Fast 2, Strong 2, Shinobi Swordsman 5, Blinkstrike 1<br/>Higher Defense, you'd also have an easier time making the requirements for Blinkstrike, with the Fast/Swordsman bonus feat and skill points.<br/><br/>Fast 3, Ninja Scout 3, Shinobi Swordsman 3, Blinkstrike 1<br/>Much wider variety of skills, plus sneak attack and an easy time making requirements.<br/><br/>Fast 3, Ninja Scout 5, Shinobi Swordsman 2, Blinkstrike 1<br/>Much like above, except based around the Scout's awesome Hide in Plain Sight. Unfortunately you'd have to delay going into Blinkstrike by a level.<br/><br/>Strong 3, Ninja Scout 2, Shinobi Swordsman 4, Blinkstrike 1<br/>My personal option here, since it combines but speed and strength- sneak attack 2d6 heavier on the swordsman side.<br/><br/>As far as being useful to the team- Mari's a pretty good 'sensor' and mezzer, Jun<em>was</em>a tracker, and Hitomi will be a decent 'socializer' aside from her abilities in combat, Kaname is a potent blaster and genjutsu spammer. :P You don't much have to worry about filling a particular role now that the party's gotten bigger. The sole gap I suppose would be sneakiness- but like I said, Red Eyes doesn't immediately lend itself to that... If you wanted to make the most of it, I'd focus on the hiding and sneak attacking rather than the swordsmanship exclusively. Shinobi Swordsman is actually more about Zabuza-esque 'kill you in da fog' than straight up combat like Samurai- so at least in my opinion, it requires a bit from Scout or other classes to reach its full potential. But really, when I look at it- I don't think it's a particularly strong class.  ::)