Authoress' Note: Well, I've had this idea for some time now, but was too lazy to type it down… (hangs head in shame) but all is good now, as it is now available for the public! Now, this is an Ino-centric story, just for Ino (and Shikamaru!!!) lovers… (cough)…ok maybe for Ino/Shika lovers, such as myself. If you prefer for Shikamaru to be w/Temari, that is fine by me, but it will not be a pairing in this story. (Just to let you know)

For those of you who are interested, other pairings will/might include: Kiba/Hinata, Neji/Tenten/Shino, Sasu/Saku, and maybe a hint of Jiraiya/Tsunade.

As usual, constructive criticism is highly appreciated. Good advice is always welcomed. Heck, even a lovely chat will make my day. For now, I hope you enjoy my 2nd multi-chaptered story of Naruto!

Quote of the Chapter: When life hands you lemons, make orange juice, and leave the world to wonder how you did it.

Disclaimer: (R.M. flips through a book searching for some witty response…) I can't think of one right now…humph…Naruto is not mine.

Chapter 1

'What am I going to do?'

It was morning, but only a sliver of sparkling sunshine penetrated through the heavy curtains and into the dim bedroom. A lone figure sat cross-legged in the middle of a queen-sized bed, hunched over and silent. She had been up for quite some time now, just staring off into space while contemplating her situation.

The lonely girl finally sighed and shook her head slightly, her long blonde hair falling over her shoulders. In truth, she felt…depressed. Lonesome, remote, abandoned…she could make a list.

Ino inadvertently wiped her eyes, unaware of the tears that had begun to pool in her blue orbs. And to think, she felt this way because life was a continuous cycle in the world. Time passed, whether one wanted it to or not, and people changed. And it was because of the change in people that brings us to find this strong-willed kunoichi huddled in the center of her dark room, brooding about life and what she was to do about it.

Her people…more specifically, her friends…they were changing. They were adapting to life, and experiencing what it had to offer. They had chosen their paths, and had begun to follow them. They were growing up…and leaving Ino behind.

Ino slowly changed her position, wrapping her arms around her legs and resting her chin on them. Only yesterday had she realized how much her world was changing…and how she was somehow stuck in the past, clinging onto what she had thought would last forever. But sadly, children had to grow into adults, and time changes everything. Ino's eyes drifted to the tiny ray of sunshine, and her mind reminisced back to the previous week…

(Flashback)

Ino was bustling around the shop, arranging flowers and trimming off a few dead leaves. The bell above the door tinkled, indicating a customer. Ino happily scurried off to the front desk, brushing off the front of her apron. She was surprised to see Sakura waiting patiently for her, silently examining a few seed packets on the counter. Ino approached with a grin.

"Hey forehead girl"

Sakura looked up and gave a small smile while turning to face Ino, brushing a stray strand of pink hair behind her ear. She said nothing.

Ino let her grin drop a bit. Ever since Sasuke left, Sakura hasn't exactly been herself. She was quieter, more…reserved. Her emerald eyes held sadness, and yet, Ino could see painful knowledge mixed in as well. Sakura was dealing with life; she was growing up.

"Naruto left today…" she solemnly replied. Ino paused, and then leaned forward on the counter to get closer. It was a gesture of friendship, however small. She was open to give Sakura comfort, like every best friend would. Sakura looked down, fiddling with her hands and continued.

"He went with Jiraiya…off to train. I don't know when he's coming back…" Ino remained silent, her eyes downcast. Team Seven was broken up, and Sakura was alone. Ino could only imagine how that felt.

Ino searched her thoughts, trying to find words of comfort and wisdom to offer to her friend, but nothing came to mind. She settled for a sympathetic look.

Sakura looked up at Ino with a somewhat determined sigh.

"And so…I've decided to become Tsunade's apprentice."

Ino's mouth dropped open in shock. But Sakura continued before she could say anything.

"I'm tired of being left behind Ino. Through the years I've realized that I was the weakest one on my team…and it felt terrible. I don't want to be a weak little…damsel in distress. I don't want everyone to risk their lives for me. I want to be able to take care of myself. And I want to take care of others too. I'm going to become a medic nin, so I'll always be needed. I'm going to become someone who will be respected."

Sakura finished her speech with a glint in her eye and a look a resolve on her features. Ino was silent for a moment before she gave her best friend a warm smile.

"Congratulations Sakura. I know you can do it." Sakura smiled and gave Ino a light hug. She turned to leave.

"Oh, and Sakura…"

Said kunoichi looked over her shoulder at the Yamanaka.

"You already have my respect."

Sakura smiled, her eyes shining. Then she turned and walked out the door, the bell ringing slightly.

Ino looked down at her hands that were placed on the countertop. She pondered Sakura's words for a moment before reluctantly going back to work.

