12 year old Ino walked down the streets of Konoha to the training grounds to prepare for the upcoming chunnin exams, her torso and arms wrapped in bandages, kunai in her hand and another stashed around her thigh, her ponytail swaying behind her, sky blue eyes searching for familiar faces.
Ino walked with a nonchalant face, she's still unsure what to make of her dream, was it really a dream, no more like a nightmare or was it really a premonition. She damn cared if it was really a warning of some sort, does this things really happen?
Ino sighed as she reached the training grounds and sat down, " I'd rather not think about that right now, I have to become stronger than that damn forehead, ain't no way am I losing to her. "
" I'll show that damn forehead who's stronger and rub it all over her face ", Ino screamed.
She got up walked towards the movable training dummy, examined her hair , ' I guess I need a trim ' Ino tied her hair hastily in a bun and clipped her bangs and stood an offensive position.
She closed her eyes and breathe in and out deeply, ' one, two, three', she opened her blue eyes and narrowed it before starting to hit the dummy over and over again at all the vital points as fast as she could.
The movable dummy wavered it arms and hit her back, some blocking her fists. The faster the blows the faster the dummy would return it blows, it went on for some time before it hit Ino at her biceps landing a painful blow.
" Damn it! " , Ino screamed as she staggered back and started unwrapping her bandages to check the wound.
" Well well, a weakling littering our training grounds. ", a voice drawled.
Ino turned 3 figures, 3 pairs of eyes the one which stood out the most was a pair of pale lavender eyes and a stash of brown hair tied in a low ponytail. His stance in a domineering way, hands folded in front of his chest, his face holding an amused but mocking look.
Next to him on either side was a brunette girl in two buns with tattered shirt and a large bag on her back, and she turned towards the last being, big round eyes staring back at her akance to his thick brows and bowl cut hair swaying in the breeze.
' Out of the three, the one with the brows seems the friendliest ', Ino thought.
Ino didn't know what expression she was wearing but it seemed to have ticked off the Hyuga. He snorted mockingly and looked at her with hateful narrowed eyes.
' What the fuck was this dick's problem? ", Ino thought. She stood up straighter and snarled begrudgingly, " Any problem, Hyuga? ".
Neji scoffed, ' You seem to be out of your mind, Yamanaka, you can't just onto other team's grounds and still have the audacity to stand her with no shame of any sort, has your team finally disowned you weakling? Well, a team combined with a lazybutt, a hoarding boy and a loud and obnoxious girl, it's no surprise. '
Ino was fuming now, sure the teams were allotted their own training grounds and she mistakenly used theirs but making such speculations and insulting her teammates and their teamwork was low move. Ino came forward and raised a finger accusingly pointing towards Neji, ' Who the fuck do you think you are to question my ability or my team's by any means, we all have our own team's and are part of the same village, don't fucking disrespect my team members and my sensei ? How low are you planning to behave before learning to respect people equally?'
The atmosphere tensed as the byakugan flared and glared at her with killing intent, 'Shit, I'm screwed ', Ino thought as her whole being coiled back in fear but hell be damned she was gonna show she's scared.
Ino glared back with the same intensity, but her body betrayed her. She saw how the byakugan turned back to normal with a mocking smirk adorned oh his pale, obnoxious but handsome face.
Neji scoffed and turned around, ' Don't challenge me Yamanaka, I will not be so kind next time and get out of here before I change my mind. '
'Over my dead body', Ino was about to speak before someone pulled her by her arm, she winced at the pain and looked up at the accused and saw a pair of brown eyes, ' Are you mad? Get out of here. '
Ino yanked back her hand, picked up her kunai and left without so much as looking back. She walked back to Ground 3 assigned for her team.
'Fucking prodigies and their dick problems be troubling everyone', Ino screamed inside her mind. First forehead now the Hyuga, I'll be damned if I don't show them that I'm strong, both this bitches got to learn some manners and come down from cloud nine. She winced at the pain again, ' Damn, I have to heal this shit first. '
' Ino!'
She turned and saw a prominent pineapple shaped bun and a chubby boy with swirls on his cheeks.
' Shikamaru and Chouji ', Ino mused.
