Early the next morning, Ino began her "battle plan."
She rummaged through her entire wardrobe before finally choosing a tight purple crop top with a neckline cut just low enough.
In front of the mirror, she even applied delicate, light makeup, drawing particular attention to her expressive blue eyes.
"Perfect."
She nodded to herself.
"Ino! What's taking you so long? It's time to open the flower shop!"
Her father, Inoichi Yamanaka, shouted from downstairs.
Ino stuck out her tongue and scampered downstairs, wearing an innocent expression that said, "I just woke up. I don't know anything."
That morning, Ino "happened" to pass by Training Ground Three.
She held a carefully wrapped bouquet of purple irises, her bearing so elegant that she looked as though she had come for a photo shoot.
Unfortunately, after waiting ages, she hadn't seen so much as a hair on Son Goten's head. Instead, she encountered Rock Lee, who was sweating away in the full bloom of youth.
Lee's eyes lit up at the sight of the bouquet.
"Ino! Are those for me?! Have you felt my youthful passion?!"
Ino's face darkened on the spot, and she squeezed one word through her teeth.
"Scram."
The sound of Rock Lee's heart breaking could be heard across the entire training ground.
With her plan a failure, Ino quickly changed tactics.
Through some roundabout inquiries with Choji, she learned that Goten would most likely be holed up at the Ramen Shop today.
She immediately picked up a basket of prepared floral supplies and potted seedlings, then stormed toward Ichiraku Ramen.
She had already thought up an excuse-visiting the new "family member," Temari, and bringing some plants to improve her living space.
Standing before the entrance curtain of the Ichiraku Ramen Shop, she took several deep breaths.
"I didn't come