Discarded Affection || Naruto Fanfiction

Ch 12: New Competition

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN NARUTO AND I NEVER WILL BECAUSE I'M A LAZY BUM WHO DOESN'T UPDATE OFTEN!

Picture of the Sand Siblings

New Rules by Dua Lipa
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RIKO's POV
Sitting at the kotatsu table, I watch as my brother, Ranko, fills out his mission report while I eat breakfast. It's been several days since we've returned from the Land of Waves and ever since our team's been receiving D Ranked missions. I, personally, don't see anything wrong with those kinds of missions, but Naruto, he just sees them like chores.

Honestly, that kid could be restless, I think as I eat some steamed dumplings.

"So, your crush was mad at you because of the arranged marriage you had no control of? But she was especially mad because it was with the Uchiha, who you don't even like," Ranko questions with a quirked eyebrow.

I look up into his own crimson eyes, my eye twitching with annoyance.

He smirks. "Well, she's not a very bright person. Honestly, how can you like someone who gets mad for something you didn't do, or know," he asks, pointing the pencil at my face.

I release a heavy sigh. "She was jealous. Jealous that I had some potential of getting together with her crush. She let her feelings get the best of her, we're back on speaking terms," I explain.

"Yeah, but for how long? Soon there's going to be another reason she gets mad at you and it's going to hurt you. Riko, this girl, all she does is hurt you. Not intentionally, but you liking her, only brings you pain especially if she keeps liking that Uchiha boy," he tells me with genuine concern. Not with his fun attitude or smirks, but with genuine kindness.

It's true. Just watching Sakura go after Sasuke is already bringing me pain. What will happen when I watch her choose Sasuke, it'll be heart shattering, I carefully think as a frown becomes prominent in my face.

As if noticing my frown, Ranko sighs. "I know you don't want to let go of your feelings, but you need to find someone better. Someone who actually cares about your feelings. It's hard to let go, believe me, I know," he tells me, sadness evident in his voice.

I look up at his change of attitude. "Who was it? Who did you let go," I question with sincerity.

The corners of his lips twitch up as he smiles sadly. "He was actually one of my best friends. We were rivals, always trying to out-best each other. It was all fun and games, but then I starting having feelings for him. Of course I never got the chance to tell him, but I watched as his life became harder. From then on, things only got worse for him. I wanted to help, but he wouldn't talk to me," he explains with a wistful look.

"Who was it," I ask once again.

He smirks. "He's actually related to one of your teammates," he tells me with a laugh.

I narrow my eyes at him. Okay, Naruto doesn't have family. Neither does Kakashi. Sakura doesn't have any siblings. Sasuke, all his family was killed by...!

"You liked Itac-"

"Shush," he throws the pencil at me, a blush prominent on his cheeks.

I smirk, chuckling. "Oh, that is good! Do you still like him? Because if you do, that'll become a problem to my plans of setting you up with my sensei," I tell him.