Training under Master Roshi was relentless, but I was getting stronger by the day. Every task—whether it was hauling water, running with weights, or chopping wood—wasn't just about building my body. It was about building my spirit, my endurance, my control. And more importantly, it was about preparing me for the challenges that lay ahead.
Yet despite all the progress I was making, something felt… incomplete. In the original timeline, Goku wasn't alone. He had friends, people who grew alongside him, who challenged him and helped him grow. I couldn't forget that. I couldn't face what was coming without those bonds.
I needed to meet the others. And I had a feeling that one of those people was about to enter my life soon.
The Unexpected Visitor
It was a normal day. The sun was shining brightly over Kame Island, and I was in the middle of my morning routine—running laps around the beach with heavy weights strapped to my arms and legs. Master Roshi sat on the porch, sipping tea and occasionally offering words of encouragement—or, more often, teasing remarks.
"Ha! You're slowing down, Goku!" Roshi called out with a grin. "If you go any slower, the tide's going to catch up to you!"
I pushed harder, my legs burning from the effort, but I wasn't about to let him see me stop. I knew this training was important. Every lap, every step, was bringing me closer to the strength I needed for the future.
Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed something unusual—a small boat approaching the shore. I halted in my tracks, wiping the sweat from my forehead, squinting to get a better look. A figure stood in the boat, waving enthusiastically toward the island.
Master Roshi stood up as well, lowering his sunglasses slightly. "Ah, it seems we have a visitor."
As the boat came closer, I could make out the figure more clearly. He was short, maybe about my height, bald, and dressed in a simple orange monk's outfit. He hopped out of the boat and waded through the shallow water toward the beach, looking determined but also a little nervous.
I jogged over to meet him just as he stepped onto the sand. He looked up at me curiously, then glanced at Master Roshi, who was now standing beside me.
The boy cleared his throat and bowed slightly. "Hello, Master Roshi! My name's Krillin, and I've come from the Orin Temple. I've heard you're the greatest martial arts master in the world, and I want to be your student."
Master Roshi stroked his beard, his expression calm yet thoughtful. "The Orin Temple, eh? That's quite the journey. What brings you all the way out here?"
Krillin straightened up, a determined look in his eyes. "I want to get stronger. I've trained with the monks, but… I want more than what they could teach me. I want to be the best."
I watched Krillin carefully, feeling a strange sense of familiarity. This was it—the moment Goku and Krillin met for the first time. In the original timeline, Krillin had been competitive at first; he wanted to prove himself. I could already see that same fire in his eyes now.
Master Roshi chuckled softly. "Well, it's not easy training under me, boy. You'll have to work hard, harder than you've ever worked before. Are you sure you're ready?"
Krillin nodded without hesitation. "Yes, Master Roshi!"
Roshi looked over at me, a playful smile on his face. "Well, Goku, looks like you'll have some company from now on. What do you think?"
I grinned, holding out my hand to Krillin. "Nice to meet you, Krillin! I'm Goku. Master Roshi's been training me for a while now, and it's tough, but it's really fun too!"
Krillin eyed my hand for a moment, then shook it cautiously. "Nice to meet you too, Goku."
The Rivalry Begins
The next few days were… interesting, to say the least. Krillin was serious about his training, but he was also competitive—very competitive. Every time we were given a task, he tried to outdo me. If I carried two heavy buckets of water, he would grab three. If I ran ten laps around the island, he would try to run eleven. It was clear that he wanted to prove himself.
At first, I thought it was fun. I liked the challenge, and I could tell Krillin was strong, even if he wasn't quite as strong as me. But I quickly realized that Krillin wasn't just playing around—he was frustrated. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't quite keep up.
One morning, Master Roshi gave us a new task: moving giant rocks from one side of the island to the other. It was tough work, and the rocks were almost as big as we were. Krillin and I started at the same time, but after a few minutes, it became clear that I was moving the rocks faster.
Krillin's face turned red as he struggled to lift one of the larger boulders. He glanced over at me, noticing that I had already moved several rocks, and his frustration boiled over.
"You're not even trying!" Krillin snapped, dropping the rock he was holding and glaring at me. "How are you doing this so easily?"
I paused, surprised by his outburst. I hadn't meant to show off—I was just doing the task as best as I could.
"I'm just… used to the training, I guess," I said, trying to sound reassuring. "You'll get stronger too, Krillin. It just takes time."
