Naruto Sama

Ino Yamanaka

• Age: 12¹-13² in Part I, 15 in Part II
• Seiyu: Ry¨­ka Yuzuki
• Voice actor: Colleen O'Shaughnessey

Ino Yamanaka (ɽÖФ¤¤Î, Yamanaka Ino^?) is a member of Asuma Sarutobi's Team 10, consisting of herself, Shikamaru Nara, and Choji Akimichi. The name "Yamanaka" means "deep in the mountain" and "Ino" means "boar". During her years in the Academy Ino befriended Sakura Haruno, and through Ino's influence Sakura was able to develop her own identity and self-worth. When it became clear that both liked Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura ended their friendship so that the two could properly compete for Sasuke's affection. The two end this rivalry during their match in the Chunin Exam, though maintain a competitive relationship and constantly attempt to outdo the other. Ino is somewhat egocentric and superficial, apparently thinking highly of her looks despite wanting to become thinner, and seeming to dislike "ugly" people, particularly those who are overweight. Despite these flaws, Ino cares very deeply for her teammates and those that are close to her.

As a member of the Yamanaka clan, Ino works in her family's flower shop and has become particularly talented in ikebana. The anime's Konoha 11 arc shows that she has been able to find other uses for her time in the flower shop, and can tell a person's profession by simply looking at the condition of their hands. The anime has also shown that Ino, like Sakura, has developed her own inner self named "Inner Ino". Her membership in the Yamanaka clan also allows her to learn mind-altering jutsu, such as the Mind Body Switch Technique. In Part II Ino also begins to utilize medical jutsu in an effort to be more helpful to her friends. In the anime, it is revealed to be a result of her apprenticeship to Tsunade, which she took on as a result of guilt over being unable to help her group at a critical moment.