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it’s important to have days where you delve into a little self care , and this is definitely one of them. she has it all planned. they’re going to spend the day in this tiny , lovely little wonderland away from the stress. away from tedious paperwork. from those too long shifts on her feet at the hospital. sakura deserves this , deserves a lot more , probably , but this is what ino can do for now , and that will hopefully be enough.

@shadowield​ asked:  “ don’t get soft on me. ”

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it’s good , this. this back and forth that they do. a sure solid way to rev ino up during training —— it’s because of that ino feels the never ending ache to be better , stronger , faster seep down deep into her bones. she can hear the distant OOOOO of chouji’s voice echo from behind , and the smell of asuma’s cigarette wafts in with the oncoming breeze.

shikmaru is plenty of things , she thinks. lazy , being at the top of that list. but he’s strategic , cautious. and he isn’t so careless to make a move he can’t win. he’s playing his strengths while at the same time bettering her weakness. it’s one of the things she admires the most about him , and the fact he doesn’t hold back just because they’ve been friends since before they could walk. 

@boarheir​                                                                                         plotted.        call.

satisfying    ache         of  a  battle  won  settled  in    steel  muscles    /    bones    .               the  meal  tasted  even  better  knowing  they  had      successfully      protected  the  scroll  .                             how    it    reminded    him    of    the    chunin    exams                                    near  endless  energy  ,  even  without  the  nekomata’s  chakra  ,  rock  lee  awaited        more    enemies        .          more  chances  to        prove    himself        .         though  youthful  vigor  aside  ,  even  HE  noticed  ino’s  exhaustion  .          something  which  might  endanger  her  life  .                                      and  so  thoughts  reach  out  ,  beckoning      her      .                      matatabi   .   .   .                               the  nekomata  didn’t  keep  him  waiting  for  long  ,   never  had  ;  never  would  .          powerful  voice  sounding     so    gentle     within  his  mind  .                                                     of    course    ,    my    kitten    .                                                             flame  like  chakra  surrounded  lee  ,  blue         &&         mystical  .    not  unlike  a  ghostly  fire  .          bandaged  hand  reached  out  .                                                                         ❛            would    you    like    some    ??             ❜

it was a blindspot. her sensory training had proved well in finding the number of enemies ahead of them , but in the heat of it all there had been one unaccounted for.  hiding out of sight , and striking where ino hadn’t expected. he’d hit her with one of those infuriating chakra eating jutsus , stealing away a good chunk of it before lee managed to take him down. she’s fine , really , but god she’s tired.

the food is helping , sort of. she’s got a headache the size of the kage summit pulsing between her ears , but she’s able to move her body a bit more freely now without wincing every time she shifts. honestly , she’s about ready to drop and pass out right here and now. 

@springhealer asked: i thought i lost you.

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anxiety curls , and the heavy , terrifying reality of her actions rises bile in the back of her throat , and that . . . that feeling , that overwhelming awareness of vulnerability that shadows overhead the moment you step out from that gate —— that you’ve been handed the expectations your village has indebted to you. to protect and serve and put forth that very hand of trust —— that CONFIDENCE that you and your comrades will look out for one another because whether ino likes it or not , there is never a guarantee you’ll return as you left.

ino thinks it’s the cause and effect of being a shinobi that’s made her the fighter she is now. the very reason she’s allowed herself to choose the roll she’s trained so hard for. however , it’s also because of who she is that has led her to be careless , allowing her heart to act first in the wake of protecting those she loves. and yeah , maybe it is too careless , too SELFISH , to throw herself to the enemy the way she did , but if it means one more person will get to return home then it is one thing ino will not apologise for.

ino believes that love and falling in love are not really all that different , but what she realizes , belatedly , is it is not something that can be taught , either.

there are no rules , no guidelines to follow. you’re walking in blind , relying on the only thing that is worth listening to. your heart. it’s as her father used to tell her: the heart is a very powerful thing. you must always listen to it. even if you might not want to , know that it will never steer you wrong.

it’s with this very heart that ino feels that fear. that pain. the misgivings of burdening sakura with so much heartache. she felt it then , when she awoke in the hospital room with sakura by her side , and she feels it now. more powerful than she’s ever had to endure as the woman she loves pours out everything she has to give , BEARING herself in ways that burn under her wavering gaze. it twists and curls and b r e a k s , shattering helplessly as ino moves , arms winding tight , tighter , around sakura’s trembling form.

she buries herself there , in the curve of sakura’s shoulder , taking in steadying breaths that shake over broken words.   “  i’m so sorry. i’m so . . . so fucking sorry , sakura. i’m sorry i’m sorry i’m sorry.  “

and this.

NETTLE

You Are: Truly a nurturing and supportive friend, you’re the kind of person that just isn’t for everyone. But those who take the time are rewarded with your gentle disposition, and the kind of friendship that does a person good no matter the difficulty they’re facing. When out of balance, you can become more prickly than supportive or nurturing, though—a sign that you need to shower yourself with the same kind of nurturing you so freely give to others.

PASSIONFLOWER

You Are: Deeply concerned about others and the world around you, you have a developed sense of what’s right and just. You’re a bit of an idealist and strive to see your vision of perfection realized in the world. On occasion you get out of balance, and you may feel a deep sense of unease and be prone to worry—especially at night, tossing and turning over all that is wrong or that needs fixing.

SLIPPERY ELM

You Are: Let’s just say you’re a vocal person. Sure, that might mean you’re chatty. But it also means you’re the one humming in the hallway, singing in the shower, speaking your mind, standing up and shouting if need be to get yourself heard. You’ve got a voice and you know how to use it. Inclined to speak up for the voiceless, defend the defenseless or simply bring joy to the joyless, you may have a tendency to overuse your voice.

               a brow twitches , annoyance skittering across her features with a heavy downturn of her lips ,  “   are you MOCKING me ?   ”  the blond uncrosses her arms , fingers clasping a pinch onto his ear , and yanks.  “   you little shit , who do you think you are , HUH ? running around all my questions like that. you should have just said so !   ”