you be a good boy no fighting with Sasuke, ok?"
"But he so, so" he puffed out his cheeks as he tied to find the words "Bossy."
Rachel giggled "Of course he is, he an Uchiha." she said it under her breath as she took him to the door, she set him down handed him his back pack and opened the door.
Mikoto Uchiha was a beautiful woman she had long black hair and dark onyx eyes just like all Uchiha's.
"Hello, Rachel" she said "is he already?"
"Yea he already." she passed over Naruto's hand to Mikoto "He still needs a bottle before bed." she said.
"Ok, no problem, you enjoy your time off ok?"
"Yea I will, and thank you."
She watched as she led Naruto down the path, she sighed as she closed the door and the house was once again quiet.
Truth was she hated it when he was away. The house was so quiet and she had nothing to do, thing is even Slick had given, no forced her to take time off.
What am I going to do with myself she thought. She had a feeling Minato had something to do with this but she couldn't prove it, so she just sat at the kitchen table, the house work had been done she lent her head on the table and let out a groan.
"Bored are we?"
She jump out of her skin when a voice whispered in to her ear.
"Damnit Minato don't do that." she chided.
He chuckled "I'm sorry I couldn't resist," he took a seat "I take it Naruto has gone."
"Yes he went without a fuss." she looked up at him "How did your emergency go?"
"All fixed, some academy student thought it would be funny to place a barrier around his sensei so that he couldn't teach the class only it back fired and the student ended up with the barrier unable to get out."
"Sounds fun." she said.
He cocked his head to the side. "Are you that bored all ready?" he asked.
"Can you blame me, I got forced from bar work too, so yea I'm bored."
"Well" he said "You do look tired, when did you last sleep?"
"Last night" she replied far too quickly.
"Don't lie, I know you haven't slept for about a week now."
"If you know then why bother asking."
"Because I wanted to see if you would lie to me and you did."
She glanced Side wards and away from him.
"Something troubling you?" he asked.
"No, not really."
"Ya'know I can take you to Tsunade and have her make you sleep" he threatened.
She glared at him. "Did your job suddenly get all quiet or something?"
He rose an eyebrow up at her.
She stood from the chair "Whatever, you can't keep Naruto at Mikoto's forever and I'm sure slick can only spare a few days without me."
"Rachel" he said as he grabbed her wrist as she walked around his chair. She stopped and glanced at him "You need sleep and I still don't know why won't sleep your exhausted, you cleaned this house top to bottom its spotless, not that I'm not grateful for that, but your body will give out on you if you don't rest, and I don't want you to scare Naruto if you collapse."
She parsed her lips "I'm fine I know my limits" she pulled her hand free. "I'm going for a walk."
He sighed as he heard the front door shut. There was a puff in the room
"Phase two sensei?" the Anbu asked.
"Yes its seems she left us with very little choice."
It was warm in Konoha so she deicide she would head straight for the woods it would be cool and shady there, she wore a light pink v neck t shirt and a pair of white shorts her left wrist had a black sweat band around it so that her scars were hidden.
The woods was dark enough to block out sunlight the trees were big and tall, the smell of nature the sound of birds and small animals scurrying. As she walked down the many trails she veered off the beaten track. It was quiet, it was too quiet she realized too late. Even the birds had stopped chirping, she cautiously looked around and saw nothing she turned around intent on heading back to the village.
She didn't get the chance as someone jumped down from a branch and aimed a kunai for her throat, she ducked and punched him in the stomach and ran past him, one came from the left she dodged again elbowing him in the ribs. She ran as fast as she could not caring as branches and leaves clawed at her skin.
What is this an attack on the village? She wondered. Another shinobi jumped down in front of her, she leaning to the right and kicked him with her left leg, he blocked gripping her leg and using the leveraged flipped her backwards, she saw that coming and did a cartwheel backwards, she landed in a fighting stance.
"Who are you?" she asked she got no reply as he speed towards her again she dodged and elbowed him in his back, she took off again.
I need a weapon she thought.
She had to dive to the ground when a kunai came straight for her she rolled to the left and over a hollow tree trunk, she saw the perfect weapon laying on the forest floor. Plucking it up, she sprinted to her feet. She had picked up a long thick tree branch, it even was pointed at the end were the bark had snapped. It was taller than she was so she had to hold it so it wouldn't trail on the ground.
Two Shinobi jumped down in front of her she ran placing the tree branch on the floor and using it she pivoted around and kicked them both knocking them to the ground. She didn't stop she kept on running, her lungs were burning and she was sweating.
Again two came out of nowhere she raised the tree branch now the staff up she was able to block some of their attacks but not all, she ended up with a light cut on her right forearm and left cheek but they were shallow and not deep.
