Tenten learned when she was young: Anything can be a weapon. The type of weapon, however, depends. A chopstick, thrown properly, can become a dagger, but a spoon should be used as a part of a slingshot. A pillow can be used for smothering someone, but a shirt is better used to entangle their bodies. A lamp is better used to set a room on fire than to hit someone on the head. If you use
a pencil as a dagger, throw it, don't stab with it.
She learned the fine nuances of objects. She pictured herself attacking someone with any given object. When she entered a room with a rug, she noted whether it had tassels (good for pulling it from under people) or if it was flimsy (if it ripped easily she could use it as a bandage or rope or something). When she ate, she commonly indulged in imagining how to knock someone out with every piece of food on the plate. If she used the same technique twice on one plate, she had to start over.
Thus, when it came to the "learn about slingshots" class in ninja academy, she was well prepared. The class was sent out to find some relatively small rocks that would do well in slingshots.
She found about twenty rocks for herself rather quickly and put them in a small sack that she began to carry back to the schoolhouse. On the way she saw a boy with long hair and light eyes bending over near the road. She stopped to look at the rock he was fingering.
"It's not right."
The boy looked up. "What do you mean? It's the exact same size as the one Iruka sensei showed us."
Tenten twitched at his ignorance. "It isn't just the size. It's the shape. That one is too sharp in places."
"Yeah, that means it would really hurt to be hit with it."
"No, that means it would rip the slingshot! Well, probably not the first time, but after a few rocks like this, any flexible slingshot would be pretty worn out. Besides, smoother means less air resistance. Let me see your others."
The boy (Neji) scowled. "I can pick out ROCKS for myself! I don't need your help."
"Well, that's not the way it looks."
"All rocks are the same, idiot. The shape doesn't matter that much."
Tenten stopped twitching and stiffened. "What if I can prove you wrong?"
Neji smirked at the challenge in her eyes. "I dare you to."
Tenten took her handkerchief out of her pocket and tied a knot with two corners. "This is a fairly simple slingshot." Then she took one of Neji's more misshapen rocks. She turned onto the road. "Let's see how far I can send this one."
She heaved it about forty yards. Neji's eyes opened wider. "Pretty good," he admitted.
"Now watch this." She took one of her own rocks and shot it out. It soared until it was out of view.
Neji stared.
"That's a combination of skill and, importantly for those who don't have experience, rock shape." Tenten lifted her sack over one shoulder again. "All rocks are not the same. With that mind set, you'll never be a weapons master."
The boy stared at her as she trudged away, and then looked back at his rocks.
Ugh.
A mile away, Tenten picked up her rock. No need to waste a good weapon.