Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto, why would I write a fanfiction?

A/N: In the arcs that follow, everything that's the same (ex. Haku's ice mirrors, the first part of the Chuunin exam) won't have too much description. The story will focus mainly on Ino, how she changes, and her relationship with Naruto and Sasuke. Also, some of the fights and encounters will be different.

Warning: there will be slight Sakura-bashing, because Ino doesn't like her.

Chapter 1: Ha! My teammates own!

Ino smirked to herself as she twirled around, critically eyeing her backside. She'd be standing in front of the mirror for half an hour now, fixing her bangs, and making sure that she looked good from all directions. She wasn't going to be outdone by the Sakura twit, that was for sure.

"Perfect!" She finally exclaimed, adjusting her purple clothes one last time. They revealed her abs slightly, showing the world just how hot Yamanaka Ino was.

She flounced down to the kitchen. "Ohayo, Kaa-san!" She greeted her mother cheerfully.

"Ino! Isn't today the day you get to meet your genin teams?"

"Yep!" Ino grinned. "We also get to find out who's top shinobi and who's top kunoichi." I won't be outdone by that forehead girl, that's for sure.

Right then, Inoichi Yamanaka came down the stairs, yawning.

"INOICHI!" Ino winced as her mother's extremely loud voice (even louder than hers!) hit her ears. "What are you doing, sleeping in so late? Your daughter's just graduated from the academy and is on her way to becoming a genin! Honestly, you've been spending far too much time with Shikaku, you're not being a good role model at all!"

Inoichi winced. "Sorry, sweetheart."

Ino's mother fumed, but decided to drop it.

Inoichi slid in the seat next to Ino. "I'm sure you'll be fine with your teammates," he said reassuringly.

"Oh?" Ino raised an eyebrow.

"Iruka-sensei will definitely put you with Shikamaru and Chouji, so we can have the recreation of Ino-Shika-Cho again."

Ino frowned. "But da-ad…Shikamaru is a lazy-ass and Chouji is a fat-ass!"

Inoichi tried not to laugh. "Honey, I'm sure you'll get along with them fine."

Ino scowled as she dug into her food, but didn't say anything. She knew she was going to be with Shikamaru and Chouji for a while now. But still, she wished she could be with Sasuke. That would show that idiotic forehead girl.

"I'm going!" She announced as she stood up.

"So soon?" Her mother looked at her, surprised.

"Yeah." I have to get there before that forehead does, and I can't eat so much anyway, because I'm dieting.

Ino quickly ran out of the house, eager to be off. Behind her, she heard something about "how excited kids were these days", and she snorted. She wasn't a kid anymore. Starting now, she'd be a full-fledged kunoichi.

She slowed to a walk, admiring the trees and flowers around her. She loved the place she lived in, because it was so quiet, so serene…

Then she caught sight of Sakura. And she felt that familiar bubble of hurt and resentment bubble up inside of her. She sniffed, and turned her head away, and saw Sakura do the same.

"Hmph!" They snorted in unison, and started walking.

The walk soon became a fast-walk. Then a jog. Then a run. And finally a sprint, as each girl tried to outdo the other. They both forced themselves into the Academy door, panting heavily.

"Saa-kura-chan!" That was Naruto, no doubt very happy to see that idiot of a pink-haired girl. Honestly, Ino didn't know why Naruto even bothered. Sakura pummeled him with a ruthlessness that shocked even Ino every time.

"Out of my way." Sakura snarled, attempting to get to Sasuke. Ino's lip curled. What a fangirl Sakura was. She smirked. Now was her chance to show the pink-haired girl who was in charge. "Sasuke-kun…" she purred as she wrapped her arms around a dark-haired boy surrounded by fangirls. He simply looked annoyed. Ha! He didn't try to throw me off! Who's winning, huh, forehead?

Suddenly, she felt herself being pushed out of the way as an enraged Naruto pushed his way past her and leapt onto the desk Sasuke was occupying. They glared at each other. Ino tried not to snicker.

"You…!" Naruto snarled at Sasuke, who was actually looking very pissed off. Ino sighed. The blond always made a scene. Standing up, she pushed her way over and was about to separate them before Iruka-sensei came, but her arm accidentally brushed Naruto's back.

Naruto's eyes widened as he tipped forward—and locked lips with Sasuke. Ino dropped to the ground. Not from rage, but from laughter.

In a second, they had pulled away and were gagging furiously. Naruto, however, would receive the short end of the stick moments later as Sakura and a bunch of other crazed fangirls decided to pummel him.

Man, that was funny, Ino thought, wiping a tear from her eye as Iruka-sensei called for order. Sakura's probably moaning about not being Sasuke's first kiss now.

"Okay, today we will announce your Genin teams and rankings!" Iruka-sensei announced. An excited murmur swept through the class.

"Number 1 is…"

Is…? Ino thought breathlessly.

"Yamanaka Ino!"

