Grandpa Gohan, Krillin, the Ox King, and Chi-Chi stood in the desert, waiting for the notorious bandit Yamcha to arrive. Word had spread that Yamcha and his partner had been causing trouble for travelers and stealing from those who crossed their path. The Ox King, fed up with the bandit's antics, had sought Gohan's help, and now they were all here, ready for a confrontation.
The sun hung high in the sky, casting long shadows across the dry, cracked earth. A gentle breeze swept through the desert, kicking up clouds of dust. Just as they were beginning to wonder if Yamcha would show up, a figure appeared on the horizon, walking confidently toward them with another figure trailing behind him.
"There he is," the Ox King said, his deep voice rumbling with a mix of anger and relief.
Yamcha and his companion, the small, floating Puar, stopped a few feet away from the group. Yamcha had a cocky grin on his face, his arms crossed over his chest. "So, the Ox King finally decided to get some help, huh? Too bad it won't do you any good. No one can defeat me."
Krillin, standing next to Gohan, clenched his fists. He could feel the intensity in the air, the anticipation of a fight about to begin. He had been training hard under Gohan's guidance, and now it was time to put that training to the test.
Gohan, with his calm and collected demeanor, stepped forward slightly. "Yamcha," he said, his voice steady, "I'm giving you one last chance. Return everything you've stolen, and this can end peacefully. But if you continue down this path, we'll have to stop you."
Yamcha scoffed, flipping his hair back. "Please, old man. No one can stop me. But I'll tell you what—how about we settle this with a fight? If any of you can beat me, I'll consider giving the stuff back."
Without missing a beat, Gohan smiled and turned to Krillin. "Krillin, this one's all yours."
Krillin's eyes widened for a moment, but he quickly steeled himself. This was the moment he had been waiting for, the chance to prove himself. He stepped forward, cracking his knuckles and rolling his shoulders, ready for the battle ahead.
Yamcha raised an eyebrow, clearly underestimating the smaller fighter in front of him. "You want to send the shrimp to fight me? This'll be over in a second."
Krillin didn't respond with words. Instead, he took a fighting stance, focusing all of his energy. The ground beneath his feet cracked slightly as he gathered his strength. Yamcha smirked and rushed forward, throwing a quick punch, aiming straight for Krillin's face.
Krillin ducked just in time, countering with a swift kick to Yamcha's midsection. Yamcha grunted, surprised by the force behind the kick, but quickly recovered, leaping back and preparing to go on the offensive.
The two fighters exchanged blows, moving faster than the eye could follow. Yamcha was skilled, using his agility and speed to his advantage, but Krillin's training under Gohan had honed his reflexes and power. Every punch Yamcha threw was met with a well-timed block or dodge, and Krillin countered with precise strikes of his own.
Yamcha leaped into the air, charging up a powerful attack. "Wolf Fang Fist!" he shouted, descending on Krillin with a barrage of rapid punches and slashes, his hands moving like the claws of a wolf.
Krillin gritted his teeth, feeling the impact of Yamcha's assault, but he wasn't about to give up. He planted his feet firmly in the ground, raising his arms in a defensive stance, blocking each of Yamcha's attacks. As Yamcha drew closer for the finishing blow, Krillin saw his opening. With a swift movement, he dodged to the side, letting Yamcha's fist pass by harmlessly.
Taking advantage of Yamcha's overextension, Krillin spun on his heel and delivered a powerful roundhouse kick to Yamcha's side, sending him flying backward. Yamcha hit the ground hard, skidding to a stop, but quickly pushed himself back up, wiping a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth.
"You're stronger than I thought," Yamcha admitted, a hint of respect in his voice. "But I'm not done yet!"
The battle continued, both fighters pushing themselves to their limits. Krillin unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks, forcing Yamcha on the defensive. Yamcha, realizing he couldn't win with brute force alone, resorted to his more cunning tactics. He feinted a punch, only to sweep Krillin's legs out from under him, sending him crashing to the ground.
Krillin quickly rolled to the side, avoiding a follow-up strike, and sprang to his feet. He focused his ki, gathering energy in his palms. "Let's see how you handle this!" Krillin shouted, launching a ki blast straight at Yamcha.
Yamcha barely had time to react, raising his hands to block the attack. The blast exploded on impact, sending him flying backward once again. This time, he didn't get up so quickly. Panting heavily, Yamcha looked up at Krillin, realizing that the fight was over.
Krillin stood over him, offering a hand. "You fought well, Yamcha. But it's time to keep your word."
Yamcha, still catching his breath, took Krillin's hand and stood up. He glanced over at Gohan, a look of recognition dawning on his face. "Wait a minute... you're that Gohan, aren't you? The legendary martial artist who beat almost all the masters back in the day."
Gohan smiled humbly. "That was a long time ago, Yamcha."
Yamcha's eyes widened in awe. "I've heard stories about you. They say you're one of the strongest fighters alive, even stronger than Master Roshi since he stopped training. If I'd known you were the one behind this, I'd never have picked a fight in the first place."
There was a brief pause before Yamcha's expression changed. "Can I... follow you? I mean, be your disciple? I've never killed anyone innocent—I've just stolen things to survive. But I want to learn, to be stronger."
Gohan studied Yamcha for a moment, sensing the sincerity in his words. "If you want to be my disciple, there are conditions," Gohan said firmly. "First, you must return everything you've stolen. Then, and only then, will I consider training you."
Yamcha didn't hesitate. "I'll do it. I'll give everything back. I want to change."
Gohan nodded. "Then it's settled. Return the stolen goods, and we'll begin your training."
Yamcha, relieved and excited, bowed to Gohan. "Thank you. I won't let you down."