What hurts the most?

Ino sat there staring out of her window. The breeze had started to lift and the sun was finally dying down. She thought about all that had happened. The good; her and Sakura rekindling their friendship, taking over her dad's stall, and the bad; the war, the fighting, the hurt, the pain, and love lost. She had to admit she was never really in love with Sasuke, but it still counted, and the thing is you never really knew you had something until it was gone, and that was how it was with Shikamaru. She sat until a few tears dripped down, and decided to get up. She felt like running away from her troubles, away. She ran downstairs and bumped into something? No not something, someone- Shikamaru? Their gazes met for a slight hesitant moment his eyes leading towards the tears that ran down her cheek. He was not stupid and he narrowed her eyes at her apparent embarrassment. Why did she feel embarrassed? From him? Women could be so troublesome sometimes. Ino could feel herself flush with embarrassment and into further feelings of embarrassment when he narrowed his eyes at her gesture. For a moment their eyes locked, and nobody else was there. Until Ino's eyes met another figure's- Temari's- and she ran. Where? It didn't matter at the moment- she just had to get away… away from him… away from her troubles. Away from her worries. That was when she saw the pink hair, the jade green eyes, and the small petite figure. Before, Ino herself knew it she was calling out "Sakura".

Sakura whipped around, "Ino?"

Her jade green eyes softened at her friend's distress.

"Here, you want to come to my house?"

Ino's eyes seemed to relax, and the tears stopped pouring down from her eyes.

"Thanks."

She seemed to stop in a moment of time, and she could feel the memories floating past, like clouds in the air- its funny how everywhere she looked she could feel Shikamaru's presence. The clouds- he liked clouds, there were times when she'd fall asleep in his arms, when he had time off from his missions and he'd gaze at the skies. And now things had changed. They'd separated. They broke it off, and two months later, while he goes off to Suna he comes back with the Kazekage's sister?

Sakura was shocked. Ino had broken down. Over a boy. This boy also happened to be Shikamaru Nara. And, to be honest he just didn't seem like Ino's type.

"Why don't you just have fun with someone else?"

Ino looked up from the tub of strawberry ice-cream, Sakura had given her. To be honest, Ino liked Banana better.

"Like who?"

Sakura hid a smile. So Ino was interested in other guys.

Before she could reply, Ino said "Sai-kun?"

"No and I'm pretty sure, Sai's gay…"

"Gay?"
"Yes, and I was thinking more like Chouji-san"

"Uh… okay. Jokes over, Sakura."

"You know Ino, I think it's what matters on the inside."

Ino thought to reply but could not come up with any words to say.

"I'm such a horrible person." Ino said before she began sobbing.

What was kind of ironic, was that Ino was the one taking care of Sakura when they were little, but now, she had to take care of Ino, she had to help her friend.

"You know what." Sakura said, flashing Ino a mischievous grin.

"Hm?" Ino said looking up.

"I think it's time for a vacation."

"To where?" Ino asked, interested.

"Suna."

To be honest, Sakura did not plan the Suna trip, In fact she was planning on breaking the news to Ino later that they had to help them with some medics on staff, but the moment would last while it could.

"Well…" Sakura said, "Don't just stand there, girl. Pack some bags."

Ino ran outside in a flash, to which Sakura sighed.

Old habits die hard, she thought.

She'd have to check in with Tsunade, to tell her that Ino was coming along. Initially, Tsunade would be pleased.

"What?" Tsunade asked in the loud voice of hers.

"Er… Ino would like to help as well."

"Oh, sorry, Saki. I'm half brain-dead, because of the blonde baka, that's running around causing mayhem.

Sakura smiled, Naruto.

"Hmm. Well if you two are going you may as well, take Hinata. You are all trained well and this will help strengthen our alliance with Suna. Plus, The kazekage's sister is here."

"Okay it's settled, you leave midday."

"What?"

"Twelve. Noon."

Great I have to pack, Sakura thought.

Hinata Hyuuga answered the door to a certain pink haired kunoichi.

"Sakura-san?" Hinata asked politely.

The girl gave her a smile before informing her about a 'mission in suna'. It hardly surprised, Hinata. They're mission was basically to help out with some medic staffing in Suna.

"Meet us at Twelve, my house."

"B-bye Sakura-s-san."

The three kunoichi's stood at the entrance and exit gate to Konoha. Each on a different mission.

Love.

Revenge.

A fresh start.

And the one thing that they all wondered about the most, self discovery.