AN: Sorry for the wait. I'm trying to have this story all planned out. If anyone has any ideas just let me know. I'll think about using them. Also if you want to help me plan it out just send me a pm. Also my other story This Time Around, which I have deleted, will be restarted when I get this story to chapter 10.

The Difference Two People Can Make

Chapter 2: Negotiations

Shikamaru eye scanned over the people in his group. His gaze lingered on his partner for this mission. 'Boy have you changed, Sasuke.' The image of his comrade when they were younger popped into his head. This Sasuke was calm and collected while the old one was angry and naïve. The genius ninja remembered how easy it was to bother the last of the Uchiha. All you had to do was mention his brother's name. If a person was to get him to talk about his brother now, they would be met with a solemn silence.

The Nara finished scanning the rest of the group. 'Alright this is puzzling. Are they all related since they have the same hair color, eye, and even swords? Except for the brown haired girl who I assume is the youngest in the group.' Sasuke caught the Nara's eye exchanging silent information. 'It seems like we have come to the same conclusion.'

This act of non-verbal communication didn't go unnoticed by Irene's trained eyes. The elf like woman was the second strongest in this current generation of warriors. Teresa was a former number one but her sense weren't as sharp as Irene. Teresa senses weren't weak she was just at such a higher level of strength than everyone else. It resulted in her not needing to be wary of anything or anyone. Irene strength was at a level where she didn't have to be too cautious but she always told herself to be aware of her surroundings. It was an old habit by now and she could never truly drop her guard even if she wanted to.

Irene steps slowed as they reached a cabin in the middle of nowhere. She took a brief moment to unlock the door, the group following her inside.

They group had agreed to talk without fighting but it didn't ease the tension in the room. The warriors sat on one side of the living room section of the cabin while the two strangers sat on the other side. Teresa, not one for long awkward silences, decided to be the first to act.

"So you mind telling us what your purpose here is?" The wavy blond haired woman asked bluntly. She was confident she could hold her own against anything, even these strange men. However she had to make sure her surrogate daughter was safe. While her main concern was the stranger she still was cautious of her former comrades. Clare apparently felt the same way; she sat in between Teresa's legs as if to build a wall of protection. Irene came in from the other room having laid Priscilla on the bed.

"I have to admit I'm curious as well." Irene said ready to get to the bottom of this.

Shikamaru looked at Sasuke trying to decide who would spill the beans. A sighed escaped his lips as he lost the staring contest. He didn't want to answer all the annoying questions that would follow the story. But he knew the Uchiha would make him do the talking even if he had won the contest.

"Troublesome" The pineapple haired man mumbled. "Well we are called shinobi or ninja back in our home land. After our home, the Elemental Countries, achieved peace many of the villages wanted to explore the world. The Leaf, which is the village we hail from, was given the right to be the first to send ninjas exploring. Sasuke volunteered and I got dragged along." While he didn't mind having some time away from Temari's nagging he didn't like the fact he was forced to go. "We got on a boat and just searched for land. After some time on the ocean we wound up landing her and spent more time gather information and the like. From what the locals said you guys are the silver-eyed witches, or the Claymores. We wanted to know if the stories were true and decided to locate one of you warriors. Sasuke found your group and decided to stop you guys from killing one another." Shikamaru finished not even to look at their faces. Their skepticism could be felt from where he sat. 'Of course.'

Teresa blinked and then blinked again. The former number one, the strongest warrior of the organization, couldn't help but do something a person wouldn't expect from her stature. She broke out laughing, even having difficulty breathing. "What a ridiculous story?" She said in between bouts of laughs. Clare had a smile on her face. Anyone that could make Teresa laugh was alright in her book.

Irene would have smiled if she wasn't so worried about keeping up her image. It was a long time since she heard her friend laugh so whole heartedly. The woman was usually so distant. It comforted the elf like warrior to see Teresa embracing her human side. 'Teresa has been changing ever since she started caring for that girl.' Irene, against her better judgment, allowed a small smile to grace her features before it was drop quickly. "I suppose you have proof of that?" Irene asked stoic as ever over Teresa laughter.

However as soon as the words left her mouth Teresa stopped laughing and stared into Irene's eyes. "Irene, don't tell me you actually believe them." Irene just stared back as emotionless as before.

"I'm just saying it might be within the realms of possibility." The elf like warrior replied in a matter of fact fashion. Before the former number one could voice her opinion someone else did.

