Yamanaka Ino



Name: Yamanaka Ino, 山中いの
Age: 12 at beginning, now 15
Date of birth: 23 September
Height: 151,2 cm at beginning, now unknown cm
Weight: 38,5 kg at beginning, now unknown kg
Hair color: Blond
Eye color: Blue
Blood type: B
Registration #: 012604
Rank: Chūnin
Jutsu/Kekkei genkai:Shintenshin no Jutsu (Art of the Valentine), Shinranshin no Jutsu (Mind Body Disturbance Technique)(anime only)
Current affiliation: Yamanaka family, Konohagakure (Hidden Leaf)
Current team: Team Asuma (Sarutobi Asuma, Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Chōji, Yamanaka Ino)
Previous affiliation: N/A
Previous team: N/A
Relatives: Yamanaka Inoichi (father)

Background

Yamanaka Ino is a Chūnin assigned to Sarutobi Asuma's Team 10. She is a very skilled kunoichi and with her teammates, Akimichi Chōji and Nara Shikamaru, they make up the 2nd-generation Ino-Shika-Cho Trio. At first, it seemed as though Ino disliked both Shikamaru and Chōji (Shikamaru for being dull and unpopular and Chōji for being fat), but she actually holds a strong bond with both of them. Ino is the daughter of Yamanaka Inoichi and part of the Yamanaka family, which owns a small flower shop in Konoha. She is talented in the way of the flower (Ikebana) as well as mind-altering jutsu. She is the friendly rival of Haruno Sakura.

Ino and Sakura

Ino was Haruno Sakura's first friend and helped Sakura develop her own identity and self-worth. As a child, she gave Sakura a ribbon so she didn't have to hide her forehead, the source of much teasing and subsequent anguish. From that point on, Sakura and Ino were best friends. As Sakura became more outgoing, she developed a crush on Uchiha Sasuke, the most popular boy in the Academy and Ino's secret crush. When Sakura found out, she ended their friendship and she and Ino developed into bitter rivals over Sasuke's attention.

Chūnin Exam Arc

As part of the 'Rookie Nine', Ino was chosen to participate in the Chūnin Exam. One of the weakest teams in the exam, they had trouble locating the scroll to complete the exam. While trying to find a weak enough team to ambush, they ran into Sakura fighting Dosu, Kin, and Zaku. As Sakura's fight with Zaku deteriorates, Ino recalls the good times she had with Sakura as a child and jumps in with her teammates to help out.

In the preliminary matches of the Chūnin Exam, Ino and Sakura are paired up to fight. Ino cleverly performs her Shintenshin no Jutsu (Art of the Valentine) technique successfully, but is unable to make Sakura give up. The two knock each other out and neither continues on to the final matches. After the matches, Ino and Sakura rekindle their friendship as Ino fully recognizes that Sakura has "bloomed into a beautiful flower."

Mizuki Arc and Sea Country Arc

Ino and her team are assigned to back up Naruto in defeating Mizuki and his subordinates, Fūjin and Raijin. As the Ino-Shika-Cho Trio begin fighting Fūjin and Raijin, it's revealed that Ino has learned the Shinranshin no Jutsu (Mind Body Disturbance Technique). Although not in the manga, it is assumed Ino has learned this technique by the start of Naruto II. She also helps out in the Sea Country mission with Anko, Shino, and Naruto.

Naruto II Arc

Ino makes her Naruto II debut in Chapter 284. She is seen wearing a button-up top and skirt similar to Sakura's. She has apparently done away with the full-body bandages she wore. She has also regrown her hair.

Trivia

"Ino" means "a wild boar" (this explains Sakura's use of "Ino, you pig!" and "porker" to insult her. In the original Japanese manga and anime, the phrase is "Ino-buta" (いのブタ) -- "Buta" means pig). It is ironic in contrast to Choji meaning 'butterfly' as he is the more piglike, and she the beautiful socialite.

"Ino", "Shika" and "Chō" are the name of three cards needed for a highly prized trick of "Inoshikacho" in the Hanafuda.
According to official databook Ino’s favourite food is small tomatoes and pudding.

Her hobby is shopping and her favorite phrase is 花言葉の数々 (Hanakotoba no kazukazu, "The many words/meanings of flowers").

Her birthday is one day after Nara Shikamaru's.

Back to Naruto Fans United
Back to Naruto: Characters