Phonenix's Note:

Wishing you all a joyful and adventurous New Year of 2025! May this year be filled with endless opportunities, exciting journeys, and countless moments of laughter and fun. Here's hoping you enjoy good health—mentally, physically, and spiritually—throughout the coming months.

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Feel free to share your thoughts and suggestions—your input helps me grow as a writer. Every story I craft is unique and built with care, offering fresh ideas for those seeking something new. I appreciate each of you for being part of this adventure.

I've written over a million words, published 23 stories, and I have plans to keep creating more. I also have three drafts in progress and countless ideas floating around in my head, waiting to come to life! The journey of storytelling continues, and I can't wait to share more with all of you.

Thanks again, and here's to a fantastic 2025! Stay safe, stay inspired, and remember this author as we continue to explore new stories together.

Much love and gratitude!

Android in the Land of Snow: VI

Hokage slash Dad

Naruto sat curled up in the cold, damp corner of the sewer, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees, rocking back and forth in a frantic rhythm. The dim, murky light illuminated her pale, naked form, her snowy white hair wild and matted, falling over her face like a veil. Her sapphire eyes, normally so fierce and glowing, were wide and empty, staring at nothing as if she were trapped in a nightmare she couldn't wake from. Her lips moved soundlessly at first, but soon the faint chant could be heard, repeating over and over.

"This is a dream… this is a dream… this is a dream…"

The chant grew louder, her voice trembling, broken. Each word sounded like she was trying to convince herself, to claw her way out of the suffocating despair that clung to her.

In the dim distance, behind the thick iron bars of the massive cage, the Nine-Tails lounged, its enormous crimson eyes fixed on her with a gleeful malice. Its sharp teeth gleamed as it laughed, the sound reverberating through the sewer like a cruel echo.

"Dream? You wish this was a dream, don't you?" the Fox sneered, its voice dripping with venom. "Pathetic little doll, thinking she's untouchable. Look at you now. Broken. Worthless."

Naruto flinched at the words, her rocking growing more erratic. She clutched at her head, her fingers tangling in her messy hair as if trying to block out the Fox's voice. But it was useless. Its mocking laughter pierced through her every defense, each cruel word cutting deeper than any blade.

"You're just like your parents," the Fox continued, its tone dripping with contempt. "Thinking you could be something more. Thinking you could protect anyone. And what happened to them? Dead. Sacrificed themselves for you—a useless, lifeless doll."

"Shut up," Naruto whispered, her voice trembling. Her rocking slowed, and she buried her face in her knees. "Shut up, shut up, shut up…"

The Fox's grin widened, its claws scraping against the bars of the cage. "But it's true, isn't it? They died for nothing. Just like you almost did. Sasori tore you apart like the puppet you are, and you couldn't even fight back. Some 'invincible' hero you turned out to be."

Naruto's breath hitched, and tears began to stream down her face, mixing with the grime of the sewer. Her chest heaved as she struggled to hold back the sobs threatening to escape. She shook her head violently, her voice rising in desperation.

"No… no, this isn't real. I'm not broken. I'm not—"

The Fox's laughter cut her off, a deep, rumbling sound that sent chills down her spine. "Not broken? You're in pieces, girl! A pathetic heap of wires and ink, lying there on the ice while that red-haired brat gloated over your failure. And now? You're here, crying like the helpless child you are."

Naruto's chanting grew louder, her voice cracking. "This is a dream… this is a dream… this is a dream…"

The Fox leaned closer to the bars, its massive presence looming over her like a stormcloud. Its voice dropped, low and menacing. "Keep telling yourself that, puppet. Maybe you'll believe it. But deep down, you know the truth. You're nothing. You'll always be nothing."

Naruto's rocking stopped abruptly. Her hands fell limply to her sides, and she stared blankly ahead, her eyes clouded with pain and doubt. For a moment, the sewer was silent, save for the faint dripping of water and the Fox's soft, mocking chuckle.

