bubblegum princess

chapter twenty seven

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the beginning:
CONFLICTS WITHIN
THE FAMILY
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     UCHIHA SARADA sat alone in the empty corridor of the hospital. The soft glow of the lights above cast long shadows on the walls, she stared blankly at the photograph in her hand. A woman. So similar. Her thoughts were a turbulent sea, each wave crashing against the shore of her mind, bringing with it more confusion and doubt.

For years, she had clung to the belief that her mother was her anchor. The one constant in her life of uncertainty and the endless absence of her father. Yet it comes to the point that she no longer bears it within her. She remembered how Sakura would speak about her father with such fondness and pride yet her face would falter with the yearning of his presence.

Sarada clenched her fists, the photograph slightly crumpling under the pressure. Was it possible that her mother wasn't her mother at all? What about Seiren? That this woman in the photograph— this stranger with glasses. Her thoughts turned to Seiren, her twin sister, her pride and joy. Who seemed to have always looked like Sakura, with her gentle demeanor and unwavering optimism.

She wanted answers. She wanted their father to be there. She wanted to scream, badly wanted to lecture him for the pain he often causes for her younger twin's demise. Who was this woman in the picture?

"That's bullshit," Kaizen says as Shizune told him what happened last night. How Sarada has been questioning her existence and bringing Seiren with her. Were they even twins? She asked. Kaizen muffled his screams with his palm before rubbing his hands on his face at the frustration he felt.

"Language, Kaizen-sama." Shizune scolded slightly before sighing "I feel bad..."

Kaizen leans back on the sturdy wooden wood, letting the bench carry his weight. His right leg crossed over his left knee in a relaxed L shape, creating a stable perch for him to contemplate. His left arm extended alongside the top of the bench, fingers lightly falling on the weathered surface as he fell into deep thought "This is why I don't marry."

"You never were," Shizune replied dryly. "Right back at ya." He retorts.

The woman rolled her eyes before her face grew concerned "How did Seiren react?" The man scrunched his nose "She seemed reluctant but she didn't pry for questions." Shizune sighed in relief, hand resting on her chest as she relaxed.

"But Kaizen, this is getting out of hand... Sarada is already been asking for Sasuke's whereabouts and Keishi goes to the village library and the librarian tells him that a girl has been asking for Sasuke's information." Shizune held her temple "I don't know what will happen..."

Kaizen crossed his arms "Sakura will explain it in time and Sasuke on the other hand..." He groaned, pulling his head back frustratedly "Damn it!"

Shizune then stood up "I'll be heading first, I still need to check up on a few more patients. You should head back, you're meeting with Sasuke, no?" Kaizen nods at her words "Yeah."

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"Be careful will you?" Seiren says as she watches Kaizen strapping his bag, the man looks at her in amusement, reaching his hand towards her and cradling her head "I'm a grown man, Sei. I could handle myself." Seiren looked away embarrassingly before they heard footsteps approaching them.