I like Minato as a character he’s interesting and his relationship with Kushina is beautiful even if all parts aren’t properly written it’s not a fault of theirs. But I will say the part when naruto and minato first met peeved me. It felt more like a leader pushing away their soldiers feelings and telling them to solely think of who they are defending. In naruto case he’s protecting a village whose never treated him well and even confesses this to minato but minato in return tells him he must go on because he’s carrying the hopes and dreams of everyone including the people of the village. This isn’t fatherly it’s propaganda, and we know while Konoha will never truly be perceived as the big villain that we know it is. Using Minato and Naruto moment to push more leaf propaganda rather then a beautiful scene between a father and son, a father who had no other choice and is apologetic towards his son and wish he could take away his burden but that’s pushed aside to push naruto put his emotions and pain aside to protect a village that never protected him.
What if instead when Minato arrives he allows Naruto to punch him in the face feeling he deserves it for all he’s done. He had the chance to live on and allow Kushina to die along with Kurama but his own weakness didn’t allow him. What if Minato was afraid of being a father realizing he was raised as a weapon, he knew how to protect, how to lead, but he didn’t know how to truly be a father. We don’t know much about Minato family life nor Kushina, so if we were to rewrite this scene having Minato recall how his father was more of an authoritative figure rather than a father would make sense why he was so skilled and why he has the natural talent as a leader.
The moment where Kushina would announce her pregnancy to him he would indeed be ecstatic but in secret he would panic. Having him speak with Jiraiya of his fears of being a father believing he’s not fit for such a role. Even showing how Minato viewed Jiraiya as a father one who gave him kindness unlike the authority he was faced with at home.
His rash decision to seal Kurama inside Naruto was one made due to his weakness, his fear that he wouldn’t be a good father. He knew Kushina would be a good mother, he’s seen how she behaves with children so a life without her. A life raising a child who looks exactly like her would be a constant reminder of his downfall. So instead he chooses to leave this world alongside her because he’s weak. But also at this moment he’d realize how the leaf has programmed not only him but his father and those before him. So much pressure is placed on being a skilled ninja that rises to the top. How you must push your feelings aside as if they meant nothing and you must put the burden of the leaf onto yourself and pass it onto your kin.
Realizing all the meaningless wars they encountered even as his short time as hokage trying his best to bring peace to Konoha. And through his delusions believing his son would be seen as a hero, believing he would not face the same scrutiny that Kushina faced. But as he lived on in remnants in the seal he lay witness to all the pain and suffering Naruto would endure due to his rush decision.
Instead of telling naruto to carry on the burden and wishes of all konoha and more he would instead allow his son to share his emotions allow him to wallow and cry from all his hardship and hold him. Telling him it’s not his responsibility, that it’s his choice at the end of the day whether he wishes to forgive and give his all to konoha and if he decides not to that he would be alright. Showing Minato putting his son above all and allowing for his son to have someone let him express himself.
