The Adventurers of the Dragon Pearl

Spring turned to autumn, and in the blink of an eye, a year had passed. The disciples of Master Roshi—Kashu, Son Goku, Krillin, and several other Saiyan children—had made astonishing progress over the year. Krillin was the human who had improved the most. His initial power level had been less than one hundred, but a year later, it reached eight hundred, and he had mastered the Flight technique and the rudimentary form of the Kamehameha. Master Roshi's assessment of him was: "Decent talent, but diligence is his greatest asset." Son Goku's power level had risen from three thousand five hundred to eight thousand, and he had learned the Afterimage Strike, the Kamehameha, and the Flight technique. His ability to sense ki was exceptionally strong, allowing him to detect all signatures within a ten-kilometer radius. Kashu, however, existed on an entirely different level. He did not display his full strength at Master Roshi's house, training only at a level comparable to Son Goku, yet he had learned the art of meditation from the master, allowing for even more precise control over his ki. His training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber continued as well; his base power level had broken through eighty thousand, and his Legendary Super Saiyan first-stage power reached six point four million. "Brother Kashu, when do you think we can enter the World Martial Arts Tournament?" Krillin asked after training ended one day. "The World Martial Arts Tournament? What's that?" Son Goku asked curiously. "The biggest martial arts competition on Earth!" Krillin said excitedly. "It's held every three years, and martial artists from all over the world participate. I heard the champion of the last tournament was an old man named Son Gohan—he was incredibly strong!" "Son Gohan?" A flicker of emotion stirred in Kashu's heart. That was Master Roshi's eldest disciple, the same old man he had met on Mount Paozu. "Do you want to participate?" Kashu asked Krillin.

"Of course I do! If I can get a good ranking at the tournament, there's prize money!" Krillin's eyes lit up. "The champion gets fifty thousand Zeni, I think!" Son Goku said. "That could buy a lot of meat!" Kashu chuckled. "When is the next tournament?" "Let me calculate... the last one was two years ago, so the next one should be in a year!" Krillin counted on his fingers. One year later. Kashu pondered.

By then, Son Goku would be seven, Krillin would be seven, and he would be nine. "Alright, we'll participate," Kashu decided. "But before that, we need more training. Also, I have a plan—to find the Dragon Balls." "Dragon Balls?" Krillin asked curiously. "There are seven Dragon Balls scattered across the Earth. If you collect them all, you can summon the Eternal Dragon and have any wish granted," Kashu said. "I intend to take you all to find the Dragon Balls before the tournament. On one hand, it's to train our practical combat skills, and on the other, I want to see if we can use the Dragon Balls to do something for the Saiyans." "For real? It can grant any wish?" Krillin's eyes widened like copper bells.

"Of course it's real. I've seen the Eternal Dragon with my own eyes," Kashu smiled slightly. "Then what are we waiting for! Let's go find them!" Krillin jumped up. "No rush," Kashu held Krillin back. "The Dragon Balls require a Dragon Radar to be found, and the Dragon Radar—only one person on Earth knows how to make it." "Who?" "Bulma Briefs, the eldest daughter of Capsule Corporation and a genius inventor," Kashu said. "We need to find her first."

Spring, AGE 740, West City. The Capsule Corporation headquarters was one of the most magnificent buildings in West City, a skyscraper over a hundred meters tall with a giant capsule logo on the roof that shimmered in the sunlight. This was the largest technology enterprise on Earth, having invented the Hoi-Poi Capsule technology that changed the way humans lived. Kashu brought Son Goku, Krillin, and the other two Saiyan children (Laya, the son of Reg, and Sali, the daughter of Selipa) to the entrance of the building. The five children wore the orange martial arts uniforms of the Turtle School and carried heavy turtle shells, drawing side-glances from passersby. "Brother, this place is huge!" Son Goku looked up at the high-rise, his mouth forming an 'O' shape.

"The person we're looking for is inside," Kashu said. "But this Bulma person has a bit of a... unique temper. Don't speak out of turn later; I'll handle the negotiations." The receptionist looked at the five children with turtle shells on their backs, her face full of confusion. After she announced them, a blue-haired girl stepped out of the elevator, wearing a pink miniskirt and a white T-shirt, holding a strange device and chewing bubblegum. "Who's looking for me?" Bulma's gaze swept over the five children, pausing slightly when she saw Kashu. This boy was different from the others. His eyes were steady, lacking the childishness of his peers, and held a depth that transcended his age. "Are you Miss Bulma?" Kashu stepped forward. "My name is Kashu, a disciple of Master Roshi. We'd like to ask for your help." "Master Roshi's disciple?" Bulma raised an eyebrow. "That perverted old man? You went to him to learn martial arts? What use is his kung fu besides peeping at girls in the bath?" "Miss Bulma, we aren't here to discuss Master Roshi's private life," Kashu pulled an orange sphere from his robes—the Four-Star Ball. "Do you recognize this?" Bulma's eyes lit up instantly. "The Dragon Ball?!" She snatched the Four-Star Ball, turning it over in her hands. "How do you have a Dragon Ball? Are you collecting them too?" "I know a few things about the Dragon Balls," Kashu said. "I heard you invented a Dragon Radar that can detect their locations. I'd like to borrow it." "Borrow it?" Bulma returned the ball to Kashu and put her hands on her hips. "Do you know how much blood and sweat I put into inventing the Dragon Radar? You think you can just borrow it?" "We can trade," Kashu said. "You help us find all the Dragon Balls, and we'll help you fulfill one wish." "My wish?" Bulma thought for a moment. "My wish is to find a handsome boyfriend! Can you help me with that?"

