diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/82708-unsafe-plugin-name-error.yml b/changelogs/fragments/82708-unsafe-plugin-name-error.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1de42c31adc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/82708-unsafe-plugin-name-error.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+bugfixes:
+  - "Fix an issue when setting a plugin name from an unsafe source resulted in ``ValueError: unmarshallable object`` (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/82708)"
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/cve-2023-5764.yml b/changelogs/fragments/cve-2023-5764.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c37127dac18
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/cve-2023-5764.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+security_fixes:
+- templating - Address issues where internal templating can cause unsafe
+  variables to lose their unsafe designation (CVE-2023-5764)
+breaking_changes:
+- assert - Nested templating may result in an inability for the conditional
+  to be evaluated. See the porting guide for more information.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/unsafe-fixes-2.yml b/changelogs/fragments/unsafe-fixes-2.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ffb4cae740c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/unsafe-fixes-2.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+bugfixes:
+- unsafe data - Address an incompatibility with ``AnsibleUnsafeText`` and ``AnsibleUnsafeBytes`` when pickling with ``protocol=0``
+- unsafe data - Address an incompatibility when iterating or getting a single index from ``AnsibleUnsafeBytes``
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/unsafe-intern.yml b/changelogs/fragments/unsafe-intern.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..616e6918de3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/unsafe-intern.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+bugfixes:
+- unsafe data - Enable directly using ``AnsibleUnsafeText`` with Python ``pathlib``
+  (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/82414)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/common/json.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/common/json.py
index 8038552e0ac..537c003d915 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/common/json.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/common/json.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ def _preprocess_unsafe_encode(value):
     Used in ``AnsibleJSONEncoder.iterencode``
     """
     if _is_unsafe(value):
-        value = {'__ansible_unsafe': to_text(value, errors='surrogate_or_strict', nonstring='strict')}
+        value = {'__ansible_unsafe': to_text(value._strip_unsafe(), errors='surrogate_or_strict', nonstring='strict')}
     elif is_sequence(value):
         value = [_preprocess_unsafe_encode(v) for v in value]
     elif isinstance(value, Mapping):
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ class AnsibleJSONEncoder(json.JSONEncoder):
                 value = {'__ansible_vault': to_text(o._ciphertext, errors='surrogate_or_strict', nonstring='strict')}
         elif getattr(o, '__UNSAFE__', False):
             # unsafe object, this will never be triggered, see ``AnsibleJSONEncoder.iterencode``
-            value = {'__ansible_unsafe': to_text(o, errors='surrogate_or_strict', nonstring='strict')}
+            value = {'__ansible_unsafe': to_text(o._strip_unsafe(), errors='surrogate_or_strict', nonstring='strict')}
         elif isinstance(o, Mapping):
             # hostvars and other objects
             value = dict(o)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/parsing/yaml/dumper.py b/lib/ansible/parsing/yaml/dumper.py
index 11a1431b94f..e5359f617d9 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/parsing/yaml/dumper.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/parsing/yaml/dumper.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import yaml
 from ansible.module_utils.six import text_type, binary_type
 from ansible.module_utils.common.yaml import SafeDumper
 from ansible.parsing.yaml.objects import AnsibleUnicode, AnsibleSequence, AnsibleMapping, AnsibleVaultEncryptedUnicode
-from ansible.utils.unsafe_proxy import AnsibleUnsafeText, AnsibleUnsafeBytes, NativeJinjaUnsafeText, NativeJinjaText
+from ansible.utils.unsafe_proxy import AnsibleUnsafeText, AnsibleUnsafeBytes, NativeJinjaUnsafeText, NativeJinjaText, _is_unsafe
 from ansible.template import AnsibleUndefined
 from ansible.vars.hostvars import HostVars, HostVarsVars
 from ansible.vars.manager import VarsWithSources
@@ -45,10 +45,14 @@ def represent_vault_encrypted_unicode(self, data):
 
 
 def represent_unicode(self, data):
+    if _is_unsafe(data):
+        data = data._strip_unsafe()
     return yaml.representer.SafeRepresenter.represent_str(self, text_type(data))
 
 
 def represent_binary(self, data):
+    if _is_unsafe(data):
+        data = data._strip_unsafe()
     return yaml.representer.SafeRepresenter.represent_binary(self, binary_type(data))
 
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/conditional.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/conditional.py
index 43cf99f297d..2fb026b5661 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/conditional.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/conditional.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 
 import typing as t
 
-from ansible.errors import AnsibleError, AnsibleUndefinedVariable
+from ansible.errors import AnsibleError, AnsibleUndefinedVariable, AnsibleTemplateError
 from ansible.module_utils.common.text.converters import to_native
 from ansible.playbook.attribute import FieldAttribute
 from ansible.template import Templar
@@ -100,14 +100,14 @@ class Conditional:
                     return False
 
             # If the result of the first-pass template render (to resolve inline templates) is marked unsafe,
-            # explicitly disable lookups on the final pass to prevent evaluation of untrusted content in the
-            # constructed template.
-            disable_lookups = hasattr(conditional, '__UNSAFE__')
+            # explicitly fail since the next templating operation would never evaluate
+            if hasattr(conditional, '__UNSAFE__'):
+                raise AnsibleTemplateError('Conditional is marked as unsafe, and cannot be evaluated.')
 
             # NOTE The spaces around True and False are intentional to short-circuit literal_eval for
             #      jinja2_native=False and avoid its expensive calls.
             return templar.template(
                 "{%% if %s %%} True {%% else %%} False {%% endif %%}" % conditional,
-                disable_lookups=disable_lookups).strip() == "True"
+            ).strip() == "True"
         except AnsibleUndefinedVariable as e:
             raise AnsibleUndefinedVariable("error while evaluating conditional (%s): %s" % (original, e))
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py
index 431501b4af5..ef00e665c01 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py
@@ -293,6 +293,30 @@ class Task(Base, Conditional, Taggable, CollectionSearch, Notifiable, Delegatabl
 
         super(Task, self).post_validate(templar)
 
+    def _post_validate_args(self, attr, value, templar):
+        # smuggle an untemplated copy of the task args for actions that need more control over the templating of their
+        # input (eg, debug's var/msg, assert's "that" conditional expressions)
+        self.untemplated_args = value
+
+        # now recursively template the args dict
+        args = templar.template(value)
+
+        # FIXME: could we just nuke this entirely and/or wrap it up in ModuleArgsParser or something?
+        if '_variable_params' in args:
+            variable_params = args.pop('_variable_params')
+            if isinstance(variable_params, dict):
+                if C.INJECT_FACTS_AS_VARS:
+                    display.warning("Using a variable for a task's 'args' is unsafe in some situations "
+                                    "(see https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/devel/reference_appendices/faq.html#argsplat-unsafe)")
+                variable_params.update(args)
+                args = variable_params
+            else:
+                # if we didn't get a dict, it means there's garbage remaining after k=v parsing, just give up
+                # see https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/79862
+                raise AnsibleError(f"invalid or malformed argument: '{variable_params}'")
+
+        return args
+
     def _post_validate_loop(self, attr, value, templar):
         '''
         Override post validation for the loop field, which is templated
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/assert.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/assert.py
index 578320cf5ad..eb6c646c383 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/assert.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/assert.py
@@ -63,8 +63,29 @@ class ActionModule(ActionBase):
 
         quiet = boolean(self._task.args.get('quiet', False), strict=False)
 
+        # directly access 'that' via untemplated args from the task so we can intelligently trust embedded
+        # templates and preserve the original inputs/locations for better messaging on assert failures and
+        # errors.
+        # FIXME: even in devel, things like `that: item` don't always work properly (truthy string value
+        # is not really an embedded expression)
+        # we could fix that by doing direct var lookups on the inputs
+        # FIXME: some form of this code should probably be shared between debug, assert, and
+        # Task.post_validate, since they
+        # have a lot of overlapping needs
+        try:
+            thats = self._task.untemplated_args['that']
+        except KeyError:
+            # in the case of "we got our entire args dict from a template", we can just consult the
+            # post-templated dict (the damage has likely already been done for embedded templates anyway)
+            thats = self._task.args['that']
+
+        # FIXME: this is a case where we only want to resolve indirections, NOT recurse containers
+        # (and even then, the leaf-most expression being wrapped is at least suboptimal
+        # (since its expression will be "eaten").
+        if isinstance(thats, str):
+            thats = self._templar.template(thats)
+
         # make sure the 'that' items are a list
-        thats = self._task.args['that']
         if not isinstance(thats, list):
             thats = [thats]
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/callback/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/callback/__init__.py
index d73282304b6..8f750444f2e 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/callback/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/callback/__init__.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ from ansible.parsing.yaml.objects import AnsibleUnicode
 from ansible.plugins import AnsiblePlugin
 from ansible.utils.color import stringc
 from ansible.utils.display import Display
-from ansible.utils.unsafe_proxy import AnsibleUnsafeText, NativeJinjaUnsafeText
+from ansible.utils.unsafe_proxy import AnsibleUnsafeText, NativeJinjaUnsafeText, _is_unsafe
 from ansible.vars.clean import strip_internal_keys, module_response_deepcopy
 
