"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson!"
Building on Phoenix Flower Fire, Muzan used shuriken as carriers. Under the intense heat, the shuriken erupted with crackling sparks. The combination expanded the attack's range, forcing the surrounding Cloud Ninja who wanted to close in to halt.
Motoi, who had only just recovered, watched the sparks scatter all around him. Just as he was about to use Lightning Release again, he saw Muzan change his hand seal sequence once more.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
The dense sparks could not kill the enemy, but they quickly burned scars into anyone they struck. Some of the approaching ninja even had their clothes set ablaze, screaming in pain as they leaped into the water.
Then, in the blink of an eye, their target vanished from the encirclement.
"Damn it, Muzan got away! What a bunch of useless fools! Hurry up and hunt him down with me!"
Since Muzan had been among the last groups to withdraw, most of the ninja had already left along the designated routes according to the Jōnin's orders.
Watching the figures in the distance and calculating whether there was enough time, Muzan had no intention of passing through the camp. Quite a few Cloud Ninja were targeting the Konoha camp. If he went there now, he would run straight into them. He would be attacked from both sides, and the camp was full of Explosive Tags.
Even if he did not fear death, his clothes definitely would not survive an explosion intact.
"You're lucky. If you were chasing the main force, today's fireworks would have included you."
Muzan's retreat route had been set with kunai traps in advance. They would not endanger Motoi's life, but they would slow his group down.
Muzan swiftly passed through the traps. By the time Motoi