"Face it, doll," the Fox said, its voice almost purring now. "You've always been alone. You've always been a failure. And you always will be."

Naruto trembled, her body curling even tighter as if trying to shield herself from the weight of its words. Her lips parted, but no sound came out this time, only a faint, shuddering breath.

The Fox's grin widened, its satisfaction evident. "What's the matter, doll? No clever retorts? No obnoxious catchphrase? Just silence? Good. Maybe now you'll finally understand your place."

Naruto's fingers twitched, clutching at the cold, slimy ground. Her tears fell freely now, disappearing into the murky water beneath her. She felt small, powerless, and for the first time in her existence, truly defeated.

The Fox settled back into the shadows of its cage, its laughter echoing once more. "Oh, how I've waited for this moment. Watching you squirm, break, and fall apart—it's delightful. Go on, wallow in your misery. It suits you."

Naruto's eyes, wide and vacant, remained fixed on the floor. Her lips moved silently, her voice lost, her mind trapped in the storm of despair. The Fox's taunts echoed in her ears, and no matter how much she tried to shut them out, they clawed at her, tearing her apart from the inside.

The invincible hero had been reduced to nothing more than a broken doll, and the Nine-Tails reveled in her agony.

Naruto sat in her corner, rocking back and forth, her trembling lips forming the same words over and over. "This is a dream… this is a dream… this is a dream…" Her voice cracked, raw with desperation, but she couldn't stop herself.

The Nine-Tails, watching her pitiful display, leaned closer to the bars of its cage, its massive teeth gleaming in the dim light. Its deep, rumbling laugh echoed through the sewer.

"Still clinging to that, are you?" it sneered. "Pathetic. You can't even accept reality. You've lost, doll. You're weak. You're nothing."

Naruto flinched but said nothing, her rocking growing more frantic.

The Fox's voice dropped, venom dripping from every word. "But what if I told you there was a way? A way to make this all go away. A way to become truly invincible."

Naruto's rocking slowed, her wide, vacant eyes flickering with a faint glimmer of attention.

The Fox grinned, sensing her hesitation. "That's right. You wouldn't have to feel like this ever again. No one would dare to hurt you. No one would laugh at you. You'd be unstoppable."

Naruto's lips parted, her voice barely a whisper. "H-how?"

The Fox chuckled, the sound low and sinister. "It's simple. Free me. Remove the seal, and I'll give you power beyond your wildest dreams. You'll never feel pain again. You'll never lose again."

Naruto shook her head weakly, her fingers clutching at her hair. "No… no, I can't…"

"You can," the Fox pressed, its voice smooth and persuasive. "You should. What's the point of this seal? It's only holding you back. You're already broken. Let me fix you."

Naruto continued to shake her head, but her resolve was crumbling. The Fox could see it in the way her body trembled, in the way her rocking had slowed.

"Your parents," the Fox added with a cruel smile. "They left you with nothing but this cage. They trapped me here, and for what? So you could suffer like this? They failed you, just like you've failed everyone else."

"Stop…" Naruto whispered, her voice shaking.

"Why should I?" the Fox snarled. "You're nothing but a shell. A hollow doll pretending to be human. Free me, and I'll make you whole. Free me, and you'll never have to feel this pain again."

Naruto's movements stilled. Her hands dropped to her sides, and she stared blankly at the cage. Slowly, shakily, she stood, her legs wobbling beneath her.

"That's it," the Fox purred, its crimson eyes gleaming with triumph.

Naruto took a step forward, her bare feet splashing in the shallow water. Her hands trembled as she reached for the piece of paper that kept the cage sealed. She hesitated, her fingers hovering just inches away.

The Fox's grin widened. "Go on. Take it off. Be free."

With a deep, shuddering breath, Naruto pulled the paper free, revealing the intricate, glowing seal beneath. Her sapphire eyes widened as she stared at the complex design.

"I… I don't have the key," she murmured, her voice hollow.

The Fox chuckled darkly. "Who needs a key? Use that flashy little move of yours. Rasengan it."

