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

Chapter 9: Start Your Engines

The day of the Chūnin Exams had finally arrived, and the air was thick with tension and excitement. Ino Yamanaka walked toward the assembly area with Team 10, her heart racing with anticipation. This was their chance to prove themselves, and she was determined to shine-especially in front of Sasuke.

"Can you believe it? We're finally here!" Ino exclaimed, masking her nerves with enthusiasm.

"Yeah, but I just hope it's not as boring as Shikamaru thinks," Choji replied, munching on his chips. Shikamaru merely shrugged, his eyes half-closed, as unconcerned as ever.

As they approached the gathering of ninjas from various villages, Ino spotted familiar faces. Team 7-Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke-was huddled together. Her heart skipped a beat as she caught sight of Sasuke leaning casually against a wall, his usual aloof expression making her stomach flutter.

"Let's show them what we've got," she said, trying to sound confident, but she felt a wave of anxiety as they took their places among the other teams.

The atmosphere shifted when Ibiki Morino, the proctor, stepped forward, his serious demeanor instantly commanding attention. "Welcome to the Chūnin Exams," he announced, his voice booming through the assembly area. "The first part will be a written test, designed to assess your intellect and strategy."

Ino glanced at the exam papers being distributed, her heart sinking as she realized how daunting the task would be. The questions were complicated, and she felt a knot tighten in her stomach.

"Remember," Ibiki continued, "if too many of you fail, you will all be disqualified. However, there are ways to secure answers. Cheating will result in immediate disqualification, so choose your methods wisely."

The tension in the room escalated, and Ino felt a flicker of panic. She looked over at Shikamaru, who seemed unfazed, jotting something down on his paper with an air of nonchalance. Meanwhile, Naruto looked completely bewildered, his pencil hovering above the blank page.

"Okay, Ino, think!" she muttered under her breath. She needed a plan.

Glancing around, she spotted Sakura scribbling furiously, her focus intense. An idea struck her. With her Mind Transfer Jutsu, she could tap into Sakura's thoughts for a moment and gather some answers. Shooting a quick look at her teammates, she focused her chakra.

In an instant, she felt her consciousness slip into Sakura's mind. She could see the answers on Sakura's paper and was briefly aware of her thoughts. It felt strange being in Sakura's head, but she had to act fast.

"Hurry, Ino! Get what you can!" she urged herself, quickly jotting down a few answers.

Just as she was about to pull back, she heard Sasuke's voice. "Sakura, what are you doing?"

Panic surged through her. She needed to return before anyone noticed. With a jolt, she pulled her consciousness back into her own body.

Looking down at her paper, she felt a mix of adrenaline and anxiety. "Okay, I got some answers!" she whispered to herself.

Once she was settled, she noticed Shikamaru had been watching her, raising an eyebrow but staying silent. She leaned closer, whispering, "I got some answers from Sakura! We can use them!"

He nodded, a faint smirk appearing. "Good thinking, Ino."

As the test continued, Ino couldn't help but notice the chaos around them. Some ninjas were glancing at each other, exchanging whispers, while others were trying to cheat without getting caught. She felt a surge of determination-she wouldn't let this opportunity slip through her fingers.

Then she noticed Choji, who looked utterly lost, his brows furrowed in concentration. She couldn't let him fail. "Here, Choji! Use these answers," she whispered, sliding her paper toward him.

"Thanks, Ino!" he said gratefully, his eyes lighting up as he scanned the answers.

Finally, the bell rang, signaling the end of the exam, and she felt a wave of relief wash over her. She couldn't believe they'd survived the first part. Ibiki began calling out names, and her heart raced until he announced, "Ino Yamanaka, you've passed!"

"Yes!" she cheered, turning to her teammates, who also looked relieved.

As they gathered their things, Ino spotted Sasuke talking to Sakura. A pang of jealousy shot through her, but she pushed it aside. This was only the beginning. The next stages of the Chūnin Exams awaited, and she was ready to face whatever came their way.

With a newfound determination, she looked toward the next challenge. She was going to prove herself-not just to Sasuke, but to everyone.