 import yaml
@@ -115,6 +115,8 @@ def _munge_data_for_lossy_yaml(scalar):
 
 def _pretty_represent_str(self, data):
     """Uses block style for multi-line strings"""
+    if _is_unsafe(data):
+        data = data._strip_unsafe()
     data = text_type(data)
     if _should_use_block(data):
         style = '|'
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/filter/core.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/filter/core.py
index 79f78d728f3..b85e91f0292 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/filter/core.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/filter/core.py
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ from ansible.utils.display import Display
 from ansible.utils.encrypt import do_encrypt, PASSLIB_AVAILABLE
 from ansible.utils.hashing import md5s, checksum_s
 from ansible.utils.unicode import unicode_wrap
+from ansible.utils.unsafe_proxy import _is_unsafe
 from ansible.utils.vars import merge_hash
 
 display = Display()
@@ -219,6 +220,8 @@ def from_yaml(data):
         # The ``text_type`` call here strips any custom
         # string wrapper class, so that CSafeLoader can
         # read the data
+        if _is_unsafe(data):
+            data = data._strip_unsafe()
         return yaml_load(text_type(to_text(data, errors='surrogate_or_strict')))
     return data
 
@@ -228,6 +231,8 @@ def from_yaml_all(data):
         # The ``text_type`` call here strips any custom
         # string wrapper class, so that CSafeLoader can
         # read the data
+        if _is_unsafe(data):
+            data = data._strip_unsafe()
         return yaml_load_all(text_type(to_text(data, errors='surrogate_or_strict')))
     return data
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/loader.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/loader.py
index 266b67d11b9..52a67f3cc9a 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/loader.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/loader.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ from ansible.utils.collection_loader import AnsibleCollectionConfig, AnsibleColl
 from ansible.utils.collection_loader._collection_finder import _AnsibleCollectionFinder, _get_collection_metadata
 from ansible.utils.display import Display
 from ansible.utils.plugin_docs import add_fragments
+from ansible.utils.unsafe_proxy import _is_unsafe
 
 # TODO: take the packaging dep, or vendor SpecifierSet?
 
@@ -861,6 +862,17 @@ class PluginLoader:
 
     def get_with_context(self, name, *args, **kwargs):
         ''' instantiates a plugin of the given name using arguments '''
+        if _is_unsafe(name):
+            # Objects constructed using the name wrapped as unsafe remain
+            # (correctly) unsafe. Using such unsafe objects in places
+            # where underlying types (builtin string in this case) are
+            # expected can cause problems.
+            # One such case is importlib.abc.Loader.exec_module failing
+            # with "ValueError: unmarshallable object" because the module
+            # object is created with the __path__ attribute being wrapped
+            # as unsafe which isn't marshallable.
+            # Manually removing the unsafe wrapper prevents such issues.
+            name = name._strip_unsafe()
 
         found_in_cache = True
         class_only = kwargs.pop('class_only', False)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/first_found.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/first_found.py
index 4f522e36433..a68791b533f 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/first_found.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/first_found.py
@@ -138,7 +138,6 @@ RETURN = """
     elements: path
 """
 import os
-import re
 
 from collections.abc import Mapping, Sequence
 
@@ -150,10 +149,22 @@ from ansible.plugins.lookup import LookupBase
 from ansible.utils.path import unfrackpath
 
 
+def _splitter(value, chars):
+    chars = set(chars)
+    v = ''
+    for c in value:
+        if c in chars:
+            yield v
+            v = ''
+            continue
+        v += c
+    yield v
+
+
 def _split_on(terms, spliters=','):
     termlist = []
     if isinstance(terms, string_types):
-        termlist = re.split(r'[%s]' % ''.join(map(re.escape, spliters)), terms)
+        termlist = list(_splitter(terms, spliters))
     else:
         # added since options will already listify
         for t in terms:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/template/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/template/__init__.py
index e23b3c5f5c9..c41c49142e1 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/template/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/template/__init__.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ from contextlib import contextmanager
 from numbers import Number
 from traceback import format_exc
 
-from jinja2.exceptions import TemplateSyntaxError, UndefinedError
+from jinja2.exceptions import TemplateSyntaxError, UndefinedError, SecurityError
 from jinja2.loaders import FileSystemLoader
 from jinja2.nativetypes import NativeEnvironment
 from jinja2.runtime import Context, StrictUndefined
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ from ansible.template.vars import AnsibleJ2Vars
 from ansible.utils.display import Display
 from ansible.utils.listify import listify_lookup_plugin_terms
 from ansible.utils.native_jinja import NativeJinjaText
-from ansible.utils.unsafe_proxy import to_unsafe_text, wrap_var
+from ansible.utils.unsafe_proxy import to_unsafe_text, wrap_var, AnsibleUnsafeText, AnsibleUnsafeBytes, NativeJinjaUnsafeText
 
 display = Display()
 
@@ -348,10 +348,21 @@ class AnsibleContext(Context):
     flag is checked post-templating, and (when set) will result in the
     final templated result being wrapped in AnsibleUnsafe.
     '''
+    _disallowed_callables = frozenset({
+        AnsibleUnsafeText._strip_unsafe.__qualname__,
+        AnsibleUnsafeBytes._strip_unsafe.__qualname__,
+        NativeJinjaUnsafeText._strip_unsafe.__qualname__,
+    })
+
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super(AnsibleContext, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
         self.unsafe = False
 
+    def call(self, obj, *args, **kwargs):
+        if getattr(obj, '__qualname__', None) in self._disallowed_callables or obj in self._disallowed_callables:
+            raise SecurityError(f"{obj!r} is not safely callable")
+        return super().call(obj, *args, **kwargs)
+
     def _is_unsafe(self, val):
         '''
         Our helper function, which will also recursively check dict and
diff --git a/lib/ansible/utils/unsafe_proxy.py b/lib/ansible/utils/unsafe_proxy.py
index f26a5f685aa..378725c2487 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/utils/unsafe_proxy.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/utils/unsafe_proxy.py
@@ -52,11 +52,14 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import sys
+import types
+import warnings
+from sys import intern as _sys_intern
 from collections.abc import Mapping, Set
 
 from ansible.module_utils.common.text.converters import to_bytes, to_text
 from ansible.module_utils.common.collections import is_sequence
-from ansible.module_utils.six import binary_type, text_type
 from ansible.utils.native_jinja import NativeJinjaText
 
 
@@ -67,16 +70,256 @@ class AnsibleUnsafe(object):
     __UNSAFE__ = True
 
 
-class AnsibleUnsafeBytes(binary_type, AnsibleUnsafe):
-    def decode(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        """Wrapper method to ensure type conversions maintain unsafe context"""
-        return AnsibleUnsafeText(super(AnsibleUnsafeBytes, self).decode(*args, **kwargs))
+class AnsibleUnsafeBytes(bytes, AnsibleUnsafe):
+    def _strip_unsafe(self):
+        return super().__bytes__()
 
+    def __reduce__(self, /):
+        return (self.__class__, (self._strip_unsafe(),))
 
