Sasuke was taken aback as well. "I'm fine. Although I can feel that Curse Mark slowly eroding my body, I haven't used it. It's progressing very slowly, and I think I can handle it."
Wu Liang was somewhat surprised. Perhaps it was because Sasuke had learned beforehand what would happen and had accepted the Curse Mark without resisting? Wu Liang had no idea what changes this would bring about, but it seemed to be developing in a positive direction. That was good too.
So Wu Liang said, "Don't let their words affect you. How you walk your own path is up to you. Remember, never let hatred blind your eyes. Maybe the truth in the end will be something you can't accept."
Sasuke froze. This was not the first time Wu Liang had said something like this to him. But when he thought of his clan's tragic deaths and that figure from that night, he could not suppress the killing intent and rage within him.
Looking at Sasuke, Wu Liang knew he could not change him. He could only hope Sasuke would make it through in the future.
Just then, Yakushi Kabuto raised his hand and said with an awkward smile, "Um, I... I withdraw."
The scene fell utterly silent.
The ninja who had claimed no one would withdraw was slapped in the face repeatedly by reality. Embarrassed, he stopped talking and shrank back.
Hayate Gekko held his notebook, flipped to Kabuto's page, and said, "You're a Konoha ninja, Yakushi Kabuto, correct? You may leave."
Just as in the original story, Kabuto, acting as a spy, had a performative, insincere conversation with his teammates, interacted with Naruto, and only then left.
After having someone investigate Kabuto's background for a while, the Third Hokage said, "I'm very concerned about what Orochimaru