To Live For Others

Chapter Three

I don't own Naruto, Kishimoto does.

Ino slowly poured a packet of sugar into her tea, using a thin needle like wooden stick to mix the white crystals into the hot liquid. Sakura sitting across from her does the same to her own cup. She sets the stick down on the white table, moving closer to the edge to take a small sip. The liquid enters immediately soothing her throat.

"It's been so long since we have been able to sit and talk," Sakura said after tasting her own tea. She sat the cup on the table, giving Ino her full attention.

"I know, you have been so busy with your training, and Team Ten and I have been bombarded with missions and training. Shikamaru believes that Asuma-Sensei is working us hard to prepare us for the next chunnin exams." Ino explained readjusting herself on the yellowed cushion chair.

"Oh, I thought since Shikamaru was a chunnin he didn't go on missions with you guys anymore." Sakura replied.

"He rarely does, we usually get partnered with someone else from the other teams. Asuma-Sensei says that Lady Tsunade has been experimenting with different teams, because she wants us to be able to work as a team no matter who is available," Ino took another sip of tea, "it makes sense since one of us is a chunnin and two are gone-" Ino stopped herself realizing she accidently brought up her best friend's two missing team members. "Sakura I'm so sorry I didn't mean to bri-"

"It's okay Ino, sure I miss them, but I can't expect you to never mention them when I'm around. Especially since you have feelings for Sasuke-kun." Sakura assured the blonde with a small smile. Ino wasn't buying it, she could tell that their absence still deeply hurt her, especially the defected Uchiha. If Ino was being honest to herself she was also hurt when the lone Uchiha survivor left. She cried for days after the retrieval team failed in bringing him back. She was stuck in a bout of depression until she saw Sakura constantly training in order to distract herself from thinking of Sasuke; then there was Naruto, trying to find any chance to possibly find a trail that would lead him to the missing Uchiha. It was then that she realized even though she saw Sasuke as a friend and her crush, she really didn't know him that well. His absence hadn't really affected her life all that much. She still had Asuma-Sensei, Choji, and Shikamaru, while Sakura only had Kakashi-Sensei. Even he was keeping himself busy, at least that is what Ino assumes she rarely saw the Copy Ninja.

When she looked closely, she only cared for Sasuke because of her schoolgirl crush. She liked him because he was cool, not to mention popular. Even now she could count on one hand the amount of words he has ever said to her. No what she felt wasn't love, it was just some stupid crush. "No, I don't." Ino blurted out causing Sakura to choke midway through drinking her tea.

"What do you mean you don't?" Sakura asked through her coughs.

"What I mean is that I don't have feelings for Sasuke-kun. I guess I never did. I had a crush on him, but even now I don't even know why. He never talked to me or showed anything to me other than I was a nuisance." Ino responded.

Sakura eyed Ino suspiciously. Does she not believe me? "Sakura?" Ino asked after a few moments.

"I just don't see how you don't have feelings for him! You were just as devastated as I was when he left. I heard you locked yourself in your room for days." Sakura exclaimed trying to refute her friend's statement.

"I was devastated because I thought I loved him. But I know now I don't. I don't even remember what his voice sounds like. My mother actually accidently helped me come to this realization."