-class AnsibleUnsafeText(text_type, AnsibleUnsafe):
-    def encode(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        """Wrapper method to ensure type conversions maintain unsafe context"""
-        return AnsibleUnsafeBytes(super(AnsibleUnsafeText, self).encode(*args, **kwargs))
+    def __str__(self, /):  # pylint: disable=invalid-str-returned
+        return self.decode()
+
+    def __bytes__(self, /):  # pylint: disable=invalid-bytes-returned
+        return self
+
+    def __repr__(self, /):  # pylint: disable=invalid-repr-returned
+        return AnsibleUnsafeText(super().__repr__())
+
+    def __format__(self, format_spec, /):  # pylint: disable=invalid-format-returned
+        return AnsibleUnsafeText(super().__format__(format_spec))
+
+    def __getitem__(self, key, /):
+        if isinstance(key, int):
+            return super().__getitem__(key)
+        return self.__class__(super().__getitem__(key))
+
+    def __reversed__(self, /):
+        return self[::-1]
+
+    def __add__(self, value, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().__add__(value))
+
+    def __radd__(self, value, /):
+        return self.__class__(value.__add__(self))
+
+    def __mul__(self, value, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().__mul__(value))
+
+    __rmul__ = __mul__
+
+    def __mod__(self, value, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().__mod__(value))
+
+    def __rmod__(self, value, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().__rmod__(value))
+
+    def capitalize(self, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().capitalize())
+
+    def center(self, width, fillchar=b' ', /):
+        return self.__class__(super().center(width, fillchar))
+
+    def decode(self, /, encoding='utf-8', errors='strict'):
+        return AnsibleUnsafeText(super().decode(encoding=encoding, errors=errors))
+
+    def removeprefix(self, prefix, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().removeprefix(prefix))
+
+    def removesuffix(self, suffix, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().removesuffix(suffix))
+
+    def expandtabs(self, /, tabsize=8):
+        return self.__class__(super().expandtabs(tabsize))
+
+    def join(self, iterable_of_bytes, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().join(iterable_of_bytes))
+
+    def ljust(self, width, fillchar=b' ', /):
+        return self.__class__(super().ljust(width, fillchar))
+
+    def lower(self, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().lower())
+
+    def lstrip(self, chars=None, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().lstrip(chars))
+
+    def partition(self, sep, /):
+        cls = self.__class__
+        return tuple(cls(e) for e in super().partition(sep))
+
+    def replace(self, old, new, count=-1, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().replace(old, new, count))
+
+    def rjust(self, width, fillchar=b' ', /):
+        return self.__class__(super().rjust(width, fillchar))
+
+    def rpartition(self, sep, /):
+        cls = self.__class__
+        return tuple(cls(e) for e in super().rpartition(sep))
+
+    def rstrip(self, chars=None, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().rstrip(chars))
+
+    def split(self, /, sep=None, maxsplit=-1):
+        cls = self.__class__
+        return [cls(e) for e in super().split(sep=sep, maxsplit=maxsplit)]
+
+    def rsplit(self, /, sep=None, maxsplit=-1):
+        cls = self.__class__
+        return [cls(e) for e in super().rsplit(sep=sep, maxsplit=maxsplit)]
+
+    def splitlines(self, /, keepends=False):
+        cls = self.__class__
+        return [cls(e) for e in super().splitlines(keepends=keepends)]
+
+    def strip(self, chars=None, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().strip(chars))
+
+    def swapcase(self, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().swapcase())
+
+    def title(self, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().title())
+
+    def translate(self, table, /, delete=b''):
+        return self.__class__(super().translate(table, delete=delete))
+
+    def upper(self, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().upper())
+
+    def zfill(self, width, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().zfill(width))
+
+
+class AnsibleUnsafeText(str, AnsibleUnsafe):
+    def _strip_unsafe(self, /):
+        return super().__str__()
+
+    def __reduce__(self, /):
+        return (self.__class__, (self._strip_unsafe(),))
+
+    def __str__(self, /):  # pylint: disable=invalid-str-returned
+        return self
+
+    def __repr__(self, /):  # pylint: disable=invalid-repr-returned
+        return self.__class__(super().__repr__())
+
+    def __format__(self, format_spec, /):  # pylint: disable=invalid-format-returned
+        return self.__class__(super().__format__(format_spec))
+
+    def __getitem__(self, key, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().__getitem__(key))
+
+    def __iter__(self, /):
+        cls = self.__class__
+        return (cls(c) for c in super().__iter__())
+
+    def __reversed__(self, /):
+        return self[::-1]
+
+    def __add__(self, value, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().__add__(value))
+
+    def __radd__(self, value, /):
+        return self.__class__(value.__add__(self))
+
+    def __mul__(self, value, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().__mul__(value))
+
+    __rmul__ = __mul__
+
+    def __mod__(self, value, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().__mod__(value))
+
+    def __rmod__(self, value, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().__rmod__(value))
+
+    def capitalize(self, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().capitalize())
+
+    def casefold(self, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().casefold())
+
+    def center(self, width, fillchar=' ', /):
+        return self.__class__(super().center(width, fillchar))
+
+    def encode(self, /, encoding='utf-8', errors='strict'):
+        return AnsibleUnsafeBytes(super().encode(encoding=encoding, errors=errors))
+
+    def removeprefix(self, prefix, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().removeprefix(prefix))
+
+    def removesuffix(self, suffix, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().removesuffix(suffix))
+
+    def expandtabs(self, /, tabsize=8):
+        return self.__class__(super().expandtabs(tabsize))
+
+    def format(self, /, *args, **kwargs):
+        return self.__class__(super().format(*args, **kwargs))
+
+    def format_map(self, mapping, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().format_map(mapping))
+
+    def join(self, iterable, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().join(iterable))
+
+    def ljust(self, width, fillchar=' ', /):
+        return self.__class__(super().ljust(width, fillchar))
+
+    def lower(self, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().lower())
+
+    def lstrip(self, chars=None, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().lstrip(chars))
+
+    def partition(self, sep, /):
+        cls = self.__class__
+        return tuple(cls(e) for e in super().partition(sep))
+
+    def replace(self, old, new, count=-1, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().replace(old, new, count))
+
+    def rjust(self, width, fillchar=' ', /):
+        return self.__class__(super().rjust(width, fillchar))
+
+    def rpartition(self, sep, /):
+        cls = self.__class__
+        return tuple(cls(e) for e in super().rpartition(sep))
+
+    def rstrip(self, chars=None, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().rstrip(chars))
+
+    def split(self, /, sep=None, maxsplit=-1):
+        cls = self.__class__
+        return [cls(e) for e in super().split(sep=sep, maxsplit=maxsplit)]
+
+    def rsplit(self, /, sep=None, maxsplit=-1):
+        cls = self.__class__
+        return [cls(e) for e in super().rsplit(sep=sep, maxsplit=maxsplit)]
+
+    def splitlines(self, /, keepends=False):
+        cls = self.__class__
+        return [cls(e) for e in super().splitlines(keepends=keepends)]
+
+    def strip(self, chars=None, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().strip(chars))
+
+    def swapcase(self, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().swapcase())
+
+    def title(self, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().title())
+
+    def translate(self, table, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().translate(table))
+
+    def upper(self, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().upper())
+
+    def zfill(self, width, /):
+        return self.__class__(super().zfill(width))
 
 
 class NativeJinjaUnsafeText(NativeJinjaText, AnsibleUnsafeText):
@@ -111,9 +354,9 @@ def wrap_var(v):
         v = _wrap_sequence(v)
     elif isinstance(v, NativeJinjaText):
         v = NativeJinjaUnsafeText(v)
-    elif isinstance(v, binary_type):
+    elif isinstance(v, bytes):
         v = AnsibleUnsafeBytes(v)
-    elif isinstance(v, text_type):
+    elif isinstance(v, str):
         v = AnsibleUnsafeText(v)
 
     return v
@@ -125,3 +368,24 @@ def to_unsafe_bytes(*args, **kwargs):
 
 def to_unsafe_text(*args, **kwargs):
     return wrap_var(to_text(*args, **kwargs))
+
+
+def _is_unsafe(obj):
+    return getattr(obj, '__UNSAFE__', False) is True
+
+
+def _intern(string):
+    """This is a monkey patch for ``sys.intern`` that will strip
+    the unsafe wrapper prior to interning the string.
+
+    This will not exist in future versions.
+    """
+    if isinstance(string, AnsibleUnsafeText):
+        string = string._strip_unsafe()
+    return _sys_intern(string)
+
+
+if isinstance(sys.intern, types.BuiltinFunctionType):
+    sys.intern = _intern
+else:
+    warnings.warn("skipped sys.intern patch; appears to have already been patched", RuntimeWarning)
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/ansible-galaxy-collection-scm/tasks/scm_dependency_deduplication.yml b/test/integration/targets/ansible-galaxy-collection-scm/tasks/scm_dependency_deduplication.yml
index f200be18032..e0847524943 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/ansible-galaxy-collection-scm/tasks/scm_dependency_deduplication.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/ansible-galaxy-collection-scm/tasks/scm_dependency_deduplication.yml
@@ -13,22 +13,22 @@
         in command.stdout_lines
       - >-
         "Installing 'namespace_1.collection_1:1.0.0' to
-        '{{ install_path }}/namespace_1/collection_1'"
+        '" ~ install_path ~ "/namespace_1/collection_1'"
         in command.stdout_lines
       - >-
         'Created collection for namespace_1.collection_1:1.0.0 at
-        {{ install_path }}/namespace_1/collection_1'
+        ' ~ install_path ~ '/namespace_1/collection_1'
         in command.stdout_lines
       - >-
         'namespace_1.collection_1:1.0.0 was installed successfully'
         in command.stdout_lines
       - >-
         "Installing 'namespace_2.collection_2:1.0.0' to
-        '{{ install_path }}/namespace_2/collection_2'"
+        '" ~ install_path ~ "/namespace_2/collection_2'"
         in command.stdout_lines
       - >-
         'Created collection for namespace_2.collection_2:1.0.0 at
-        {{ install_path }}/namespace_2/collection_2'
+        ' ~ install_path ~ '/namespace_2/collection_2'
         in command.stdout_lines
       - >-
         'namespace_2.collection_2:1.0.0 was installed successfully'
@@ -58,22 +58,22 @@
         in command.stdout_lines
       - >-
         "Installing 'namespace_1.collection_1:1.0.0' to
-        '{{ install_path }}/namespace_1/collection_1'"
+        '" ~ install_path ~ "/namespace_1/collection_1'"
         in command.stdout_lines
       - >-
         'Created collection for namespace_1.collection_1:1.0.0 at
-        {{ install_path }}/namespace_1/collection_1'
+        ' ~ install_path ~ '/namespace_1/collection_1'
         in command.stdout_lines
       - >-
         'namespace_1.collection_1:1.0.0 was installed successfully'
         in command.stdout_lines
       - >-
         "Installing 'namespace_2.collection_2:1.0.0' to
-        '{{ install_path }}/namespace_2/collection_2'"
+        '" ~ install_path ~ "/namespace_2/collection_2'"
         in command.stdout_lines
       - >-
         'Created collection for namespace_2.collection_2:1.0.0 at
-        {{ install_path }}/namespace_2/collection_2'
+        ' ~ install_path ~ '/namespace_2/collection_2'
         in command.stdout_lines
       - >-
         'namespace_2.collection_2:1.0.0 was installed successfully'
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/ansible-vault/roles/test_vault_embedded/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/ansible-vault/roles/test_vault_embedded/tasks/main.yml
index eba938966dc..98ef751b86b 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/ansible-vault/roles/test_vault_embedded/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/ansible-vault/roles/test_vault_embedded/tasks/main.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 - name: Assert that a embedded vault of a string with no newline works
   assert:
     that:
-      - '"{{ vault_encrypted_one_line_var }}" == "Setec Astronomy"'
+      - 'vault_encrypted_one_line_var == "Setec Astronomy"'
 