"Well I think it's cool." Sasuke eyed the woman who spoke. She had a short, razor-cut hairstyle that was pale blonde like all the other warriors. There was also a air of confidence around her.

"And you are." The last of the Uchiha asked.

"Noel, Number Four in the Organization."

"You mean Number Five." Said the other not introduced warrior. "I'm the real Number Four, Sophia." Sophia had a similar hairstyle to Teresa the only real difference being her hair was shorter.

"Hey gorilla, don't interrupt me." Noel said glaring at Sophia. Irene knowing how long this upcoming argument could take released some of her yoki. The constantly arguing pair settled down knowing Irene wasn't in the mood for their antics.

"You have yet to properly introduce yourself." Irene told the person who was Sasuke's partner.

"Shikamaru Nara" The ninja replied liking this warrior's style. She was inquisitive and might make a good strategist. He would find out sooner or later. "Well have you ever seen a person climb a tree?" His question was met with looks of irritation and confusion. After all who hadn't seen that before? "I meant with only their feet." Sasuke would give them some proof but Shikamaru didn't want to reveal the full extent of their abilities. The warriors gave curious glances wondering if this was a trick or something. "Or for that matter walk on water." That statement definitely got their attentions. No one had seen that before from fellow warriors or awaken beings.

"Are you saying you can do these things?" Irene asked wanting to show her eagerness to see these feats performed. However she didn't want to ruin the image she built up in the Organization.

"Not only us. All ninjas eventually learned how to perform these. It's a chakra control training exercise." Shikamaru replied.

"Chakra?" Irene asked.

"It's a form of energy similar to the kind you use." The genius answered.

"You mean our yoki." The number three asked already thinking of some possibilities.

"Yes but normal chakra doesn't have the same feel as yoki. Yoki feels like tailed beast chakra and I suspect it might act the same way." Sasuke stated thinking how the Sharingan was able to suppress tailed beast chakra..

"Tailed beast chakra?" The former number one asked absentmindedly stroking Clare's hair.

"There are beings called tailed beasts where we come from. They are naturally occurring things like rain. They exist and will continue to exist until the end of time. The tailed beasts are also made of chakra. Some of these beasts are sealed into people and those people are raised as a living weapon. I don't have one inside of me but I can show you what I mean." Sasuke said closing his eyes in concentration.

The Uchiha focused on how he used to be, how Karin had described his chakra near the Kage summit. The light around the ninja seemed to bend as if the darkness radiating from Sasuke was affecting the surroundings. Surprisingly the dark chakra didn't feel malicious. This made the warriors confused as they never felt chakra and never felt something so dark yet so calm. It resembled a void that held nothing, making you feel isolated and causing it to drain you mentally.

Blue light started to emanate from the young ninja. The light was his own chakra just visible because of how much he was expelling. His facial expression was relaxed as he focused on his chakra. It slowly turned purple as the feel of it changed to hate and anger. The warriors tensed at the sudden change wondering if the boy was losing control like an awakening warrior. The group of armored females reached for their swords planning to end it before they found out the hard way. Before they did anything rash Shikamaru spoke up

"Calm down." The genius said. "He was just giving you guys an example." After those words had left his mouth the Uchiha stop his chakra and opened his eyes.

"I can see how it can resemble yoki." Irene said, the only one without a hand on her sword. It wasn't because she wasn't worried about the situation. It was because she could draw faster than the others even if they had their hands on their swords. "So how about you demonstrate those training exercises. There is a pond in the forest close to here."

Sasuke stood up heading towards the door. He decided to demonstrate everything and just let Shikamaru do all the explaining. "Alright I'll show you."

The group stood off to the side looking at the Uchiha. It brought a smile to his face as he remembered the academy days. Back when everyone was watching him and being amazed at how quickly he learned how to do things. Sasuke walked up to a tree and continue to walk. Normal people would have assumed his face was going to smash into the tree but he placed a foot on the base of the tree. He walked up the tree with nothing but his feet and stopped with hanging from a branch upside down.

The warriors had mixed reactions. Some were intrigued some were amazed but all of them were skeptical. How could a normal human actually be able to perform a feat like this? It just didn't make sense. Before one of them could voice an opinion Shikamaru spoke.

