So... for the next full twenty days, Goku and the other three stayed inside the hall of Korin Tower.
The little chubby guy, Yajirobe, was tormented endlessly by Korin's teasing, especially since the four great gods nearby were always watching... It was really embarrassing for him. After all, no one wants to show their weak side in front of such outstanding martial artists.
So, the chubby guy worked even harder and put more effort into his training.
Korin was also the one who could most clearly sense Yajirobe's progress... He finally understood why Taro valued this chubby guy who didn't look impressive at first glance.
Because this chubby guy was a born swordsman.
When he focused his strength on drawing, swinging, and sheathing his blade while observing Korin's movements, his improvement became obvious.
A "fighter of low rank" who could sneak attack Vegeta twice with just a sword was no joke. In the original story, Yajirobe was lazy, gluttonous, and timid... but the Yajirobe standing before Korin now was very different. The world had changed, his experiences were different, and the sword he held was different too.
As for Goku and the others, they were not idle during these twenty days.
They never missed their own daily training, meditated and sparred with each other, climbed the Muten Tower in the virtual Earth network, exchanged techniques — all mandatory tasks. They also worked on their physical endurance. Goku often took Yajirobe along to climb Korin Tower up and down.
Every time they came down, all five would eat a big meal at Upa's place, and only after being fully satisfied would they climb back up.
In this way, Yajirobe improved rapidly.
The chubby guy was very touched — Goku and the others did all this just to help him. Although he couldn't figure out why these few people would do that, just like he couldn't understand why Goku's personality had suddenly improved.
---
After twenty days passed, Yajirobe finally snatched the Super Holy Water from Korin.
He first stood still, facing off with Korin, just like he usually did — placing his hand on his sword hilt, observing the opponent, locking the enemy tightly with his presence, keeping him within reach of his sword's arc — then... drawing the sword!
One strike hit the mark immediately.
"Phew, exhausted, finally got it," the chubby guy wiped his head. After over twenty days of tough training, he wasn't so fat anymore. Shaking the water bottle in his hand, he already knew it was just plain water inside.
Korin sighed, "I never expected a fat guy like you to snatch the Super Holy Water from me in just twenty days!"
"Trained or not, watch your words," Yajirobe tossed the bottle back to the smelly cat, then awkwardly said thanks to Goku, Krillin, Tien, and Chiaotzu.
Goku wanted to spar with him, but Yajirobe said his swordsmanship wasn't for sparring, and when it came to martial arts, he wasn't a match for any of them, so Goku gave up.
Before the five left, Korin handed Yajirobe the login device that Taro had given him.
Standing on the rooftop of Korin Tower's hall, Krillin laughed, "Haha, fatty, my master gave you this — it basically means he recognizes you as half a disciple."
Yajirobe scratched his head and mumbled vaguely. Of course he was excited. The sword at his waist was passed down in their lineage, given long ago by the Muten Roshi. It was easy to imagine the reverence Yajirobe had for the Muten Roshi after generations of teachings.
Following Korin's instructions, Goku pulled out his Power Pole from his back, inserted it into the round hole at the top of the tower's roof, and shouted, "Extend, Power Pole!" The red staff glowed as it stretched upward. Grasping its tip, Goku immediately flew higher into the sky.
Krillin and Yajirobe quickly jumped on and held onto the Power Pole.
"What about you two?" Korin asked Tien and Chiaotzu standing nearby.
"I want to try flying up with the Bukujutsu," Tien said. He bowed to Korin, then, with Chiaotzu, soared up into the air, chasing after Goku and the other three.
Korin looked up for a while until the five figures became five black dots, disappearing into the endless blue sky.
They pierced through clouds and mist, rising rapidly.
Click. From time to time, flashes of lightning and peals of thunder appeared between the clouds, as if the gods themselves were testing them.
Krillin and Yajirobe both gripped tightly onto the ever-extending Power Pole, glancing down below. The Karin Tower had shrunk to an invisible black dot, and the world beneath them seemed even smaller… it was incredibly high, and both of them felt a bit uneasy, quickly pulling their eyes away.
