Thought it was You Shikamaru. (Shikaino Shikamaru x ino)

Chapter 8: Signing Up for the Chūnin Exams

The sun shone brightly over Konohagakure, casting a warm glow across the village as Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara, and Choji Akimichi made their way toward the Hokage Tower. The air buzzed with excitement; today was the day they would officially sign up for the Chūnin Exams-a moment they had all eagerly anticipated.

"Can you believe it? We're finally doing this!" Ino exclaimed, practically bouncing with excitement. This was her chance to prove herself, to show everyone what she was capable of.

"Let's just make sure we don't do anything stupid," Shikamaru replied, his calm demeanor unchanged. "We need to think strategically."

"Relax, Shikamaru! We'll be fine!" Ino shot back, her confidence unshaken. "This is our moment to shine!"

Beside her, Choji munched on his snacks, looking content as usual. "I just hope they have plenty of food at the exams," he said, more focused on his next meal than the challenge ahead. "I need to keep my energy up!"

As they arrived at the Hokage Tower, Ino noticed the long line of genin waiting to register. Her heart skipped a beat as she recognized familiar faces among the crowd.

"Look, there's Team 8!" Ino pointed out, spotting Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka, and Shino Aburame. Hinata appeared a bit nervous, while Kiba animatedly chatted with Shino, who maintained his usual stoic expression.

"Hey, Hinata!" Ino called, waving. Hinata turned, offering a shy smile.

"Good luck, Ino!" Hinata said softly. "I know you'll do great."

"Thanks! Let's all do our best out there!" Ino replied, feeling a warmth in her chest at Hinata's encouragement.

As they continued to wait, Ino spotted Team 7 approaching-Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, and Sasuke Uchiha. A familiar spark of rivalry ignited as her gaze locked with Sakura's, simmering tension just below the surface.

"Hey, Ino!" Naruto shouted, grinning. "Ready to get crushed in the exams?"

"Dream on, Naruto! Team 10 is going to crush you!" Ino shot back, her competitive fire blazing.

Sakura crossed her arms, her voice filled with determination. "Let's just focus on passing first. I'm sure we'll do just fine without you."

Ino bristled at Sakura's comment but held her composure. "You're going down, Sakura!" she replied, her confidence unwavering.

Finally, they reached the registration desk, where a shinobi waited with a clipboard. "Names?" he asked.

"Ino Yamanaka," she stated confidently.

"Shikamaru Nara," Shikamaru added with his usual calm.

"Choji Akimichi," Choji said, his enthusiasm shining through.

"Team 10, registered!" the official confirmed, marking their names on the clipboard. "Good luck in the exams!"

As they stepped away, the energy around them grew electric. Ino turned just in time to see Team Guy entering the registration area: Rock Lee, Neji Hyuga, and TenTen, led by their enthusiastic sensei, Might Guy. The sheer energy radiating from Team Guy was infectious.

"Team Guy is ready to show the world our power!" Lee declared, his grin wide.

"Are you all prepared for the challenge?" TenTen asked, her competitive spirit evident as she eyed Team 10.

"We sure are!" Ino replied confidently. "Team 10 is going to give it our all!"

"Bring it on! We're not going to hold back!" Kiba called, his excitement obvious.

Neji remained calm, adding, "It's not just about strength; strategy and teamwork will be essential."

"Absolutely!" Ino agreed, feeling a surge of energy. "Let's train together sometime. The more we work together, the better we'll all be!"

Just then, Asuma approached, pride clear in his eyes. "It's great to see everyone here, ready for the exams. Remember, you all have what it takes. Trust in your training."

"Thanks, Asuma-sensei!" Ino called out, her spirits soaring from his encouragement.

The registration area buzzed with excitement as genin teams mingled, sharing strategies and plans. Ino felt a renewed sense of purpose; everyone here shared the same goal-to prove themselves in the Chūnin Exams.

Turning to Shikamaru and Choji, Ino's eyes sparkled with determination. "Let's do this, Team 10! We're going to show everyone what we're made of!"

"Yeah! Team 10 is going to rock the exams!" Choji cheered, his enthusiasm contagious.

Shikamaru shrugged, a faint smile appearing. "If we can avoid anything too troublesome..."

With that, they set off, ready to face the challenges ahead. As Ino walked alongside her teammates, her heart swelled with anticipation. The Chūnin Exams were finally here, and she was eager to prove herself and make a name for Team 10.