Ino walked towards as did they and she barked, ' What's with the both of you, arriving so late for practice, I went to Ground 6 and you know how that Hyuga shit insulted our team. ' She raised a finger and yelled, ' We're all going to become chunnin and listen well, we'll show everyone what Team 10 is capable off. Understood!? '
Shikamaru and Chouji winced at her yelling and looked at each other and back at her, she was still galring at them. Shikarmaru sighed and drawled out, ' Ino, you know damn well that there will be more stronger, smarter ninja's and we'll be competing against then, do you reall want to do this? '
Ino looked down and sighed her voice almost breaking,' I know that Shikamaru, but I'm not going to sit back and watch people insult our teamwork or our sensei in that regard', she looked up again, ' So, the least we can do is try to win. '
Shikamaru sighed again, ' So troublesome, but for that matter I'll comply.'
Chouji shuffled next to them and as they looked at him, he smiled and spoke up, ' Well, I guess we gotta eat more. '
Ino smiled, ' Yes, let's go to have some BBQ first ', she pinched both of Chouji's cheeks.
' What's with the wound? ', Shikamaru asked as he looked at Ino.
Ino looked down, ' It's nothing, just a minor wound from the dummy, it'll heal soon, I'm just worried about the scar, are you guys done practicing though? '
Both boys nodded.
' Where's Asuna sensei though? ', Ino asked.
' He's gone for a special mission, he'll be back in a few days before the exams, don't worry, he said to visit Kurenai sensei once', Chouji spoke out as he took out a bar of chocolate.
' Okay, let's meet up at my shop and then we can go search Kurenai sensei later', Ino said as she gathered her things.
The trio started walking towards the Flower shop, taking in the lazy afternoon silence in the streets. Shikamaru yawned as they walked towards the shop, they decided to wait for Ino there.
Ino opened the door and noticed her Uncle Santa Yamanaka tending some flowers and a some journals on the counter- top. He turned around and smiled, ' Good Afternoon Ino, your dad asked me to give that to you, I think it'll surprise you. '
Ino quirked an eye brow as she examined each of the journals and searched for a name, ' Nara Yamanaka ' she flipped the pages and found a portrait of her dad and mum. Her fingers tentatively gripped the pages as she chewed on her bottom lip, teary eyed warning to spill put her whole body shaking at the mere thought of her dad's absence on relaying such an important object.
' Ino, are you okay ', Chouji asked worried with both his hands on her shoulder trying to still her shaking body.
Ino stopped shaking and loosened her grip, hse turned around and looked a her uncle, ignoring the questioning stare of her teammates.
' Uncle, where's dad? ', Ino asked as she looked around.
Santa looked at her amusedly somewhat worried and still assuring her, ' He went for a mission, don't worry, he'll be back by evening ', he didn't have time to inform you so I came her to relay the message.
Ino relaxed somewhat but not entirely when the whole reason of her worry was out somewhere. She decided to trust her Uncle on his words.
' You know Ino, sometimes what we think or see doesn't always come true and sometimes what we don't isn't always a thought or a mirage, the fact that there's a mere possibility is what drives and makes us stronger, its the boon and bane of fear ' , Santa spoke up as he handed her a letter.
' He knows ', Ino mused as she took the letter.
She opened the letter and carefully opened it, it read, ' Princess, I've got to go to the borders for aan emergency interrogation, so I've not been able to notify but dont worry, I'll be back by evening and in the meantime I found you some of your mom's journals to read. Be sure to read it, I'll train you with some new jutsus also, make sure Santa shapes the damn Bonsai plant, bye, love you. '
Ino folded the piece of paper and put it in her pocket, she looked back at the boys, 'Come, let's go meet Kurenai sensei first. '
Chouji cried, ' What about food? '
' Troublesome woman', Shikamaru drawled.
Ino picked the journals and stuff it in a carry bag as she ignored the cries of the chubby boy and dragged him out the store as the other followed behind them as she yelled, ' Bye, Uncle Santa.'
Santa looked amusingly at the trio and went about to trying to desperately shape a certain stubborn Bonsai for a client.
' ... '
~