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?"