 - name: Assert that a multi line embedded vault works, including new line
   assert:
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/ansible-vault/roles/test_vault_file_encrypted_embedded/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/ansible-vault/roles/test_vault_file_encrypted_embedded/tasks/main.yml
index e09004a1d9e..107e65cb112 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/ansible-vault/roles/test_vault_file_encrypted_embedded/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/ansible-vault/roles/test_vault_file_encrypted_embedded/tasks/main.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 - name: Assert that a vault encrypted file with embedded vault of a string with no newline works
   assert:
     that:
-      - '"{{ vault_file_encrypted_with_encrypted_one_line_var }}" == "Setec Astronomy"'
+      - 'vault_file_encrypted_with_encrypted_one_line_var == "Setec Astronomy"'
 
 - name: Assert that a vault encrypted file with multi line embedded vault works, including new line
   assert:
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/apt_repository/tasks/apt.yml b/test/integration/targets/apt_repository/tasks/apt.yml
index fbaa2c78145..65cbe452c82 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/apt_repository/tasks/apt.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/apt_repository/tasks/apt.yml
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
     that:
       - 'result.changed'
       - 'result.state == "present"'
-      - 'result.repo == "{{test_ppa_name}}"'
+      - 'result.repo == test_ppa_name'
 
 - name: 'examine apt cache mtime'
   stat: path='/var/cache/apt/pkgcache.bin'
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@
     that:
       - 'result.changed'
       - 'result.state == "present"'
-      - 'result.repo == "{{test_ppa_name}}"'
+      - 'result.repo == test_ppa_name'
 
 - name: 'examine apt cache mtime'
   stat: path='/var/cache/apt/pkgcache.bin'
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@
     that:
       - 'result.changed'
       - 'result.state == "present"'
-      - 'result.repo == "{{test_ppa_name}}"'
+      - 'result.repo == test_ppa_name'
 
 - name: 'examine apt cache mtime'
   stat: path='/var/cache/apt/pkgcache.bin'
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@
     that:
       - 'result.changed'
       - 'result.state == "present"'
-      - 'result.repo == "{{test_ppa_spec}}"'
+      - 'result.repo == test_ppa_spec'
       - '"sources_added" in result'
       - 'result.sources_added | length == 1'
       - '"git" in result.sources_added[0]'
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@
     that:
       - 'result.changed'
       - 'result.state == "absent"'
-      - 'result.repo == "{{test_ppa_spec}}"'
+      - 'result.repo == test_ppa_spec'
       - '"sources_added" in result'
       - 'result.sources_added | length == 0'
       - '"sources_removed" in result'
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@
     that:
       - 'result.changed'
       - 'result.state == "present"'
-      - 'result.repo == "{{test_ppa_spec}}"'
+      - 'result.repo == test_ppa_spec'
 
 - name: 'examine source file'
   stat: path='/etc/apt/sources.list.d/{{test_ppa_filename}}.list'
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/assert/assert.out.nested_tmpl.stderr b/test/integration/targets/assert/assert.out.nested_tmpl.stderr
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ea208a41c7b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/assert/assert.out.nested_tmpl.stderr
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
++ ansible-playbook -i localhost, -c local nested_tmpl.yml
+++ set +x
+[WARNING]: conditional statements should not include jinja2 templating
+delimiters such as {{ }} or {% %}. Found: "{{ foo }}" == "bar"
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/assert/assert.out.nested_tmpl.stdout b/test/integration/targets/assert/assert.out.nested_tmpl.stdout
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8ca3fb76d48
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/assert/assert.out.nested_tmpl.stdout
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+
+PLAY [localhost] ***************************************************************
+
+TASK [assert] ******************************************************************
+ok: [localhost] => {
+    "changed": false,
+    "msg": "All assertions passed"
+}
+
+PLAY RECAP *********************************************************************
+localhost                  : ok=1    changed=0    unreachable=0    failed=0    skipped=0    rescued=0    ignored=0
+
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/assert/assert_quiet.out.quiet.stderr b/test/integration/targets/assert/assert.out.quiet.stderr
similarity index 100%
rename from test/integration/targets/assert/assert_quiet.out.quiet.stderr
rename to test/integration/targets/assert/assert.out.quiet.stderr
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/assert/assert_quiet.out.quiet.stdout b/test/integration/targets/assert/assert.out.quiet.stdout
similarity index 100%
rename from test/integration/targets/assert/assert_quiet.out.quiet.stdout
rename to test/integration/targets/assert/assert.out.quiet.stdout
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/assert/nested_tmpl.yml b/test/integration/targets/assert/nested_tmpl.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..3da4b1d80ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/assert/nested_tmpl.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+- hosts: localhost
+  gather_facts: False
+  tasks:
+    - assert:
+        that:
+          - '"{{ foo }}" == "bar"'
+          - foo == "bar"
+      vars:
+        foo: bar
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/assert/quiet.yml b/test/integration/targets/assert/quiet.yml
index 6834712c2c1..1c425cb5ba8 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/assert/quiet.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/assert/quiet.yml
@@ -5,12 +5,12 @@
     item_A: yes
   tasks:
   - assert:
-      that: "{{ item }} is defined"
+      that: "item is defined"
       quiet: True
     with_items:
       - item_A
   - assert:
-      that: "{{ item }} is defined"
+      that: "item is defined"
       quiet: False
     with_items:
       - item_A
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/assert/runme.sh b/test/integration/targets/assert/runme.sh
index 542e43959d1..3b68db6d1d6 100755
--- a/test/integration/targets/assert/runme.sh
+++ b/test/integration/targets/assert/runme.sh
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ cleanup() {
    fi
 }
 
-BASEFILE=assert_quiet.out
+BASEFILE=assert.out
 
 ORIGFILE="${BASEFILE}"
 OUTFILE="${BASEFILE}.new"
@@ -69,3 +69,4 @@ export ANSIBLE_NOCOLOR=1
 export ANSIBLE_RETRY_FILES_ENABLED=0
 
 run_test quiet
+run_test nested_tmpl
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/command_shell/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/command_shell/tasks/main.yml
index c40b6f73ca4..e2fe122d47d 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/command_shell/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/command_shell/tasks/main.yml
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@
   assert:
     that:
     - shell_result0 is changed
-    - shell_result0.cmd == '{{ remote_tmp_dir_test }}/test.sh'
+    - shell_result0.cmd == remote_tmp_dir_test ~ '/test.sh'
     - shell_result0.rc == 0
     - shell_result0.stderr == ''
     - shell_result0.stdout == 'win'
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/copy/tasks/tests.yml b/test/integration/targets/copy/tasks/tests.yml
index 35c4cdf9414..7fd0470ccbc 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/copy/tasks/tests.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/copy/tasks/tests.yml
@@ -1262,7 +1262,7 @@
   assert:
     that:
       - "copy_result6.changed"
-      - "copy_result6.dest == '{{remote_dir_expanded}}/multiline.txt'"
+      - "copy_result6.dest == remote_dir_expanded ~ '/multiline.txt'"
       - "copy_result6.checksum == '9cd0697c6a9ff6689f0afb9136fa62e0b3fee903'"
 