But Krillin wasn't having it. "Yeah, right. You've been acting like this whole thing is easy! You don't know what it's like to struggle, do you?"
I blinked, taken aback. Krillin was angry, and I could tell that this wasn't just about the training. He felt like he was being left behind, like he couldn't measure up. In the original timeline, Krillin had always been a little insecure about his strength compared to Goku's, and I could see that same insecurity creeping in now.
Before I could say anything, Master Roshi stepped in.
"Krillin," Roshi said calmly, "you're here to train, not to compare yourself to others. Everyone has their own pace, their own path. Goku's been training for a bit longer, but that doesn't mean you won't get stronger. Focus on your own progress."
Krillin clenched his fists, still clearly frustrated, but he didn't argue. He gave a short nod and went back to lifting the rocks, though I could tell his heart wasn't in it.
A Lesson in Humility
That evening, after a long day of training, I found Krillin sitting alone by the beach, staring out at the ocean. I hadn't seen him this quiet all day, and I figured this was as good a time as any to clear the air.
I walked over and sat down beside him. "You okay?"
For a moment, Krillin didn't say anything. He just kept staring at the water, his face a mix of frustration and sadness.
"Back at the Orin Temple," he said quietly, "I was one of the best students. I thought I was strong. But then I come here, and… you're way ahead of me. It's like no matter how hard I try, I can't catch up."
I frowned, realizing just how much this was bothering him. I hadn't meant to make Krillin feel this way, but I could see why he was upset. From his perspective, I must have seemed like an unstoppable force, someone he couldn't compete with.
"I'm sorry, Krillin," I said, trying to find the right words. "I didn't mean to make you feel like that. But you don't have to try to catch up to me. We're both getting stronger in our own ways, right?"
Krillin glanced at me, his expression softening slightly. "Yeah, I guess. But it's hard not to compare, you know? It's like… I want to be strong too."
I smiled, feeling a sense of understanding. "You are strong, Krillin. You've already learned so much. And we're going to keep getting stronger together. There's no rush."
Krillin stared at me for a moment, then sighed and smiled faintly. "Thanks, Goku. I guess I'm just not used to… you know, not being the best."
I chuckled. "Hey, that's okay. We'll both be the best one day. We just have to keep working at it."
The First Challenge
The next morning, Master Roshi announced that it was time for our first real challenge.
"Alright, boys," he said, standing in front of us with that mischievous grin of his. "You've both been working hard, and now it's time to put your training to the test. You're going to race each other to the top of that mountain and back."
He pointed to a tall mountain in the distance, its peak shrouded in clouds. My heart raced with excitement. A challenge? This was going to be fun!
But then Roshi held up two heavy turtle shells, grinning even wider. "Of course, you'll be wearing these."
Krillin groaned, staring at the massive shells. "You've got to be kidding me…"
I grinned, already feeling the thrill of the challenge. This was going to be tough, but I was ready.
Master Roshi strapped the shells onto our backs, and immediately, I could feel the intense weight pressing down on me. It was like carrying a boulder, and every step felt like a struggle. But I wasn't going to back down. This was a test of endurance, of strength, and of willpower.
"Ready… set… go!" Roshi shouted, and we were off.
The race was brutal. Every step felt like I was dragging a mountain with me, and the uneven terrain made it even harder. Krillin was right beside me, his face set in a determined grimace as he pushed himself to keep up.
I could tell he was struggling, but he wasn't about to give up. And neither was I.
We climbed higher and higher, our legs burning with the effort, the weight of the shells threatening to pull us down. But I kept my focus. This wasn't just about winning the race. This was about pushing myself to the limit, about proving that I could handle anything Master Roshi threw at me.
Krillin was giving it everything he had too, and I could see the determination in his eyes. He wasn't just competing with me—he was competing with himself.
Finally, after what felt like hours, we reached the summit. I glanced over at Krillin, and despite the exhaustion on his face, he grinned at me.
"Not… bad…" he panted.
I grinned back. "You too."
We rested for a moment, catching our breath, before heading back down the mountain. The way down was just as tough, but we pushed through the pain, determined to finish what we had started.
When we finally reached the bottom, Master Roshi was waiting for us, a proud smile on his face.
"Well done, boys," he said, nodding in approval. "You've both come a long way."
Krillin and I collapsed onto the sand, breathing heavily but smiling. We had done it. We had pushed ourselves to the limit, and we had both come out stronger for it.