This wasn't the first time Yamiru had seen or touched a Dragon Ball.
The Four-Star Ball was already tucked away in Son Goku's pocket.
When bored, Yamiru would occasionally take it out to admire, feeling as if he were handling a premium collectible — a high-end, prohibitively expensive piece of memorabilia.
"Goku, let me take a look at the Four-Star Dragon Ball."
"Oh, here."
Yamiru now held the Seven-Star Dragon Ball borrowed from Chi-Chi in one hand and the Four-Star Ball borrowed from Goku in the other.
He raised both spheres, letting the sunlight shine through them, making the orange glow even more radiant — only to realize they were actually glowing brighter! The closer the two Dragon Balls were brought together, the more intense the orange light became, pulsating like a rhythmic heartbeat. Their glowing pulses synchronized as the distance between them decreased.
"How beautiful..." The little girl tilted her head up at the shimmering orbs in Yamiru's hands and asked curiously, "What kind of orbs are these?"
Even the Ox-King was amazed. "Two identical orbs?"
Sitting atop the Flying Nimbus, Goku chimed in, "Yamiru says these are called Dragon Balls. We're out here looking for these, right?" The latter half was a question directed at Yamiru.
"Exactly!" Yamiru nodded, tapping the two Dragon Balls together gently, producing a clear, crisp sound akin to striking fine jewelry. "According to legend, there are seven of these Dragon Balls in the world. Each has a unique number of red, five-pointed stars inside, from one to seven. Whoever collects all seven can make any wish come true, no matter how grand. They're extraordinary artifacts."
"Wow, that's amazing," Chi-Chi murmured.
"But finding all seven must be extremely difficult," the Ox-King remarked. "The Earth is vast, Yamiru."
"That's why the journey to find them is a form of training in itself," Yamiru replied. "Uncle Ox, can we borrow this Seven-Star Ball for a bit? We'll return it next year."
"Training, huh?" The Ox-King's rugged face softened into a smile. "Like when you searched for Mount Paozu three years ago? I see now!" He gazed at Yamiru with admiration. "This orb doesn't belong to me anyway. You and Goku can take it. But, Yamiru, how about a little sparring match with me first? What do you say?"
"Sure!" Yamiru handed the Seven-Star Ball to Goku.
Goku secured the two Dragon Balls, storing the Four-Star Ball in a small pouch tied securely to his belt and placing the Seven-Star Ball into a sack on the Flying Nimbus.
"Uncle Ox, I haven't slacked off a single day in the past three years, so be prepared."
"Really? Even better."
Yamiru and the Ox-King exchanged a martial salute.
"Dad..." Chi-Chi said nervously.
She wasn't worried about her father; she was concerned about the older boy facing him. In her mind, her father was the strongest person in the world — no one could defeat him.
"Goku, take Chi-Chi a bit farther away," Yamiru instructed. He and the Ox-King simultaneously took two steps back, readying their stances for combat.
Goku guided Chi-Chi onto the Flying Nimbus and floated away.
"Don't worry," Goku reassured her. "Yamiru won't hurt Uncle Ox. Besides, Uncle Ox can't beat him anyway."
As expected, the duel between Yamiru and the Ox-King ended almost as quickly as it began.
The Ox-King's towering frame seemed unstoppable, exuding a powerful presence as he charged toward Yamiru, appearing capable of crushing him with sheer force.
Standing at only 1.7 meters tall, Yamiru was dwarfed by the 2 to 3 meter Ox-King — a contrast similar to Chi-Chi beside Goku on the Nimbus.
However, when the two clashed and then passed each other in a split second, facing away from one another.
The Ox-King's massive legs buckled, and with a thunderous crash, he knelt to the ground.
"I've lost..."
"Well fought." Yamiru turned around, as if nothing had happened.
"Huh?" Chi-Chi blinked repeatedly, sitting on the Nimbus with a face full of confusion. "What just happened? Did Dad lose?"
"Amazing!" Goku exclaimed, his small face scrunching up with determination. He began explaining to Chi-Chi, "Just now, Yamiru and Uncle Ox clashed. Uncle Ox threw three punches and two kicks at Yamiru. Yamiru blocked two punches and two kicks, dodged the last punch, and finally flipped over Uncle Ox's head, using a hand strike on the back of Uncle Ox's neck and shoulder. That made Uncle Ox lose his strength temporarily. Yamiru is so strong!"