 # test overwriting a file as an unprivileged user (pull request #8624)
@@ -2165,26 +2165,26 @@
     assert:
       that:
       - testcase5 is changed
-      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown.stat.uid == {{ ansible_copy_test_user.uid }}"
-      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown.stat.gid == {{ ansible_copy_test_group.gid }}"
-      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown.stat.pw_name == '{{ ansible_copy_test_user_name }}'"
-      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown.stat.gr_name == '{{ ansible_copy_test_user_name }}'"
-      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_file1.stat.uid == {{ ansible_copy_test_user.uid }}"
-      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_file1.stat.gid == {{ ansible_copy_test_group.gid }}"
-      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_file1.stat.pw_name == '{{ ansible_copy_test_user_name }}'"
-      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_file1.stat.gr_name == '{{ ansible_copy_test_user_name }}'"
-      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_subdir.stat.uid == {{ ansible_copy_test_user.uid }}"
-      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_subdir.stat.gid == {{ ansible_copy_test_group.gid }}"
-      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_subdir.stat.pw_name == '{{ ansible_copy_test_user_name }}'"
-      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_subdir.stat.gr_name == '{{ ansible_copy_test_user_name }}'"
-      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_subdir_file12.stat.uid == {{ ansible_copy_test_user.uid }}"
-      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_subdir_file12.stat.gid == {{ ansible_copy_test_group.gid }}"
-      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_subdir_file12.stat.pw_name == '{{ ansible_copy_test_user_name }}'"
-      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_subdir_file12.stat.gr_name == '{{ ansible_copy_test_user_name }}'"
-      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_link_file12.stat.uid == {{ ansible_copy_test_user.uid }}"
-      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_link_file12.stat.gid == {{ ansible_copy_test_group.gid }}"
-      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_link_file12.stat.pw_name == '{{ ansible_copy_test_user_name }}'"
-      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_link_file12.stat.gr_name == '{{ ansible_copy_test_user_name }}'"
+      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown.stat.uid == ansible_copy_test_user.uid"
+      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown.stat.gid == ansible_copy_test_group.gid"
+      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown.stat.pw_name == ansible_copy_test_user_name"
+      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown.stat.gr_name == ansible_copy_test_user_name"
+      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_file1.stat.uid == ansible_copy_test_user.uid"
+      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_file1.stat.gid == ansible_copy_test_group.gid"
+      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_file1.stat.pw_name == ansible_copy_test_user_name"
+      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_file1.stat.gr_name == ansible_copy_test_user_name"
+      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_subdir.stat.uid == ansible_copy_test_user.uid"
+      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_subdir.stat.gid == ansible_copy_test_group.gid"
+      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_subdir.stat.pw_name == ansible_copy_test_user_name"
+      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_subdir.stat.gr_name == ansible_copy_test_user_name"
+      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_subdir_file12.stat.uid == ansible_copy_test_user.uid"
+      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_subdir_file12.stat.gid == ansible_copy_test_group.gid"
+      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_subdir_file12.stat.pw_name == ansible_copy_test_user_name"
+      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_subdir_file12.stat.gr_name == ansible_copy_test_user_name"
+      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_link_file12.stat.uid == ansible_copy_test_user.uid"
+      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_link_file12.stat.gid == ansible_copy_test_group.gid"
+      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_link_file12.stat.pw_name == ansible_copy_test_user_name"
+      - "stat_new_dir_with_chown_link_file12.stat.gr_name == ansible_copy_test_user_name"
 
   always:
     - name: execute - remove the user for test
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/debug/runme.sh b/test/integration/targets/debug/runme.sh
index 5faeb782a65..dc02859d352 100755
--- a/test/integration/targets/debug/runme.sh
+++ b/test/integration/targets/debug/runme.sh
@@ -18,3 +18,5 @@ done
 
 # ensure debug does not set top level vars when looking at ansible_facts
 ansible-playbook nosetfacts.yml "$@"
+
+ansible-playbook unsafe.yml "$@"
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/debug/unsafe.yml b/test/integration/targets/debug/unsafe.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6a78af1a692
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/debug/unsafe.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+- hosts: localhost
+  gather_facts: false
+  vars:
+    unsafe_var: !unsafe undef()|mandatory
+  tasks:
+    - debug:
+        var: '{{ unsafe_var }}'
+      ignore_errors: true
+      register: result
+
+    - assert:
+        that:
+          - result is successful
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/expect/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/expect/tasks/main.yml
index f7431e19d14..2aef595717c 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/expect/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/expect/tasks/main.yml
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@
 - name: assert chdir works
   assert:
     that:
-    - "'{{chdir_result.stdout | trim}}' == '{{remote_tmp_dir_real_path.stdout | trim}}'"
+    - "chdir_result.stdout | trim == remote_tmp_dir_real_path.stdout | trim"
 
 - name: test timeout option
   expect:
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/file/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/file/tasks/main.yml
index 8e14618118f..c1b4c7917b2 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/file/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/file/tasks/main.yml
@@ -927,7 +927,7 @@
     that:
       - "file_error3 is failed"
       - "file_error3.msg == 'src does not exist'"
-      - "file_error3.dest == '{{ remote_tmp_dir_test }}/hard.txt' | expanduser"
+      - "file_error3.dest == remote_tmp_dir_test | expanduser ~ '/hard.txt'"
       - "file_error3.src == 'non-existing-file-that-does-not-exist.txt'"
 
 - block:
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/file/tasks/state_link.yml b/test/integration/targets/file/tasks/state_link.yml
index 374e97e25fc..ab41b07abac 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/file/tasks/state_link.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/file/tasks/state_link.yml
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@
       - "missing_dst_no_follow_enable_force_use_mode2 is changed"
       - "missing_dst_no_follow_enable_force_use_mode3 is not changed"
       - "soft3_result['stat'].islnk"
-      - "soft3_result['stat'].lnk_target == '{{ user.home }}/nonexistent'"
+      - "soft3_result['stat'].lnk_target == user.home ~ '/nonexistent'"
 
 #
 # Test creating a link to a directory https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/1369
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/filter_urls/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/filter_urls/tasks/main.yml
index c062326c54e..72ed689a700 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/filter_urls/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/filter_urls/tasks/main.yml
@@ -19,6 +19,13 @@
       - "{'foo': 'bar', 'baz': 'buz'}|urlencode == 'foo=bar&baz=buz'"
       - "()|urlencode == ''"
 
+- name: verify urlencode works for unsafe strings
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - thing|urlencode == 'foo%3Abar'
+  vars:
+    thing: !unsafe foo:bar
+
 # Needed (temporarily) due to coverage reports not including the last task.
 - assert:
     that: true
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/find/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/find/tasks/main.yml
index afc55fbaf0a..08de484323a 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/find/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/find/tasks/main.yml
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@
 - name: assert we skipped the ogg file
   assert:
     that:
-      - '"{{ remote_tmp_dir_test }}/e/f/g/h/8.ogg" not in find_test3_list'
+      - 'remote_tmp_dir_test ~ "/e/f/g/h/8.ogg" not in find_test3_list'
 
 - name: patterns with regex
   find:
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@
   assert:
     that:
       - result.matched == 1
-      - '"{{ remote_tmp_dir_test }}/astest/old.txt" in astest_list'
+      - 'remote_tmp_dir_test ~ "/astest/old.txt" in astest_list'
 
 - name: find files newer than 1 week
   find:
@@ -378,7 +378,7 @@
   assert:
     that:
       - result.matched == 1
-      - '"{{ remote_tmp_dir_test }}/astest/new.txt" in astest_list'
+      - 'remote_tmp_dir_test ~ "/astest/new.txt" in astest_list'
 
 - name: add some content to the new file
   shell: "echo hello world > {{ remote_tmp_dir_test }}/astest/new.txt"
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@
   assert:
     that:
       - result.matched == 1
-      - '"{{ remote_tmp_dir_test }}/astest/new.txt" in astest_list'
+      - 'remote_tmp_dir_test ~ "/astest/new.txt" in astest_list'
       - '"checksum" in result.files[0]'
 
 - name: find ANY item with LESS than 5 bytes, also get checksums
@@ -417,8 +417,8 @@
   assert:
     that:
       - result.matched == 2
-      - '"{{ remote_tmp_dir_test }}/astest/old.txt" in astest_list'
-      - '"{{ remote_tmp_dir_test }}/astest/.hidden.txt" in astest_list'
+      - 'remote_tmp_dir_test ~ "/astest/old.txt" in astest_list'
+      - 'remote_tmp_dir_test ~ "/astest/.hidden.txt" in astest_list'
       - '"checksum" in result.files[0]'
 
