The five of them walked beneath the watchful eyes of two circling crows. "What should we do about the auction?" Sasori asked, accepting his cloak from Tamayo.

"Nothing," Iguro replied, taking his haori from Yushiro, who shot him an annoyed glance.

"Are you sure that's wise?" Sasori pressed. Iguro nodded. "The Corps can't directly intervene in the auction itself. Our focus should be on preventing future incidents like this."

"Wait, you're not going to take action against the auction?" the blacksmith interjected.

"The best we can do is notify the authorities," Iguro stated firmly. "Regardless, what are you two still doing here?" he asked.

"We... require financial assistance," Tamayo admitted.

"You need money?" Iguro clarified.

"That's what Lady Tamayo said, dumbass!" Yushiro snapped, his tone filled with venom.

Iguro sighed, already weary of the two demons he couldn't kill. "Here," he said, tossing them two coins. Each coin bore the name 'Obanai Iguro' on one side and '500,000 yen' on the other.

"Go to any bank with a sun-rising symbol on the wall, and they will give you 500,000 yen for each coin," Iguro explained.

"What kind of money system is this?" Sasori asked. "How does one coin equal 500,000 yen?"

"It's to make carrying money easier. Are you saying you've been carrying all your money around?" Iguro asked incredulously.

"Yes," Sasori replied.

"How!?" Iguro exclaimed. "You know what, I don't care. You two, get lost," he said, pointing at Tamayo and Yushiro.

Turning to the blacksmith, Iguro said, "You're coming with me." Finally, he pointed at Sasori. "And you, do whatever you do."

With that, Iguro walked off with the blacksmith, leaving Sasori behind.

Aki, a sleek crow, landed on Sasori's shoulder. "You want a new mission? Or are you going to take a break?" the crow cawed.

"I'll take another mission. I still need to test out my new poison," Sasori replied a glint of excitement in his eyes.

Aki nodded. "There's a sighting of a high-ranking demon in the western district. It's causing quite a bit of trouble. Might be a good opportunity for you."

Sasori's lips curled into a smirk. "Perfect. I'll head there immediately." He glanced back at Tamayo and Yushiro, who were still staring at the coins Iguro had given them. "Try not to get yourselves killed," he muttered before turning on his heel and heading towards the western district.

As he walked, the streets grew quieter as he approached the western district. The atmosphere was tense, the usual bustling crowds having disappeared, replaced by an eerie silence. Sasori knew he was getting close.

He stopped at a crossroads, his eyes scanning the surroundings. Aki took off from his shoulder, flying ahead to scout. Moments later, the crow returned, circling above a dilapidated building.

Sasori followed Aki's lead, making his way to the building. As he got closer, he could sense the demon's presence, a dark aura emanating from within. He stepped inside, the floorboards creaking under his weight.

Two men lunged at Sasori from either side, but he easily dodged the attack by stepping back, causing the two men to crash into each other face-first. They stumbled, disoriented, and Sasori took advantage, grabbing the backs of their heads and smashing them together again, knocking them unconscious.

"Are those two human?" Aki asked, his voice filled with curiosity.

"Yes... but something is off," Sasori replied, his eyes narrowing.

Just then, a scantily dressed woman dropped from a hole in the second floor. She was bound with several pieces of cloth covering her mouth and body.

"Oh sir, please save me! Those men took me!" she cried out, her voice muffled by the cloth covering her mouth.

Alarm bells rang in Sasori's head; the woman in front of him was a demon.

Sasori unsheathed his sword and swung it at the demon, attempting to behead her. But she reacted quickly, using the clothes to twist her body and dodge the attack. She then launched a kick at Sasori with the same move.

Sasori easily grabbed her foot and pulled, causing the cloth tied to the ceiling to break. He threw her through a wall and into another room.

The demoness landed with a thud, quickly regaining her composure. Her eyes glowed with malevolence as she stood, dusting off the debris from her clothes. "You're smarter than I thought, Slayer," she hissed, her voice dripping with venom.

