Standing before Master Roshi, I felt a surge of excitement and nervousness. This was the moment I had been waiting for—the moment I would begin training under one of the greatest martial artists in the world. The original Goku had come here when he was older, but I was starting earlier, and I knew this would give me an advantage. I had all the knowledge of the future, but I still needed to build the strength, the skill, and the discipline to face the challenges ahead.
Master Roshi, the Turtle Hermit, stood with his arms behind his back, his sunglasses reflecting the bright sunlight. His usual laid-back demeanor was present, but I could sense an undercurrent of seriousness in him as he sized me up.
"So, young Goku," he began, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "Gohan tells me you're a special kid, huh? Well, before we get started, I need to see what you're made of. Show me what you can do."
I nodded eagerly, stepping forward. I had been training on my own for a long time, but now I had the chance to prove myself to Master Roshi—the man who had trained Goku, Krillin, and even Gohan in the original timeline. I wasn't going to waste this opportunity.
Without hesitation, I dropped into a fighting stance. I could feel the energy coursing through my body, my Saiyan blood thrumming with anticipation. I didn't want to overdo it, but I also wanted to show Master Roshi that I was serious.
I launched myself forward, moving faster than any five-year-old should have been able to. I threw a series of quick punches, aiming them at Roshi's torso. He dodged them easily, stepping to the side with a calm, practiced grace that was almost infuriating. It was like he wasn't even trying.
"Not bad," Roshi said casually, still dodging my strikes. "You've got some speed. But you're a little sloppy."
Sloppy? I gritted my teeth and pushed harder, increasing the speed and power of my attacks. I tried sweeping his legs, throwing a high kick, even feinting a punch to get him off-balance. But no matter what I did, he avoided every move with the same effortless ease.
I was panting now, my fists aching from the effort. Roshi hadn't even broken a sweat.
"Alright," Roshi said, stepping back and holding up a hand to stop me. "I think I've seen enough."
I dropped my fists, breathing heavily, frustration bubbling up inside me. I had trained so hard, and yet I still couldn't land a single hit on him. If I couldn't even touch Master Roshi, how was I supposed to face the threats that were coming? How was I going to protect the people I cared about?
Roshi must have seen the frustration on my face because he chuckled softly and removed his sunglasses, revealing his sharp, knowing eyes.
"Don't be so hard on yourself, Goku," he said gently. "You've got raw talent—more than most people your age. But talent alone won't be enough. You need discipline. You need control. You need to understand the balance between power and precision."
I frowned, still catching my breath. "I know… but I need to get stronger. I have to."
Roshi smiled, but there was something serious in his expression. "Strength isn't just about how hard you can hit. It's about understanding your limits, knowing when to pull back, and when to push forward. That's what I'm going to teach you."
I nodded, a new sense of determination rising within me. Master Roshi was right. I couldn't just rely on raw power. I needed to learn control, discipline, and strategy. I needed to become a complete fighter.
The First Trial
Master Roshi's training began the next day, and it was nothing like I had expected.
I woke up at dawn, full of energy and ready for intense martial arts training. But instead of sparring or practicing techniques, Roshi handed me a large basket and pointed toward the forest.
"Your first task," he said, "is to gather firewood."
I blinked in confusion. "Firewood?"
Roshi nodded, adjusting his sunglasses. "That's right. You'll need to gather enough firewood to last us a week. And don't come back until you've got it all."
I stared at him, wondering if he was serious. I had imagined grueling combat training, maybe even learning how to perform a Kamehameha, but collecting firewood? It seemed like a waste of time.
But I didn't argue. I knew better than to question Master Roshi's methods, especially since I had knowledge of the original timeline. I knew that he had put Goku and Krillin through similar trials. This was about more than just gathering firewood—it was about discipline, patience, and building endurance.
Without another word, I took the basket and headed into the forest.
The task proved to be more difficult than I had anticipated. The forest was dense, with thick underbrush and towering trees. I had to climb, crawl, and squeeze my way through narrow gaps to find suitable branches and logs. My small size didn't help either. Even with my Saiyan strength, carrying large pieces of wood back to the house was exhausting.
