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Ino Yamanaka is a look-obsessed member of Asuma Sarutobi's Team 10, consisting of herself, Shikamaru Nara, and Choji Akimichi. Initially, Ino seems to dislike her teammates due to Choji's size and Shikamaru's unpopularity, though in actuality she holds a strong bond with the both of them. This bond exists in part because of their fathers being teammates in their youth, thus making Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji the second generation of the Ino-Shika-Cho Trio. Ino and her teammates all wear the same type of earring: a small silver hoop.
At her graduation, Ino graduated as one of the best kunoichi in her class. As the daughter of a flower shop owner, Ino is particularly skilled in the way of the flower (Ikebana). Being a Yamanaka, Ino specializes in mind-altering jutsu, allowing her to control others with relative ease. Ino's favorite food is small tomatoes and pudding. Her hobby is star gazing and her favorite phrase is "the many words/meanings of flowers" (花言葉の数々, Hanakotoba no kazukazu?).
During their time in the Academy, Ino came to befriend Sakura Haruno, an unpopular girl whose large forehead constantly earned her a teasing from other girls. By giving Sakura a ribbon, Ino was able to help Sakura overcome her phobia about her forehead, and in time helped Sakura develop her own identity and self-worth. As Sakura's confidence in herself grew, she developed a crush on Sasuke Uchiha, who Ino also had a crush on. When Sakura found out about this, she ended their friendship so that the two could properly compete for Sasuke's affection, beginning a bitter rivalry between the two.
During the second phase of the Chunin Exams, Ino and her teammates look for a team weak enough for them to ambush. As they search, they find Sakura fighting a losing battle with a team of Sound Genin. When Sakura cuts her hair to escape from Kin Tsuchi's grasp, Ino is spurred into action, realizing that Sakura must be in trouble if she's willing to cut her hair. After forcing Shikamaru and Choji to join her in battle, Ino uses her Mind Body Switch Technique to take control of Kin's body so that she can force a surrender. When Kin's teammates attack Ino in Kin's body without hesitation, it becomes clear that ending the battle won't be that simple. After Sasuke Uchiha awakens, Ino and her team flee the battle so that Sasuke can take care of the Sound Genin.
In the preliminary matches of the exam, Ino is pitted against Sakura. After Sakura and Ino exchange insults, Ino follows Sakura's earlier example and cuts her hair, leading many onlookers to believe that she's lost her mind. In actuality, Ino cut her hair to help her in battle; by sending chakra into her cut hair, Ino is able to tie Sakura in place, allowing her slow moving Mind Body Switch Technique to have no difficulties in finding its target. After taking control of Sakura's body, Ino tries to force Sakura to forfeit, though Sakura's inner personality stops Ino before she can do so. With both girls exhausted from the amount of effort they've been putting into their fight, Ino and Sakura charge at each other to deal final blows. Striking each other simultaneously, both are knocked out, leading to a draw. As the two recover, Ino and Sakura begin to rekindle their friendship.
Part 2
Ino makes her Part II debut in a sleeveless button-up top and short skirt. She has apparently done away with the full-body bandages she previously wore and has also grown her hair long once again. She doesn't wear her ninja headband around her waist anymore as she previously did. It is either hidden or she has decided to stop wearing it. Like most of her fellow Genin, Ino has become a Chunin during the timeskip. Ino has also trained to be a medical ninja, like Sakura.
During Team 10's meeting with Team 7, Ino notices that Team 7's new team member, Sai, resembles Sasuke Uchiha, causing her to develop a liking for the new face. When Team 7 joins Team 10 for dinner, Sai gives Ino the nickname "beautiful", an apparent complement on her appearance. In actuality, Sai was simply stating the opposite of what he really thought, having learned from Sakura that women don't like knowing how they actually look.
Later, Ino and Choji arrive as backup for Shikamaru and Asuma in their fight with Akatsuki members Hidan and Kakuzu. As the Akatsuki pair flees due to their arrival, Ino tries to use medical ninjutsu to heal Asuma's injuries, though she knows that there's nothing she can do to save her sensei. Asuma, also knowing that he won't make it, gives some parting words to his team. To Ino, Asuma says that her spirit is strong and that she is a helpful child, so she should take care of Choji and Shikamaru. Asuma also tells Ino not to lose to Sakura in ninjutsu or in love, to which Ino agrees. After smoking one last cigarette, Asuma dies, leaving Ino, Shikamaru and Choji to set out in an attempt to avenge him. By using her Mind Body Switch Technique on a hawk, Ino is able to find the Akatsuki duo. During Team 10's fight with Hidan and Kakuzu, Ino plays the role of an observer, her Mind Body Switch Technique too much of a risk to use in battle. She heals Naruto after he defeats Kakuzu.