He became so animated while speaking that it seemed he was itching to jump in and spar with Yamiru himself.
"Ah…" Little Chi-Chi listened, utterly confused. "All that happened just now?"
"As expected, Yamiru, I'm no longer your match," the Ox-King admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. Yamiru's final hand strike had precisely hit the nerve, temporarily incapacitating him. The strength, precision, and judgment Yamiru demonstrated in such a short time were beyond the Ox-King's comprehension.
The giant man turned around and gave a bitter smile. "Three years ago, I had the upper hand. Now, the tables have turned."
"But without your guidance three years ago, Uncle Ox, I wouldn't have made it this far," Yamiru replied humbly, winking at him.
Yamiru's calm demeanor left the Ox-King momentarily speechless.
If Goku's natural, otherworldly aura amazed and awed the Ox-King, Yamiru's steady, tempered presence reminded him of Master Roshi's teachings and even Son Gohan. In some ways, Yamiru's growth mirrored the wisdom and strength associated with the so-called God of Martial Arts.
In just two or three short years, Yamiru had undergone a profound transformation.
No, the real transformation began even earlier — during his arduous journey to Mount Paozu. It wasn't the destination that changed him; the moment he resolved to make the journey, the change had already started.
"I can't compare to any of you," the Ox-King muttered with a self-deprecating shake of his head. "Master Roshi was right — I just don't have the talent..."
Unbeknownst to him, Yamiru had already mastered the Turtle School's signature technique — the Kamehameha.
---
After agreeing to return the Seven-Star Ball once it was used, Yamiru politely declined the Ox-King's invitation to stay a few days and continued westward with Goku.
At the foot of the blazing Fire Mountain, the Ox-King and Chi-Chi watched as the hovercar and Flying Nimbus disappeared into the distance.
Sitting on her father's shoulder, Chi-Chi asked softly, "Daddy, can that pretty orb bring Mommy back?"
The Ox-King froze at her words. His daughter's innocent question stirred bittersweet memories of his late wife, a wave of emotions overwhelming him. Yet, as a straightforward man, he lacked eloquence. Instead, he smiled and said, "When we see Yamiru and Goku next time, you can ask them yourself, okay?"
Chi-Chi held onto her father's horn, looking toward the setting sun. "Okay~"
---
Meanwhile, Yamiru and Goku's journey progressed smoothly.
With the Flying Nimbus and the hovercar as their modes of transport, coupled with Yamiru's lack of obsession with taking detours for training this time, their travel pace was exceptionally fast.
Yamiru's chosen route primarily stuck to well-paved roads, only straying into rugged terrain like the desert when avoiding it would mean a much longer trip. The hovercar's anti-gravity technology made off-road travel incredibly efficient, and the Flying Nimbus was even faster. If not for keeping pace with the hovercar, Goku would have already reached West City by now.
That night, the two brothers stopped at a roadside motel, enjoying a hot bath before turning in.
The next day, at five in the morning.
As dawn broke, the dimly lit room saw both Yamiru and Goku opening their eyes almost simultaneously.
For Yamiru, this schedule had become second nature. He knew that as an Earthling striving to improve, he couldn't afford to slack off — not even for a day. To keep up with Saiyans, he had to push himself even harder. However, as a martial artist, Yamiru understood that "working harder" didn't just mean grueling physical training.
Proper rest and balanced training were equally important.
For Yamiru, "working harder" meant adhering to the Turtle School's principles in every aspect of life — whether walking, sitting or sleeping.
He wouldn't overexert himself when his body needed rest, but he also wouldn't relax when it was time to push himself.
Yamiru got out of bed, feeling refreshed and entirely alert.
"Ugh…"
Yawning and stretching, Goku groggily got up, grabbed his Power Pole, secured it to his back, and followed Yamiru out of the motel.
"Let's go, Goku. Time for a warm-up run."
Yamiru loosened his neck and stretched his legs before turning back to call him over.
Breathing in the crisp morning air, Goku instantly felt rejuvenated. He raised his fists and shouted, "Alright!"
With the hovercar packed back into its capsule and the Nimbus uncalled for, the two brothers set off running under the sparsely starry pre-dawn sky.
They sprinted along the highway toward West City, their pace nearly matching that of the hovercar and Nimbus during the previous day.
By dusk that day, Yamiru and Goku finally caught sight of West City.