Naruto blinked, her expression blank. "Rasengan?"

"Yes," the Fox said, its voice dripping with anticipation. "Do it. Show me what you're capable of."

Without another word, Naruto lifted her trembling hand, forming the familiar spiral of chakra. Her voice was barely audible as she whispered, "Rasengan…"

She pressed the jutsu against the bars, but the seal held firm. The cage didn't even budge.

The Fox laughed, its voice ringing with cruel delight. "What's the matter, doll? Not strong enough?"

Naruto's lips tightened, and she tried again. "Rasengan…"

Again, the seal held.

Her frustration grew, her movements more frantic. "Rasengan! Rasengan!" She repeated the jutsu over and over, her voice rising in desperation.

The Fox watched her with wicked glee, its laughter filling the air. "Keep going, little doll. Maybe you'll get lucky."

Naruto's hand began to shake, her palm red and raw from the repeated attempts. Still, she didn't stop. She slammed the jutsu against the bars, her voice breaking into a scream. "Rasengan!"

Tears streamed down her face as she hit the cage with everything she had, her other hand clutching at the bars for support. Her head dropped, her snowy hair falling into her face. Then, with a cry of frustration, she slammed her head against the bars.

"Rasengan!"

Blood trickled down her forehead, staining her pale skin, but she didn't stop. She hit the bars again and again, her voice growing hoarse.

The Fox laughed louder, its amusement boundless. "Look at you. So desperate, so pathetic. You'll never break that seal, no matter how hard you try."

Naruto's voice wavered, her tears mixing with the blood on her face. Her hands trembled as she reached for the bars again, her movements sluggish and uncoordinated.

The Fox's grin widened. "That's right. Keep trying, doll. Keep breaking yourself for nothing."

Just as Naruto raised her hand for another attempt, a firm grip caught her wrist.

"That's enough."

Naruto froze, her hollow eyes blinking in confusion. Slowly, she turned her head to look at the person who had stopped her.

Standing there was a man with blonde hair that framed his handsome face, his blue eyes warm and steady. He gave her a gentle smile, his presence radiating calm and strength.

Naruto's lips parted, her voice barely a whisper. "Y-you…?"

Behind the bars, the Fox's laughter abruptly ceased. Its crimson eyes narrowed, its snarl filling the air. "You?!"

The man's smile didn't waver as he looked down at Naruto. "I am Minato Namikaze," he said softly, his voice like a soothing balm to her frayed nerves. "The Fourth Hokage."

Naruto's teary eyes widened, her body trembling as she stared at him in disbelief. "M-Minato…?"

Her voice cracked, and for the first time since her descent into despair, a flicker of hope sparked in her eyes.

Naruto blinked, her teary sapphire eyes wide with confusion as she stared at Minato. Her voice trembled as she stammered out, "W-why is the F-fourth Hokage here? I-I don't think I'm worthy of an interview a-anymore. D-dattebayo…"

Minato tilted his head slightly, a soft, almost fatherly smile gracing his lips. "An interview? That's not why I'm here."

Behind them, the Nine-Tails roared in frustration, its voice booming with curses. "Minato Namikaze! Always meddling where you don't belong!"

Minato turned his head slightly toward the Fox, his expression unchanging, though his voice carried a hint of exasperation. "You're making too much noise. Let's take this somewhere quieter, shall we?"

With a snap of his fingers, the dreary sewer faded away, replaced by a serene, softly illuminated space. A gentle breeze rustled through the grass beneath their feet, and a glowing sunlit sky stretched above.

Naruto blinked again, looking around, bewildered. Her voice cracked as she repeated her question. "W-why is the Fourth Hokage here?"

Minato clasped his hands behind his back, his warm blue eyes settling on her. "A bit of my chakra was sealed inside my son before I died. I'm here to guide him if he ever found himself in a desperate moment."

"Huh?" Naruto tilted her head, her long snowy hair falling over her shoulder.

Minato's brows furrowed slightly as he studied her. "Who are you?" he asked gently. "And why are you crying? And… why are you naked?"