Sasori remained calm, his grip on his sword unwavering. "Your tricks won't work on me, demon."

The demoness smirked, her eyes narrowing. "We'll see about that." With a swift motion, she removed the cloth covering her mouth, releasing a pink gas.

Sasori wasn't worried about the gas for the simple reason he didn't need to breathe.

He rushed at her, unaffected by the gas.

"What! How are you still sane?" she screamed, as one of the two men Sasori had knocked out stood up and jumped in front of her, taking the attack for her.

"HOW ARE YOU HEAD OVER HEELS FOR ME? MY SPELL SHOULD WORK!" she screamed, her voice filled with anger, confusion, and annoyance as the pink gas continued to leak from her mouth.

Sasori looked at the man who had sacrificed himself. "I see. You control people with that pink gas of yours," he said coldly, pulling his sword from the man's chest. The man fell to the ground, dead.

The demoness's eyes widened in panic as she realized her spell did not affect Sasori. "This can't be happening!" she screeched, her voice desperate.

Sasori advanced on her, his eyes cold and determined. "Your tricks won't save you," he said, his voice low and menacing.

The demoness lunged at him in a final, desperate attempt to overpower him. Sasori sidestepped her attack with ease and, with a swift motion, grabbed her throat and threw her against a wall, making her hit it hard.

"Earth Release: Ground Prison Technique," Sasori said, slamming his hands onto the ground. The earth rose and encased the demoness' body, leaving only her head exposed.

"What! What is this? How are you doing this?" she screamed as Sasori jabbed a syringe into her head.

"You won't be causing any more trouble," Sasori said coldly, injecting the poison into her.

She began to scream in pain, the pink gas leaking from her mouth. Sasori quickly grabbed the cloth that had been covering her mouth and put it back, stopping the gas from escaping.

The poison destroyed her brain, causing it to regrow in a painful cycle. Her struggles grew weaker as the poison took effect.

"You... you monster," she gasped faintly after a while.

"No, just perfection. And you will be too, soon," Sasori replied, watching as the light faded from her eyes. "Now, it's over."

With the demoness finally subdued, Sasori stood up, brushing off the dirt from his hands. He glanced around the room, ensuring there were no more threats. Aki, perched on his shoulder, remained vigilant.

"Mission accomplished," Sasori muttered, a satisfied tone coloring his voice as he released the jutsu holding the demoness's body, letting it slump to the ground.

"Now, how to make you useful," Sasori mused aloud, removing the cloths covering her mouth where the pink gas still leaked.

He widened her mouth slightly, causing more of the pink gas to escape. "Seems like just opening your mouth is all it takes," Sasori observed to himself.

Watching the gas continue to drift from the demoness, Sasori studied its behavior carefully, noting its consistency and potency.

"You possess a truly unique ability," Sasori remarked his expression a blend of curiosity and calculation. "In the right hands, this gas could be incredibly valuable."

Aki, perched nearby, looked on with interest. "What's your plan for it?" he asked, intrigued by Sasori's intentions.

Sasori glanced at Aki, a faint smile crossing his face. "First, we need to contain it properly," he replied, reaching into his pouch and pulling out a scroll. With a swift motion, he summoned a suit of samurai armor.

"I'll never get used to that," Aki commented, eyeing the armor skeptically.

With precision, Sasori secured the samurai helmet onto the demoness's head, ensuring the mouthpiece aligned perfectly with her open mouth. Using a piece of metal string, he connected her mouth to the helmet's mouthpiece, allowing the pink gas to flow freely when the visor was lifted.

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"Perfect," Sasori remarked, satisfied with his makeshift contraption. He sealed the remaining samurai armor back into his scroll and stowed it away.

"Now, time to test this," Sasori said, his voice laced with anticipation.

Approaching the unconscious man nearby, Sasori nudged him awake with a swift kick. The man jolted into consciousness, immediately bewildered.

"What was that?" he demanded, rubbing his face.

