Shen glanced at Naruto with a flat expression, dissatisfied that Naruto had cut between him and Master Roshi. He felt offended, but he didn't lose his temper, bullying a kid was beneath his status. Instead, he nodded toward the disciple beside him, a boy who looked like a porcelain doll with rosy spots on his cheeks.
This was Chiaotzu, one of Master Shen's two main disciples. His martial arts were secondary to his powerful psychic abilities.
Chiaotzu flashed an evil grin. He pointed his finger, and a nearby rock floated up, landing less than a meter from Naruto's feet. If Naruto continued his path, he would trip. Even if Naruto stepped aside, it wouldn't matter, the rock was under Chiaotzu's control.
Master Shen wanted Naruto to embarrass himself. His pettiness was notorious.
Unfortunately, Chiaotzu's efforts were useless. Psychic powers were impressive, but Naruto had ninjutsu.
"Watch out!"
Chiaotzu's trick didn't escape Naruto, nor did it escape Master Roshi. Just as Naruto reached the rock, Master Roshi shouted a warning.
By the time he spoke, Naruto had already extended his leg and crushed the stone to pieces with one stomp.
"Using petty tricks to bully a kid is inappropriate, don't you think?" Without turning to face Master Shen, Naruto's voice drifted back. "If you want to deal with me, do it fairly."
Naruto didn't bother continuing the confrontation. He walked away to register his participant information.
His underhanded trick had been exposed. Normally, a man would feel ashamed, as prestige mattered. Yet Master Shen's expression didn't change. He just curled his lip. "Tch."
A true hermit, his skin was remarkably thick.
Beneath his black sunglasses, small eyes flickered with a cold, ruthless glint.
"Tien, if you encounter him, give him a taste of your skills. Break one of his legs, no, make it both."
"If he can even pass the preliminaries."
"Yes, Master."
To Master Shen, Naruto was merely a minor interlude. His focus remained fixed on Master Roshi.
"Ah, I've heard some funny jokes. They say you've taken in a few more disciples, and that they were quite active at the last World Martial Arts Tournament." Master Shen's tone dripped with sarcasm. "You can fool those ignorant fools, and normally I wouldn't interfere. But I think they need to know what a real martial artist is. So this time, I've brought my two disciples to compete."
"Hehehe, so sorry about this. The championship is destined for my disciples. You might as well take yours and head home to save yourselves the embarrassment. Don't blame me, your Senpai, for not reminding you."
As he spoke, Master Shen glanced at the disciple standing on his other side, Tien Shinhan.
'I trained this disciple with tremendous effort, and his strength has already surpassed my own. Even my brother, the World's Number One Assassin, might not be his match.'
'Turtle School? Hmph.My disciple is invincible!'
'This 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament is the chance for the Crane School to make a name for itself.'
Tien Shinhan listened to his master's praise, his contemptuous gaze sweeping over the Turtle School group. He looked past Krillin and Yamcha and smirked with confidence, the curve of his lips forming a perfect 'Nike' symbol on his face.
Tien Shinhan, like Master Shen, looked down on these Turtle School practitioners.
"Shut up, you Old Crane Bastard, you Big Stupid Crane! I'm clearly the Senpai!" Master Roshi leaped up and cursed at the top of his lungs the moment Master Shen called him Kouhai. The two clung to their positions, neither would back down.
As for who was actually the Senpai and who was the Kouhai, only their master, Mutaito, knew the truth.
"Your joke is so outdated. Your taste is getting worse, just like your gi."
"What?!" Master Shen flew into a rage. He pointed at Master Roshi's nose and barked, "You Damn Baldy!"
You can insult me, but you cannot insult my taste.
The bright green gi looked wonderful. Only someone with no sense of aesthetics would like that crappy orange gi.
Master Roshi didn't back down. "You Half Baldy!"
"Bald Stinking Turtle!"
"Half-baked Old Bird!"
"Hmph, I can't be bothered with you." Master Shen's saliva nearly ran dry from the cursing. He scoffed and led his two disciples away. Before leaving, he didn't forget to throw down a threat: "We'll see. During the tournament, I'll show your disciples true skill."
"Master Roshi, who's that arrogant guy?" After the Crane School group left, Krillin, who had been standing nearby, asked curiously. "He looks really annoying."
"He's Shen." Master Roshi gazed at Master Shen's departing back and said in a heavy voice, "He's my sworn enemy."
"When you encounter those two, be careful. Give your all. Although Master Shen walked the Evil Path, his strength is unquestionable."
"His disciple's ability is likely not inferior to either of you."
The contestants at this World Martial Arts Tournament were more troublesome than anticipated. Maybe I won't even need to compete.