Naruto froze, her pale cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She hugged herself, her voice barely above a whisper. "I-I'm Naruto Uzumaki," she said, her words shaky. "A useless, b-broken toy d-doll. Dattebayo…"

Minato's eyes widened in shock. "What? You're Naruto?" He took a step closer, his voice rising in disbelief. "Naruto is a boy!"

Naruto looked up at him, her expression a mix of shame and frustration. "I-I am Naruto! I-I was a boy, but then… an accident…" Her voice cracked, and she hesitated before adding, "...made me an Android girl. D-dattebayo…"

Minato's jaw dropped as he stared at her, his mind racing to process her words. "Wait… Naruto? You're Naruto? My son?"

Naruto blinked, the confusion in her teary eyes deepening. "Y-your s-son? Dattebayo?"

Minato nodded slowly, his voice softening. "Yes, Naruto. You're my son. When the Nine-Tails attacked the Leaf Village, I… I sealed the Fox inside you to save everyone."

Naruto's teary eyes grew wide as the words sank in. Her expression shifted from shock to indignation. Without warning, she raised her hand and swung, hitting Minato in the crotch with surprising precision.

Minato stumbled back, doubling over with a strangled sound. "Ow! Naruto! What was that for?!"

Naruto stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at him through her tears. "Why would you do that to your own son, eh, child, dattebayo?!"

Minato straightened up slowly, rubbing the sore spot and wincing. "Naruto, listen to me." His voice was firm yet gentle. "It wasn't an easy decision. Your mother and I knew the risks, but we didn't have any other choice."

"Why not?!" Naruto demanded, her voice breaking. "Why me? Why not someone else, dattebayo?!"

Minato's eyes softened, filled with regret and pain. "Naruto, when the Nine-Tails attacked, it was far too powerful to be defeated outright. Sealing it was the only way to protect the village. And only a newborn could handle the strain of being its jinchūriki, someone whose chakra network was unformed and malleable enough to withstand the Fox's power."

Naruto's anger faltered, replaced by confusion and sorrow. "B-but… why your own son? Why not someone else's baby, dattebayo?"

Minato placed a hand on his chest, his voice resolute. "Because it was my responsibility as Hokage. How could I ask another family to sacrifice their child when I wasn't willing to do the same with my own?" He paused, his eyes locking with hers. "Your mother and I believed in you, Naruto. We believed you could handle it. And we believed that one day, you'd use the Fox's power to protect the village and the people you care about."

Naruto's lips quivered as tears streamed down her face. Her hands balled into fists at her sides. "But it's not fair, dattebayo! It's not fair! I didn't ask for this!"

"I know," Minato said softly, his voice thick with regret. "I know it wasn't fair. And I'm sorry, Naruto. I'm sorry for everything you've been through. If there had been another way, I would have taken it. But I had to make a choice. And in that moment, I chose to believe in you."

Naruto stared at him, her tears falling silently as his words sank in. The anger and hurt in her chest clashed with a small, flickering ember of understanding.

Minato reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You're stronger than you think, Naruto. And you're not alone. You have people who care about you, people who are willing to fight for you. Never forget that."

Naruto looked down, her voice barely a whisper. "But… I feel so broken… so useless…"

Minato's grip on her shoulder tightened gently. "You're not broken, Naruto. You're my child. And no matter what happens, no matter what form you take, you'll always be the light your mother and I believed in."

Naruto's tears flowed freely as she met his gaze, a flicker of hope and determination returning to her sapphire eyes.

Minato's hand remained steady on Naruto's trembling shoulder as he gazed into her tear-filled sapphire eyes. His voice softened, filled with a mixture of warmth and conviction. "Naruto, I know it's hard right now. I know it feels like the world has crumbled around you, but you need to be strong. Not just for the people who care about you, but for yourself. You're tougher than you think, and no mistake or failure can define you unless you let it."

Naruto blinked, her lips trembling. "H-how can I be strong, dattebayo? I-I don't even know how to start..."