"I don't want to be left behind…"

(End Flashback)

Another sigh escaped the secluded kunoichi. Then again, she probably could relate to what Sakura was going through…ever since her own team was…divided.

(Another Flashback)

"There you are! You know, I've been looking all over the village for you." Ino stood in front of the lazy genius, throwing a shadow across his lying form. Shikamaru grunted and rolled over, obviously not in the mood to hear one of her girlish chit-chats.

Ino frowned and softly kicked him in the side. When he didn't respond, she kicked just a little harder…

"OW!"

"Well it serves you right. You're supposed to listen to me."

"Humph…troublesome…" The Nara sat up and winced, rubbing his side. Ino plopped down on the ground next to him.

"So," she started in a sing-song voice, "how do you feel about barbeque tomorrow night? Asuma's treat!"

Shikamaru frowned.

"Can't Ino. I got a mission briefing tomorrow evening…what a drag."

Ino paused, thinking for a moment. "OK then, how about Saturday?"

"Mission"

"All day?"

"All week"

Ino looked at him for a minute, then stared down at the lush grass. "Oh…I see…"

Shikamaru glanced at her. "It's the life of a Chunin, ya know?"

"Yeah…"

They sat in silence for a few more minutes. Ino felt…empty. It was strange, because she always thought that their team would be around for each other…even if it meant for a weekly barbeque. But now that Shikamaru was a Chunin, he never had time for them anymore. He always had to be the tactician for all the complicated missions.

Ino suddenly felt a deep sadness pang within her. She nearly panicked when her eyes started to tear up. She couldn't cry in front of Shikamaru!

"I…I got to go…" she shakily stood up from the ground.

Shikamaru stared up at her with a hint of concern. "Are you all right Ino?"

"I'm just fine" she snapped, trying to avoid any confrontation so he wouldn't see her face.

Shikamaru stayed silent as he watched Ino jog down the hill towards town.

(End Flashback)

Ino snapped back to reality when she realized that her cheeks were wet. She grabbed a blanket and quickly dabbed her eyes. As she rubbed her swollen orbs, she grew frustrated.

Everyone was growing up; moving on. Hinata and Neji were busy with their family matters. Shino and Kiba were in training for specified positions on each ninja rank. Lee was away training with Guy. Tenten went on a trip to search for unique and exotic weapons. Even Choji was immersed in his own path…besides becoming a great ninja, he was training to become a chef. This left…

Ino…alone.

Ino still had no idea what she wanted to do with her life. Would she go into her family's flower business? Would she train to be a medic like Sakura? Would she give up her ninja life for an easier, less dangerous one? She was clueless.

The young Yamanaka looked at her bedside alarm clock and sighed. She had been sitting like this for close to two hours, just pondering about her life. She quickly reviewed all of the points in her wandering thoughts. Everyone was busy with their own lives. They had unknowingly left her behind…as if she wasn't needed…

The words repeated over and over in Ino's head, like a cursed mantra. Over, and over, and over, and-

Ino sat up. Her mind had gone blank, as if she had suddenly snapped.

She slowly climbed out of her bed and wandered to her vanity mirror. She looked at herself, examining every feature, every perfection, and every mistake. Who was she?

A few minutes later, she came to a conclusion. Her thoughts cleared, and all of a sudden her mind was made up.

She wasn't anything yet. She was like clay, just waiting to be molded. Her destiny hadn't taken place yet; her path hardly started. She was new, pure, and ready to change.

Ino stared into her deep blue eyes that were reflected back at her, and she started thinking again. Nobody thought of her as somebody important. She was just another ninja; an inexperienced, novice ninja. To those who didn't know, she was just another citizen of some community. She was a nobody.

The young Yamanaka clenched her fists and unconsciously grit her teeth. Well, she thought, she could change that.

In a sudden movement she turned on her heel and headed for her closet. She threw open the door and surveyed the packed interior. She stared at the preppy, pretty clothes and the fancy shoes, all the ribbons and bows and make-up…

And it was all pointless. She pushed some dresses out of the way and dug around to find a slightly spacious traveling pack. She threw it on her bed and started opening her dresser drawers.

Comfy shirts, full length pants, jackets, undergarments, bandages, medical supplies, a few hygiene materials, snacks, and other provisions were tossed unceremoniously onto her bed. She moved to her weapon cabinet and grabbed most of the artillery. She knelt and dug under her bed to find a small oak chest.

Grabbing a pouch, Ino emptied the collected ryo(money) from the chest into it and tied it to her waist. Then she organized all the items on her bed so that they could all manageably fit into her backpack.

Closing it up, Ino strapped it to her back and took one last glance around her room.

She was going to go out in the world and make something of herself. She was going to train…she was going to be the best kunoichi she could be. She'd be better then Tenten at weapons. She'd be better then Sakura at medicine. She'd be better than Hinata at internal precision. She'd just be better than them all. And the weak, girly, useless Ino everyone knew would be gone.