"Hasn't Goku arrived yet?" Master Shen's outburst was just a minor interlude. Bulma checked her watch. "Only one minute left."
Yamcha said, "It looks like we'll have to let Puar transform into Goku's appearance to register first."
"Alright, Young Master Yamcha."
"Sorry, everyone." Just as they were discussing, Naruto, who had already finished registering, interrupted. "Are you referring to that boy with the tail when you mention Goku?"
"That's right?!" Everyone exclaimed in surprise. "Have you seen him?"
Naruto didn't answer. He simply pointed toward the empty coast ahead. "Look, he's already here."
Everyone followed his gaze. They saw nothing, and just as confusion set in, a black dot appeared on the horizon. It streaked across the water at extreme speed, it was Son Goku, the one they had all been longing for.
"Goku! It's Goku!" Krillin exclaimed.
'This kid is more than he seems.' While the others rejoiced that Goku had arrived just in time, Master Roshi gave Naruto a deep, searching look.
'His vision is superior to mine!'
"Is this your companion? His aura is powerful." Naruto spoke as if to himself, yet loud enough for others to hear.
As expected, Master Roshi grew even more interested after Naruto's casual remark.
The others, however, shifted their full attention to Goku.
'Three years apart, and I missed him terribly.'
Once the registration was complete, several of them crowded around Goku, chattering endlessly.
'It's Master Roshi. I haven't seen him in so long. Seeing him now really brings back memories. Huh, wait... it seems he's looked exactly like this since the first time I met him.'
Inside the Sealing Space, Goku spoke with emotion.
'True to form for Master Roshi.'
The Earth in the Dragon Ball-verse is an magical place, containing extraordinary items and abilities absent from other planets, Senzu Beans, Ultra Divine Water. Legend has it that Master Roshi's longevity stems from being blessed by a phoenix.
Furthermore, though the Earth in the Dragon Ball-verse sits at the very edge of the Milky Way Galaxy, it is the culinary capital of the entire universe.
"You almost missed the registration deadline, Goku."
"Why are you so filthy?"
"Did you swim here or something?"
The friends peppered him with questions, and Goku answered each one patiently. When they learned he had swum all the way from the other side of the planet, everyone gasped.
'This world is perfect for training.'
Naruto stayed out of the discussion. He sensed the energy of this world, its abundant natural energy surpassed the Naruto-verse dozens of times over. Training Sage Mode here meant a single day of practice could match a full month of grueling work back home.
Paradise, this was a paradise for practitioners.
'Next time I'll bring Sasuke, Lee and Neji. As long as we're before the Dragon Ball Z timeline, Earth is still safe.'
'As for the later stages of the Dragon Ball-verse...'
'That just means doing more good deeds and hoping for the best. After all, from now on, only good people get resurrected.'
"Young man, are you here for the World Martial Arts Tournament too? You seem familiar." Unlike the group clustered around Goku, Master Roshi focused on Naruto. "Might I ask your name?"
"Yes, sir. My name is Naruto Uzumaki," Naruto said.
"Roshi." Master Roshi nodded, introducing himself. He frowned, trying to recall the Uzumaki surname.
"So this is the God of Martial Arts, Master Roshi. My deepest apologies." Naruto spoke with respect, maintaining a reverent attitude, a stark contrast to how he had spoken to Master Shen.
It was only natural that Master Roshi sensed a familiar feeling. The martial arts Naruto was trained under the Turtle School methods.
Without Goku, and without the Turtle School's methods of adjusting his state of mind, Naruto could hardly imagine his life in the Naruto-verse. Given his personality, he likely would have gone berserk, unable to endure the hostility of the villagers.
Naruto felt profound gratitude toward Goku. During the most difficult years of his life, Goku had been by his side, their bond spoke for itself.
This naturally extended to an innate fondness and reverence for Master Roshi, the founder of the Turtle School.
Since Master Roshi had been Goku's master, Naruto calling him "Grandmaster" fit the generational hierarchy perfectly.
"As it happens, I have a connection to Master Roshi," Naruto revealed. "I also train in the Turtle School you founded."
"Oh? Could it be Ox-King?"
Master Roshi had only a few disciples. His first was Son Gohan, Goku's grandfather. To honor him, Goku had named his own son Son Gohan as well. His second disciple was the Ox-King.
The first disciple's personality mirrored Master Roshi's, he enjoyed a carefree, wandering existence. But as for Ox-King... power often breeds arrogance, and even Master Roshi's students weren't exempt. After completing his training, Ox-King claimed a mountain as his kingdom, robbing and pillaging until he became infamous.
Master Roshi stopped accepting new disciples after that. Those he eventually took on were Goku, Krillin, and Yamcha.
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