Minato's gaze turned contemplative as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Hmm. Knowing Kushina, I think I might have an idea of what could help."

Naruto sniffled, tilting her head in curiosity. "K-Kushina? Who's that?"

Minato's face lit up with a soft smile, his blue eyes shimmering with affection. "Kushina Uzumaki. Your mother. She was… fiery, determined, and a little eccentric. She had this amazing energy that could light up an entire room, but she also had her quirks."

"Quirks?" Naruto asked, her interest piqued.

"She loved ramen," Minato said with a chuckle. "I think she could have eaten it every day if given the chance."

Naruto blinked, her tears momentarily forgotten. "Ramen? R-really, dattebayo?"

"Really," Minato confirmed with a nod. "And she was incredibly skilled with seals. She could spend hours perfecting her techniques, and she'd get this little pout when something didn't work right."

Naruto's lips twitched slightly, a faint ghost of a smile trying to form.

"And, well," Minato continued, "she had this way of turning her quirks into strengths. She didn't care if people thought she was strange or a little different. She embraced it. And I think you can too, Naruto."

Naruto tilted her head, her snowy hair falling to the side. "M-my quirks? Like... like what?"

Minato chuckled softly. "Oh, I don't know... maybe the way you say 'dattebayo'? It's unique, and it's you. It's something only you can pull off."

Naruto blinked, the corners of her mouth twitching again. "Y-you think so, dattebayo?"

"I know so," Minato said, his voice firm and reassuring.

Naruto stared at him for a moment, her sapphire eyes wide with wonder. Then, she asked in a small voice, "L-love?"

Minato coughed, his cheeks tinged with a faint blush. "Love? Well, that's… um…" He hesitated, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "Do you, uh, like girls, Naruto?"

Naruto blinked, her confusion evident. "...Boys, maybe. Dattebayo."

Minato cleared his throat, clearly flustered but doing his best to keep a straight face. "Great! Then, uh, let me give you some advice." He paused, gathering his thoughts. "First, don't drink. Ever. Nothing good comes from it."

Naruto nodded sagely. "Got it. No drinking. Dattebayo."

"And," Minato continued, "stay away from bars. Especially sketchy ones. Nothing but trouble there."

Naruto nodded again, her expression serious. "No bars. Dattebayo."

"And for the love of everything sacred," Minato added, his tone becoming more insistent, "don't wear short dresses. They attract the wrong kind of attention."

Naruto blinked, tilting her head. "But... but I don't even wear dresses, dattebayo."

Minato sighed in relief. "Good. Keep it that way."

"Anything else, dattebayo?" Naruto asked, her voice filled with earnest curiosity.

Minato's face softened, his fatherly instincts kicking in. "Just… be yourself, Naruto. Don't try to change for anyone. The right people will appreciate you for who you are. And remember, it's okay to be a little weird or different. It makes you special."

Naruto stared at him, her wide eyes shimmering with a mix of wonder and newfound determination. "Special… dattebayo…"

Minato smiled warmly, his hand gently ruffling her wild white hair. "That's right. Now, let's get back to showing the world just how special you are."

Naruto nodded, her lips curving into a small, determined smile. "Okay. I'll be strong, dattebayo."

"That's my kid," Minato said with a proud grin.

.Naruto tilted her head, her wild, snowy hair cascading over her shoulder. Her sapphire eyes, still glistening with lingering tears, blinked in a mechanical rhythm as she spoke in a monotone voice. "In the real world, Sasori… he tore my head off. Dattebayo."

Minato froze, his expression shifting from fatherly warmth to a mixture of shock and disbelief. "Wait, what?! What do you mean he tore your head off?!"

Naruto shrugged with unsettling calmness. "My head. Gone. Crunch. Wires, seals, ink everywhere. I'm dead. Sort of."

Minato pinched the bridge of his nose, inhaling deeply to keep his composure. "Okay, okay, hold on. Let's backtrack. How did it even come to this? Why were you fighting him? What led to this point, Naruto?"

