The Yamanaka Flower Shop was a florist run by the Yamanaka Clan, located on the streets of Leaf Village.
The shop was planted with flowers and greenery of every kind, their fragrance spilling through the air.
The wooden lattice windows were filled with blooming flowers, while bundles of floral materials were arranged inside, their scent lingering everywhere.
This place did not merely sell flowers; it also accepted orders for offerings and ceremonial flowers. It was one of the Yamanaka Clan's public-facing businesses.
Yamanaka Ino watched over the shop while arranging flowers.
Flower arrangement meant taking cut flowers, branches, and leaves, then trimming, bending, and pairing them before placing them into vases or floral containers to create ornamental art.
Ino lightly pinched the stems between her fingers, trimming away excess leaves. She bent the stalks at varied angles and arranged the blossoms in a scattered yet balanced display.
Flower arrangement did not pursue overflowing extravagance; it valued blank space and refined elegance.
The petals rose and dipped at uneven heights as the clean fragrance of plants slowly spread.
No matter how she arranged them, Ino was somewhat dissatisfied.
Feeling bored, she could not help thinking of Sasuke.
Like Sakura, she liked Sasuke, though she was not as stubborn as Sakura.
At heart, she judged people by their looks. Whoever was handsome was the one she would chase.
In other words, she was lustful—lustful for handsome men.
Among those their age, only Sasuke and Neji could be considered truly good-looking.
Sai, who had just joined Naruto's team, was handsome as well.
When it came to choosing a boyfriend, Ino's father, Yamanaka Inoichi, would intentionally or unintentionally encourage her to spend more time with Naruto.
Ino scoffed at Naruto.
Naruto was impulsive and reckless, often getting hot-blooded. He was not attentive enough, and