"Fun stuff's easier to do and pay attention to, and I got a reason to do it even if it's not really needed, which means sometimes I notice stuff I didn't know was there to notice."

"That seems inefficient."

"Why?"

"Effort should be allocated by analysis, not whim."

"I can't be analyzing that sort of stuff all the time, so it's good to have - stuff that's mentally recharging but probably useful? Like, Sasuke's bad at talking, and it tires him out, but he's good at working on techniques and paying attention to non-people stuff, and it makes him less tired. I'm bad at constantly paying lots of attention, and bad at noticing stuff, and it tires me out, but I'm good at people, and thinking about people and being around them makes me less tired. So with Sasuke he lets me handle all the people stuff, and I let him handle all the... Not really analysis, but physics, and math, and calculating, and figuring out training schedules, though he's trying to teach me that last one."

"...You are specializing."

"Yeah, pretty much! Course, we still gotta work on fitting you in; me and Sasuke've been friends for years, so we're used to each other, but we don't know you all that well."

"I do not know where my capabilities in this context lie."

"You know a lot of stuff about how the ninja world works. You're good at paying attention. You know a lot of techniques we don't. You'd probably be really good at being the one talking to authority people, especially shinobi, you're really professional. People in authority either think I'm cute or annoying a lot, and that's harder to work on, and Sasuke tends to come off as insulting."

Chihiro thinks this over.

"That seems accurate."

"How we fit in a fight's harder to figure cold, we haven't done a lot of combat training as a team and all. But - Sasuke's kind of stuck at sneaky one hit wonder, and you're good at kind of... Sneaky fading in and out? Hitting less hard than Sasuke maybe but managing more of it. And I'm good at drawing attention and taking blows. The kind of strategy we used against Kakashi-sensei that first test is probably good for us for if we're all together, least until we figure out more."

"I am proficient in a variety of combat styles. When we return, I can requisition new equipment if that is necessary."

"Maybe sensei will let you keep Zabuza's sword."

There is the barest, faintest hint of a grin on her face.

"I could make use of it."

"I'll be the odd one out. Gotta find me a blade next."

"It is unlikely we will encounter another rogue member of the Seven Legendary Swordsmen of the Mist. You will have to source yours elsewhere."

Maybe he can work her up to teasing about jinxing them.

"I'll get a cool blade just for me."

"I would recommend a shortsword or tanto. A larger blade would become a hindrance in the numbers you typically employ."

"I was thinking like a trench knife or a bladed knuckle duster, actually, but a tanto might work."

"A collection of offensive ninjutsu would also be viable, given your chakra capacity."

"Yeah! I'll have to bug Kakashi-sensei about that."

Chihiro takes a moment to silently contemplate an army of Naruto with the versatility of Hatake Kakashi.

He snickers a bit, and then turns his attention to his clones for the moment.

"You would need to improve your chakra efficiency," she says eventually.

"Probably yeah. Kakashi-sensei said water walking was for that; do you know anything else?"