Her lips trembled, and for a moment, the robotic facade cracked. She clenched her fists, her shoulders trembling as she stammered out her explanation. "I-it's my fault, okay? My stupid, arrogant self got me killed. I thought I was invincible, dattebayo! I-I thought nothing could touch me because I'm... different. B-because I'm not human. And now look at me!"

She gestured at her naked, frail form in the mindscape, her voice rising in frustration. "I mocked him. I fought recklessly. I didn't even care about the consequences, thinking my 'superior android body' could handle anything! And then he... he…" Her voice broke, and she hugged her knees, rocking slightly. "He showed me I'm not invincible. He showed me how wrong I was. I let my team down. I let everyone down! I'm just a useless, broken toy doll. Dattebayo."

Minato's heart ached at the sight of her crumbling like this, but he knew he couldn't let her wallow in self-pity. He crouched in front of her, placing a firm but gentle hand on her shoulder. "Naruto, listen to me. You're not a toy. You're not useless. And you're certainly not broken. But…" His tone shifted, becoming sterner, "you do need to hear this. Your arrogance, your overconfidence—it's a problem. It's what got you into this mess, and if you don't learn from it, it'll happen again."

Naruto flinched, her eyes wide. "B-but—"

"No buts," Minato interrupted, his voice firm but not unkind. "You need to understand that being strong isn't just about physical power or fancy techniques. It's about knowing when to fight and when to think. It's about recognising your limits and working with your team. You can't just charge into battle thinking you're invincible, because no one is. Not me, not your mother, not even the strongest shinobi alive. Everyone has weaknesses, Naruto. Even you."

Naruto lowered her gaze, her lips quivering. "I-I thought I was helping… I thought being confident was good, dattebayo..."

"It is," Minato agreed, his tone softening slightly. "Confidence is good, but overconfidence? That's dangerous. It blinds you to the risks, to the reality of the situation. And being reckless doesn't just put you in danger—it puts your friends, your team, in danger too. What if they couldn't protect you in time? What if Sasori had attacked them while you were down?"

Naruto's eyes widened, her expression twisting in guilt. "I… I didn't think about that..."

"That's the problem," Minato said gently but firmly. "You need to start thinking, Naruto. You're strong—stronger than you realise—but strength without wisdom is a recipe for disaster."

Naruto sniffled, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "S-so what do I do, dattebayo? How do I fix this?"

Minato's gaze softened, and he smiled. "You start by learning from your mistakes. Take this as a lesson, Naruto. Humility isn't a weakness—it's a strength. It keeps you grounded, makes you aware of your surroundings, and helps you grow. And remember, you're not alone in this. You have a team, people who care about you. Lean on them. Trust them. And most importantly, trust yourself—but not blindly."

Naruto blinked up at him, her sapphire eyes shimmering with a glimmer of hope. "Y-you really think I can… fix this? Dattebayo?"

"I know you can," Minato said confidently. "You're my child, after all. You've got that Uzumaki spirit and a heart full of determination. If anyone can come back stronger from this, it's you."

Naruto hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly. "Okay. I'll try… I'll be better. Dattebayo."

"That's the spirit," Minato said, ruffling her hair with a warm smile. Then, with a playful glint in his eyes, he added, "But remember—no drinking, no bars, and definitely no short dresses. Got it?"

Naruto blinked, tilting her head. "B-but I don't even wear dresses, dattebayo."

"Good," Minato said with a chuckle. "Keep it that way. And one more thing—stay true to yourself. You're unique, Naruto, and that's a good thing. Embrace it."

Naruto managed a small smile, her earlier despair starting to lift. "Okay, Dad. I'll remember that. Dattebayo."

"Atta girl," Minato said, his chest swelling with pride. "Now, let's figure out how to get you out of this mess."

Minato stood in front of the floating window, his brows furrowed as he carefully examined the ominous options displayed. The AI's voice, cold and unfeeling, echoed through the serene mindscape.

