Ino Yamanaka
' is a fictional character in the anime and manga series Naruto''.
Ino Yamanaka was a genin assigned to
Asuma Sarutobi's Team 10. She is a skilled kunoichi and with her teammates,
Shikamaru Nara and
Choji Akimichi, they make up the 2nd-generation Ino-Shika-Cho Trio. At first, it seemed as though Ino disliked both Shikamaru and Choji (Shikamaru for being dull and unpopular and Choji for being fat), but she actually holds a strong bond with both of them. Ino is the daughter of Inoichi Yamanaka and part of the Yamanaka family, who owns a small flower shop in Konoha. Part of her bond with her teammates might come from her father, as he was teammates and good friends with the fathers of Shikamaru and Choji. At her graduation she was known as a high-level female rookie. She is talented in the way of the flower (
Ikebana) as well as mind-altering jutsu. She is the friendly rival of
Sakura Haruno.
Ino was
Sakura Haruno's first friend and helped Sakura develop her own identity and self-worth. As a child, she gave Sakura a ribbon so she didn't have to hide her forehead, the source of much teasing and subsequent anguish. From that point on, Sakura and Ino were best friends. As Sakura became more outgoing, she developed a crush on
Sasuke Uchiha, the most popular boy in the Academy and Ino's secret crush. When Sakura found out, she ended their friendship and she and Ino developed into bitter, yet still unsuccessful, rivals over Sasuke's attention.
Chunin Exam Arc
As part of the 'Rookie Nine', Ino was chosen to participate in the Chunin Exam. One of the weakest teams in the exam, they had trouble locating the scroll to complete the exam. While trying to find a weak enough team to ambush, they ran into Sakura fighting
Dosu,
Kin, and
Zaku. As Sakura's fight with Zaku deteriorates, Ino recalls the good times she had with Sakura as a child; Ultimately she decides to assist Sakura in defending the still unconscious Naruto and Sasuke. Just before Ino comes to help, the female sound ninja Kin then grabs Sakura's hair and admonishes her for being more focused on keeping it pretty and stylish rather than giving all her time and effort to her ninja training. Sakura then cuts her hair with a kunai knife, releasing Kin's grip on her and leaving Ino amazed as she kept her hair long to impress Sasuke and cutting her hair was an equivalent to her giving up her love for Sasuke. Sakura is able to bite Zaku in the arm, but he brutally fights her off and prepares to use his
Zankuha (Decapitating Air Wave) on her.
It is at this moment that Ino's team decides to jump in. Shikamaru uses his
Kagemane no Jutsu (Shadow Imitation Technique) technique to bind Dosu. Ino then tells Shikamaru to take care of her body as she uses
Shintenshin no Jutsu (Art of the Valentine) to transfer to Kin. She then holds a Kunai to her throat and threatens to kill Kin (which, interestingly, is the equivalent of committing suicide, since, as Zaku finds out a few minutes later by attacking Ino-possessed Kin, anything that happens to whoever she possesses happens to her body also). After Sasuke chases the Sound Nin away, Team 7 and the Ino-Shika-Cho Second Generation part ways. Ino and her team supposedly take a scroll off-screen because they are seen as three of the participants of the Third Exam Preliminaries.
In the preliminary matches of the Chunin Exam, Ino and Sakura are paired up to fight. Ino cleverly performs her
Shintenshin no Jutsu (Art of the Valentine) technique successfully, but is unable to make Sakura (and, to Ino's surprise and horror, "Inner Sakura" for that matter) give up. The two knock each other out and neither continues on to the final matches. After the matches, Ino and Sakura rekindle their friendship as Ino fully recognizes that Sakura has "bloomed into a beautiful flower" and tells her such.
It is also during this fight that Sakura gives Ino a reprimand similar to the one Kin gave to her in regards to Ino's beautiful and well-kept hair. Not to be outdone or insulted by Sakura's newfound determination, Ino cuts her hair as well, shocking everyone (Shikamaru actually thinks Ino has "completely snapped.") except for Sakura, who simply states, "You are so simple-minded." But it isn't until later that Ino reveals that she really severed her locks so that they could serve as a lasso to subdue Sakura and hold her in place long enough for Ino to perform her
Shintenshin no Jutsu (Art of the Valentine) later in the match.
Anime Filler Arcs
|
The first appearance of "Inner Ino". |
In the Mizuki Arc, Ino and her team are assigned to back up Naruto in defeating
Mizuki and his subordinates,
Fujin and Raijin. As the Ino-Shika-Cho Trio begin fighting Fujin and Raijin, it's revealed that Ino has learned the
Shinranshin no Jutsu (Mind Body Disturbance Technique). Although not in the manga, it is assumed Ino has learned this technique by the start of Naruto II.
She also helps out in the Sea Country Arc with Anko, Shino, and Naruto. At the beginning of the mission, Ino acts somewhat coldly towards her teammates. However, later on, she seems to gain a lot of respect for them.
Later, Ino is sent on a mission to take the place of (until recently) overweight Princess Fuku during her meeting at an arranged marriage. During this mission, we see that Ino also has an inner self, similar to that of her rival Sakura's. In that episode, Naruto uses his Sexy no Jutsu to replace Ino when he thought she was placing the mission in jeopardy. Once Ino finds out, she retaliates by using
Shin-dashin no Jutsu (New Approaching Technique), causing Naruto to quickly return to her through a trap door in the floor.
She also briefly appeared in Episode 193, during which her team, while trying to transport cargo, were attacked by a group of monkeys intent on stealing Chouji's snacks.
|
Ino Yamanaka in Naruto II |
Ino makes her Naruto II debut in Chapter 284 showing up just after Choji and Shikamaru fought Sai, yelling because Choji was late for a mission they were both leaving on with Asuma. She is seen wearing a button-up top and skirt. She has apparently done away with the full-body bandages she wore and has also grown her hair once again. Like the other rookies during the 2.5-year time jump, she has also become a Chunin.
Ino first meets Sai when her team, including Asuma Sarutobi, pays a visit to Kakashi in the hospital. Immediately, Ino recognizes the resemblance between Sai and Sasuke and, in classic fashion, develops a juvenile infatuation for the new face. Her sudden feelings are only strengthened further after Sai gives her the nickname "gorgeous" or "pretty lady," which Sai called her based on his observations that maybe compliments would get a better response than physical flaws he observes.
* The name "Yamanaka" means "deep in the mountain" and "Ino" means "a wild boar" (this explains Sakura's use of "Ino, you pig!" and "porker" to insult her. In the original Japanese manga and anime, the phrase is "Ino-buta" (いのブタ) -- "Buta" means pig). It is ironic in contrast to Choji meaning 'butterfly' as he tends to be larger, while Ino is slim.
* "Ino", "Shika", and "Cho" are the name of three cards needed for the "
Ino-Shika-Cho" winning combination in
Hanafuda.
* Ino is the tallest girl out of the Rookie Nine.
* According to official databook her favorite food is small tomatoes and pudding.
* Her hobby is shopping and her favorite phrase is 花言葉の数々 (Hanakotoba no kazukazu, "The many words/meanings of flowers")
* Her birthday is one day after
Shikamaru Nara.
* According to The Second Databook her personality is bratty and outgoing.
* She resembles her father's appearance the same way Shikamaru and Choji do with their fathers. Also, she, Choji, and Shikamaru all wear the same brand of earrings, possibly as their fathers were in the same team as "Ino-Shika-Cho".
* It is unknown how Ino and Choji passed the Chunin Exam without
Shikamaru Nara, as the exam must be taken by groups of three.
* In both the anime and manga, Ino lets her hair grow longer while Sakura keeps her hair short.