"Wow, it's so…" Goku stared at the bustling cityscape, searching for a word Yamiru had taught him. "…prosperous!"
Yamiru ignored the Saiyan bumpkin's awe. He had visited West City before, at Bulma's house, but that was with Jiora. Back then, they had flown over the city, viewing it from above, which felt quite different from navigating the urban jungle by car. Comparing the two perspectives, Yamiru finally led his younger brother to the grand gates of Dr. Brief's Capsule Corporation mansion.
"Hello, my name is Yamiru," he said after pressing the doorbell. "I'm here to see Dr. Brief and Bulma."
Soon, a voice came through the intercom. "Oh my, is that handsome young Yamiru?" A biu sound followed, and the small screen above the intercom lit up, revealing the elegant, golden-haired Mrs. Brief. Time had left no mark on her; she still smiled warmly as she leaned closer to the camera. "Wow, Yamiru! You've grown from a handsome young man to a stunning gentleman. How about a date?"
"Please don't joke like that," Yamiru replied awkwardly, despite being familiar with Mrs. Brief's personality.
Mrs. Brief chuckled good-naturedly and waved at Goku standing behind Yamiru. Soon after, she appeared at the gate herself, smiling as she opened it. "You're here for Bulma and her father, right? Come in; you might have to wait a little."
Yamiru thanked her and led Goku into the opulent mansion. They were guided to an unbelievably spacious living room, where Mrs. Brief personally prepared a pot of hot tea and offered a variety of snacks to the two brothers.
Goku, ever unreserved in the face of food, quickly focused on devouring the delicious treats. Mrs. Brief, seemingly recalling Goku's impressive appetite from two years ago, had prepared a generous spread with plenty of variety.
"Are they not home?" Yamiru asked, holding a cup of tea after expressing his thanks.
"That's right," Mrs. Brief replied, elegantly crossing her legs as she sat on the sofa. "Bulma decided to graduate early instead of finishing college. Her father took her to complete the paperwork for enrolling in graduate school. He insists she at least stay enrolled at West City University for a few more years."
College? Graduation? Graduate school? Yamiru was a bit stunned. "How old is Bulma now?"
Mrs. Brief tilted her head thoughtfully. "Hmm… six? Seven?"
Are you asking me? Yamiru silently sipped his tea.
So, Bulma had already graduated? It seemed that her so-called "summer vacation" at the start of the manga wasn't exactly as a student after all…
It wasn't long before Bulma and Dr. Brief returned, just as Goku was finishing most of the snacks.
"Well, well, what a rare guest!"
Dr. Brief appeared in his trademark casual researcher look—lab coat, cigarette in mouth, and a relaxed, kind demeanor. He greeted Yamiru and chuckled at the sight of Goku happily munching away. "Goku's here too, huh?"
"You've gotten so big," Bulma said as she walked over to Yamiru, who was sitting on the sofa. She even had to tilt her head slightly to look up at him. Comparing her height with his, she muttered in mild frustration, "I thought I was growing quickly…"
"It's been a while, Bulma."
Yamiru thought Bulma seemed livelier than two years ago, more like a girl her age. In a few years, she'd probably turn into the fiery, sharp-tongued and romantic Bulma from the original work. The thought amused him — it was almost surreal how much people changed as they grew.
The group sat and chatted for a while.
Bulma observed Goku eating, her gaze curious yet baffled. Goku, noticing her stare, handed her a piece of snack. Bulma immediately wrinkled her nose in disgust.
Yamiru asked about Tights, and Dr. Brief mentioned that she had been vacationing on Dr. Omori's island. Jaco and Dr. Omori kept in touch and occasionally visited Earth. During that time, Tights found plenty of inspiration and had been doing well with her new space adventure novel series, which was quite popular.
"I heard Jaco got a girlfriend," Mrs. Brief added with a laugh. "But the two look so alike that, judging from the photos, we can't even tell who's who."
That's… hardcore, Yamiru thought to himself.
"So," Dr. Brief steered the conversation toward the main topic, "what brings you here this time?"
"Truthfully, I do have something I'd like to ask for your help with," Yamiru admitted, feeling a bit guilty. It seemed like every time he visited Dr. Brief, he ended up asking for something. That said, he didn't hesitate. Turning to Goku, he gestured for him to take out the two Dragon Balls, handing them over to Dr. Brief. "I'd like you to help me design a portable device…"
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