"We can protect you and act as your bodyguards on your journey to find the Dragon Balls," Kashu said. "Besides, my brother Son Goku is a great cook, and Krillin's stealth—ahem, his reconnaissance skills are also very strong." Bulma looked at the children, calculating in her mind. She did need a team to help find the Dragon Balls; traveling alone was too dangerous. Although these kids didn't look very reliable, the boy named Kashu had a convincing aura about him. "Fine, it's a deal!" Bulma held out her hand. "But I have a condition—after we find the Dragon Balls, I get to make the first wish!" "No problem," Kashu shook Bulma's hand. Bulma felt the roughness of Kashu's palm against her hand. She looked down at those calloused hands, and a strange feeling welled up in her heart. Just what had this boy been through? "Then you all stay here for now. I'll prepare the equipment, and we'll set off tomorrow!" The next day, Bulma set off in an off-road vehicle. Their first stop was a place called "Mount Frypan." There was a Dragon Ball there—the Five-Star Ball. Mount Frypan was an active volcano, and at its foot sat a massive castle. The owner of the castle was a burly man named Ox-King, accompanied by his daughter, Chi-Chi—a little girl with twin tails wearing a Chinese-style dress. "Who are you? What are you doing at my house?" Chi-Chi stood with her hands on her hips, eyeing the group of uninvited guests warily. "Hello, we're here to find the Dragon Ball," Kashu said. "May I ask if you have an orange sphere here?" Chi-Chi's gaze fell on Son Goku. The boy was about her age, with a round face and big eyes; he looked silly, but there was a pure light in his eyes. "What's your name?" Chi-Chi's face flushed slightly. "My name is Son Goku!" Son Goku grinned. "Son Goku..." Chi-Chi's eyes turned into hearts. "What a nice name! Will you be my boyfriend?" "Boyfriend? Is that something good to eat?" Son Goku tilted his head. Krillin laughed until he doubled over: "Goku, you're hilarious!" Kashu helplessly covered his face. The original plot had unfolded after all—Chi-Chi had fallen in love with Son Goku at first sight. Ox-King looked at his daughter's infatuated expression and sighed: "Kids, I can lend you the Dragon Ball. But you have to promise me one condition—take my daughter with you. She's bored in the castle all day; let her go out and see the world."

Kashu thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. Thus, the team gained a little girl—Chi-Chi. During the subsequent journey, they encountered the desert bandit Yamcha and his companion Puar. Yamcha suffered a bout of gynophobia after seeing Bulma, leading to a series of comedic mishaps, but he eventually joined the team. In another town, they met Launch—a blue-haired girl who would transform into a violent, yellow-haired persona after sneezing. Launch's marksmanship was precise, and her fiery personality hit it off with the Saiyans. Meanwhile, the Pilaf gang—a short, blue-skinned fellow, a female ninja named Mai, and a dog-like creature named Shu—had been tailing them in secret, plotting to steal the Dragon Balls. "Lord Pilaf, those brats have collected six Dragon Balls!" Shu reported excitedly. "Only one left," Mai pushed up her sunglasses. "We have to snatch them before they do." "Hehehe, once we collect the Dragon Balls and summon the Eternal Dragon, I, Lord Pilaf, will rule the world!" Pilaf rubbed his hands together. They snuck into the camp at night, used sleeping gas to knock out the guards, and stole the six Dragon Balls. However, Son Goku was sensing ki even while he slept, and he instinctively grabbed the last Dragon Ball before he was knocked out. "Where are the Dragon Balls? Where is that one?" Pilaf searched the entire camp but couldn't find the seventh. "It's in that little monkey's hands!" Shu pointed at Son Goku. Son Goku was clutching the Dragon Ball tightly, refusing to let go even in his unconscious state. "Damn it! Take these six first!" Pilaf ordered. The next morning, Kashu discovered the Dragon Balls had been stolen and immediately used his ki to track the location of the Pilaf gang. "Found them. They're hiding in a cave to the north," Kashu said. "Krillin, you stay behind to protect Bulma and Launch. Goku, Chi-Chi, come with me." The three flew to the cave. The Pilaf gang was preparing to summon the Eternal Dragon, and they were terrified when they saw Kashu and the others. "Hand over the Dragon Balls," Kashu said calmly. "No! I, Lord Pilaf, am about to rule the world!" Pilaf held onto the Dragon Balls and wouldn't let go. Son Goku rushed forward, knocking Shu and Mai down with a few punches and kicks. Chi-Chi used the martial arts taught to her by the Ox-King to subdue Pilaf. "You brats, just you wait!" Pilaf was tied into a bundle, cursing under his breath. Kashu retrieved the six Dragon Balls, and with the one in Son Goku's hand, all seven were collected. "Bulma, you make the wish," Kashu said. Bulma took a deep breath, walked up to the Dragon Balls, and pressed her palms together: "Eternal Dragon, come forth!" The seven Dragon Balls erupted in a dazzling golden light that shot into the sky. A massive green dragon slowly manifested. "Summoner, state your wish."

Bulma's heart raced: "Eternal Dragon, my wish is—to find the most handsome, gentle, and wealthy boyfriend in the world!" The dragon was silent for a moment: "...Your wish is too vague. The standard for 'most handsome' varies from person to person; I cannot judge." "Then—give me an upgraded version of the Dragon Radar that can help me find my ideal boyfriend!" "Your wish has been granted." The dragon's eyes flashed, and then it transformed into seven streaks of light and scattered. A pink, new-model Dragon Radar appeared in Bulma's hand. She looked at the radar and muttered: "What kind of wish is this? I could have made this myself..." "Your wish has been granted; do you still have complaints?" Kashu was left between laughter and tears. "Forget it, forget it, better than nothing." Bulma put away the radar. The Pilaf gang was sent to prison, though they would later escape—but that is a story for another time.