Green Tea: Welcome back to my story! Anyways, this is a Ino/Shika one-shot. (Don't like how it turned out, but oh well) Please read! (Not sure if you'll enjoy it though ) Critism accepted and respected. Oh, and it's super short... Sorry >
Ninja Way: Chapter 3
Ino- More Beautiful
FLASHBACK
Chouji munched on his barbeque chips as he stood next to Shikamaru on the bridge. The two ninjas gazed at the flowing water of the river below in silence.
Then suddenly he asked a question.
"Ne, Shikamaru, do you think Ino is beautiful?"
The dark-haired boy seemed surprised by the sudden question.
After a minute, he replied.
"She is, but not very beautiful. Just... Average, I guess."
The larger boy ate a mouthful of chips thoughtfully.
"Why?"
END FLASHBACK
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She's too vain.
Ino took a gigantic trashbag and dumped her entire collection of makeup and jewelry in it. She violently tied the bag and hefted it over her shoulder like a sack.
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Ms. Yamanaka was surprised to see her daughter walking downstairs with a large garbage slung over her left shoulder.
"Ino, it's already twelve, you should go to sleep. Where are you goin-"
She was cut off by the slamming of the front door.
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She's always worrying about her appearance. Her hair, her clothes, her face.
Ino bit her lip and hefted the garbage bag into the dumpster.
She stood here after she was done and stared moonlight reflecting off the peeling dark green paint of it's metal walls for what seemed like an eternity.
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She doesn't seem to understand the concept that beauty is only skin-deep.
The girl ran to the main river running through Konoha and dashed her hands through the cold water.
She splashed the water on her face, not caring if her mascara ran, or if her eyeshadow stung her eyes.
She seems to care more about her appearance than anything else. She won't train her punches in fear she'll break a nail. What kind of ninja is that?
Then, like a wild woman, she ran to the nearest tree and punched it. Hard.
And she punched it again.
Blood trickled down her knuckles as her skin broke, unused to such harsh treatment.
She didn't mind.
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She's also really rude. Very rude.
Punch. Tomorrow, she'll apologize to Chouji for calling him fat.
And bossy.
Another punch. She won't force her team to go to her favorite snack shop for lunch tomorrow. She'll let them choose.
And kinda selfish.
The next time Sakura needed to borrow her clothes, she'll let her borrow her favorite dress.
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I do love her, but, no, she's not that beautiful. There's still a lot she can do to improve. I'm not sure if she can, but it doesn't really matter to me. I'll still love her anyways.
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Ino abruptly stopped her assault on the tree.
Turning around, she gazed at the moon hanging delicately in the sky.
She could change. She could improve. She will.
She'll be less vain. Less selfish. Less rude. Less bossy. Less shallow.
Maybe she'll do it for herself. Maybe she'll do it for him. Maybe she'll do it for the world.
The pain in her knuckles were almost unbearable, but somehow, she's never felt happier in her entire life.
Perhaps this is what a new beginning felt like.
The girl closed her eyes and basked in the soft, pale moonlight.
That night, she made a promise.
That she'll become... More beautiful.
Green Tea: Meh. That wasn't very good. I'm not sure what's wrong with it, but it left a bad taste in my mouth. Can someone review and tell me? Thanks!