Using his chakra strings, Sasori lifted the visor of the samurai helmet on the demoness, causing pink smoke to waft toward the man's face.

The man's initial irritation melted into delight as he inhaled the gas. His eyes widened, a grin spreading across his face as he turned expectantly towards the demoness.

Observing their interaction closely, Sasori made mental notes, captivated by the gas's effects on the man.

"Interesting," Sasori murmured thoughtfully. "This could prove quite versatile."

Aki, perched on Sasori's shoulder, watched silently, her curiosity aroused by Sasori's experimental method.

As the man continued to react positively to the gas, Sasori pondered its potential applications. He envisioned strategic uses in future encounters with demons.

"While I can't control anyone with this, it certainly seems effective for stunning purposes," Sasori remarked, testing the gas's impact on the man once more. The man remained free of resistance or discomfort.

Satisfied with his initial assessment, Sasori closed the samurai helmet's visor to contain the gas.

Aki chirped softly, her interest evident as she observed Sasori's meticulous approach to studying the demoness's abilities.

"I'll need to refine this," Sasori mused aloud, already considering adjustments to optimize the gas's effectiveness.

Namura walked down the street, her hand bloody from dispatching her boss. As she turned into an alleyway, she was startled to find Doma leaning against a wall, his distinctive appearance striking even in the dim light.

Doma approached Namura with an air of curiosity. "Oh lord, Muzan!" he exclaimed, revealing his true identity.

Doma is a tall young man with a lean but toned and muscular body, who is of extremely pale complexion and possesses unusually long, pointed nails that appear to be stained with a pale blue color. He possesses long platinum blond hair that he wore parted to his right, the shorter parts around his face seeming to flare out to either side around his head, curving backward with one lock slanting down to the right of his face to fall between his eyes, while the longer parts were left to drape centrally down his back in a thinning spiral.

His eyes have been described to be incredibly rare and beautiful, as, in color, they appeared to be made up of an array of rainbow pastel tones that fade into one another as they circle his irises, this unusual appearance even causing people to believe Doma is a blessed being who could communicate with the gods. The kanji for "Upper Rank" and for "Two" is etched across them, with thick eyelashes and a set of notably large, thick black eyebrows acting to frame them above.

Doma wore a blood-red turtleneck of a design that made it appear that the section between his neck and upper chest was covered by a black substance that looked like it was dripping slightly down his body, this same design repeated at his wrists and down his hands, as well as on the small, circular "blood stain" he adorned on his head. Below this, he wore a pair of straight, tan-colored pants of a pinstriped design, their cuffs visibly loose, which he secured with a pale green-tinged golden belt, its buckle a bright silver. He also only wears plain black on his feet.

"So, how did it go?" Doma inquired, his voice playful. Muzan slapped him across the face with such force that Doma crashed through one wall of the alley, only to hit another and slump to the ground.

The commotion caught the attention of a woman who had been peacefully drinking tea in her home. Startled, she peered through the newly formed hole in her wall, wondering what could be happening in the alley.

Her face turned horrified when Muzan, his face a mask of pure wrath, walked through the hole.

She screamed, throwing her teacup at Muzan, and began to run.

But she did not get far. A long, thin tentacle emerged from Muzan's back, piercing the woman through her head and killing her instantly.

Muzan turned his attention back to Doma, who was slowly getting to his feet, a grin still plastered on his face despite the obvious pain. "I guess it didn't go as planned?" Doma chuckled, wiping blood from his mouth.

"Failure is not an option," Muzan hissed, retracting the tentacle and glaring at Doma.

"Sorry for asking again, my lord. But why is kidnapping him not an option?" Doma asked as Muzan took the seat the woman had been sitting in, now fully transformed into his male form.

Muzan's eyes narrowed as he settled into the chair. "Oh, Doma, your memory must be as reliable as a sieve," he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt.

-Flashback at the Infinity Castle-

"Now, Doma, it's time for you to be useful for once," Muzan said sternly, eyeing Doma who had fully regenerated from Muzan's earlier assault.

