wait hold on i can’t tell if this is a big brain thought or not. but like. ino’s whole thing was that she had to beat sakura, right. including “in love,” as asuma said.
but what would have been the BIGGEST victory for ino over sakura in matters of romance? not if she had gotten sasuke instead. i don’t even think it’s anything that could be said about the fact that ino’s husband is around more often than sakura’s.
i think the biggest victory for ino over sakura would have been if she ended up with rock lee. she’d have a devoted and supportive husband, happy marriage, an adorable kid (with a little blonde bowl cut until the time skip when they have a grown out ponytail), on top of her great job and friends. everything she has now, but also everything sakura very much could have had if she hadn’t had tunnel vision on sasuke. lee was down bad for sakura from day one. he wanted to dote and give all kinds of love and attention, which sakura rejected, but also which ino openly wanted all along. (not from him, but there’s always room for character development.)
[i don’t hate sai or inojin, or legitimately ship this, or think ino or sakura are miserable in canon, or want to open the floor for any character bashing or ship wars. this was just a media analysis.]
