Ino flipped through a Cosmo! Girl magazine, sighing at each picture.
She tried so, so hard to get the attention of boys, and although she did, it never seemed like enough... She wanted to be JUST like them, like those beautiful models, actresses, and singers. They were all so perfect-- so... Lucky.
And was she lucky? No. She was a ninja. Trained to KILL people, to listen to instructions and perform each task to the Hokage's liking.
She was no Cosmo! Girl.
All she wanted was to be someone, not just anyone, but THE one. The one that all the boys craved. Well, she had until recently.
She'd given up on Sasuke; he'd given up on everyone.
Leaving the village?
What a loser.
And poor, poor Sakura. Still in love with him, practically forcing Naruto to bring Sasuke back.
So yes, Ino was over him. She knew, deep down inside, that he'd still be there-- a first crush, someone she could never forget. But she wanted someone steady, not perfect, but... Normal, even.
Someone like... Shikamaru?
Ino shook her head at the thought-- Shika was just a teammate-- a friend. Not a BOYfriend.
But she had considered it.
Why not? She thought. He's not taken, not painfully-handsome like Sasuke, and he's smart... She paused. He's perfect.
She flipped her magazine closed and left her house, not even glancing at her reflection in the mirror.
It was time to get her man.