Something not right she thought, there not trying to kill me which she would admit was a good thing.
As she swirls and lashed out with the staff she saw that one more had joined the fight. Bringing the total to three men that was her limit.
She twisted around using the staff to block a kunai she rotated it in her hands and forced the man to drop his weapon, that didn't stop the other two they both attacked at the same time she used the staff to block both of them, however that left her open from behind and although the man had lost his weapon he still attacked her. He kicked her legs from behind and her knees buckles he then swiped her legs from underneath her she was on the ground she used the staff to shield herself as another blow came.
She then spun it around catching the two on their legs and knocking them down she rolled onto her feet, and swung the staff around and hit the one left standing across his head. Knocking him to the ground she ran as fast as she could, thing was she wasn't a ninja her stamina wasn't up for this, she was already coated in sweat and grime her lungs were burning she was panting heavily and her muscles were sore.
She was running out of energy she would not be able to keep this up for much longer.
A lone shinobi jumped in front of her she skidded to a Halt and brought the staff up in a defensive stance.
She waited for him to attack once he did she spun around and hit him with the tree branch and sent him flaying he fell against a tree trunk he slumped to the floor, that took the rest of her energy she was spent.
She felt a kunai against her throat.
"Drop your weapon" the voice was low almost a whisper, she could feel his breath tickle her ear. Where did he come from? She wonders.
She hesitated for a moment.
"Do it." he ordered, he pressed the kunai a little closer to her throat.
She did as he had asked it landed on the ground with a thud.
"Now, kick it away."
She did so, it landed a few meters in front of her.
"Hands were I can see them."
She moved her hands slowly and eased them up in to the air in a surrender motion.
"Good girl." he said he grabbed her left wrist and pulled it behind her back the kunai against her throat did not waver.
"Do you surrender?"
She concluded two things one the man was taller than her but he was bent over to whisper into her ear, two if she gave up now were would that leave her she may die anyway why not go out fighting it's not like any one would miss her, she was ok with that, she was ok with dying, even now even thought her goal isn't complete she done enough to ensure completion without her. She closed her eyes and opened them again with a fierce determination.
"No" that wasn't the answer he was expecting nor was he expecting her to whip her head back and head butt him in the nose, that forced him to step back releasing her but he also cut her with the kunai.
She spun around feeling a little dizzy that had hurt like hell she resisted the urge to hold her throbbing head. Her vision was blurry but she could see someone in front of her holding there now blooded nose, she blinked to clear he vision, what she saw made her gasp,
"Minato? What the hell?" she yelled.
He squinted at her "Medic" he called.
It was Tsunade apprentice who had jumped down from the tree,
She was unsure of who to approach first.
"The Girl" he said.
"You're the one that's bleeding."
"Look down" he said.
She did and found her neck covered in blood and her pink top coated crimson she couldn't believe the blood was coming from her she didn't even feel it.
Shizune reached the girl she made her hands glow green and pressed them against the girl's neck.
"Adrenaline" the medic said "You don't feel it because there's adrenaline cursing threw your body."
"How is she?" Minato asked.
"It's deep but not fatal." the medic replied.
Minato stood with his hand on his nose he looked at her and was filled with anger she was so careless with her life.
Shizune heeled her neck the dried blood smelled and it was crusty, she also healed the shallow wound on her face and arm she also checked her head after banging against Minato nose.
She went to heal the Hokage his nose was broken not badly but still broken. It only took a few minutes once done she vanished leaving the two stood alone in the forest. A breeze past between them it moved his Hokage coat and her hair.
"What the hell was that?" she asked.
"A test" he replied.
"A test? But why?"
"You failed," she blinked at him "You were planning on dying weren't you?"
Silence.
"Answer me" he demanded.
"Does it matter?"
"Yes."
"You already know the answer to that."
"I want to hear you say it."
She took a deep shaky breath.
"Fine, yes I was planning on dying, since I thought this was a real attack…"
"And if Naruto was with you, would you be so happy to have your life taken then?"
She understood then it was a test to see how she could handle herself it there was an attack.
"Of course not, I would do everything I could to make sure he was safe."
"Then why so careless with your own life?"
Because I was not meant to live "That isn't any of your dam business" she spat she was angry now, he kept prying in to her past. She didn't want to share her secrets.
There was silence as breeze blow past them.
"Are we done now lord Hokage?"
"Go and get cleaned up, I'll see you back at home." his voice showed no emotion, she spun on her heals and briskly walked away.
He stood and watched her leave ether was still no many questions regarding her he wanted answers to them all, but for now he needed her to cool down a bit before he approached her again.
"Hahaha" came the laughter of the toad sage himself he jumped down from a nearby tree he slapped Minato on the back "I can't believe she got you with that head butt a civilian no less."
