On the second day of the exam, the team of Sakura, Ino, and Choji lost that their provisions in a previous fight and decide to head towards an oasis to replenish themselves. But when Sakura gets into a heated argument with Ino, their group is ambushed by a giant scorpion with Choji overpowered. While Ino did not have enough time to use her clan techniques, Sakura easily kills the creature with a single punch. Afterwards, as they restock their provisions with scorpion meat, Ino heals Sakura's hand while remembering an event in her past after Naruto left the village. Having grown discouraged with the amount of time it would take to master her clan's secret ninjutsu, Ino decides to skip her father's training by using Choji's discharge from the hospital as an excuse. Ino attempts to ask Sakura to join her but is turned down as her friend wanted to train more. Meeting with Asuma and Choji, Ino learns that Shikamaru had turned down the celebratory party for training as well. Eventually, Ino decides to request Tsunade to train her to become a stronger kunoichi. Ino succeeds in becoming Tsunade's second pupil after passing her test to resuscitate an octopus within three months, her progress improving due to her continued rivalry with Sakura. Later, Ino hears Sakura's reason for training and decides to not let time bother her. In the present, after she uses her Medical Water Style: Water Mosquito to extract poison out of a wounded sand ninja out of respect, Ameno and her team decide to go after Sakura's group with knowledge that they are dealing with an apprentice of the Fifth Hokage.