bubblegum princess

chapter fifty

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the end of the beginning:
BLADE OF TEARS !
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KEISHI leaned against the doorframe, his arms still crossed, the faintest hint of amusement now breaking through his otherwise unimpressed demeanor. He studied Kakashi's reflection again—the lopsided wig, the almost perfectly aligned violet tape, and the utterly self-satisfied expression on his father's face. It was such a bizarre sight that Keishi found it both frustrating and oddly endearing.

"You know," Keishi started, his voice dry, "for a man who's been Hokage and supposedly has better things to do, this is... next-level ridiculous."

Kakashi adjusted a strip of tape near his jawline, tilting his head slightly to inspect it. "Ridiculous?" he echoed, his tone mock-offended. "This is dedication, Keishi. If you're going to sneak into the academy incognito, you have to commit." He gave a final tug on the wig, satisfied with its crooked placement. "Besides, you can't just waltz in looking like yourself. It ruins the mystery."

Keishi raised an eyebrow, stepping further into the room. "Mystery? You're wearing a wig that looks like it's been through a storm and tape that's barely sticking. Even a blind Genin would recognize you."

Kakashi spun his chair around dramatically, pointing a finger at Keishi. "Ah, but that's where you're wrong! The brilliance of this disguise lies in its audacity. No one will expect someone to try this hard and fail this much. It's foolproof."

Keishi couldn't help the laugh that slipped out, though he quickly masked it with a cough. "Yeah, foolproof is exactly what I'd call it."

Kakashi leaned back in his chair, arms crossed behind his head, clearly pleased with himself. "You should try it sometime. It's good for building character."

Keishi shook his head, finally allowing a genuine smile to break through. "If building character means embarrassing myself in public, I think I'll pass."

Kakashi gave a nonchalant shrug and turned back to the mirror, making a final adjustment to his wig. "Suit yourself. Just don't say I didn't offer you a masterclass in creativity."

Keishi turned to leave, pausing for a moment as he reached the doorway. "You're lucky no one's writing a book about this," he called over his shoulder. "It'd ruin your reputation."

Kakashi chuckled softly, his gaze flickering back to the photograph on the table. "Maybe," he murmured, his voice quieter now, "but some reputations are worth risking... if it means inspiring the next generation."

Keishi glanced back, his smirk fading into something softer. He didn't say anything more, just gave a small nod before stepping out of the room, leaving Kakashi to his "disguise."

Seiren remained curled up, her soft breaths steady as she napped, oblivious to the world around her. Sarada sat beside her, silently flipping through her notes from the parent-teacher conference earlier that day. The day had been entirely free, giving everyone time to prepare for their upcoming graduation.

The peace in the room was suddenly interrupted by the sound of the door swinging open. Boruto barged in with his trademark grin, his voice loud as he started, "Hey—!"

His words faltered mid-exclamation as his eyes fell on Seiren, sleeping peacefully, and Sarada, glaring at him with a look that could freeze the sun. Boruto froze, coughing awkwardly before lowering his voice to a sheepish whisper. It was just loud enough to catch Sarada's attention but soft enough not to disturb Seiren.