Ino's eyes fell upon a picture frame, containing a shot that included her team and her sensei. After thinking for a moment, she walked over to the photo and removed it from the silver frame. Being careful not to crease it, she eased it into her breast pocket.

Then she walked out the door, shutting it behind her.

The house was silent; Ino's parents were probably tending to the shop.

Passing the kitchen table, Ino picked up a peach from the fruit basket. She needed to have some energy before starting on her journey. She paused, letting the thought sink in.

Exactly where would she be going? And how long would she be away? Was it even possible to find someone out there who was willing to teach her some ninja skills?

Ino glanced around the kitchen, feeling the dreaded homesickness long before it was supposed to set in. She gave herself a slight shake; it was all for a good cause. It would make her become a better kunoichi…a better person. She smiled before walking out the door and across the street to the flower shop.

The exotic mix of blossom scents assailed her nose as soon as the young Yamanaka stepped through the door. Walking down the aisle, she felt another pang of homesickness.

'Yeah, I'm gonna miss this too…"

Ino found her mother carrying a rather heavy-looking exotic plant to the counter. She was making slow progress.

"Oh, Ino honey…" her mother caught a view of Ino's pack out of the corner of her eye. "Are you going camping or something?"

"Well mom…ah…no." Ino's gaze drifted to the orchids on display next to her as she quietly voiced her reply.

"…you're not?" her mother's voice floated from behind the plant, laced with confusion.

"I'm…um…going on a trip…away…to train…for awhile"

A loud crash jerked Ino's gaze from the flowers to her mother's shocked face, and to the now broken flower pot at their feet. Ino's mother's face was just gaping, apparently speechless. Ino's father emerged from the back room.

"Honey what's going on?" he glanced from Ino's mother, to the broken plant/flowerpot, and then to Ino. Ino straightened up and looked her father in the eye.

"I'm going away for a while dad…I need to train and get stronger. I know this is sudden and all, but I have to do this…I need to start making something of myself…"

She drifted off, but she was sure that her dad knew what she meant. Her father was looking at her curiously now, examining her from head to toe. Apparently Mrs. Yamanaka gained back her ability of speech and was now sputtering to her daughter.

"I-Ino! What in Heaven's name are you thinking? Did you somehow kill off all of your brain cells? What do you mean leaving? Where? For how long? Why??? This is absurd. Surely you're feeling sick and need to go lie down…"

"Honey," Inoichi calmly voiced in a strong, stable manner, while resting his hand firmly on his wife's shoulder.

Ino's mother stopped immediately, staring at her husband.

"I think Ino is old enough now to know what she's doing."

Ino stared for a moment at her father, unable to believe her ears. But then her face broke out into a smile, her features showing gratitude.

"Bu-but Inoichi!" Ino's mother was still frantic about her daughter's abrupt decision. "Thirteen is way too young to realize-"

"She'll be fine" Inoichi said firmly, effectively cutting her off. "But before you leave dear, I think you might want to know something…"

Inoichi ducked behind the counter, muttering to himself while searching for a pencil. Ino's mother finally let the information of her daughter's departure sink in, and tears were now forming in her eyes. She stared at Ino for a moment before squeezing her in a vice-grip bear hug.

Ino's father saved her from suffocation when he returned with a piece of paper with something written on it.

"Here you go honey." He said before taking a step back to examine her once more. Ino took the slip of paper and read a few words. Her eyes widened considerably before she looked up at her father.

"Daddy…the Mind Destruction Jutsu?"

Inoichi nodded. "All the instructions are written down. But you can't learn it just from reading. You have to practice and adapt your mind to the new technique. I also put down some "mind-exercising" tips."

Ino's blue eyes began to tear up. She rushed forward to hug her parents.

"Thank you…oh thank you guys so much…I love you"

"We love you too dear" Mrs. Yamanaka was now full out sobbing because her "little baby" was all grown up. Ino kissed them both and looked at them for a few moments, stamping their image into her memory. She waved, then turned around and walked out the door.

It was odd now, how she felt. It was a new, exhilarating feeling that was flooding through her. Maybe it was the sense of freedom? Anticipation? Adventure? Whatever it was, Ino took it in full stride.

She avoided all the main roads of the village. Ino felt that it would've been hard to say good-bye to her friends, and having to explain her departure. She wanted to avoid all confrontation, or any conflict for those who wanted her to stay.

Did any want her to stay? Well her parents did, of course, but did anyone else? Ino pondered that thought for a while until she reached the gates. She shook her head. It didn't matter anymore. What did matter was the fact that this young Yamanaka was going to change into someone worthwhile.

Ino smiled, her emotions overlapping. She shifted her pack and continued on down the road, anxious to start on her journey of self-discovery.