 # Test permission error is correctly handled by find module
@@ -504,6 +504,6 @@
         that:
           - homedir_search is success
           - homedir_search.matched == 1
-          - '"{{ homedir }}/wharevs.txt" in astest_list'
+          - 'homedir ~ "/wharevs.txt" in astest_list'
       vars:
         homedir: "{{ test_user.home }}"
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/find/tasks/mode.yml b/test/integration/targets/find/tasks/mode.yml
index 541bdfcba25..1c900ea2b9d 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/find/tasks/mode.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/find/tasks/mode.yml
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@
 - assert:
     that:
       - exact_mode_0644.files == exact_mode_0644_symbolic.files
-      - exact_mode_0644.files[0].path == '{{ remote_tmp_dir_test }}/mode_0644'
+      - exact_mode_0644.files[0].path == remote_tmp_dir_test ~ '/mode_0644'
       - user_readable_octal.files == user_readable_symbolic.files
       - user_readable_octal.files|map(attribute='path')|map('basename')|sort == ['mode_0400', 'mode_0444', 'mode_0644', 'mode_0666', 'mode_0700']
       - other_readable_octal.files == other_readable_symbolic.files
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/gathering_facts/test_gathering_facts.yml b/test/integration/targets/gathering_facts/test_gathering_facts.yml
index 47027e87175..faa187b73e1 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/gathering_facts/test_gathering_facts.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/gathering_facts/test_gathering_facts.yml
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@
     - name: Test reading facts from default fact_path
       assert:
         that:
-          - '"{{ ansible_local.testfact.fact_dir }}" == "default"'
+          - 'ansible_local.testfact.fact_dir == "default"'
 
 - hosts: facthost9
   tags: [ 'fact_local']
@@ -444,7 +444,7 @@
     - name: Test reading facts from custom fact_path
       assert:
         that:
-          - '"{{ ansible_local.testfact.fact_dir }}" == "custom"'
+          - 'ansible_local.testfact.fact_dir == "custom"'
 
 - hosts: facthost20
   tags: [ 'fact_facter_ohai' ]
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/git/tasks/depth.yml b/test/integration/targets/git/tasks/depth.yml
index 3573dfbd581..20f1b4e901f 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/git/tasks/depth.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/git/tasks/depth.yml
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@
 - name: DEPTH | check update arrived
   assert:
     that:
-      - "{{ a_file.content | b64decode | trim }} == 3"
+      - a_file.content | b64decode | trim == "3"
       - git_fetch is changed
 
 - name: DEPTH | clear checkout_dir
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/git/tasks/localmods.yml b/test/integration/targets/git/tasks/localmods.yml
index 258aecc246e..409bbae23f0 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/git/tasks/localmods.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/git/tasks/localmods.yml
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@
 - name: LOCALMODS | check update arrived
   assert:
     that:
-      - "{{ a_file.content | b64decode | trim }} == 2"
+      - a_file.content | b64decode | trim == "2"
       - git_fetch_force is changed
 
 - name: LOCALMODS | clear checkout_dir
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@
 - name: LOCALMODS | check update arrived
   assert:
     that:
-      - "{{ a_file.content | b64decode | trim }} == 2"
+      - a_file.content | b64decode | trim == "2"
       - git_fetch_force is changed
 
 - name: LOCALMODS | clear checkout_dir
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/git/tasks/submodules.yml b/test/integration/targets/git/tasks/submodules.yml
index 44d50df1f37..8d5ed3712cd 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/git/tasks/submodules.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/git/tasks/submodules.yml
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
 
 - name: SUBMODULES | Ensure submodule1 is at the appropriate commit
   assert:
-    that: '{{ submodule1.stdout_lines | length }} == 2'
+    that: 'submodule1.stdout_lines | length == 2'
 
 - name: SUBMODULES | clear checkout_dir
   file:
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@
 
 - name: SUBMODULES | Ensure submodule1 is at the appropriate commit
   assert:
-    that: '{{ submodule1.stdout_lines | length }} == 4'
+    that: 'submodule1.stdout_lines | length == 4'
 
 - name: SUBMODULES | Copy the checkout so we can run several different tests on it
   command: 'cp -pr {{ checkout_dir }} {{ checkout_dir }}.bak'
@@ -84,8 +84,8 @@
 - name: SUBMODULES | Ensure both submodules are at the appropriate commit
   assert:
     that:
-      - '{{ submodule1.stdout_lines|length }} == 4'
-      - '{{ submodule2.stdout_lines|length }} == 2'
+      - 'submodule1.stdout_lines|length == 4'
+      - 'submodule2.stdout_lines|length == 2'
 
 
 - name: SUBMODULES | Remove checkout dir
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@
 
 - name: SUBMODULES | Ensure submodule1 is at the appropriate commit
   assert:
-    that: '{{ submodule1.stdout_lines | length }} == 5'
+    that: 'submodule1.stdout_lines | length == 5'
 
 
 - name: SUBMODULES | Test that update with recursive found new submodules
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@
 
 - name: SUBMODULES | Enusre submodule2 is at the appropriate commit
   assert:
-    that: '{{ submodule2.stdout_lines | length }} == 4'
+    that: 'submodule2.stdout_lines | length == 4'
 
 - name: SUBMODULES | clear checkout_dir
   file:
@@ -147,4 +147,4 @@
 
 - name: SUBMODULES | Ensure submodule1 is at the appropriate commit
   assert:
-    that: '{{ submodule1.stdout_lines | length }} == 4'
+    that: 'submodule1.stdout_lines | length == 4'
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/include_vars/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/include_vars/tasks/main.yml
index 245916fa8b8..edee91ff561 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/include_vars/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/include_vars/tasks/main.yml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
     that:
       - "testing == 789"
       - "base_dir == 'environments/development'"
-      - "{{ included_one_file.ansible_included_var_files | length }} == 1"
+      - "included_one_file.ansible_included_var_files | length == 1"
       - "'vars/environments/development/all.yml' in included_one_file.ansible_included_var_files[0]"
 
 - name: include the vars/environments/development/all.yml and save results in all
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@
   assert:
     that:
       - webapp_version is defined
-      - "'file_without_extension' in '{{ include_without_file_extension.ansible_included_var_files | join(' ') }}'"
+      - "'file_without_extension' in include_without_file_extension.ansible_included_var_files | join(' ')"
 
 - name: include every directory in vars
   include_vars:
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@
       - "testing == 456"
       - "base_dir == 'services'"
       - "webapp_containers == 10"
-      - "{{ include_every_dir.ansible_included_var_files | length }} == 7"
+      - "include_every_dir.ansible_included_var_files | length == 7"
       - "'vars/all/all.yml' in include_every_dir.ansible_included_var_files[0]"
       - "'vars/environments/development/all.yml' in include_every_dir.ansible_included_var_files[1]"
       - "'vars/environments/development/services/webapp.yml' in include_every_dir.ansible_included_var_files[2]"
@@ -88,9 +88,9 @@
     that:
       - "testing == 789"
       - "base_dir == 'environments/development'"
-      - "{{ include_without_webapp.ansible_included_var_files | length }} == 4"
-      - "'webapp.yml' not in '{{ include_without_webapp.ansible_included_var_files | join(' ') }}'"
-      - "'file_without_extension' not in '{{ include_without_webapp.ansible_included_var_files | join(' ') }}'"
+      - "include_without_webapp.ansible_included_var_files | length == 4"
+      - "'webapp.yml' not in include_without_webapp.ansible_included_var_files | join(' ')"
+      - "'file_without_extension' not in include_without_webapp.ansible_included_var_files | join(' ')"
 
 - name: include only files matching webapp.yml
   include_vars:
@@ -104,9 +104,9 @@
       - "testing == 101112"
       - "base_dir == 'development/services'"
       - "webapp_containers == 20"
-      - "{{ include_match_webapp.ansible_included_var_files | length }} == 1"
+      - "include_match_webapp.ansible_included_var_files | length == 1"
       - "'vars/environments/development/services/webapp.yml' in include_match_webapp.ansible_included_var_files[0]"
-      - "'all.yml' not in '{{ include_match_webapp.ansible_included_var_files | join(' ') }}'"
+      - "'all.yml' not in include_match_webapp.ansible_included_var_files | join(' ')"
 
 - name: include only files matching webapp.yml and store results in webapp
   include_vars:
@@ -173,10 +173,10 @@
 - name: Verify the hash variable
   assert:
     that:
-      - "{{ config | length }} == 3"
+      - "config | length == 3"
       - "config.key0 == 0"
       - "config.key1 == 0"
-      - "{{ config.key2 | length }} == 1"
+      - "config.key2 | length == 1"
       - "config.key2.a == 21"
 
 - name: Include the second file to merge the hash variable
@@ -187,10 +187,10 @@
 - name: Verify that the hash is merged
   assert:
     that:
-      - "{{ config | length }} == 4"
+      - "config | length == 4"
       - "config.key0 == 0"
       - "config.key1 == 1"
-      - "{{ config.key2 | length }} == 2"
+      - "config.key2 | length == 2"
       - "config.key2.a == 21"
       - "config.key2.b == 22"
       - "config.key3 == 3"
@@ -202,9 +202,9 @@
 - name: Verify that the properties from the first file is cleared
   assert:
     that:
-      - "{{ config | length }} == 3"
+      - "config | length == 3"
       - "config.key1 == 1"
-      - "{{ config.key2 | length }} == 1"
+      - "config.key2 | length == 1"
       - "config.key2.b == 22"
       - "config.key3 == 3"
 
