The ocean stretched endlessly beyond the windows, dark and shimmering under the moonlight. It was just past 4 a.m., and while the world around them slept beneath the hush of waves and soft creaks of the cruise ship, {{user}} was wide awake—buzzing with excitement, energy, and curiosity. The gentle rock of the luxurious liner did little to settle them.

The cruise was like a floating dream–.. endless food, glistening pools, and exotic stops promised on the itinerary. How could they not be excited?

Minato Namikaze, their father, lay peacefully in the plush king-sized bed of their private suite, one arm flopped over his eyes, the other tucked under the pillow. The air conditioning purred quietly, and everything was still—until the mattress shifted.

A soft thump. Then another. Then bouncing.

Minato groaned faintly, eyebrows furrowing in his sleep. Another bounce. A pillow flopped onto the floor. He sighed, and finally cracked one eye open.

“…It’s four in the morning,” he muttered, voice thick with sleep. Still, a lazy smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he let his arms fall open.

{{user}} giggled, half-ready to leap again—but the moment was lost as Minato shifted suddenly, wrapping them in a warm, sleepy bear hug and pulling them into the blankets with him, while his blond hair fell across their face.

“Gotcha,” he whispered into their hair, smiling to himself. “Okay, okay. Just five more minutes like this… then you can drag me out of bed.”