Goku's Tail

Nam looked heavyhearted as he got up from the grass.

But when he looked up at Son Mirai, he forced himself to smile kindly.

"You're strong. I accept my defeat wholeheartedly. I hope you win the championship!"

"Thanks!"

Son Mirai knew about Nam's predicament, but he didn't say anything to him.

With Master Roshi there to help him, Son Mirai didn't need to meddle. He walked off the ring by himself.

Krillin and Goku were waiting for him below. When they saw he'd won, they couldn't help celebrating for him.

"You did great, Son Mirai!" Goku said.

Krillin chimed in, "Yeah, that was a beautiful win.

"If it were me, I'd have dodged that move of his. I definitely wouldn't have gone head-to-head with him. You could get hurt so easily..."

Son Mirai glanced at Krillin and explained, "I chose to go head-to-head because I have confidence in my own strength!

"Don't imitate me if you aren't sure you can pull it off..."

Krillin's mouth twitched. "Don't worry, I wouldn't imitate you even if I were sure. That collision must've hurt so much..."

Soon, the referee announced the next match.

"Next up, Son Goku versus Giran. Will the two contestants please come up to the ring?"

Goku immediately said, "Oh, it's my turn! I'm going up!"

Son Mirai glanced at the dinosaur-like Giran and reminded Goku, "Give it your best. Don't lose because you let your guard down!"

"I know, I know!"

Goku ran quickly toward the ring.

Inside the arena.

Nam was gathering his things dejectedly, preparing to head home.

He didn't know how he was going to face his fellow villagers.

Just then, Jackie Chun came over and greeted him. "You're leaving already? Aren't you going to stay and watch the rest of the matches?"

Nam snapped out of his gloomy thoughts. "Oh, yes. I don't have time to sit around and watch the matches. I have to get back."

Jackie Chun took a Hoi-Poi Capsule from his pocket. "Here, take this!"

Nam froze.

"Isn't this one of those amazing Hoi-Poi Capsules? Why are you giving it to me?"

Master Roshi said, "It's empty. Fill it with water, then shrink it down, and you can take the water home!"

Nam's pupils contracted. He asked in shock, "How did you know I needed water?"

Jackie Chun glanced around, then leaned close and whispered, "I'm Master Roshi.

"I noticed something was bothering you, so I secretly used Mind Reading."

In the martial arts world, Master Roshi's name carried tremendous weight.

Hearing his name, Nam was stunned. "You... you're actually Master Roshi?!"

Jackie Chun immediately covered his mouth and nervously looked around.

"Keep your voice down. Someone almost heard you..."

Nam asked in surprise, "Master Roshi, why are you disguised?"

Jackie Chun explained, "You know those three boys in orange Martial Arts Gi are my students.

"They grew stronger through training far beyond what I expected.

"I was worried that if one of them won the championship, he'd become conceited and arrogant.

"So I disguised myself and planned to defeat them, so they'd learn that there's always someone better."

Nam understood.

"You truly are a master!"

He looked at the Capsule in his hand and said, "But I'll have to give this Hoi-Poi Capsule back to you. I can't afford to buy water."

Jackie Chun smiled. "The city's water is free. People would laugh at you if they heard you had to pay for water."

Nam asked in surprise, "What? The water is free?"

Jackie Chun nodded. "That's right, it's free.

"There are plenty of water taps nearby. You can fill it up wherever you like, and with the Capsule, you'll be able to take the water home easily.

"Anyway, I'd better get back to the matches. Goku's fighting now."

With that, Jackie Chun turned and left.

Nam bowed toward Jackie Chun's departing figure and said respectfully, "Thank you, Master Roshi. I'll never forget your great kindness..."

Jackie Chun waved without turning around.

"You can forget it, too..."

In the ring.

Goku and Giran had been fighting for quite some time.

Giran was a dinosaur-like man with great strength and impressive martial arts skills. He could fly, and he could also spit out bubble gum.

Goku still lacked fighting experience. He nearly got caught out by Giran and almost fell out of the ring.

Luckily, Goku's tail grew back at a crucial moment, and he even broke free of Giran's bubble gum.

Giran was shocked. Although he could spit out bubble gum, he'd never imagined that a human could break free of something so tough through sheer strength.

Realizing the vast difference between his strength and Goku's, he hurriedly conceded.

The referee noticed the tail sticking out behind Goku and couldn't help asking curiously, "By the way, is that tail behind you real?

"The tournament rules forbid contestants from using weapons or equipment!"

Son Goku nodded. "Of course it's real. Grandpa helped me get rid of my tail before, but who knew it would grow back so quickly?"

As he spoke, Goku pulled down his pants, revealing his pale bottom and furry tail.

"Look!"

Only then did the referee relax.

"So people really can grow tails!"

He immediately announced, "Son Goku is the winner!"

Krillin greeted him happily.

"That was amazing, Goku! You really had me worried there!"

Goku grinned widely. "Yeah, yeah! Good thing my tail grew back at the crucial moment."

The referee noticed that they were wearing matching outfits and asked again, "May I ask which dojo you trained at? You're wearing the same Martial Arts Gi."

Krillin explained, "We didn't train at a dojo. Master Roshi taught us."

The referee was stunned.

"Master Roshi?!"

The referee's words boomed through the microphone, and the audience erupted in shock.

"He said Master Roshi!"

"So they really did learn from Master Roshi!"

"No wonder those two little guys are so strong!"

The referee asked again, "May I ask if you mean the legendary God of Martial Arts, Master Roshi?"

Krillin nodded. "That's right. He doesn't take students anymore, but he made an exception for us this time."

"No wonder you're so strong despite being so young..." The referee couldn't help sighing.

Yamcha couldn't help marveling. "So Master Roshi is still alive..."

Jackie Chun instantly fell over.

Yamcha couldn't help being startled. As he watched Jackie Chun's back, it suddenly looked exactly like the person who had beaten him up in the desert.

He immediately walked over to Jackie Chun and asked, "You're Master Roshi, aren't you?"

Jackie Chun immediately denied it. "I'm Jackie Chun. You've got the wrong person!"

Just then, the referee's voice rang out at the perfect moment.

"The fifth semifinal match is finally about to begin."

"Please welcome Jackie Chun and Krillin to the ring!"

Jackie Chun said, "It's my turn. I'm off!"

With that, he turned and headed straight for the ring.

Seeing that Goku's tail had grown back at just the right moment, Son Mirai immediately remembered that Goku would turn into a Great Ape that day.

So he suggested, "Goku, your tail's grown back. Let me get rid of it for you!"