"System collapsed. Options: Self-destruct: Nuclear chain reaction. Enough to erase a country. Or System Reboot."

He sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, we're definitely not going for the self-destruct option. That's off the table. Reboot it is."

Naruto, still seated on the ground with her knees drawn up, watched with wide, teary sapphire eyes as Minato made the logical choice. She flinched slightly when the AI's voice returned.

"System Reboot initiated."

The seconds ticked by, each one stretching into an eternity. Naruto hugged her knees closer, her wild, snowy hair falling over her face as she muttered, "Please work… Dattebayo…"

Then, the AI spoke again. "Process failed."

Minato groaned, shaking his head. "Of course, it's never that easy." He cracked his knuckles and stepped closer to the floating window. "Looks like I'll have to do this the old-fashioned way."

Naruto blinked, tilting her head as she watched Minato suddenly fly through a flurry of hand signs. The speed of his movements was hypnotic, each seal formed with the precision and grace of a seasoned shinobi. Blue chakra flared around his hands, weaving into intricate patterns that interlocked with the errors displayed on the screen.

"Hold on," Minato muttered, his focus sharp. "Just need to override this and reconfigure the core matrix…"

Naruto's gaze remained fixed on him, her wide eyes shimmering with a mixture of awe and confusion. She shifted slightly, her body still trembling from earlier, and Minato noticed her movements out of the corner of his eye.

He paused for a moment, realising her predicament. "Ah, sorry about this, Naruto. Let's fix that." Without missing a beat, he shrugged off his Hokage cloak and draped it gently over her shoulders.

The oversized cloak nearly swallowed her whole, the fabric pooling around her as she stared down at it. Her sapphire eyes flickered back up to him, wide and almost childlike.

"It's so… big," she muttered softly, clutching the edges of the cloak.

Minato chuckled, crouching down beside her. "Well, it's meant for a full-grown man, not a petite… um, android girl." He hesitated slightly, still processing the whole situation, before giving her a reassuring smile.

Naruto blinked up at him, her cheeks faintly flushed, and for a moment, her usual brash personality faded, replaced by something more vulnerable. "I-it's warm, dattebayo…"

Minato's heart melted at the sight. "You look adorable in it," he said, unable to resist the urge to ruffle her wild, snowy hair.

Her cheeks puffed out slightly, her lips forming a tiny pout. "A-adorable? I'm not adorable! I'm… I'm supposed to be invincible, dattebayo!"

"Sure you are," Minato teased, pinching her cheeks lightly. "But right now, you're also pretty darn cute."

Naruto blinked at him, her expression shifting from indignation to something softer. Slowly, she leaned into his touch, her body relaxing as she let out a small, content sigh.

"There we go," Minato said, patting her head gently. "You've been through a lot. Take a moment to breathe."

Naruto nodded, her sapphire eyes fluttering shut as she practically melted into his embrace like a kitten seeking warmth. Minato chuckled softly, holding her close for a moment longer before pulling back.

"Alright, that's enough distractions," he said, his tone light but resolute. "I've got work to do."

Naruto blinked up at him, tilting her head slightly as he returned to the floating window. The sight of him diving back into his task, his hands moving with practiced precision, brought a sense of calm to her chaotic mind.

She pulled the cloak tighter around herself, her lips curving into a faint smile as she whispered, "Thanks, Dad… Dattebayo."

Minato's ears perked up, and a warm smile spread across his face. He didn't turn around, but his voice carried a hint of pride as he replied, "Anytime, Naruto. That's what dads are for."

With renewed determination, he focused on fixing the errors in the system, his chakra blazing brightly as he worked tirelessly to bring his daughter back from the brink.

Û~Û

Author Note:

Family bonding time!

So, in the mindscape, Naruto is a real girl, a human of fle sh and blood. No robotic behaviour. She being bare represents her vulnerability. Dattebayo. I hope Minato fixes her.

I hope you liked this chapter.

Drop your thoughts in the review section. Your words inspire me to write faster, better and with more depth.

Till next time!