Authors Notes: Hi people! I was in the middle of writing the newest chapter for Missing when this idea popped into my head. No, this isn't another epic adventure story, it's just a oneshot... It's told in Ino's point of view.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto characters.


Useless.

Always useless. Never having a point in life. Just an average shinobi, no kunoichi. But that wasn't enough. Why was I stuck on a team with a genius and a guy who could easily stand his own in a fight? And where was I? Nowhere. That's where. Why did I even become a shinobi anyway? Because my father wanted me too? Or was it because Sasuke was a shinobi, so I had to be one too? I didn't know.

Weak.

Always weak. Because everyone was always there to protect me. Never alone in a battlefield. Always being protected. I never wanted to be protected, but whenever I tried to be strong, I always was beaten. I was always too busy fawning over Sasuke. Always distracted. Shinobi weren't supposed to have emotions. Apparently I wasn't a very good shinobi. Apparently the only way my jutsu worked was if the enemy was restrained. Which wasn't often. Why had I become a kunoichi if I couldn't fight my own fights? I'm not so sure.


It was too ironic that my fight was against Sakura, my former friend. Why did we break the friendship? Because of Sasuke? How stupid. But it was time that I proved myself. Not only to Sakura, but to my teammates. And my sensai. And everyone who doubted me. I would be strong for once. I can be strong. I had to plan like Shikamaru. Bait Sakura into a trap, then catch her in my jutsu. If that didn't work, I would have to resort to Taijutsu. But I was sure that I could beat Sakura with that jutsu. It was Sakura. I almost wished I had a stronger opponent. But then I might lose, so I would have to do with Sakura. How hard could this be?

Too hard.


Useless.

I couldn't do anything. I couldn't help in any way. Kami, even Sakura's stronger than me now. She's apprentice to Tsundae! A Sannin! And what am I? Nothing. Maybe killing people isn't my forte. Life won't just wait for me to find my path. It's time to act now.

Maybe

If I can just bring myself to

ask Sakura

for a favor,

I can grow stronger.

Even if that means admitting that I'm useless to the world right now.

(I'll do anything...)