"He probably wouldn't be that obedient."
Before Anko Mitarashi had even finished her conclusion, a bland, somewhat languid voice rang out. At first listen, it was slightly unpleasant.
"After all, that guy... is from the Uchiha Clan."
When Anko Mitarashi turned around, she saw that Kakashi, who had somehow stepped a few steps forward from behind the Third Hokage, was speaking in an apparently offhand manner.
"What nonsense are you talking about!"
At those words, Anko Mitarashi's voice immediately rose several decibels, and barely restrained anger seeped into her tone. She was clearly rebuking Kakashi.
"Even if we have to use force, we need to stop him! Even if his Chakra is sealed, that curse mark will react and forcibly draw out his power. This is a Forbidden Jutsu that erodes the recipient's body. It's already incredible that the child can endure it. An ordinary person... would have died long ago."
After that rebuke-like remark, Anko Mitarashi spoke again excitedly. By the end, though, her voice had lowered, carrying a grave heaviness.
As she spoke, her right hand unconsciously pressed against the tomoe curse mark behind her left shoulder, identical to the one behind Second Pillar's left shoulder.
She knew about Second Pillar's situation. He had encountered Orochimaru in the Death Forest and been branded with a curse mark. Because of that mark, she felt a deep sense of empathy toward Second Pillar now.
After all, she too had suffered from the curse mark. While it could draw out tremendous power, it was ultimately a Forbidden Jutsu—one that eroded the body, even a lifelong curse.
Even when it was not activated, this curse mark was still slowly consuming her body. She had to be especially cautious whenever she used Chakra, careful not to let her own Chakra stimulate the mark.