I am so unbelievably sorry for why this update took so long. I have a thousand excuses but I doubt but thats besides the point. I've decided to do this as Ino's and Menma's P.O.V's only. I will be doing stories centering on Sakura's & whomever she gets paired with along with Hinatas & whomever she gets paired with at a later time. I sincerely apologize for my fail Asuma, Chouji and Shikamaru . Sorry. Amber I hope you enjoy this chapter

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.


Not long after team seven walked away did Hinata's team appear at the bench saying their teacher had also appeared, with a nod and a mumble about defective team mates Hinata left Ino by herself on the bench. Though she'd never admit it Ino felt relief flood her body as Hinata walked away her short hair barely moving as she seemed to be scolding her team mates, she couldn't seem to place it but ever since Menma had singled her out and requested a friendship she began to feel uncomfortable with Hinata, as if the heiress was looking for any reason to pounce on Ino. Pulling her knees up to her chest Ino kept her eyes glued to the ground, it was depressing. Now that they were sorted on teams would Sakura leave her? Would she drift away and become closer to Menma and Sasuke? Tears started to pull up in her watchet eyes as she thought it over.

Ino was so sucked into her thoughts that she missed the arrival of her own team mates. Shikamaru Nara and Chouji Akimichi stood over the Yamanaka heiress puzzlement written on the latter male's features. Kneeling down Shikamaru flicked Ino's fallen hair out of her eyes and laughed softly. "Oi! Ino-chaaan, our teacher came! He says we need to meet him in the classroom!" Ino felt herself flinch as she recoiled from the touch trying to understand why he felt the need to stretch out the a in chan before climbing down from the bench. Lagging back slightly Ino followed them to the classroom listening to the boys argue over food, while noticing for the first time that Chouji was thin for an Akimichi, a rather unusual thing. Ino couldn't help the Hinata sounding voice that whispered that Ino too was teamed with a defective team mate, shaking off that thought Ino raced to catch up with her teammates just as they rounded the corner about to enter the room.

Peeking in behind her teammates, Ino spotted an older looking man standing alert with his back to a closed wall. Blinking a few times Ino stepped into the classroom walking back to where Sakura had been sitting earlier in the day. She didn't want to admit it but she was hoping that by sitting in Sakura's seat she could absorb her friends resolve. Shikamaru choose to sit in the seat to the front and left of her while Chouji set to the front right of her. Placing her hands in her lap Ino watched her newly assigned teacher intently. "Hello there, you must be all of team ten then. Judging by your hair styles and facial marks you belong to the new generation of Ino-Shika-Cho, well then I hope you'll do your parents proud. Tell you what why don't we get to know each other. Go around the room say your likes, dreams and hopes."

Ino took the blank stare that her teacher and team mates were giving her as an encouragement to speak. Chewing her lips she again tried to summon up all of Sakura's courage before she lifted her head and opened her mouth before promptly closing it. Two tries later Ino was able to finally speak, "M-My name is Ino Yamanaka, I like being with my friends, I dislike when Sakura and Hinata start fighting or when people insult those I care about." Taking a breath the flaxen haired girl sat up straighter and smiled slightly. "I hope to be more like Sakura and Hinata, while my dreams are to one day take over for my father in the interrogation unit." Bowing her head slightly she couldn't help the large smile on her face before looking up again at Shikamaru's voice.

"My name is Shikamaru Nara, I like food and watching the clouds, I dislike loud people who feel the need to disrupt everyone and I hope to learn all about the shadow jutsu and take over the clan from my father one day." Shikamaru's words were punctuated with a care free laugh before Chouji took over with a scowl in Shikamaru's direction. "My name is Chouji Akimichi, I like to exercise and I dislike when people assume you have to be overweight to be able to use the clan jutsu's. I do not hope or dream but plan to change the view of my clan and help us become less…looked down upon." Ino blinked repeatedly and pondered over Chouji's words curiously.

She had noticed before that people looked at the Akimichi's differently than they did the Nara's or Yamanaka's but had never dwelled on it. Frowning at her own callousness Ino was pulled out of her thoughts by their teacher's words. "All of those are admirable goals, I look forward to training you in the way of the ninja. But that is only if you can pass my test. Tomorrow training ground three, be there at three P.M. don't bother to eat lunch." Ino noticed the man's smirk curiously and blinked trying to understand the expression, she'd seen Hinata give Sasuke that same look before she beat him to a pulp, or Menma before he pulled off some great prank or even Sakura when Ino stood up to someone. So to Ino's mind that expression could promise the worst things or the proudest moments. After staring at her teacher for several minutes she realized everyone but her and him had left the room. Before Ino could leave Hinata raced into the room a malicious smile on her lips.

"Oi! Ino! You better hide Sakura's looking for you and it'll be just too funny if she can't find you." Blinking Ino shook her head quickly until she was dizzy. "N-No I couldn't do that." Seconds later Sasuke burst into the room a similar smile to Hinata's on his lips as he grabbed Ino's hands and pulled her into his arms. The flaxen haired girls face felt like her body and face burn up at the contact before she began to thrash around trying not to scream. A not so well known fact about the Yamanaka heiress was how little she liked to be touch. Sakura and Menma finally burst into the room not five seconds after Sasuke had grabbed her. Both had matching looks of fury written on their features but Menma managed to speak before Sakura. "Sasuke! What the hell! Let go of her!" "Sasuke if you ever want any chance with me you will Ino go. Right. This. Instant." Sakura stepped closer to him before pulling Ino away from Sasuke and letting go of her. Sighing softly Sakura shook her head before glaring at Sasuke and Hinata. "You know what we all probably have tests tomorrow we should go home before someone dies."

Ino was left to watch Sakura walk away her long day-glo colored hair swish as she walked away. Stopping only to look over her shoulder and blink. "Ino that threat doesn't apply to you, come on I'll walk you home so Sasuke doesn't try to rape you again."