Sorry I've been out for so long. But expect much more from me, because my lent resolution is to write one drabble each night, four each weekend, and write one chapter for each of my stories every Saturday. Yay!(: Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

She feels prettiest when sweating and victorious over a opponent. When her hair is sticking to her face, blood and dirt is smeared on her face, and her clothes stick to her skin, she feels beautiful. Pulling her long blond hair away from her face, Ino looks up into the sky, watching the clouds for a moment. Walking away from her dead opponent, she smiles to herself.

"Thank you for teaching me that, Shikamaru. You saved me from being the self-absorbed girl I would've been without experiencing your love. For this I am grateful." She said, tears welling in remembrance.

Read and Review, Please and Thank You(: