AN: This one required a LOT of work cuz i had to go back and re-watch the episode... and I had to add WAY more detail to the story. It's not emotional or very romantic, but I'm proud of this chapter cuz I kept them pretty in character.

21- violence

Disclaimer: I don't own it. Okay people???

All though the life of a ninja, fighting technique is tested and refines. The chuunin exams were no exception.

When the match between Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka was announced, the members of Team 10 were more than scared. Ino's full potential, in their opinions, barely added up to the other kunoichi's; Sakura had been training with the Uchiha prodigy and the Kyuubi container, after all.

And so the match began, with Shikamaru, Choji, and Asuma biting their nails more than usual.

After ten minutes, the fight seemed to be going nowhere, and the other genin were becoming tired of the evenly matched kunoichi, when inexplicably, something in Ino changed. Her temper changed.

And her emotions exploded.

Shikamaru couldn't help but stare at his teammate as she lost her head, and restrained himself from sighing. Ever since their near-failed C-ranked mission, Shikamaru had had his doubts about the female member of the team.

By falling apart during a crucial battle, in Shikamaru's eyes, Ino had just proved herself as the weakest link on the team.

Even Choji had more to offer to their team than she did. He could actually use full frontal attacks and bowl down an enemy ninja that tried to stop them.

But Ino…she had no medical skills, her offensive and defensive maneuvers were strictly average, and her jutsu was only totally effective when paired with his shadow possession jutsu.

Shikamaru began to blank out on the match, knowing it would be uneventful and probably too troublesome to watch.

Ino and Sakura fought and fought, evenly matched, when suddenly, out of the blue, Ino trapped Sakura with her own chakra. It was an ingenious idea, infusing chakra with her hair to make a chakra rope that would hold Sakura in place, much like his shadow possession jutsu.

Ino started to talk to Sakura, explaining how losing it was just an act, and how easy it was to lure her into her trap.

All Shikamaru would do was stare in amazement and quite a bit of surprise at her incredible control of the situation, when a sudden feeling hit him like a ton of bricks. He was angry he hadn't realized it before. No, it wasn't that feeling, but one of…respect. And surprise.

Ino had planned through each step ahead, had strategized; Shikamaru smirked. He must have been rubbing off on her.

Alright guys! Another chapter, another day. Just wait until I get to the weekend. Hehe.

Over and out.