Disclaimer: I obviously do not own Naruto. This story is completely fictional and of my own creation.

IMPORTANT. If you DO NOT support NaruIno and have no tolerance for it, then get out of here! I'm sick of reading reviews saying, "It's idiotic to place Ino above Sakura and Hinata." Excuse me but this is my story, my fanfiction-it's not real! Saying it that way is rude and I have no tolerance for it at all. You haven't even given my story a try, all you've done is give our unwanted opinion. Goodbye, enjoy your own fanfictions but don't tell me how to write my story in such a rude manner. I'm sorry if this is harsh but I'm really fed up.

Back when we were 14 I thought Naruto was an idiot. He always came into the flower shop, purchasing some stupid flower to give away to Sakura and confess his undying love for her, only to come return the damn thing because he would be rejected every time. It was a nuisance placing the flower back in its rightful place.

I didn't understand why he kept trying. Sakura was so obviously in love with Sasuke. I thought I was too. To me it didn't make sense why he still had hope. I secretly wished he would give up already so I wouldn't be bothered anymore. But no, Naruto is not a quitter. And I learned that the hard way.

Naruto was always so immature. He was an idiot who always played pranks on everyone. He always talked big but always ended up embarrassing himself. He was tiny too, I was taller than him at the time. I was also more intelligent and an even better ninja. A lot has changed since then.

Naruto's big dream was to become hokage. To show everyone who looked down on him how great he is and that he's capable of such a highly honoured title. At that time I always brushed it off, because who cares? It's Naruto! There's no way a kid like him could do it.

But that's the way things were. Naruto, the idiot prankster who confessed his undying love to Sakura almost every single day. Sakura, completely focused on Sasuke and Sasuke alone to realize anyone else. Sasuke, the boy who didn't care at all about any of us. And Hinata. The girl who loved Naruto.

She was always supportive of him. She was really the only person there for him back then. It's too bad he never realized her back then. Back then, when things were different. So much could have changed had he liked Hinata first. It's just too messed up to really explain.

So I'll tell you this; nearly everyday, that idiot boy comes into our flower shop, searches through all the flowers, ends up picking a red rose every time, and returning it within an hour. Some days I would just pull out a rose and wait for him to come by just so I wouldn't have to be bothered with watching him look through all the selections.

But he still looked around, much to my annoyance. Sometimes I'd yell at him about it, but daddy would always scold me for yelling at a costumer. So usually I yelled at him during school. He always just grinned this goofy little grin and apologized. For some reason I would let it go after he grinned like that.

Then Sasuke left. I was so completely devastated. But not nearly as much as Sakura or Naruto. Those two lashed out at everyone. All they did was blame themselves. They were so angry and lost at first that they both just stopped showing their faces for a while. Then they only spoke to one another.

It wasn't fair though. I was heartbroken too. I wanted to hide away too. I wanted to have someone I could talk to about everything too. But I didn't have one. I showed my face and bared the pain. Because I soon realized I wasn't as pained as I thought. That I hadn't lost someone who mean't a lot to me the way Naruto and Sakura did.

That's when I realized I had it all wrong. I had always been so selfish and naive. Had I realized back then that my true feelings were not for Sasuke, things could have been different.

For some reason I really can not explain, I wanted to go meet with Naruto. I wanted to talk to him, help him. But so many other people were already there. Jiraiya had offered Naruto a chance to travel with him and become stronger. I learned of this information from Shikamaru instead of the source himself.

Why? Because I was too damn chicken shit to talk to him. All those years spent picking on the kid, I couldn't bring myself to approach him. My pride hung on the line. And since I was stupid enough to be so hot headed, I let him go. It's not like it was any of my business anyway.

I never said goodbye. Then again I don't recall ever quite saying a proper hello either.

He left. I won't admit it to anyone, ever, but I missed that idiot. His stupid pranks that got everyone by for the day, his stupid voice shouting across the room, and his stupid face looking at all the flowers. The roses...

That's how I knew Sakura would never be a good match for Naruto. All she ever did was think of Sasuke. That's all she lived for. Sometimes she would voice her concerns for her blonde team mate but it wasn't the same as the numerous times she's voiced her concerns for Sasuke. I think everyone just knew that Naruto would never get the girl.

Hinata on the other hand was a wreck. She was so strong though. She held a good front but whenever I talked to her, she would break. She knew she could trust me. Honestly seeing her like that made me want to break too. I never spoke of Naruto, but I think Hinata knew I was worried just like everyone else.

To be honest anytime the bell from the store would ring I would spring up, hoping to see Naruto. But every single time it would just be someone else. And I tried to look joyful but I have to admit I was a bit disappointed. Not that it matters anyway. No one will ever know.

I went on dates, I hung out with friends, I went on missions, I worked at the shop, and yet every single damn day there had to be at least one thought of Naruto. Has he eaten? Is he tired? What type of training is he doing now? Is Jiraiya taking him to a club? Has he grown? Has he changed? Is he taller now? What does his voice sound like? And countless other things.

And it was the most frustrating thing too! Because I couldn't understand why the hell I felt that way! I honestly felt like ripping my hair out anytime I thought of him! Because why should I care! He likes Sakura! And he already has another girl worrying too much over him! And I mean nothing to him and he means nothing to me!

That's what the hot headed, stubborn me always argued. It doesn't make sense, because I knew Naruto wouldn't think of me once at all during his training. After all, all I had ever done to him was scold. I was never his friend. Even though I should have been.

Now there he is.

He's talking to a dazed Sakura. I can't blame her. Is this really happening? Is he finally back? That's what I'm thinking too. And Naruto, he stares at Sakura the same way as ever. Full of love. As if he never left. They start walking my way. I look down at my new attire. It's still purple but I changed it up a bit. Will he notice?

Because I definitely notice him and his new outfit. He's taller, too. He's grown up so much. He looks handsome. Although I'll never admit that to anyone. Ever.

As they approach me, I clear my throat and smile wide. I'm about to greet them when I realize they don't see me. They pass right by. I was two inches away from Naruto. And he didn't notice it was me. He didn't even seem to know anyone was alive. I stand there, still frozen in the time that he brushed against my shoulder.

I'm waiting for him to turn around and recognize me, acknowledge me, do something, but he doesn't. Instead I hear him calling out to Hinata. And Kiba and Shino.

My knees grow weak. After these two years of constant worry, he doesn't even know. I run, my back still turned towards the group of laughing friends who catch up with one another. I can feel hot tears sting my eyes. But why? He never mean't anything to me and I sure as hell never mean't anything to him back.

And yet... It hurts. It hurts to know I wasn't important enough to recognize.

And all of that devotion is left unknown.

A/N: So I guess this can be read as a one-shot but I'm not planning for it to be. What do you guys think?