@@ -216,10 +216,10 @@
 - name: Verify that the hash is merged after vars files are accumulated
   assert:
     that:
-      - "{{ config | length }} == 3"
+      - "config | length == 3"
       - "config.key0 is undefined"
       - "config.key1 == 1"
-      - "{{ config.key2 | length }} == 1"
+      - "config.key2 | length == 1"
       - "config.key2.b == 22"
       - "config.key3 == 3"
 
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/lookup_first_found/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/lookup_first_found/tasks/main.yml
index 9a4d134e383..981c624e650 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/lookup_first_found/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/lookup_first_found/tasks/main.yml
@@ -109,8 +109,8 @@
   - name: Load variables specific for OS family
     assert:
       that:
-        - "{{item|quote}} is file"
-        - "{{item|basename == 'itworks.yml'}}"
+        - "item is file"
+        - "item|basename == 'itworks.yml'"
     with_first_found:
       - files:
           - "{{ansible_id}}-{{ansible_lsb.major_release}}.yml"  # invalid var, should be skipped
@@ -124,8 +124,8 @@
   - name: Load variables specific for OS family, but now as list of dicts, same options as above
     assert:
       that:
-        - "{{item|quote}} is file"
-        - "{{item|basename == 'itworks.yml'}}"
+        - "item is file"
+        - "item|basename == 'itworks.yml'"
     with_first_found:
       - files:
           - "{{ansible_id}}-{{ansible_lsb.major_release}}.yml"
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/lookup_ini/test_lookup_properties.yml b/test/integration/targets/lookup_ini/test_lookup_properties.yml
index a6fc0f7d7c2..ed347600922 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/lookup_ini/test_lookup_properties.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/lookup_ini/test_lookup_properties.yml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
         field_with_space: "{{lookup('ini', 'field.with.space  type=properties  file=lookup.properties')}}"
 
     - assert:
-        that: "{{item}} is defined"
+        that: "item is defined"
       with_items: [ 'test1', 'test2', 'test_dot', 'field_with_space' ]
 
     - name: "read ini value"
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/lookup_subelements/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/lookup_subelements/tasks/main.yml
index 9d93cf20963..7885347bb23 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/lookup_subelements/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/lookup_subelements/tasks/main.yml
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@
 
 - assert:
     that:
-      - "'{{ item.0.name }}' != 'carol'"
+      - "item.0.name != 'carol'"
   with_subelements:
     - "{{ users }}"
     - mysql.privs
@@ -220,5 +220,5 @@
 
 - assert:
     that:
-      - "'{{ user_alice }}' == 'localhost'"
-      - "'{{ user_bob }}' == 'db1'"
+      - "user_alice == 'localhost'"
+      - "user_bob == 'db1'"
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/loop_control/inner.yml b/test/integration/targets/loop_control/inner.yml
index 1c286fa4607..976f196102d 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/loop_control/inner.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/loop_control/inner.yml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     that:
       - ansible_loop.index == ansible_loop.index0 + 1
       - ansible_loop.revindex == ansible_loop.revindex0 + 1
-      - ansible_loop.first == {{ ansible_loop.index == 1 }}
-      - ansible_loop.last == {{ ansible_loop.index == ansible_loop.length }}
+      - ansible_loop.first == (ansible_loop.index == 1)
+      - ansible_loop.last == (ansible_loop.index == ansible_loop.length)
       - ansible_loop.length == 3
       - ansible_loop.allitems|join(',') == 'first,second,third'
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/module_precedence/modules_test_multiple_roles.yml b/test/integration/targets/module_precedence/modules_test_multiple_roles.yml
index f4bd264957f..182c2158e87 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/module_precedence/modules_test_multiple_roles.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/module_precedence/modules_test_multiple_roles.yml
@@ -14,4 +14,4 @@
   - assert:
       that:
         - '"location" in result'
-        - 'result["location"] == "{{ expected_location}}"'
+        - 'result["location"] == expected_location'
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/module_precedence/modules_test_multiple_roles_reverse_order.yml b/test/integration/targets/module_precedence/modules_test_multiple_roles_reverse_order.yml
index 5403ae238c2..ec5619f39e4 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/module_precedence/modules_test_multiple_roles_reverse_order.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/module_precedence/modules_test_multiple_roles_reverse_order.yml
@@ -13,4 +13,4 @@
   - assert:
       that:
         - '"location" in result'
-        - 'result["location"] == "{{ expected_location}}"'
+        - 'result["location"] == expected_location'
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/module_precedence/multiple_roles/bar/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/module_precedence/multiple_roles/bar/tasks/main.yml
index 52c34020130..62b38a7cb5a 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/module_precedence/multiple_roles/bar/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/module_precedence/multiple_roles/bar/tasks/main.yml
@@ -7,4 +7,4 @@
   assert:
     that:
       - '"location" in result'
-      - 'result["location"] == "{{ expected_location }}"'
+      - 'result["location"] == expected_location'
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/module_precedence/multiple_roles/foo/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/module_precedence/multiple_roles/foo/tasks/main.yml
index 52c34020130..62b38a7cb5a 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/module_precedence/multiple_roles/foo/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/module_precedence/multiple_roles/foo/tasks/main.yml
@@ -7,4 +7,4 @@
   assert:
     that:
       - '"location" in result'
-      - 'result["location"] == "{{ expected_location }}"'
+      - 'result["location"] == expected_location'
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/plugin_loader/collections/ansible_collections/n/c/plugins/action/a.py b/test/integration/targets/plugin_loader/collections/ansible_collections/n/c/plugins/action/a.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..19cf56dbb18
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/plugin_loader/collections/ansible_collections/n/c/plugins/action/a.py
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from ansible.plugins.action import ActionBase
+
+
+class ActionModule(ActionBase):
+    def run(self, tmp=None, task_vars=None):
+        return {"nca_executed": True}
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/plugin_loader/runme.sh b/test/integration/targets/plugin_loader/runme.sh
index 1cf78a4adab..a313778e280 100755
--- a/test/integration/targets/plugin_loader/runme.sh
+++ b/test/integration/targets/plugin_loader/runme.sh
@@ -37,3 +37,5 @@ ansible-playbook use_coll_name.yml -i ../../inventory -e 'ansible_connection=ans
 
 # test filter loading ignoring duplicate file basename
 ansible-playbook file_collision/play.yml "$@"
+
+ANSIBLE_COLLECTIONS_PATH=$PWD/collections ansible-playbook unsafe_plugin_name.yml "$@"
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/plugin_loader/unsafe_plugin_name.yml b/test/integration/targets/plugin_loader/unsafe_plugin_name.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..73cd4399ca9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/plugin_loader/unsafe_plugin_name.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+- hosts: localhost
+  gather_facts: false
+  tasks:
+    - action: !unsafe n.c.a
+      register: r
+
+    - assert:
+        that:
+          - r.nca_executed
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/script/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/script/tasks/main.yml
index 59dc6eb2407..0d55f967097 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/script/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/script/tasks/main.yml
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@
   assert:
     that:
       - _check_mode_test2 is skipped
-      - '_check_mode_test2.msg == "{{ remote_tmp_dir_test | expanduser }}/afile2.txt exists, matching creates option"'
+      - '_check_mode_test2.msg == remote_tmp_dir_test | expanduser ~ "/afile2.txt exists, matching creates option"'
 
 - name: Remove afile2.txt
   file:
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@
   assert:
     that:
       - _check_mode_test3 is skipped
-      - '_check_mode_test3.msg == "{{ remote_tmp_dir_test | expanduser }}/afile2.txt does not exist, matching removes option"'
+      - '_check_mode_test3.msg == remote_tmp_dir_test | expanduser ~ "/afile2.txt does not exist, matching removes option"'
 
 # executable
 
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/slurp/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/slurp/tasks/main.yml
index 939859415ac..f8ebb1594c5 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/slurp/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/slurp/tasks/main.yml
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
       - 'slurp_existing.encoding == "base64"'
       - 'slurp_existing is not changed'
       - 'slurp_existing is not failed'
-      - '"{{ slurp_existing.content | b64decode }}" == "We are at the café"'
+      - 'slurp_existing.content | b64decode == "We are at the café"'
 
 - name: Create a binary file to test with
   copy:
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/template/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/template/tasks/main.yml
index bd2d8db60ef..d96941fd32d 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/template/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/template/tasks/main.yml
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@
 - assert:
     that:
       - "\"foo t'e~m\\plated\" in unusual_results.stdout_lines"
-      - "{{unusual_results.stdout_lines| length}} == 1"
+      - "unusual_results.stdout_lines| length == 1"
 
