When Naruto was born… things were pretty hectic.
Minato remembered being happy but the feeling wasn't allowed to be explored as the demon fox attacked and Kushina was weak. But thanks to Jiraiya arriving in the nick of time and Rin healing Kushina all went well.
Or it should have.
Hokage duties were strenuous. And a voice told him to be home more, so he tried. Kushina never fully healed and was constantly weak so he had to make sure he had energy for both of them. And being with Naruto was….
He loved it.
Naruto looked at him with those big blue eyes like he was some sort of god and he couldn't help loving him that much more. That's why it was painful to know that the village wouldn't accept him. Kushina cried often and the council was cautious. So it was decided that he would leave with Jiraiya….
"Can't i stay with daddy?"
Blue eyes looked up pleading and Minato had to stay strong,
"You'll be with daddy another time but for now i want you to be safe"
But tears filled those precious innocent eyes,
"Why!? Daddy's the strongest! Daddy can keep me safe!"
Kushina was also angry at him but he knew this was the right choice.
At five Naruto met Kakashi…
It was then that Minato knew Naruto was special.
His student had gone wayward drowning in sorrow and depression that no one seemed to understand where it came from. But no one had been able to reach him and here a five year old child had managed to open the heart that had sealed itself away.
And then he was gone.
Perhaps it was the whispers of the council and the weakness in his wife's body that made his resentment for the fox grow, but it was okay because Naruto wasn't the fox…
Or so he thought.
When Naruto went beserk and it took three of them to control him at the cost of his arm Minato doubted. He doubted that the fox wasn't slowly taking over his son.
And slowly their bond… began to break.
Every Time Naruto came back Minato could look at him less and less and Naruto began to brood more and more and it only fueled his insecurity.
By the time he was seven there was a chasm between them. Kushina did her best to mend things but everytime she had a coughing fit Minato couldn't help blame the fox for making her so dependent on its demonic chakra. And whenever he thought of the fox… his eyes strayed to Naruto.
But he was better than that.
He was smarter.
That's why he didn't want Naruto to become an official ninja because surely the stress and intensity would unleash the fox further and devour what was left of his son.
He didn't want to lose Kushina, and he didn't want to lose Naruto…
But Naruto became a genin regardless and Kushina convinced him that he was doing it because he was surely their son and shared the same dream as them.
It was all Kushina….
That was one of the reasons he stepped down from hokage. That and without an arm he was only half as good. And it was fine, a perfect candidate was waiting for the seat.
But even with more time he seemed equally busy and he couldn't connect to the boy anymore.
But he had Kushina…
Kushina was there to start conversations and ease the swell of anger that built up between them sometimes. But he knew it was hard on her. She was already weak and he had continued to burden her with their hearts.
That's why without Kushina Minato didn't know what else to do. He couldn't raise Naruto without her He couldn't do anything without her anymore.
Just as she had grown dependent on the fox's chakra he had grown dependent on her and was dying without her.
What was he suppose to do….
There was nothing left…..