Minato glared at his sensei "She could have been killed sensei I'm glad I didn't use a sharp Kunai otherwise the wound could have been a lot worse."
"I agree, she carless with her life, but she does fight well for a civilian. Tell me do you trust her with Naruto's life?"
"Absolutely. It's her own life I don't trust her with."
"Hum, well good look with that I have a date with the hot spring."
"Sensei if you got caught again I'm not bailing you out."
He waved him off as he jumped height in to the trees Minato was left alone save for his Anbu Gard who were hidden in the shadows."
He sighed and flashed to his room, he heard her get out of the shower and walk her bedroom he quickly got undressed and headed for the shower.
When he got in to the bath room he saw the mirror was smashed the pieces were in the bin but the sink was stained with blood.
He frowned and quickly took a shower just long enough to wash the blood off from his nose, he dried and flashed back in to his room and got dressed, he still had to go back to the office today so he put a spare Hokage coat on.
His hair was still wet when he went to Rachel's room he knocked on the door and found no answer he stretched out his senses to find that she was not in there, she was a civilian yes but she possessed chakra and he could sense it, he opened the door and found the window open and her back pack gone.
"Shit" he cursed.
She was running for all she was worth even thought her legs were tired from the fight earlier, she kept on going she couldn't stay. She just glad Naruto wasn't there she wouldn't of been able to leave if he was. There was something about that kid that draws people in, even when you didn't want to be he somehow manages to pull you in.
Her right hand stung from when she hit the bathroom mirror out of frustration, she couldn't keep pretending, keep lying to him it just wasn't right.
She headed for the woods again there was a back entrance out of Konoha it meant you have to go right around the outside to get any were but she would bypass the Guard at the gate.
She looked behind her to see if she was being followed so far so good she thought.
The weather was still hot her wet hair would dry quickly, the air was humid and sticky.
She was panting heavily now, she was so exhausted from earlier and not sleeping her body had, had enough.
"No can't give up now just a little further" she murmured.
There was a blinding flash of yellow, her sea green eyes widened she knew what that meant, she tried to stop and veer left but her legs were slow in responding to her demands, she bumped in to his broad chest he caught her by her left wrist before she fell backwards.
"Why are you running?" he demanded his tone sharp.
Instead of answering she tried to twist out of his grip.
He had noticed she had changed in to a black tank top and black thin leggings.
"What are you hiding? That would be the only reason your running." all the while she continued to struggle out of his grip.
Having enough of her struggling he pulled her left hand out and twisting it around so that her arm was now behind her back. She now had her back to him, taking a hold of her right wrist he saw the blood and cracked knuckles, he kept that straight as he used his foot to trip her he lowered her to the ground, her back pack was in the way but it was only around one shoulder her right one wrenching her left hand up just a tiny bit he let go of her right and pulled the back pack away, and placed his hand back over her right wrist.
"Now, why did you run?" he asked again
"Is it a crime to leave your village?" she asked.
"It is when you take the back entrance it says you have something to hide."
"So if I had used the gate would you of let me go?"
"No."
He was sat on her she was pinned by his weight.
"Am I a prisoner now I have no free will?"
"I want to know what you are hiding."
"I'm not hiding anything!" she yelled.
She was struggling more now he had to force her down with his body weight.
"Don't lie to me, I know Rachel, I know Rachel Lockhart is not your real name."
She stilled at his words panic set in
He knows dammit he knows, what now, what will he do.
"Tell, me Rachel tell me why you lied?"
"I-I can't."
He frowned "Can't or won't?"
"Can't you just let me go? I swear you won't see me again."
"Are you a threat to my village?" he asked he had no intention of letting her go, he couldn't explain it but he was drawn to her. He wanted to understand why she flinched when he touched her? Why she didn't sleep? Why she changed her name? Although he partly knew why but he wanted her to say it.
"No."
"Then what are you hiding? People don't just change their names for no reason."
"Damnit can't you just leave me alone!" she struggled more. "I just want to go, ok I- I'll leave and never come back."
He flashed them to his room, he heard a groan of displeasure from her at using his technique.
He would of smiled if not for the sureness of the situation.
He pulled her left wrist from behind her back and placed her hand next to her head.
He then eased off her slightly held both hands in one arm and flipped her over, he straddled her hips, he noticed the slight panic in her eyes, she begun to struggle again now that she had gained her senses after him using his teleportation.
"Calm down, I won't hurt you."
He saw that her hand was still bleeding, he wasn't going to get any were with her thrashing around.
"Dog" he called the said Anbu appeared beside the bed.
"In my right pocket there a seal can you get it for me please."
