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Character Name: Ino Yamanaka
Canon source: Naruto
Personality: These days, Ino is harder in both spirit and heart. She is not the spoiled, naïve, silly little girl she used to be-she has seen the darkest side of human nature and experienced terrible losses. Although she has matured, Ino’s core personality has not changed. She is still take charge and bossy in all possible situations. Ino will never walk away from an argument. She is still the number one trash talker and has no problem telling everyone and anyone exactly what is on her mind, even if it gets her in trouble.
Ino is more realistic and cynical than when she was younger-she knows and understands that she will not wake up and the world will instantly be back to the way she knew. No prince on a white horse will come for her and love is a distant memory. It was easy to fool herself into thinking her life was somewhat normal when she had a father to care for her and a flower shop to work at. Working in T&I hasn’t done much for her ever so slightly bitter disposition. Seeing torture on a daily basis doesn’t bother her much anymore. She has grown numb to things that used to make her flinch away in horror.
Even in Suna’s harsh conditions, Ino still finds ways to make herself look attractive. She can’t quite let go of her vain nature. She takes pride in her good looks, even though she has no interest in marriage. That doesn’t mean she has to be a nun or anything, though. All work and no play makes Ino a dull girl. Even in dismal conditions, Ino tries to find enjoyable things in life, such as being with her old village-mates or perusing the village for good looking, tall, tanned Suna men.
Ino is devious and sly though never with evil intentions. She is the type who will do anything to get her way-lie, cheat, steal, seduce, bully whatever- anything is fair game. She will go after what she wants with the stubbornness of the boar she was named after.
If there is an order from above, she will follow it. However, if the situation calls for it, Ino will follow where her heart takes her. She is as loyal as they come-do not fuck with her friends. You won’t live to regret it.
History/How does your AU differ from canon?: Canon up until Pein fight: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Naruto_chapters_(Part_II)
Timing is everything.
Naruto, only minutes too late to the battle, came rushing back to Konoha to find it obliterated. Buildings had toppled; the streets smelled of ash and ran red with blood. All forms of vegetation for miles around were burnt and the water was contaminated and rendered useless. Tsunade, Shizune and Kakashi were dead-many others were slain or heavily injured. In a moment of fury at both himself and his enemy, he used his new Sage powers combined with the power of the Kyuubi to destroy Pein in an epic battle that ended with a flash of bright, red light.
Pein and Konan were gone but with them went Naruto.
The survivors of this battle were few compared to the casualties. Most of the rookie nine had survived, along with Team Gai, but many of the ANBU and older, retired ninjas were not so lucky. The remaining members of Konoha were brought to Suna to recuperate properly. They estimated weeks, months, years-no one knows for sure if and when Konoha would be back on its feet. Akatsuki had weakened considerably with the deaths of Itachi and Pein but no one could be certain that they wouldn’t resurface again. Other villages, too, could easily destroy what little was left of the once proud Leaf Village. For the sake of ever having Konoha rise again, they had no choice but to relocate.
Sasuke and “Hawk” were never heard from again, content to have seen Konoha burn to the ground. Some speculated that he went into hiding in Otogakure, others thought that he might have died. No one had enough time to entertain thoughts of his return-everyone was too busy trying to survive.
Four years later, Ino found herself only slightly starting to adapt to the heat and sheer foreigness of Suna. She missed her home and her father. She missed the flowers, the shade, the dampness of the air. She missed security and familiarity. Even after two years, there were not nearly enough ninjas left to rebuild and populate Konoha. Besides, they had a debt to repay to Suna. For now, all she could do was work with the Suna-nin, but she could never forget. They were allies but the desert was not the forest. Her skin would never adapt to the harsh sun. She would never call her Suna apartment “home”. Hoping against all hopes, Ino believed it was only temporary.
But in case it wasn’t, she vowed never to marry and have children so that the Yamanaka line would die with her. As grateful as she was (and as popular as she was), she just couldn’t stomach another village, another clan, learning the techniques her father so painstakingly taught her. Kankurou, though, has not gotten the memo that Ino is not interested and often bugs her to bear him a son or two (apparently she has good birthing hips) and to maybe, possibly, sort of be his second wife.
Ino tells him on a daily basis to die in a fire.
Now 20 years old, Ino currently works with the T&I department in Suna, lending a hand in spying and espionage missions just to pay the bills. The Suna council of elders is a bit more sketchy than they let on-they pay Konoha nin less for harder missions (to pay off their debt, of course) and have six thousand contingency plans to smite the foreign visitors just in case of an upheaval. Their true ulterior motive for letting the Konoha nin stay in Suna is to have them stay forever, integrating their jutsus into Suna.
Strengths: Speed, wit, seduction, charisma, using ninja weapons (such as shuriken and kunai), healing. Ino is also an extraordinary actress-she can feign tears or a smile at the drop of a hat. She specializes in mind control-- her techniques include: Mind Body Disturbance Technique (心乱身の術, Shinranshin no Jutsu), Mind Body Switch Technique (心転身の術, Shintenshin no Jutsu), and Mystical Palm Technique (掌仙術, Shōsen no Jutsu).
Weaknesses: Stamina, physical strength, her vanity. Ino’s hand to hand fighting skills are lacking. She is stubborn and often thinks her way is the ONLY way. Her short temper often gets the best of her-one little insult about her looks will unleash her wrath in the worst possibly way. Ino is someone who is easily carried off by her feelings, despite being a shinobi. She can be childish, unthinking, loud, and sly.
Preferred drop-in point: New Mexico
What are some of your plans for this character in their new environment? HOW DOES I WORK TECHNOLOGY? Living in a city with people who aren't ninjas? This will be pivotal for Ino's growth. Not to mention that her fishnet outfits aren't really going to cut it here.