Naruto Primer Lost Chapter: Ino/Asuma

The Ninjet of Team 10

Dattebayo (who has a really amusing name) gave us the suggestion of writing a chapter with a teacher and just ONE student since we hadn't seen that sort of interaction yet. So that sparked the twelve chapter long arc with just one teacher and one student. And, yes, Tenten will get a chapter too. Don't worry all you Tenten fans.

Ino woke up early in the morning. She didn't know why, but that was just the kind of person she was. She liked to get things done instead of procrastinate them as much as possible.

Her passion for becoming a great ninja had exploded ever since Shikamaru had become a chuunin. She could always hear Asuma talking about him to the other teachers and singing his praises while not even looking at her or Chouji. She also wanted to get rid of the stereotype that all the female ninjas of the village were soft. She would have to change it all and today was a good a day as any to start.

Ino leapt up out of bed and got dressed quickly. The sun was still rising as she left the house. It was time to meet Asuma for training.

She got to the spot and sat down. All she had to do now was wait.

Asuma wasn't far behind her. Sure, he wasn't going to deny that he might have been paying too much attention to Shikamaru when, in reality, he should have been paying LESS attention to him since it was clear that he didn't need as much attention as Ino and Chouji. He also made a vow that day, that it was time to train Ino and Chouji better.

As he reached the meeting spot, he nodded at Ino and the two of them waited and waited for Shikamaru and Chouji.

"Where are they?" Ino said finally. "Asuma, it wasn't a very good idea to start training this early in the morning. Shikamaru's probably still sleeping and I bet Chouji is over there right now trying to wake him up."

"You're probably right." Said Asuma with a sigh.

"Um…" Ino started. "Do you think we could just start without them?"

"Why?" asked Asuma.

"Well… I want to start my training." Ino said. "I want to become a good ninja. And I think that when Shikamaru and Chouji are here, I don't really get an opportunity to do so."

"I guess…" Asuma said.

Ino clapped and stood up.

"Okay, what first?" she asked.

"Wait a second." Said Asuma, turning around.

"What?" asked Ino.

"I thought I heard someone coming…" Asuma said. "It sounded like Shikamaru so I was just making sure…"

Ino frowned. "Can we just get started?" she requested.

"Sure." Said Asuma. "Where did we leave off yesterday?"

"We were all working to help Shikamaru improve on his new shadow attack." Said Ino.

"Oh." Said Asuma. "Hm…if Shikamaru's not here, what are we going to do?"

"We could work on something else!" said Ino. "Something that has NOTHING to do with Shikamaru!"

"Nothing to do with Shikamaru?" said Asuma. He couldn't think of a single thing that would fall in THAT category.

"How about if we work on MY attacks?" Ino suggested when she noticed Asuma was at a loss.

"Okay, that sounds okay." Said Asuma. "So…what is it that you do?"

Ino looked a little annoyed. "The Shintenshin no Jutsu."

"That's right!" said Asuma. "I knew that. The FIRST thing we have to do is work on the hand seals."

"I already know the hand seals!" Ino said, getting a little frustrated.

"Then where are you at?" Asuma asked.

"I want to be able to use the attack without hurting myself in the process." Said Ino. "You know, while my limp body is lying over there, I want to be able to stand there as a target for people to attack and have nothing happen to my body."

"I don't know if I can teach you that." Said Asuma. "But I CAN teach you a different technique that will allow you to control people without hurting your own body."

"Really?" said Ino. "What?"

"The Kagemane no Jutsu!" said Asuma.

Ino's face fell. "That's Shikamaru's attack."

"Shikamaru doesn't have to be the ONLY one who uses that attack!" said Asuma, treating Ino like a silly goose. "I'm sure he won't mind if I teach it to you too."

"But I don't want to learn the Kagemane no Jutsu." Complained Ino. "I want to stick to my family's tradition of using switching attacks and don't want to move to Shikamaru's family's tradition of using shadow attacks!"

"If you want to be a well-rounded ninjet, you'll learn ALL these things." Asuma said.

"Asuma, what is a ninjet?" Ino said.

"A ninjet…" said Asuma. "A female ninja. A male ninja is a ninja, a female ninja is a ninjet!"

Ino shook her head, not knowing how to react to a comment like that. "Did you just make that up?" she said.

"…Maybe…" Asuma said.

"Okay, okay, let's just improve on my taijutsu." Said Ino, trying to stay on track.

"All right!" said Asuma willingly. "What would you like to learn? Kicks? Punches? What?"

"What do you think I have to improve?" Ino asked.

"I don't know." Said Asuma. "I was hoping you would."

"Haven't you ever seen me fight?!" demanded Ino. "I thought you were my teacher!! You should know these things!"

Asuma was about to answer but then Shikamaru and Chouji suddenly appeared there.

"Ah!" said Asuma. "Shikamaru!! …And Chouji! Welcome! Let's continue where we left off yesterday, what do you say?"

"Whatever." Said Shikamaru and Chouji as they shrugged.

Ino slapped her forehead. She'd NEVER be a good ninja at this rate!