Chapter 99 -:99
"Easy for you to say." Sakura grumbled, "Ino-pig is a Ninja Clan Heiress! She's got all the natural advantages over me-"
"-That she has been wasting." Naruto interrupted gently, "She's been slacking off on her training and dieting, neither of which you do anymore. That has closed the gap between you and her more than you might think. She doesn't know how hard you've trained or how much of a difference that will make. No, I'm not giving her enough credit. She might know that in her mind but knowing something as a theory and seeing physical evidence of that theory in action can be jarring. Use that to your advantage."
Sakura nodded as Naruto stiffened. "My Shadow Clone just dispelled. Ino and her parents are on their way up."
"Inoichi-oji-san and Saori-oba-san?!" the pinkette looked worried before turning a suspicious look on the blond in the room.
"I had no idea either!" Naruto said quickly, holding his arms up in a pacifying gesture, "It must be Ino's idea!"
"Damn you!" Sakura growled at her not-yet-present opponent.
Minutes later, the Yamanaka family entered the room and Ino was treated to Sakura's emerald-eyed glare. She responded with a shrug.
"Hey, it wasn't my idea, Forehead. Daddy and Okaa-san wanted to watch and wouldn't take 'no' for an answer."
"It's not often someone challenges my princess to a taijutsu match, Sakura-chan." Inoichi said mildly, "We wanted to watch and see how Ino does. You don't mind, do you?"