 - name: check that the unusual filename can be checked for changes
   template:
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/unarchive/tasks/test_missing_binaries.yml b/test/integration/targets/unarchive/tasks/test_missing_binaries.yml
index 8d9256e78ce..04928f4ef49 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/unarchive/tasks/test_missing_binaries.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/unarchive/tasks/test_missing_binaries.yml
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@
           - zip_success.changed
           # Verify that file list is generated
           - "'files' in zip_success"
-          - "{{zip_success['files']| length}} == 3"
+          - "zip_success['files']| length == 3"
           - "'foo-unarchive.txt' in zip_success['files']"
           - "'foo-unarchive-777.txt' in zip_success['files']"
           - "'FOO-UNAR.TXT' in zip_success['files']"
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/unarchive/tasks/test_mode.yml b/test/integration/targets/unarchive/tasks/test_mode.yml
index 9e8b14c8b28..efd428eba5b 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/unarchive/tasks/test_mode.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/unarchive/tasks/test_mode.yml
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
       - "unarchive06_stat.stat.mode == '0600'"
       # Verify that file list is generated
       - "'files' in unarchive06"
-      - "{{unarchive06['files']| length}} == 1"
+      - "unarchive06['files']| length == 1"
       - "'foo-unarchive.txt' in unarchive06['files']"
 
 - name: remove our tar.gz unarchive destination
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@
       - "unarchive07.changed == false"
       # Verify that file list is generated
       - "'files' in unarchive07"
-      - "{{unarchive07['files']| length}} == 1"
+      - "unarchive07['files']| length == 1"
       - "'foo-unarchive.txt' in unarchive07['files']"
 
 - name: remove our tar.gz unarchive destination
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@
       - "unarchive08_stat.stat.mode == '0601'"
       # Verify that file list is generated
       - "'files' in unarchive08"
-      - "{{unarchive08['files']| length}} == 3"
+      - "unarchive08['files']| length == 3"
       - "'foo-unarchive.txt' in unarchive08['files']"
       - "'foo-unarchive-777.txt' in unarchive08['files']"
       - "'FOO-UNAR.TXT' in unarchive08['files']"
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@
       - "unarchive08_stat.stat.mode == '0601'"
       # Verify that file list is generated
       - "'files' in unarchive08"
-      - "{{unarchive08['files']| length}} == 3"
+      - "unarchive08['files']| length == 3"
       - "'foo-unarchive.txt' in unarchive08['files']"
       - "'foo-unarchive-777.txt' in unarchive08['files']"
       - "'FOO-UNAR.TXT' in unarchive08['files']"
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/unarchive/tasks/test_unprivileged_user.yml b/test/integration/targets/unarchive/tasks/test_unprivileged_user.yml
index 8ee1db49e40..9f45e4c9911 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/unarchive/tasks/test_unprivileged_user.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/unarchive/tasks/test_unprivileged_user.yml
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
           - unarchive10 is changed
           # Verify that file list is generated
           - "'files' in unarchive10"
-          - "{{unarchive10['files']| length}} == 1"
+          - "unarchive10['files']| length == 1"
           - "'foo-unarchive.txt' in unarchive10['files']"
           - archive_path.stat.exists
 
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/unarchive/tasks/test_zip.yml b/test/integration/targets/unarchive/tasks/test_zip.yml
index cf03946fcdf..0fc5dc9ce6e 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/unarchive/tasks/test_zip.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/unarchive/tasks/test_zip.yml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
       - "unarchive03.changed == true"
       # Verify that file list is generated
       - "'files' in unarchive03"
-      - "{{unarchive03['files']| length}} == 3"
+      - "unarchive03['files']| length == 3"
       - "'foo-unarchive.txt' in unarchive03['files']"
       - "'foo-unarchive-777.txt' in unarchive03['files']"
       - "'FOO-UNAR.TXT' in unarchive03['files']"
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/wait_for/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/wait_for/tasks/main.yml
index eb186b3ab11..fd63c3474a1 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/wait_for/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/wait_for/tasks/main.yml
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
   assert:
     that:
       - waitfor is successful
-      - waitfor.path == "{{ remote_tmp_dir | expanduser }}/wait_for_file"
+      - waitfor.path == remote_tmp_dir | expanduser ~ "/wait_for_file"
       - waitfor.elapsed >= 2
       - waitfor.elapsed <= 15
 
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@
   assert:
     that:
       - waitfor is successful
-      - waitfor.path == "{{ remote_tmp_dir | expanduser }}/wait_for_file"
+      - waitfor.path == remote_tmp_dir | expanduser ~ "/wait_for_file"
       - waitfor.elapsed >= 2
       - waitfor.elapsed <= 15
 
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@
     that:
       - waitfor is successful
       - waitfor is not changed
-      - "waitfor.port == {{ http_port }}"
+      - "waitfor.port == http_port"
 
 - name: install psutil using pip (non-Linux)
   pip:
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@
     that:
       - waitfor is successful
       - waitfor is not changed
-      - "waitfor.port == {{ http_port }}"
+      - "waitfor.port == http_port"
 
 - name: test wait_for with delay
   wait_for:
diff --git a/test/lib/ansible_test/_util/target/sanity/import/importer.py b/test/lib/ansible_test/_util/target/sanity/import/importer.py
index d08f8e75dd0..f0d043ef50a 100644
--- a/test/lib/ansible_test/_util/target/sanity/import/importer.py
+++ b/test/lib/ansible_test/_util/target/sanity/import/importer.py
@@ -541,6 +541,12 @@ def main():
                     "ignore",
                     "AnsibleCollectionFinder has already been configured")
 
+            # ansible.utils.unsafe_proxy attempts patching sys.intern generating a warning if it was already patched
+            warnings.filterwarnings(
+                "ignore",
+                "skipped sys.intern patch; appears to have already been patched"
+            )
+
             try:
                 yield
             finally:
diff --git a/test/units/parsing/yaml/test_dumper.py b/test/units/parsing/yaml/test_dumper.py
index d71207c11c0..5d3961eab73 100644
--- a/test/units/parsing/yaml/test_dumper.py
+++ b/test/units/parsing/yaml/test_dumper.py
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ from ansible.parsing import vault
 from ansible.parsing.yaml import dumper, objects
 from ansible.parsing.yaml.loader import AnsibleLoader
 from ansible.template import AnsibleUndefined
-from ansible.utils.unsafe_proxy import AnsibleUnsafeText, AnsibleUnsafeBytes
 
 from units.mock.yaml_helper import YamlTestUtils
 from units.mock.vault_helper import TextVaultSecret
@@ -65,8 +64,7 @@ class TestAnsibleDumper(unittest.TestCase, YamlTestUtils):
 
     def test_bytes(self):
         b_text = u'tréma'.encode('utf-8')
-        unsafe_object = AnsibleUnsafeBytes(b_text)
-        yaml_out = self._dump_string(unsafe_object, dumper=self.dumper)
+        yaml_out = self._dump_string(b_text, dumper=self.dumper)
 
         stream = self._build_stream(yaml_out)
         loader = self._loader(stream)
@@ -79,8 +77,7 @@ class TestAnsibleDumper(unittest.TestCase, YamlTestUtils):
 
     def test_unicode(self):
         u_text = u'nöel'
-        unsafe_object = AnsibleUnsafeText(u_text)
-        yaml_out = self._dump_string(unsafe_object, dumper=self.dumper)
+        yaml_out = self._dump_string(u_text, dumper=self.dumper)
 
         stream = self._build_stream(yaml_out)
         loader = self._loader(stream)
diff --git a/test/units/utils/test_unsafe_proxy.py b/test/units/utils/test_unsafe_proxy.py
index db853a760d5..483826a23fa 100644
--- a/test/units/utils/test_unsafe_proxy.py
+++ b/test/units/utils/test_unsafe_proxy.py
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import pathlib
+import sys
+
 from ansible.utils.unsafe_proxy import AnsibleUnsafe, AnsibleUnsafeBytes, AnsibleUnsafeText, wrap_var
 from ansible.module_utils.common.text.converters import to_text, to_bytes
 
@@ -114,3 +117,10 @@ def test_to_text_unsafe():
 def test_to_bytes_unsafe():
     assert isinstance(to_bytes(AnsibleUnsafeText(u'foo')), AnsibleUnsafeBytes)
     assert to_bytes(AnsibleUnsafeText(u'foo')) == AnsibleUnsafeBytes(b'foo')
+
+
+def test_unsafe_with_sys_intern():
+    # Specifically this is actually about sys.intern, test of pathlib
+    # because that is a specific affected use
+    assert sys.intern(AnsibleUnsafeText('foo')) == 'foo'
+    assert pathlib.Path(AnsibleUnsafeText('/tmp')) == pathlib.Path('/tmp')