Disclaimer: I don't Naruto or any of it's characters.

Drifting

"Ino? What is it? Come on, we'll be late for-"

"My foot's asleep," Ino said irritably, "Here, help me up."

Sakura stuck her hand out to help her friend off the ground, and waited patiently as Ino brushed dirt and pollen off of her pants.

"Please… They want us to be all lady-like and sit properly… How are we supposed to look neat and proper when we have to sit in the flower fields for this long?" Ino mumbled.

Sakura giggled.

"I thought you liked the flowers!" Sakura said to her.

Ino glared at her.

"Not when I gotta sit on 'em for an hour. Pollen's hard to get out of this outfit, you know."

Sakura giggled again, "Ino, you're great with flower arranging, but you're not so good with the rest of the things we learn!"

Sitting up properly, for one.

"Whatever, like I'm gonna need to act like a woman on these missions. Doesn't matter how you act as long as you finish the mission," Ino paused, then looked at Sakura, "Hey! You're not that good at all this stuff, either!"

Ino picked up a partially finished flower arrangement, and showed it to Sakura, who turned pink.

"I-I'm getting better," she said, "It looks nicer then some of the ones the other girls made-"

Ino laughed.

"Hah! But your first one looked like a bunch of weeds."

Manners and tact for another.

Sakura gave her a hurt look.

"I know, I started it, but what's with you lately? You seem upset a lot…"

Ino looked away and shrugged. She then looked back at Sakura with a strange look in her eyes.

"I dunno… I guess I'm growing up…?"

Sakura looked confused.

"Well, okay… Oh, hey, you wanna share lunches today? My mom made-" Sakura noticed Ino was staring at her, "…Ino?"

"You're hair's grown, Sakura."

Sakura went slightly pink. "Yeah, but I don't think it's long enough. Sasuke probably didn't notice yet."

Ino started walking back to the school, Sakura hurrying after her.

"Think I might look good with long hair, Sakura?"

"Hmm? Oh, yeah, of course!"

Sakura smiled at her, and Ino grinned back. Ino then turned away from her, facing forward, and Sakura was still close behind her.

"You know, when people grow up, they drift apart."

Sakura blinked.

"Ino… Come on, we'll always be friends."

You'll be a good kunoichi someday, Sakura. Aren't kunoichi supposed to be good at lying? Feminine wiles or something, right?

When people grow up, they drift apart.

When you decide to become a ninja, you have to grow up.