I'm not saying Hinata meant more. But Hinata was the only reason he went nine tails. U less you can provide evidence saying otherwise, unlike what I have done, then I'm right.
Yeah, he most likely would have gone crazy seeing any of his friends die, but would he really reach 8-tails? I don't see it happening.
It's just an assumption, but by the look in Naruto's eyes when Hinata confesses and says she loves him well, I honestly think that impacted him a ton.just stop to think about it. Naruto's been alone his whole damn life. Up until he was 13 (where Iuruka came into his life) all he ever heard from people was one insult after another. Idiot, failure,dumbass, demon, monster, trash, dirt, it just kept going.
No love, only hate. Even with Iuruka & Team 7 there, would that really help fill the hole his parents left? No, it simply doesn't work like that. Kushina & Minato would have told him "I love you, Naruto" hundreds of times. Most people, because they have both/one parent who always tells them that they love them, they will just shrug it off and say "I love you too" with out really giving it much thought.
Naruto's never had that. Ever. and since he was confused at that moment and didn't know what to think, first seeing Hinata confess then die, I think it just left a mixture of shock & despair in him, and he didn't know what to do, thus he gave into the kyuubi.
I'm just going to start with the bold. Yes, he would have went eight tails against Orochimaru if Yamato didn't interfere. Once he loses control, he can't regain it. So, yes. If it were anyone else he would have snapped the same.
And evidence? If you look more into the manga then just what is said, you can clearly see a plethora of reasons on why Naruto would be angry, and could feel his hatred and passion rising. Wanting to tear Pein apart, but he wasn't willing to give in. But they slowly wore on him, and by the time he saw, again, the death of a friend. Something he wasn't prepared for!
I would say that Hinata's confession was a shock to him, but really. It didn't have too long of an impact and it isn't like Naruto was instantly thinking "I love this person.". Yes, he was lonely and so Hinata's one "I love you" would fill the hole that he felt from being neglected as a child?
No, Naruto had people when he began his Ninja career, those he cared for and those who cared for him. He slowly got more friends and bonds with more people that filled the "hole" in his heart. Being accepted by other people. It's not like Hinata was the first, her revelation was just a shocking thing that Naruto didn't have time to act or think about. It's like when someone tells you in real life that they like you a lot, and you have more or less neutral feelings for them.
You wouldn't think "Damn, I think this person is the one for me". And yes, your last paragraph I will somewhat agree with. Naruto had a form of love both with Iruka, Jiraiya, and Tsunade. Kakashi is iffy on whether they have "love" or are just close. Sakura would also only be considered close.
But it was a not Hinata who made Naruto lose control, she was just the straw that broke the camels back. You can't even argue that it was solidly her, Pein had caused him so much hatred and well, Pain. And to find out that a friend was hurt and possibly killed because of him was too much.
Naruto was feeling intense pain, hatred, and guilt towards himself. Unable to save a comrade and friend. And you made the point to look at Naruto's eyes, yes he is shocked. Wouldn't you be? He was oblivious towards Hinata's feelings towards him for years now. I think any one would be in shocked after someone said they loved them. And were truthful about it, Sakura's confession really shouldn't count. It was more or less to get Naruto to stop going after Sasuke.
Honestly, this is my biggest issue with what you're saying. Hinata was not the sole reason for the Kyuubi's rampage. Hinata didn't mean that much to him, and he didn't have nearly enough time to think about her words. He was shocked, but that doesn't mean her confession would make him care for her the same Hinata cares for Naruto.
And the feeling I'm getting from this, is that the Kyuubi only came out because of Hinata and nothing else had an effect on him. And it was only the "death" of Hinata that caused him to loose control. So Naruto must love Hinata that much to loose control.
Which, again, I think is dumb. He didn't love her then, her words were a shock but in the few seconds she said it to the point that Pein rid the battlefield of her, he didn't fall in love. Her words didn't fill the ever shrinking hole in his heart in that short amount of time.
By this point in the story, could Hinata's words have caused Naruto to rethink his view of her? Yes. Could they, after him thinking over her words and what she said, caused him to develop some attachment to her? Yes. It wouldn't be instant.
are you trying to say that naruto meet sakura after pain arc that's why minato didn't recognized her ?