After dinner, Minato parted ways with Orochimaru outside the barbecue restaurant.
Watching the other man's retreating back, Minato felt somewhat strange.
He had not expected Orochimaru to begin searching for immortality ahead of schedule because of him.
Still, that was a good thing. At the very least, Minato's presence could point him in the right direction and keep his experiments within controllable limits, preventing Orochimaru from walking down the cruel, mad path he had taken in the original story.
Given Orochimaru's talent for research, it would be far too regrettable if he went down the wrong path.
Especially when it came to survival, Orochimaru was practically at the pinnacle. Living Corpse Reincarnation alone was enough to tempt Minato.
As a transmigrator blessed with three cheats, Minato himself did not need such methods to obtain immortality. But that did not mean the people around him would not need them.
Besides, the significance of that technique was not limited to extending one's lifespan. Severe injuries, disabilities, and incurable illnesses could all be avoided through it.
By the time Minato returned home, the damaged parts of the house had already been repaired by the Wood Clone. Tsunade and the others had finished dinner and were watching television in the living room.
When Minato entered, Nawaki looked at the Wood Clone beside him in confusion. "Huh? Why is there another Minato?"
"Something came up, so I had the Wood Clone come back first."
Minato placed a hand on the Wood Clone's shoulder, and the clone slowly merged back into his body.
"Don't tell me it was another assassination attempt?" Nawaki's expression changed.
"No."
Minato explained, "A classmate needed help."
"A classmate?"
Kushina immediately became alert. "Who? A boy or a girl?"
Tsunade immediately turned her gaze toward him as well.
"It was Nonō."
Minato