"Who are you? What's your relationship with Sasuke?" Orochimaru asked curiously.
Unfortunately, Hao Shuai couldn't be bothered to waste his breath on him. He was just a spiritual consciousness, after all. Not worth the effort!
A terrifying aura suddenly erupted from Hao Shuai and enveloped Orochimaru, preventing him from escaping. Then Hao Shuai took out a soul-nourishing jade. Before Orochimaru could react, Hao Shuai formed a hand seal, and an invisible force dragged Orochimaru into the jade.
"You'd better stay in there. I'll send you to merge with your main body later," Hao Shuai said to the soul-nourishing jade in his hand.
At first, Hao Shuai had planned to use Palm Lightning to destroy Orochimaru's spiritual consciousness. But then he reconsidered. Orochimaru hadn't found mastering his techniques easy, so Hao Shuai decided to spare him.
With that done, Hao Shuai left the Curse Mark's mental space. Orochimaru's hidden threat within the Curse Mark had now been completely eliminated.
From then on, Sasuke could use the Curse Mark's power freely without worrying about it taking over his body.
That had been one of Hao Shuai's considerations, too.
Without the boost from the Curse Mark, Sasuke's strength really wouldn't keep up with Naruto's growth.
After all...
Naruto was a man who had cheats!
"Big Brother Hao Shuai, is Sasuke all right?" Sakura asked anxiously when Hao Shuai stopped.
Seeing her worried expression, Hao Shuai smiled. "He's fine. He'll be able to use the Curse Mark's power from now on."
"That's wonderful! Thank you, Big Brother Hao Shuai."
Hearing Hao Shuai's answer, Sakura finally let out the breath she'd been holding.
"Okay, once you've finished eating, get some rest! You've got the second exam tomorrow!"
Hao Shuai didn't want to keep discussing the matter with Shikamaru and the others, so he smoothly changed