Ino stared. And punched her fist in the air. Oh yeah! Take that, damn it!

"Number 2 is…"

"Uchiha Sasuke!"

The fangirls all rejoiced, but many still shot dark looks at Ino when they thought she wasn't watching. Sasuke, however, looked rather disgruntled that he was second.

Ino smirked. Sasuke may be a genius, but he had bad qualities, such as his lack of cooperation. Ino was the best-rounded.

The list went on. Shino, the boy with bugs always around him, was third and Sakura, who looked very, very, angry, was fourth. Hinata, a shy girl with dark hair was sixth. Finally, Naruto was dead last (30th). Ino also noticed that Chouji and Shikamaru were at the bottom as well. She snorted.

"So now," Iruka-sensei said, "We'll announce the Genin teams!"

Everyone sat upright, staring at the people around them.

"Team 1 is Ayano Nogashita, Akira Izune, and Daisuke Sute!" There was a groan from Ayano, while the two boys gave each other high fives.

The list went on. Ino waited breathlessly.

"Team 7 is Uchiha Sasuke—"

The uncalled fangirls, including Sakura squealed (Ino did too, but just for show).

"—Yamanaka Ino—"

Hell yeah! Ino thought. She grinned.

Sakura glowered. Sasuke looked warily at her as if he expected her to glomp him.

"—And Uzumaki Naruto!"

Ino almost whooped. Sasuke would be a great asset to the team, as he was a good fighter, so Ino could trap the enemies and Sasuke could finish them off. And Ino had heard some cool things about Naruto as well. Believe it or not, but Ino was one of the few people who didn't hate Naruto.

Who Ino was more concerned about was Sasuke. Ino was tired of putting the facade of adoring Sasuke up. Yes…she had done it only to spite that forehead girl.

A/N: Flashbacks are in italics.

Ino heard Sakura shouting, heard her announce that she liked Sasuke. Ino liked Sasuke herself, but she was willing to let him go if it made Sakura happy. Sakura was like a younger sister to her, after all. Though, they were the same age, both eight years old.

Sakura, however, had noticed Ino's brooding face, and her face fell. "Y-you like Sasuke-kun too, right, Ino?"

Ino had just tried to laugh it off, saying that liking boys now wasn't such a big deal. But Sakura had looked up at her solemnly. "Ino…" Sakura said. "If you like Sasuke-kun too, we're no longer friends. We're rivals."

And Ino had secretly hated that girl ever since. She had been willing to adopt Sakura, to protect her, because well, Ino thought that Sakura was cute and fragile. She was best friends with Sakura to the point that she would give up the boy she liked because of her. But Sakura did not thank Ino for being there for her, for being her friend. No, she would give Ino up to chase after a boy that Ino liked.

If you were a good friend, Sakura, Ino thought, then you would've respected that we both liked him. And you would've heard me when I said I'd give him up for you.

But now, Ino thought gleefully, looks like karma caught up. I got Sasuke and Naruto.

Ino smirked, and looked over at Sakura, who looked quite defeated. She also caught Hinata's eye. The girl looked despondent.

Eh? Ino thought. I didn't know she liked Sasuke as well.

Ino followed Hinata's gaze, and saw it landed on…Naruto.

Ino's mouth dropped open. Was Hinata…interested in Naruto? Ino smirked. Well well…this would be interesting.

Ino whistled cheerfully as the final teams were called—Shikamaru, Chouji, and Sakura. Things couldn't have been better. Sakura was stuck with a fat-ass and a lazy-ass.

Hinata had landed with Shino and Kiba.

And she had been landed with Sasuke and Naruto. This'll be awesome, she thought.

The genin teams all assembled together now. Some of them looked absolutely horrified at the prospect of being on a team with the other, but others looked fairly happy. Sakura was in the horrified camp, while Ino was in the happy camp. Naruto, however, looked rather sad. Ino knew he wanted to be with Sakura. What a dumbass. Luckily, Sasuke didn't seem to be too sad.

"Alright, let's go!" Ino cheered, leading the way to the classroom they were supposed to wait for. I wonder who our sensei is…

She abruptly stopped as Sasuke didn't follow. "Sasuke?"

Sasuke's head jerked up. "I don't need to follow you."

Ino quivered with rage. How dare he? She marched over to him. "Look, pretty boy."

Sasuke's mouth dropped open. In sixty seconds, Ino had changed from fangirl to tomboy.

"I never liked you, and I never will." Ino snarled. "Just because you're some prodigy doesn't mean you get special treatment."

Then, she noticed Sasuke's mouth was twitching slightly.

"What the hell are you laughing at?" She screeched, pointing her finger at him.

"Nothing. Stay this way, I like you better this way." And he sauntered off.

Ino stared after him, mouth dropping. Did he just say he liked her? Behind her, Naruto grumbled. "Let's go, dattebayo!" He whined.

"Alright, alright, let's go." She said, sprinting ahead so she could be ahead. There was no way Sasuke would be team leader.

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