But for the current Orochimaru, there was only one answer: to keep walking down the path in pursuit of immortality.
That was his goal in life.
Ever since his parents had died in the war, that seed had already been planted in his heart.
And when Senju Nawaki, the disciple he had poured all his heart into teaching, died before his very eyes, that seed began to grow without restraint.
Death became the thing Orochimaru feared most.
Death had taken away his family and his disciple, and it would take away even more in the future.
But as long as he could discover a way to achieve immortality, none of that would matter anymore.
So researching a way to attain immortality became an inevitable choice.
And he had continued down that path, using countless lives as the price of researching his own road to immortality.
Then... if Orochimaru were allowed to see those people he had long since lost, would that give him another choice?
However, Torikaze did not intend to do that today.
It could wait until after a day of rest.
Everyone should relax a little. It was Orochimaru's first day in Konoha too; there was no need to subject him to such a huge shock all at once.
Besides, Torikaze had told Orochimaru about Tsunade Senju meeting Dan.
Naturally, he would start filling in the blanks himself and talking himself through it.
That way, his emotions would not fluctuate too much tomorrow.
"By the way, compared to Tsunade Senju's matter, I want to know where Minato Namikaze went. If you've lost our little Hokage, the old man will be very worried."
Torikaze could tell from his tone that Orochimaru was still hung up on Hiruzen Sarutobi not choosing him as Hokage.
But Torikaze could understand. Put anyone