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Kiba, Naruto and Ino!? rofl Good lord... they'd kill each other within an hour!

I dunno, I just don't see things developing properly with Ino on Team Seven instead of Sakura. In the first place, Sakura's development would be all wrong so I'd be out a favorite character. Secondly, Ino just doesn't strike me as suited to the role Sakura was made for.

Naruto doesn't like her and she doesn't like him, so in between fighting for Sasuke's attention they'd be arguing almost non-stop. Since Naruto never had a crush on her he wouldn't try to make nice or impress her, and thus wouldn't grow on her the way he does on Sakura. Not to say they couldn't somehow become friends, but I can't see it in their earlier days. And I'd buy a hat and eat it if Sasuke didn't try to kill them both himself after the first few times he was forced to endure their presence.

As for Sasuke, I don't think Ino would put up with him the way Sakura does. Ino is popular and sure of herself, unlike Sakura who's practically starving for positive recognition from those she admires. If Sasuke tried talking down to Ino for flirting or asking him out like he does with Sakura, Ino would more than likely flip him off and move on to next stud.

As for her relationship with Sakura, I don't see how it could be salvaged. Becoming a genin is what made Sakura confident enough to return Ino's ribbon; Sasuke, Naruto and Lee are what made her realize what she really wanted from herself, and what she had let herself fall to. Without that, I don't see her being able to face Ino in the prelims with the gusto that she does so in canon, and would just be another case of Ino coming out on top. Maybe Ino would feel sorry for her, but Sakura wouldn't let that happen and they'd be back off where they were.

Then, too, is the fact that there's no plausible reason for separating Ino-Shika-Chou, not when it's a group that's been recycled over who-knows-how-many generations. Ino's jutsu belong with Shikamaru's and Chouji's, and there's nothing Sakura could bring to the group.

By the time any neceassy changes were made to fit the girls into each others' roles, they'd be each other and then what's the point?