"And how would I do that, my lord?" Doma asked cautiously.

"You're the most emotional demon that, unfortunately, I have to trust," Muzan replied flatly.

"And that's a bad thing?" Doma inquired, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

Muzan simply stared at him, annoyance evident in his expression.

"I'm assuming you've heard about the living piece of wood that the demon slayers have recently acquired?" Muzan asked.

"Oh, the red-headed one, right?" Doma confirmed.

"Yes, that's the one. He's much like a demon... but better. Yet, I don't know how," Muzan explained.

"Is that so? But... how?" Doma probed, feigning innocent curiosity.

"I believe he has operated on himself," Muzan revealed.

"Like Doc Benton?" Doma asked, recalling the infamous 'immortal' human.

"I suppose, but unlike Doc Benton, who replaced his skin and organs with that of others, he has transformed himself into a living doll," Muzan clarified. "From what I've gathered, he doesn't need to eat, drink, or sleep. Most importantly, he is resistant to the sun."

"Hmm," Doma mused, absorbing Muzan's words. "A living doll, resistant to the sun... That could be quite advantageous for us, my lord."

Muzan nodded, his eyes narrowing with calculation. "Indeed. Imagine the possibilities if we could replicate or adapt such resilience. We could operate freely during daylight hours."

Doma's mind raced with possibilities. "But how do we learn more about this living doll? And how do we replicate it?"

Muzan leaned back, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Simple. We make him tell us."

"Ah, so you want me to kidnap him and torture the information out of him?" Doma suggested eagerly.

"That was my initial thought, but it seems he can't feel pain. So, we need to make him willing to divulge the information. Besides, I wouldn't trust a slayer to perform surgery on me," Muzan remarked.

"I see... So, we need to emotionally manipulate him?" Doma clarified.

"Correct. Which is why I need you. You have experience in manipulating human feelings," Muzan said pointedly.

Doma listened intently, nodding as Muzan outlined their strategy. "Understood, my lord. Emotional manipulation it is," Doma replied, a sly grin forming on his face.

"Do you want advice from me on how to manipulate him?" Doma asked, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Perhaps seducing him could be the key."

"Seduce him?" Muzan repeated, arching an eyebrow skeptically at the suggestion.

"Yes, think about it. If you make him fall for you, and since he's immortal and unaware of your immortality, he might agree to perform the surgery to make you a living doll," Doma explained excitedly.

Muzan's expression turned thoughtful as he considered Doma's unconventional idea. "Seduction... Yes, that could be an avenue worth exploring. Sasori's desires and weaknesses could indeed be our leverage."

Doma grinned cunningly. "Exactly, my lord. We'll use his desires against him, draw him into a web of trust and intimacy. Once he's emotionally invested, he'll be more inclined to reveal his secrets willingly."

Muzan nodded slowly, his eyes gleaming with renewed determination. "Very well, Doma. Seduce him, gain his trust, and extract the information we need."

"With him, I won't even need the Blue Spider Lily," Muzan concluded, a hint of satisfaction in his voice.

-End of flashback-

Doma smirked, recalling the conversation. "Oh yeah, now I remember."

Muzan's glare remained icy, but he shifted slightly in the chair, his voice dripping with disdain. "Good. I was beginning to think you had forgotten entirely."

Doma's grin widened, but there was a hint of seriousness in his eyes. Muzan poured himself a cup of tea with deliberate calmness.

"Now, Doma, tell me why this ploy did not work?" Muzan asked, taking a sip of the tea.

"Hmmmmm," Doma mused, striking a thinking pose. "Maybe..."

"Maybe?" Muzan prompted, his eyes narrowing as he took another sip.

"Maybe he isn't into... I can't believe it's possible, but maybe he's not into women?" Doma suggested, his tone doubtful. "Or the more likely reason: you two haven't built a strong enough emotional connection!"

