"Zilong, where do you think the Dragon Ball we're looking for this time is?" Bulma asked curiously as they walked.
At that, Young Goku suddenly chimed in. "What's a Dragon Ball? Is it something really tasty?"
His face was full of innocent curiosity.
Bulma couldn't help laughing. She turned to Young Goku and gently shook her head. "Goku, Dragon Balls aren't food. They're special objects with incredible powers!"
As she spoke, Bulma took out one of her Dragon Balls and showed it to Young Goku.
But Young Goku suddenly glared at Bulma in anger and shouted, "Give my grandpa back! You thief!"
Bulma was startled by the sudden accusation and hurried to explain. "Hey, you little rascal, don't make things up! I found this Dragon Ball myself. It isn't your grandpa!"
Seeing the tension between them rise, Zhou Zilong quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "Goku, believe me. Bulma really did find that Dragon Ball herself. It has nothing to do with your grandpa. He's safe and sound at home, waiting for you."
Young Goku looked at Zilong with suspicion, then finally nodded. "I'll believe you for now. But if I get home and Grandpa isn't there, I'll keep fighting you even if I can't beat you!"
Zilong smiled and patted Young Goku on the shoulder. "Don't worry. I promise your grandpa is still at home. Let's go check your house together!"
On the way to Goku's house, Bulma couldn't help asking Zilong about the strange connection between Young Goku and the Dragon Ball.
Zhou Zilong ruffled Bulma's hair, then leaned close and whispered, "I'll tell you using a technique I learned called Telepathy. Some things aren't suitable to tell Goku just yet."
Bulma nodded to show she understood. Then a voice only she could hear sounded in her mind. As she and Zhou Zilong continued toward Goku's house, she listened.
Before they knew it, they had reached Goku's front door. Young Goku eagerly pushed it open and ran inside. When he saw the Four-Star Ball sitting there safe and sound, he let out a long sigh of relief.
Bulma and Zilong followed him in. Seeing Goku clutching the Four-Star Ball tightly, they exchanged smiles. The little guy really was adorable!
"Sorry. I misunderstood you," Young Goku said, turning to Bulma with an apologetic look.
Bulma smiled and shook her head to show she didn't mind.
"How do you have so many grandpas?" Young Goku asked curiously.
"I told you, I found it myself," Bulma replied helplessly.
Zhou Zilong walked up to Young Goku and smiled. "Goku, have you ever thought about leaving this mountain and seeing what's out there?"
Young Goku paused, then replied, "I'd planned to live on this mountain until I got old. But I didn't expect you to be such a good fighter, Zilong. Now I think I should go see if there are any other strong fighters like you!"
Zhou Zilong burst out laughing and patted Young Goku on the shoulder. "Great! Why don't you come along with us for a while?"
A glimmer of excitement flashed in Young Goku's eyes, and he nodded.
The morning after they set off together, the first rays of sunlight fell across the quiet mountain forest. The birds began to sing merrily, as if welcoming the new day.
At six o'clock sharp, Young Goku got out of bed. He rubbed his sleepy eyes, washed up quickly, and began his morning training. He took a deep breath, crouched down, and wrapped both arms around a boulder slightly bigger than himself. His eyes shone with determination, as if he were gathering all his strength in that moment.
With a low growl, Young Goku sprang to his feet and lifted the boulder high above his head. The massive rock seemed like a mere toy as he moved it around at will. Then he pressed both hands down hard against it. Under the force he exerted, the boulder began to crack apart, until it crumbled into countless small stones that scattered across the ground.
A satisfied smile spread across Young Goku's face. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and prepared to find his next training target. But just then, he spotted an unusual "rock."
"Wait! I'm not a rock!" A voice rang out after Young Goku had picked up a brownish object.
What Young Goku was holding was a turtle with a brown shell, black spots on its head, and a scaly belly. Zhou Zilong would have recognized it immediately.
"So it's a turtle! I'll go ask Zilong what to do with you," Young Goku said, looking at the turtle.
"Please, let me go!" the turtle pleaded, thinking that it was in for trouble as Young Goku carried it toward the house.
"Mr. Sea Turtle, what are you doing here?" Zhou Zilong asked when he came outside to call Goku to breakfast and spotted Master Roshi's Sea Turtle.
"Oh, Zilong! Well, I came ashore to pick some mushrooms, got lost, and it's been a whole year!" the Sea Turtle replied.
"I see. But you've gone the wrong way, Mr. Sea Turtle. The sea is in the other direction!" Zhou Zilong explained.
"I see. Could you give me some salt water first? It'd be even better with some seaweed in it," the Sea Turtle added.
Before you continue