Hero Hunt Arc

The twelfth arc of the series and the third of the Human Monster Saga tracks Garou's escalating campaign against the Hero Association's ranks. It juxtaposes his methodical brutality with Saitama's cluelessness, delivering the recurring joke that the world's deadliest hunter keeps being knocked out by a bald man with no idea who he is.

To shield him from Garou, Bang throws Charanko out of the dojo. On the road, Garou stalks Mumen Rider until the Tank Topper Army intervenes, and Tanktop Master steps up to fight. Though he gains the upper hand, an unsettling familiarity in Garou's presence unnerves him, and after Mumen Rider urges restraint, Garou refuses to yield and turns serious, overwhelming the hero with his Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist. He then crushes the surrounding disciples, leaving a battered Charanko for Bang and Bomb to discover.

Recovering in the Hero Association Hospital, Mumen Rider and Tanktop Master warn Saitama about the Hero Hunter's growing threat. Realizing Garou preys on the strongest fighters, Saitama assumes he could be a target, but during his visit he grows more interested in Charanko's mention of the lucrative Super Fight tournament. That night Garou humiliates Golden Ball and Spring Mustachio in an alley brawl, then knocks out the promoter Zeimeet in the entertainment district.

Still hungry for a challenge, Garou runs into Saitama, who is actually out searching for a wig rather than hunting anyone. Mistaking the encounter for an ambush, Garou lands a blow, and an irritated Saitama returns the exact same strike, dropping him instantly. Garou wakes the next morning atop a pile of garbage with only hazy memories, having been beaten without ever knowing his opponent's strength. Saitama, meanwhile, plans to wear his new wig as a disguise and enter the martial arts tournament, inviting Genos along.