Muzan frowned, considering Doma's words. "So, you think I need to deepen the bond first?"

"Yes... But that will take too long..." Doma said. "Unless..."

"Unless?" Muzan asked.

"My lord, do you remember Ayame?" Doma asked.

"You mean the one upstate—" Before Muzan could finish, a scantily dressed woman dropped from the second floor. She was bound with several pieces of cloth covering her mouth and body.

"I have arrived!" the demon now known as Ayame cried out.

Muzan let out a long, unnecessary sigh, making the other two begin to sweat.

Ayame stood up, her eyes wide with excitement as she looked at Muzan and Doma. "My lord, I am more than happy to help you with this problem you are having!" She said her voice muffled by the cloth in her mouth.

Muzan raised an eyebrow, his patience wearing thin. "And how would you help?"

"It's my blood demon art!" She said lowering the cloth in her mouth making a pink smock come out of her mouth.

Muzan raised an eyebrow.

"If anyone finds me at least moderately attractive and injects this pink smock they will fall under my control." She said.

Muzan's eyebrow arched higher as he processed Ayame's proposition. Doma watched the exchange with a mix of curiosity and amusement, wondering how Muzan would react to Ayame's rather unconventional ability.

"So, you're suggesting you can use your blood demon art to make Sasori fall for you?" Muzan clarified, his tone skeptical yet intrigued.

Ayame nodded eagerly, her eyes shining with determination. "Exactly, my lord. With my ability, I can control his mind making him believe his life to me. Once he's under my control he will tell us his secrets."

Doma couldn't help but interject, a smirk playing on his lips. "And what if he's immune to your charms?"

Ayame's expression faltered for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. "My lord, I have yet to meet any human who could resist my allure," she declared confidently.

Muzan sighed deeply, a sense of resignation in his voice. "Very well. We don't have many options."

Doma nodded in agreement. "It's worth a try, my lord. If Ayame's ability works as she says, it could save us a lot of time."

Muzan turned his gaze back to Ayame, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Proceed carefully, Ayame. Failure is not an option."

Ayame bowed deeply. "Thank you, my lord. I won't disappoint you!" She ran off.

-Much later-

Muzan sighed deeply, his disappointment palpable. "I have been disappointed yet again."

"I had high hopes for her," Doma added, his voice tinged with disappointment as well.

Suddenly, the radio crackled to life on the nearby table. "Breaking news: Nana Takahashi, a prominent radio host, has been apprehended for multiple charges including kidnapping, torture, murder, attempted murder, theft, and arson. Four days ago, she escaped prison and was last seen with a pink-haired, muscular young man of average height, fair skin, and covered in criminal tattoos. Authorities urge anyone with information to report sightings immediately."

Muzan's expression shifted slightly, a trace of satisfaction touching his features. "At least Akaza is following my orders. Successfully."

Rising from his seat, Muzan left the building through the hole in the wall.

-Back with Sasori-

"I need to test her against a real opponent," Sasori muttered, sealing the demoness into a scroll.

"I believe I can assist you with that." A booming voice echoed through the room, startling Aki.

Sasori turned to see a Kasugai crow with a purple cloth around its neck.

"Satoru!" Aki exclaimed, hopping over to the crow.

"Ken... It's nice to see you again," Satoru greeted.

"The name's Aki now," she replied.

"Is that because of your obsession with pumpkins?" Satoru asked with curiosity.

"Maybe... Anyway, why are you here?" Aki inquired.

"Lord Kagaya has a mission for Sasori," Satoru answered.

"A personal mission from Lord Kagaya himself?" Aki asked in surprise.

"Yes, and it involves a high chance of encountering a Lower Moon, possibly even an Upper Moon," Satoru confirmed, catching Sasori's interest.

"Sounds like it's worth my time," Sasori remarked, preparing to leave the building.

"It's good to see you're up for the challenge. You won't be alone; a Hashira will accompany you. Just so you know, he's known for being late," Satoru added before turning to Aki to give directions to the village.