Read the disclaimer from the last chapter
Also italics mean mind read thoughts.
Luckily for Ino she didn't have to wait long for Asuma to call a training day. Just 3 days after she had learnt to read minds Asuma had told her about it. She was also told – with pride- that Shikamaru was coming as well. Ino was so happy about this news that Asuma had actually questioned about her mental state. However Ino couldn't care less. This was her chance to show her team that she could do just as well as they did!
Perhaps less lucky for Ino was that team 8 would be joining them for training. Sure, she liked Hinata and her quiet demeanour but she disliked Kiba and his loud Naruto-ish like qualities. She didn't actually have feeling for the other member of team 8. This was because Ino had never spoken to the bug user or heard much about him. No gossip, no rumours, nothing. Like he didn't exist. Of course Ino had thought about this and had realised, with glee that she could find out everything about the bug user during the training session.
So Asuma told her "Be at our training area at 8am tomorrow" and Ino had replied with a curt nod. Then after saying goodbye to Asuma she went to Sakura's house. Ino needed to catch up on some gossip and see if anything was going on between Sakura and Sasuke. After all, she couldn't let her rival get one-up on her.
"Time to wake up Ino!" Inoshi had shouted upstairs to her. It was pointless however as Ino had hardly been asleep and when her alarm clock went off she had jumped out of bed with such energy that she had actually gotten ready by 7:20am. Enough time for her to get an actual breakfast without having to rush all the way to the training area. She ran anyway though. She was just so hyped up about proving herself to everyone and during her run she had gotten some last minute practise on her mind reading abilities.
"I really need to buy these fruits more often"
"I hope mom doesn't notice the stain on the carpet"
"Where are my youthful students today?"
"Where is that child! I need to get him to clean that stain"
"There goes Ino. Wonder where she's off to. Certainly not our training spot"
Ino froze. She could actually guess whose thoughts those were. So she went to the location of the person, a nicely built house, and had shouted with all her might "SHIKAMARU!"
"What?" a tired voice answered back. The voice was quickly followed by the opening of the door. Then a face appeared, looking mildly bored.
"You're supposed to be going to training you know" Ino told him.
"You don't think I'd forget would you?" Shikamaru said to her with a knowing smirk. He opened the door to reveal himself fully clothed and the table covered with used dishes.
Ino silently fumed but at the same time cleared her mind. Listening for Shikamaru's thought to go into her head. She heard "I guess you're not going to leave without me so I guess I have no choice." Then a much fainter voice saying "Troublesome woman, coming to get me like I'm some sort of baby. Last time I checked I was the one who had risked getting killed by a fan wielding maniac for a troublesome title" Ino felt a rise of anger inside her but she calmed herself down, thinking that she would just kill him during training.
"Shall we go then?" Ino asked through gritted teeth. Shikamaru just nodded and started travelling to the training area.
When they got there they were greeted loudly by Kiba who shouted at them "Look at the lovebirds!" which promptly earned him a hit from Ino.
"Hey Ino" Hinata said. Without stuttering this time, Ino noted with pride. She had been teaching Hinata to speak without such a stutter. She was glad to see that it was working.
"Hey Chouji" Ino and Shikamaru said" Chouji greeted them in reply. That when Ino realised they were 10 minutes early so she sat down beside Hinata and started talking.
"I'm hungry"
Ino sat up, looking confused. "Did you say something Chouji?" she asked. Chouji shook his head while looking quizzically at her.
I must not have complete control yet Ino thought. She'd have to fix that later on with her father. However she didn't have more time to think about it as 2 teachers suddenly appeared in front of them.
"Hello team" Asuma said to them, eyes flicking to Shikamaru. They said hello back and Ino faintly heard Kurenai say the same to her team.
"Anyway, today we are sparring with team 8 today" Asuma told them. "Kurenai and I were discussing the partners and we've decided……"
"Asuma" Kurenai said, noticing Ino fidgeting fingers and her covert glances of Shikamaru.
"Yes Kurenai?" Asuma replied with a hint of confusion in his voice.
Kurenai whispered to him "I was thinking that we choose sparring partners within our own team first. I know that leaves 2 people from opposite teams against each other but..."
"No problem" Asuma said. "I know who to put against each other for a "warm-up" session"
"Great." Kurenai replied but before she could ask who was being paired up with who Asuma went to talk to his team. Kurenai mentally shrugged, thinking that Asuma can't have missed those glances and would pair Ino with Shikamaru, and went to talk to her own team.
"Ino and Chouji will spar first." Asuma said. "Shikamaru will spar with whoever hasn't got a partner in Kurenai's team." Ino felt her happy day fall apart like a sandcastle being smashed by a stupid adult with big feet. Luckily Ino wasn't as depressed as to ignore Asuma, as he then said "You'll all get to face everyone here so that'll be plenty to training." Ino then mentally jumped for joy and mentally hugged Asuma. Lucky he isn't a mind reader Ino thought.
"Anyway I'll tell you who you'll be partnered with next after the first spar." Asuma and Kurenai said at the same time.
"Anyway just split up and begin" Asuma told them. So Ino and Chouji walked to the other side of the area. Noticing Hinata and Kiba together Ino deduced that Shikamaru was sparring with Shino.
"Ready Ino?" Chouji asked.
"Yup!" Ino said cheerily, clearing her mind so she could read Chouji's mind. She knew what he would do just as he started the hand symbols.
"She blinked and saw Chouji rolling towards her in his meat tank form.
And that's chapter 2. Who knew Shikamaru thought such horrid things? Who knew Chouji could turn into a meat tank so quickly?
God knows why people reviewed but thanks Lems, Maiyuko-chan and CrimsonBlood WithMy FreshTears (Long name) Not really a pairing thing but a plan for the end has come Also Ino may not have lost but she didn't win. Besides a draw to Sakura isn't exactly the best thing ever…. Next chapter is gonna be a fighting chapter. I don't think I've ever tried a fight scene so hopefully it'll work out. Thanks to Lerone for checking it.