Goku, meanwhile, was watching Tien and Chiaotzu flying nearby using the Flight Technique, his eyes flashing with a spark of insight… Suddenly, he loosened his grip on the top of the Power Pole and leapt off the steadily rising staff—
"Goku!" Krillin shouted in surprise, clutching the Power Pole below.
"Hey!" Yajirobe's scalp tingled; he was startled.
After detaching from the Power Pole, Goku's upward acceleration slowed, and his speed of ascent gradually decreased. Quickly, Krillin and Yajirobe, still riding the rapidly lengthening Power Pole, surpassed him, while Goku began to "fall" downward.
Tien, flying, glanced downward and saw that Goku had reached a moment of balance between rising and falling, hanging still in midair for a split second before suddenly becoming lighter. It was as if he had discovered something fun—his face lit up with joy, and then he moved his arms and legs as if swimming through water. With a raised brow and a wide grin, he flicked his tail and whooshed upward, accelerating to catch up.
Smack! Goku's flying speed surged dramatically, excitement glowing on his face. Racing past Krillin and Yajirobe once more, he suddenly shot upward even faster—
"Fourfold Muken! Haha, flying so fast!" Goku's carefree laughter echoed from above.
"Hmph, that guy!" Tien chuckled, narrowing his three eyes. With a sharp "heh," he also unleashed Muken, instantly boosting his speed and rocketing skyward… leaving only Krillin and Yajirobe alone, continuing their ride up the Power Pole elevator.
"That Goku…" Krillin sighed.
"…" Yajirobe squinted, gazing upward at the vanished figures of Goku and Tien. His eyes lifted higher and higher… as if he could already see a magnificent temple quietly floating at the very top of Earth's sky, where the girl he admired most was waiting for him.
---
Three years had passed since Goku and the others had departed.
The sea. A lonely island.
Seagulls called out repeatedly, waves lapped the shores, and the island was desolate. But today, four white waves surged rapidly from the distant golden horizon, accompanied by a powerful crashing sound like a symphony of waves.
It was four people swimming by hand in the sea, creating such a tremendous force that it resembled eight tsunamis side by side, raging toward the island vertically… Yet, as they approached Muten Island, the four simultaneously slowed their movements, breaking the surface one after another, leaping into the air, and flying toward the sandy shore.
It was Goku, Krillin, Tien, and Chiaotzu, returning after circling the Earth for three years. Over those years, they had clearly changed—becoming more mature, more composed. Goku especially had grown the most… now about sixteen years old, entering adolescence.
Goku was starting to grow.
"Haha, I wonder if Master's wife will still recognize you, Goku," Krillin said with a smile as he stepped onto the beach.
"Why?" Goku scratched his head.
Tien and Chiaotzu, just like Goku and Krillin, began wringing out their wet clothes upon arriving at the shore… after three years of grueling training and travel, the four of them had gradually started to give up training with their weighted clothes.
"Aooh!—"
A loud, clear cry sounded overhead, coming closer and startling a flock of birds that suddenly took flight in front of the beach.
Goku looked up and saw the bright red phoenix they hadn't seen in three years. Smiling, he said, "Long time no see, Phoenix!" The phoenix, however, appeared a bit puzzled and flew over to him, looking him up and down as if it didn't recognize him.
"Haha, Goku's grown a lot—you probably don't recognize him anymore," Krillin laughed nearby.
"Aooh?" The phoenix protested, unwilling to admit it.
---
Together, the four flew with the phoenix toward the center of Muten Island.
"Come to me," Taro's voice echoed in their minds. Goku and the others exchanged a glance, sensing Taro's misty, vague aura, then changed direction and flew toward it.
Meanwhile, on the island, Bulma was drinking tea with Hathaway.
Three years had passed. The once youthful and charming seventeen-year-old girl had grown into a strikingly beautiful twenty-year-old woman.