But for Orochimaru, there was only one answer: to keep moving forward on the path to immortality.
That was his life's goal.
When his parents died in the war, the seed had already been planted in his heart.
And when Nawaki Senju, the student he had devoted himself to teaching, died before his eyes, that seed began to grow unchecked.
Death became the thing Orochimaru feared most.
Death had taken his family and his student, and it would take more from him in the future.
But as long as he could discover a way to achieve immortality, none of that would matter.
So researching a way to live forever had become the inevitable choice.
He had kept walking that path, sacrificing countless lives to research his own route to immortality.
So... if Orochimaru got to see the people he had lost long ago, would it give him another choice?
Still, Torifu didn't plan to do that today.
They could wait until after a rest.
Everyone needed to relax, and it was Orochimaru's first day in Konoha. There was no need to hit him with such a shock all at once.
Torifu told Orochimaru about Tsunade Senju meeting Dan.
That would naturally get Orochimaru thinking and drawing his own conclusions.
That way, by tomorrow, his emotions wouldn't be so unsettled.
"By the way, more than anything about Tsunade Senju, I want to know where Minato Namikaze went. If you've lost our little Hokage, the Old Man will be beside himself."
From his tone, Torifu could tell Orochimaru still resented Hiruzen Sarutobi for not choosing him to become Hokage.
But Torifu understood. Anyone would have a hard time letting something like that go.
His own teacher hadn't firmly chosen him, instead recommending some young upstart to become Hokage. Who wouldn't feel slighted?