Well, as you know, I'm much more into the whole fighting=UST thing than you are, but there are situations where I feel it just doesn't work.
With Ino/Sakura, though, it's so clear that it's a RIVALRY (as in, it's always 'I won't be beaten by you,' Sakura taunting Ino to make sure she fights her hardest) first, and romantic secondary (there are multiple instances of Sasuke being, like, the LAST rationale for their actions, and not the first.) And then, combine that with the whole 'Sakura, you bloomed' conversation with Ino post fight, and.... yeah. I'm seeing major vibes.
(And to me, Shikamaru/Ino is Sakura/Sasuke redux, without even the few hints that are given that show that Sasuke likes Sakura.)
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
With Ino/Sakura, though, it's so clear that it's a RIVALRY (as in, it's always 'I won't be beaten by you,' Sakura taunting Ino to make sure she fights her hardest) first, and romantic secondary (there are multiple instances of Sasuke being, like, the LAST rationale for their actions, and not the first.) And then, combine that with the whole 'Sakura, you bloomed' conversation with Ino post fight, and.... yeah. I'm seeing major vibes.
(And to me, Shikamaru/Ino is Sakura/Sasuke redux, without even the few hints that are given that show that Sasuke likes Sakura.)