Naruto is full of amazing characters, but not all of them are liked equally by the fanbase. Some of that is due to poor writing and development. However, fans tend to forget that many of the less popular characters changed a significant amount over the course of the series.
While most fans think of Sakura when it comes to disliked Naruto characters who have grown, fans tend to forget about Ino. While she doesn't get as much of the spotlight as the other members of Team 7, a lot has happened in Naruto to make Ino a much more likable person.
10 She Helps Save Sakura
Before the Chunin Exams, it's clear Sakura and Ino don’t like each other. They were both desperate for Sasuke’s attention and because of that, they tended to be incredibly mean towards each other. However, as ninjas from the same village who grew up together, it’s clear Ino really cares about Sakura's well-being. Ino was willing to put her life on the line to protect someone she supposedly hated, which is a significant moment of growth for her character.
9 She Takes Her Fight With Sakura Seriously
It’s obvious Ino never saw Sakura as an equal. They may have been rivals, but Ino still thought she was better than Sakura. That changed during their fight at the Chunin Exams. Sakura proved that she could be an adequate rival for Ino and it's at this point that the rivalry becomes less about Sasuke and more about how they feel about each other. Ino recognized Sakura's conviction and changed her way of thinking because of it. She may not have been happy with the outcome, but she can be proud of the fact that she did her best.
8 She Improved Herself By Becoming A Medical Ninja
After the Chunin Exams, it’s obvious Ino felt like she was being left behind by the rest of her friends. She wasn’t as strong as the others and she often felt more like a hindrance than an asset. It also didn't help that Sakura, who Ino often viewed as less important than her, was becoming way more useful thanks to her training with Tsunade.
Instead of wallowing in her own self-pity, Ino decided to be proactive with her training by becoming a medical ninja. The training she received not only made her more useful to her team, but also made her a far more confident ninja, which is something Naruto fans love to see.
7 She Cares For Her Teammates
Ino may berate Shikamaru and Choji constantly to the point of being downright mean to them, but at the end of the day, she cares for them deeply. Most of her nagging is because she wants them to improve, which is something her teammates figure out over time. Their care for each other is what makes them a better team and a lot of that can be attributed to Ino. The fact that their team remained strong even after Asuma's death just shows how much they cared for each other as friends and comrades.
6 She Is An Important Part Of Ino-Shika-Cho
Ino-Shika-Cho is one of the most famous squads from the Leaf Village. Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji had big shoes to fill when they first became a team. At first, it didn't seem like they were all that willing to work together. Despite Ino's stubbornness, she quickly became an important member of her team and contributed a lot to her team's success. It may have taken a while, but by the 4th Great Ninja War, it's clear they were able to make their parents proud. Their teamwork was seamless — even when facing their own sensei.
5 She Didn't Let Her Father's Death Stop Her
While many lives were lost during the 4th Great Ninja War, some of the hardest deaths the characters had to face happened nearly on top of each other. Not only did Neji sacrifice himself for Hinata, but Ino and Shikamaru's fathers were lost as well.
Unfortunately, when the characters are in the middle of a battle, there isn't really time for them to properly grieve. Even though Ino was devastated by the loss of her father, she didn't let that stop her from assisting the Shinobi Forcers. She was able to take her father's place as the source for the troop's communication and certainly made her father proud while doing it.
4 She Helped The Shinobi Forces Communicate
Ino may be a medical ninja, but that certainly isn't her only skill. Her most important jutsu is her communication Jutsu, which allows her to send messages to other shinobi. She wasn't as proficient in the technique as other members of her clan, but she didn't let her lack of skills stop her from getting the job done. If she hadn't been there to pick up the slack after her father died, there could have been a communication breakdown. The fact that she was able to step up in her comrades' time of need shows how much she's grown.
3 She Beat Up Sakura's Bullies
Before Sakura and Ino were rivals they were really good friends. Most of that was thanks to Ino who took the much more timid Sakura under her wing. As a child, Sakura was bullied a lot, especially for her looks. However, Ino wasn't the type to follow the crowd. She put a stop to all the bullying and she even managed to make the bullies look foolish while doing it. Although some Naruto fans dislike the flashback during Sakura and Ino's fight, it is important to their characters, especially Ino. It showed what a good person she is deep down, which made her ten times more likable.
2 She Saved Choji From Asuma
During the fight between Asumi and Team 10, Choji struggled to fight their former Sensei, which makes sense considering he was facing the person who taught him how to be a good ninja. Since Asuma couldn't control his actions, there were several moments when Choji could have been killed. However, his teammates weren't about to let that happen — especially Ino, who pushed Choji out of the way of an enormous attack. Without Choji's teammates there to protect and motivate him, there is a good chance they could have lost him during their fight against Asuma.
1 She Helped Get Revenge For Asuma's Death
Asuma's death was devastating for Team 10 who deeply loved their sensei. However, instead of wallowing in self-pity, they took action. Shikamaru probably would have gone after the Akatsuki members whether he had his teammate's support or not, so it's a good thing that they were willing to go with him. Ino provided a lot of support during the fight against the Akatsuki and it's because of her skills as a lookout that they even found them in the first place.