Chapter 12: Upper Moons Meeting – The Bald Threat

Deep within a hidden fortress, suspended between reality and nightmare, the remaining Upper Moons gathered. They knelt in eerie silence, their heads bowed low, waiting for their master's arrival.

The air grew colder, suffocatingly thick with malice as Muzan Kibutsuji appeared, stepping gracefully from the shadows. His crimson eyes gleamed like molten rubies, and his lips curled into a smile that could freeze blood.

But today, there was no elegance in his expression. Only rage.

"Upper Moon Four… is dead," Muzan said, voice deceptively calm. "In a single punch."

The room stiffened. Upper Moon Two, Doma, covered his mouth dramatically. "Oh my! That's quite… sudden."

Akaza, Upper Moon Three, clenched his fists. "Who did it? Was it one of the Hashira?"

"No." Muzan's gaze sharpened, glowing brighter. "It was… a bald man."

The silence was deafening. The Upper Moons stared at each other, processing the absurdity of the statement.

"Bald man?" Doma tilted his head. "You mean some old monk with secret breathing techniques?"

"No," Muzan's voice darkened. "This man has no breathing style. No Nichirin blade. No demon slayer mark. And yet, with a single casual punch, he annihilated Upper Moon Four."

Daki, who had been silently sulking behind Gyutaro, whispered, "Is… is that even possible?"

Gyutaro sneered, "Maybe Four was just weak. I always said that guy was pathetic."

"Enough!" Muzan's voice shook the room, tendrils of black blood seeping from the walls. "This man is a threat to my perfect world. He is not a slayer, yet he can erase my strongest creations with no effort."

The Upper Moons fell silent. Even Akaza, who craved strong opponents, felt a faint flicker of something he hadn't felt in centuries — fear.

---

Back at the Butterfly Estate

Tanjiro lay bandaged on a futon, staring at the ceiling. The events of the last battle replayed in his mind — Saitama casually vaporizing an Upper Moon like it was a mosquito.

Zenitsu paced frantically beside him. "What… what are we even supposed to do anymore?! If demons are that weak to him, why do we even need the Demon Slayer Corps?! Saitama-san could just end Muzan tonight!"

Inosuke, upside down and doing handstands, snorted. "Baldy is just too strong! But I still wanna fight him one day!"

"Guys…" Tanjiro sat up, his face thoughtful. "There's something… strange about Saitama-san."

"No kidding!" Zenitsu yelled. "He's a walking apocalypse!"

"I mean… his strength doesn't match this world's logic at all," Tanjiro continued. "Even the strongest Hashira struggle against Upper Moons. But Saitama-san… it's like he's from somewhere else entirely."

Zenitsu froze. "You think he's a demon?"

"No," Tanjiro shook his head. "His scent is pure. Too pure. Like a clear sky after rain. No malice, no hatred, just… emptiness."

"Emptiness?" Inosuke flipped upright. "Maybe he's just too strong to care about anything!"

Tanjiro didn't respond. There was a strange sadness lingering around Saitama, something deeper than mere boredom.

---

Somewhere near a village

Saitama sat cross-legged beside a river, washing his gloves. A small fish swam by, and Saitama watched it with mild curiosity.

"Man, even the animals here are peaceful." He sighed. "This world is beautiful, but it's kinda boring."

Suddenly, a figure stepped from the forest behind him. A tall woman with hair like flowing ink and eyes as dark as night. She wore a blood-red kimono, and her fingers were stained with dried blood.

"I am Lower Moon One," she said, voice soft like silk. "Muzan-sama sent me to test you."

"Another one?" Saitama didn't even turn around. "I just finished washing my gloves. Can't this wait?"

The demon's smile curled cruelly. "You'll die before they dry."

Vines of dark blood erupted from her fingertips, twisting toward Saitama. In a blur, they wrapped around his neck, arms, and legs, each thorn meant to inject poison that could melt bone.

Saitama stood up casually, dragging the demon closer with her own attack. She stumbled forward, wide-eyed, as Saitama stared at her, face blank.

"You guys really love vines, huh?" he said.

He flicked his wrist, and the demon exploded into mist, her body torn apart before she could even scream.

Saitama sighed, sitting down again. "I just wanted a quiet evening."

---

Back at Muzan's Fortress

The air trembled again, and this time, every Upper Moon felt it. Lower Moon One was gone — erased from existence faster than they could sense.

Muzan's expression darkened further. "He's moving closer to us."

Akaza clenched his fists. "Let me fight him."

"You?" Muzan's eyes narrowed. "Even you would be erased in an instant."

Akaza growled, humiliated but silent.

Doma grinned. "I'm curious to meet him. A man who can break Upper Moons like twigs? Sounds… delightful."

"None of you will fight him alone," Muzan ordered. "We will deal with him together."

The Upper Moons shivered. It was rare — almost unheard of — for Muzan himself to suggest teamwork. This bald man, whoever he was, had made the Demon King himself feel fear.

---

Back at the Estate

Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke stood outside, watching the stars. Saitama leaned against a tree nearby, yawning loudly.

"Hey, Saitama-san," Tanjiro called out. "Do you… do you want to help us defeat Muzan?"

"Muzan… oh, that guy they keep talking about?" Saitama scratched his head. "If he's strong, sure."

Zenitsu clutched his hair. "He's the King of Demons! The ultimate evil! And you're acting like it's just a casual chore?!"

Saitama shrugged. "If he's evil, I'll punch him."

"Is there anything you're scared of?" Tanjiro asked softly.

Saitama was quiet for a moment. Then he muttered, "Losing my hair again."

The trio stared at him in disbelief.

"That… already happened," Zenitsu whispered.

"Exactly." Saitama's eyes turned distant. "And I can never go back."

Tanjiro gave him a sympathetic smile. "We'll find you some shampoo, Saitama-san."

Saitama gave a thumbs-up. "Thanks."

As the group laughed under the stars, the shadow of Muzan's warpath crept ever closer. And at the center of it all stood a bored bald hero, unaware that his mere presence had shattered the balance of this entire world.

---

End of Chapter 12