A/N: Hi guys I've missed you so much, and I know I probably have a lot of explaining to do since I've been away for so long. I took a little vacation I guess you could say hehe XD, but I'll tell you about that later. Anyways, now that all the flashbacks are over we can now get back into the original plot of the story. In this chapter, we will see what happens when Ino finally makes it to Konoha BBQ. This should be interesting.

Chapter 9: Ino's Hungry and It Isn't Just for what's On the Menu

"Ugh I finally made it." said the bubbly blonde as she'd stepped out of a taxi that pulled up to the Konoha Barbeque Pit. After she paid to the taxi cab driver, she adjusted her clothes and made her way inside the very homey looking restaurant. Konoha Barbeque wasn't anything to fancy. It looked like your normal family eatery. There were booths on every corner of the establishment, gumball and candy machines lined up at the exit, and a bar that hosted drinking games every now and again. As Ino looked around, her eyes wandered over to the pictures of various meals that were offered at Konoha Barbeque. The restaurant was famous for its buffalo wings and various grilled cuisines. Patrons would come from all over Tokyo to get a taste its legendary Yakiniku that is said to melt in your mouth as soon as it hits your tongue. Ino's mouth started to water as she looked at portraits of Chicken Yakitori and Benihana Hibachi Steak.

Get ahold of yourself girl! Ino said mentally slapping herself for getting sidetracked. You came here for the guy, not the food!

Getting back to the task at hand, the blonde made her way to the back of the restaurant to a back door that led to an add on of the restaurant where they were hosting the eating contest. There was a friendly looking plump man guarding the door that had auburn hair and was wearing traditional Japanese robes. He greeted Ino with a smile.

"Hello, Miss. Are you here for today's eating tournament?"

"Yes I am. I'm not too late am I?"

"No No, as a matter of fact, you're just in time to see Choji-Sensei make another win."

Ino giggled cutely and winked at the big man causing him to blush. "Hehe I hope so. How is it much to get in?"

The redhead began waving his hands in the air and said, "It's free of charge for a pretty lady."

"Awe thank you. You're too sweet." Ino said with an attractive grin. "You don't look so bad yourself."

"Oh please, I'm just a rusty ol' doorman." The man spurted modestly as he held the door open for Ino and motioned her to go inside. "After you Milady, please enjoy the show."

"Thanks again cutie," Ino walked through the doorway and said over her shoulder, "I'll see you around." She gave the doorman one last wink before he blushed one last time and reluctantly shut the door waving goodbye.

That was too easy. The blonde thought. But hey, it works every time. With a flip of her hair, she made her way into the add-on of the restaurant. The room itself was more elaborately decorated than the rest of Konoha BBQ. There was lush carpeting, exotic plants, and a picture here and there of the family that owned the restaurant.

Not too shabby. Ino strolled over to the center of the room to where a crowd seemed to be gathering in a circle around a very long table that held two very large men. On the left side of the table, there was a man wearing denim overalls that had bronze colored eyes and orange hair that was cut into three elongated patches on his head. He was wearing a ravenous grin and had a determined look on his face. Right behind him, there was a red-headed girl wearing ripped up skinnies, black converses, and a black crop top that said "So what if I'm a Bitch?" in white bold letters. She was jumping up and down and shouting words of encouragement in his ear. At least, they were meant to be encouraging.

"Come on fatso you can do this. You're not gonna let this chump bet 'cha are ya, Jirōbō?" she roared into his right ear as she patted his back.

"Tayuya you must be kidding me if you think that I'm gonna let this kid out eat me." Jirobo replied. "Don't worry I got this."

While the carrot top duo was prepping themselves for what seemed like an easy win, Ino glanced to the opposite side of the table to see a man wearing a black apron that said Konoha BBQ in orange, cursive lettering with a long sleeved red shirt up under it. He was just as chubby as his opponent if not even chubbier. His hair was spiky like a hedgehog and was the color of roasted almonds which matched his eyes. He wore a passive expression on his chubby cheeks as he had his eyes closed and his arms folded across his chest. Ino giggled to herself as she took a seat on a bar stool that sat next to a window on the other side of the room. Even though she was a fairly good distance away from the brunette, she could still see his face in the spot where the crowd parted some.

You look kinda cute trying to pull off a poker face, Choji Akimichi. Ino reached into her shirt and discreetly pulled out an info card, and begin to look over the info on it. It happened to be on said "cutie" she was just thinking about, who was actually the owner and head chef of the Konoha BBQ. Not only did he run this particular establishment, but he and his family owned several throughout Tokyo and Central Japan. His chain of eateries was so popular that it had grown to be a million dollar franchise. He even managed to make business deals with well-known corporate executives that would advertise Konoha BBQ in their commercials! In fact, his best friend was Shikamaru Nara who was the CEO of Nara Industries, a famous contracting company. Ino sighed.

This guy already has it made and he's not even 25 yet. It's a shame I'm going to have to take advantage of him like this.

Ino almost felt sorry for him…almost. Ino never really cared who she seduced on her missions. Sure, she would pretend to love them and would sometimes get a marriage proposal in the end or two, but she never actually cared the men she seduced. She treated her missions like a job because in her line of work, you never fall in love with your victim or feel pity for them. Things just don't work out that way. Like Lady Temari had told her and the rest of the girls plenty of times; the men they pray on are simply tools and nothing more.

Ino pulled out her Droid and checked the time; it was 4:35 p.m. The eating contest was supposed to start five minutes ago. The blonde looked over to the table again where the two contestants sat and she saw Choji arguing with a man with a toothpick in his mouth. The man looked like to be the referee and he was urging Choji to let the contest begin because the crowd was starting to get restless. However, said connoisseur wasn't letting up.

"Come on Genma, give me five more minutes. You know I can't start until he gets here."

Genma sighed and gave up. "Fine, five more minutes and that's it Choji. The people are starting to get antsy and impatient."

"I know I just need a little more time," Choji assured.

"Whatever, it's your show kid." With that, Genma turned around and began to work to the crowd and tried to calm them down. Choji simply returned to his original position. He closed his eyes, folded his arms, and exhaled noisily as he did. Ino smirked devilishly and began playing with her hair.

Take all the time you need Akimichi, because I won't even need five minutes to make you fall in love with me. When that happens, I'll have you hook, line, and sinker.

A/N: So what do you think? Review if you want another chapter peoples because the next chapter will be from Choji's point of view.