The Anbu nodded and placed his hand inside the Yondaime coat he retrieved the item and held it up for his sensei to see.
"That's the one, thank you, place it on her head and apply a tiny amount of chakra she a civilian so she shouldn't need that much."
The Anbu nodded and step forward Minato lowered her arms to her sides so that the Anbu could get in, he placed the seal on her forehead and applied a tiny amount of chakra, once done he saw her go completely limp her eyes were still open with panic and fear.
"A paralyses seal?"
"Yes I designed it for her, shinobi need a lot more chakra in order for it to work we have to supress there chakra, there's no need to do that to a civilian."
He got off her and adjusted her so she was laying straight he gently turned her head on its side so he could speak to her.
"Rachel, this is not permanent its temporary you can speak but you can't move the harder you try the more the seal supressed you."
"W-what do you want form me?"
"The truth" he said no answer came the Anbu disappeared back in to the shadows.
Minato left the bed room and went to get the first aid kit.
She was left alone on his bed she could smell him.
It was a strange sensation she couldn't move at all if she tried to even wriggle her fingers she felt the seal create more numbness if that was at all possible.
What should I do? Should I trust him and tell him the truth? No he will hate me for Kushina's death, I'll play it by ear and see how much he knows first.
A noise bright her out of her thoughts it sound like footsteps but she couldn't move her head to see.
Minato came back in to her line of sight he had a white box with him, he placed it on the bed and took a few things out of it, he then sat on the edge of the bed and reached for her right arm, if she could of flinched she would of done.
He grasped her hand gently, she could still feel his touch even though she couldn't move, it was so strange.
He glanced down at her and saw the blank stare she was giving him.
He looked at her abused knuckles it was still bleeding but very little now he saw some of the blood had gotten on to his bedding, he would have to change that later.
He focused his attention back on to her hand, there was several cuts and he could even see where she had pulled out a piece of the mirror glass the skin had been ripped.
He gently lowered her hand and poured what she assumed was rubbing alcohol on to a bit of cloth.
"This will sting" he said his voice low gentle.
He begun to wipe the blood away from her hand it did sting but it wasn't like she could pull her hand away.
It only took him a few minutes to clean up the wound once done he bandaging it with Gauze and gently laid her hand back down.
"Why did you smash the mirror in?" he asked slowly.
I didn't want to look at myself she thought, "I-I don't know."
He glanced down not sure if he believed her or not.
He shifted so that he was laying on the bed next to her except he was laid against his head bored he gently moved her head so she could see him.
"Why did you run?"
"How much do you know?"
"I have a theory but I'm not sharing until I hear your side."
"My village was destroyed can you blame me for wanting to change my name?"
"That's what I thought there's a team out there looking for important documents, I'm sure your Leader sealed them away to ensure its safety, whilst out there they found a list of all the people of the village but your name wasn't on it." he closed his eyes before opened them again and looking at her "I was willing to believe that until you ran, what else are you hiding?
"I can't tell you."
"Why?"
"Because you won't believe me, not yet anyway."
"I could have your mind read" he threatened.
"Yes you could but I'm asking you not too please."
"Why should I trust you?"
"I have done nothing to hurt the village or threaten it in any way, Please Minato."
He sat in silence for a long time before he spoke again.
"If I do this you have to agree to some terms."
"Such as?" she asked quietly.
"For one you can't leave the village at all without my permission second is I want to place a seal on you so I can track you and find you should I need to."
She nodded until she realized she couldn't. "Alright I agree, w-what about Naruto?"
"You can continue to look after him, you haven't showed any ill intentions towards him and he seems to like you a lot, however if I find out that whatever this secret is threatens my village or my son be warned I will have you torn apart to protect my people and my son."
He allowed a small amount of battle spirit arura to flood the room he saw her sea green eyes widen in fear he with drown the intent, civilians weren't that good at dealing with it.
He got off the bed and leaned in he scooped her up in to his arms and headed for her room, he gently placed her down on the bed took off her shoes made sure she was comfortable.
"Get some rest your body needs it, the seal will were off in a few hours, don't leave the house again."
He closed the door behind him went back to his room cleared the first aide box changed the bedding.
He went down stars in to the kitchen "Kakashi" he called
His student appeared in the kitchen he took off the dog mask and took a seat opposite his sensei.
"Am I crazy?"
"Do you really want me to answer that?"
He glared at his only student.
Kakashi sighed "Yes, I think you're crazy, she obviously hiding something, why are you going along with what she wants?"
"I don't know" he placed his head in-between his hands. "She hasn't done anything yet and although I can order a mind sweep, I would be abusing my power" he lowered his hands "She will be watched and I'll limit her movement, if I think for one moment that she poses a threat I'll do what I have to as Hokage it is my duty.