But I didn't give up. I focused on the task at hand, pushing myself to work faster, to gather more wood, to endure the fatigue. Every time I felt like stopping, I reminded myself why I was doing this. I wasn't just gathering firewood. I was training. I was preparing myself for the challenges that lay ahead.
By the time the sun was setting, I had gathered enough wood to fill the basket. My arms were trembling from the effort, my legs felt like they were going to give out, and sweat was dripping down my face. But I had done it.
I returned to the Kame House, my body aching but my spirit strong. Roshi was waiting for me on the porch, sipping a cup of tea as if he had been relaxing all day.
"Good work, Goku," he said with a nod. "Now, tomorrow, I want you to do the same thing—but faster."
I groaned inwardly but nodded. This was just the beginning.
Weeks Passed
Master Roshi's training continued, and it was as grueling as I had expected. Every day, he gave me new tasks—carrying heavy buckets of water up hills, plowing fields by hand, running laps around the island with weights strapped to my legs. It was exhausting, both physically and mentally, but I could feel myself getting stronger with each passing day.
At first, it seemed like the training had nothing to do with martial arts, but I quickly realized that Roshi was building my strength, endurance, and discipline. These tasks weren't just about physical labor—they were about pushing my limits, teaching me patience, and helping me understand the importance of hard work.
And it was paying off.
My muscles were growing stronger, my reflexes sharper. I could feel the raw energy inside me becoming easier to control, my Ki more responsive to my commands. I wasn't just training my body—I was training my mind.
Roshi was a tough teacher, but he was also wise. He didn't just teach me how to fight—he taught me how to think. He would often sit me down after a long day of training and talk to me about the philosophy of martial arts, about the balance between power and restraint, about the importance of protecting the people you care about.
"You're strong, Goku," Roshi said one evening as we sat by the fire after another long day of training. "But strength alone won't be enough to protect the ones you love. You need wisdom. You need to understand when to fight and when to walk away."
I nodded, understanding the weight of his words. In my past life, I had often thought about strength in simple terms—who was stronger, who could win a fight. But now, I was starting to realize that strength was more than just power. It was about control, about responsibility.
And I had a lot of responsibility.
The First Ki Test
After weeks of physical training, Master Roshi finally decided it was time for the next step.
"Alright, Goku," he said one morning, standing in front of me with his arms crossed. "You've done well with the physical training, but now we're going to focus on something a little more advanced."
I perked up, excitement bubbling inside me. I had been waiting for this moment.
"Ki control," Roshi said, his tone serious. "You've got plenty of energy inside you, but if you don't learn how to control it, it'll control you."
I nodded eagerly. I had been practicing my Ki control in secret for months, but I knew that under Roshi's guidance, I could take it to the next level. This was the foundation of all the powerful techniques I would need in the future—the Kamehameha, the Spirit Bomb, and even the Super Saiyan transformations.
Roshi took a deep breath and raised one hand, palm facing outward. A small, glowing ball of energy appeared in his palm, flickering like a tiny flame.
"This is the most basic form of Ki control," he explained. "You need to be able to gather your energy, focus it, and release it. But it's not about brute force—it's about precision."
I watched closely, studying every movement. This was it—the beginning of my journey toward mastering Ki.
"Now," Roshi said, turning to me. "Let's see what you can do."
I closed my eyes, focusing on the energy inside me. I could feel it, buzzing just beneath the surface, like a current waiting to be unleashed. Slowly, I raised my hand, mimicking Roshi's stance. I concentrated, visualizing the energy flowing from my core to my palm.
At first, nothing happened. I furrowed my brow, trying to focus harder, to push the energy out. And then, slowly, a small ball of light appeared in my palm. It flickered weakly, like a dying ember, but it was there.
I grinned, excitement surging through me. I was doing it—I was controlling my Ki.
"Good," Roshi said, nodding in approval. "But don't get cocky. That's just the first step. You'll need to practice every day if you want to master it."
I nodded eagerly, my heart pounding with excitement. I was finally learning to control my Ki, to harness the energy that would allow me to perform the powerful techniques I had only dreamed of.
But this was just the beginning. I had a long road ahead of me, and I knew that the challenges would only get harder from here.