Master Roshi

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Master Roshi (龟仙人)
Alias(es)	Mary Sue — her youthful tournament identity 13 18
Gender	Female in her home world; a male counterpart exists in another world 12 46
Affiliation	Turtle Hermit School 12 40
Occupation/Role	Martial-arts master; mentor to Turtle Hermit School disciples 12 44
Status	Alive 44
First Appearance	Chapter 13

Background

Master Roshi is the elderly master of the Turtle Hermit School. Before the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament, she trained Son Wukong and Krillin for a year, giving Wukong a far more polished martial-artist’s bearing than she had possessed in the mountains 12.

Her instruction is not always reliable outside combat. Roshi’s explanation of the word “husband” leads Wukong to believe that Zhang Wutian is her husband because they lived together and he keeps her fed 12 30. She also considers basic addition and subtraction sufficient for Wukong, to Zhang Wutian’s frustration 26.

Appearance

In her usual form, Roshi is a short, stout elderly woman who walks with a cane. Her Mary Sue identity has a normal-height, youthful female body that can appear middle-aged or even around twenty years old 13 18 19.

• Usual form — short, plump elderly woman with a cane 13 19
• Mary Sue form — lithe, youthful martial artist with a radically different height and build 13 19
• Peak-state transformation — uses energy to maintain her younger appearance during combat 18 19

Personality

Roshi is playful and teasing, openly inviting Zhang Wutian for tea and taking an interest in the young tournament fighter despite his discomfort 13 17. In battle, she is pragmatic and unashamed of relying on an effective defensive style, even if Zhang dismisses it as a “turtle shell” strategy 18.

She has no bitterness about being surpassed. After witnessing Zhang Wutian and Son Wukong’s power, she views them as the promising generation capable of ending threats that once exceeded her own reach 41. She later encourages Krillin and Yamcha to strive to surpass their master as well 44.

Abilities & Skills

Martial-Arts Mastery

Roshi is an elite martial artist and an experienced instructor. She trains Turtle Hermit School students and can provide instructional matches that test an opponent without unnecessarily injuring them 12 14.

• Trained Son Wukong and Krillin as Turtle Hermit School disciples 12
• Accepted Yamcha as a student after he sought instruction with Krillin’s help 40
• Recognizes the value of allowing disciples to exceed their teacher 44

Heaven-Earth Reversal Style

Roshi’s signature defensive counter style redirects an opponent’s force through grappling, reversal, and balance-breaking movements 17 18.

• Deflects and reverses Zhang Wutian’s close-range attacks 18
• Can throw an opponent off balance even after sustaining heavy pressure 18
• Is vulnerable when an opponent creates an opening with superior speed and afterimages; Zhang defeats her by anticipating her response 19

Ki Control and Peak-State Transformation

By exerting energy, Roshi can alter her body into the younger Mary Sue form and fight at her peak condition 18 19.

• Changes from her elderly body into a youthful, full-sized martial artist 13 18
• Produces enough power to heavily damage the tournament arena during her fight with Zhang Wutian 18
• The transformation strains her body and cannot be maintained indefinitely 19

Afterimage Strike

Roshi can create an afterimage through extreme movement speed, allowing her true body to evade an incoming attack 19.

• Evaded Zhang Wutian’s charged strike by leaving an afterimage behind 19
• Her use of the technique was anticipated by Zhang, who had deliberately structured his strategy around her known capabilities 19

Relationships

• Son Wukong — disciple. Roshi trained Wukong for a year and taught her the Turtle Hermit School’s martial arts, though her confusing explanations about marriage shaped Wukong’s view of Zhang Wutian 12 30.
• Krillin — disciple and fellow Turtle Hermit School student of Wukong 12.
• Yamcha — later disciple; he joins the Turtle Hermit School after seeking Roshi’s instruction 40 44.
• Fortuneteller Baba — elder sister. Roshi directs Zhang Wutian to Baba when he needs answers and accompanies the group to her palace 40 41.
• Zhang Wutian — tournament opponent. Roshi recognizes his potential, fights him as Mary Sue, and is defeated after he outmaneuvers her defensive tactics 13 18 19.

Story Role / Major Arcs

21st World Martial Arts Tournament

Roshi enters the tournament under the name Mary Sue, concealing herself beneath a youthful transformed body 13. She defeats Yamcha and Krillin with overwhelming but controlled skill before facing Zhang Wutian in the final 14 17.

During the match, Roshi reveals herself as Master Roshi after pushing her energy too far to maintain the disguise. She fights Zhang at her peak using the Heaven-Earth Reversal Style and afterimage techniques, but Zhang predicts her final evasive maneuver and wins the tournament 18 19.

Fortuneteller Baba Expedition

When Zhang seeks Fortuneteller Baba’s help, Roshi provides Baba’s contact information and explains that answers can be obtained either through payment or combat 40. She joins Zhang, Wukong, Bulma, Krillin, Yamcha, Oolong, and Puar at Baba’s palace 40 41.

Roshi is struck by the scale of Zhang and Wukong’s growth during the battles at Baba’s arena. Rather than resent it, she sees their strength as hope for the future 41.

Notable Quotes

“Every master has a day when they are surpassed by their disciples.” 44

Trivia

• In Roshi’s home world, Master Roshi is female; the parallel-world version encountered by Zhang Wutian and Son Wukong is male 12 46.
• Zhang Wutian initially suspects Mary Sue’s identity because her defensive methods resemble the Turtle Hermit School’s style 17.