"Before he shows you the other exercise, I at least one person should be able to do this." He figured the women wouldn't believe it even if they saw it so maybe if one of them could do it they would believe. The genius wondered if yoki could be used the same way chakra could.

Teresa laughed as she ran at the tree. After three seconds she was sitting on the highest branch in the tree. "This is pretty easy." The blonde said in a confident voice. She laughed at the astonished faces of her former comrades. Showing off was a bad habit of her but the strongest warrior alive always liked the spot light.

"Of course running up a tree is easy. Most people with enough speed can do that. How about you try walking up it?" Sasuke said from his upside down position a branch. He was trying to burst her bubble. Pride was a nice thing to have but it was more often than not harmful. The warrior sent a quick glare at the dark haired ninja before jumping out of the tree. While she was trying to think of a way to save face Irene spoke.

"Actually I would like to try first." Her tone was neutral but her body was almost shivering in anticipation of learning a new trick. She walked up to the tree and was about to try before Sasuke jumped down next to her.

"Relax and focus your energy into your feet. If you focus too much you will push yourself off and if you don't focus enough you won't stick." The Uchiha stepped back and watched her work. Out of all the warriors, Irene seemed to have the most control over her yoki. The elf like woman closed her eyes focusing on her energy. She placed a foot on the base of the tree. After a few minutes of adjusting her output she felt a pull kind of like a magnet. The number two jump about ten feet away so she could have a running start. The warrior concentrated on the feeling from before as she lightly sprinted towards the tree.

A collective gasp escaped the other warrior. They watched in shock as she climbed the tree with only her feet. She was only ten feet off the ground when her concentration broke. The elf like woman landed on her feet smirking at the others. She never would have thought of using yoki like this. But not that she had she couldn't wait to see what else the ninjas were willing to teach.

"Not a bad start." Sasuke said, never one to really congratulate someone. "The rest of you should try." Teresa immediately began to practice the technique. She had a close relationship with Irene but she wasn't going to let Irene one up her.

The Uchiha left a shadow clone in the clearing to give tips and help while he scouted the area. He had to set a perimeter with seals. It would allow them to use as much yoki and chakra as needed without it being sense. It only covered a small part of the forest and the cabin. The seals also tended to scare off wildlife making it hard to gather food without risking detection. The Sharingan user was confident the seal were good but decided to cast a genjutsu over the area as a backup plan.

Shikamaru observed the others under the comfort of a tree. He still found it strange that they had a child with them. He had fought one of the monsters roaming these lands and didn't think it was a good idea to have a child with you. She was the only one without blonde hair and apparently content to watching the others practice.

'If she is going to be with us for a while she might as well learn too.' Shikamaru thought. He stood up and began walking to her but before he got within talking distance of Clare, Teresa appeared in front of him.

"May I help you?" She asked. While the self proclaimed ninjas had good intentions so far she wouldn't let anyone get to close to Clare. Shikamaru stopped himself from jumping back in surprised. He briefly wondered if the child was Teresa's daughter.

"I was going to talk to the kid." He said nonchalantly, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

"Why?"

"To see if she wanted to help you?"

"What make you think I need help?"

"As strong as you are. A situation could still happen where Clare is used against you. Like a hostage." Shikamaru said trying to end this conversation.

"Are you trying to suggest something?" Teresa asked in a cold voice with a dangerous gleam in her eyes. Shikamaru almost sighed out loud but didn't want to make the situation tenser.

"Look. I'm not trying to threatening you. I'm just thought it would ease your mind if she knew how to defend herself." The ninja responded hoping his words would calm her.

"That certainly would but she is just a normal girl. And I won't allow her to turn into one of us." Teresa said hatred lacing her voice but it wasn't because of the ninja. It was because of the Organization.

"I wasn't planning on that either, Teresa. I was going to train her to be a ninja." Shikamaru stated wondering if Teresa would go along with this plan. The former number was hesitant for a moment. She knew having a normal human child travelling with the group would be a great risk but she couldn't just abandon Clare. The little girl meant too much to her.

"Fine." The blonde said trusting the man who hair looked like a pineapple. "But if I see something I don't like I will stop it."

"Deal." Shikamaru said walking past the blonde who resumed her training. The girl looked up at the man with curiosity. "Would you like to help Teresa?" He asked the girl who nodded immediately. She would do everything she could to help Teresa. If it wasn't for the warrior she would probably still be with that monster. She just hoped this man's training would pay off.