The moment the two women stepped off the helicopter, Master Roshi and Krillin both froze.
Krillin stared at the blonde one in disbelief.
"Master… that blonde woman—she looks like Launch in her blonde state!"
Roshi nodded solemnly.
"It's her. That boy's got guts, bringing Blonde Launch out in public."
Then Bulma and Goku stepped down together.
And when Krillin saw Goku clearly, his eyes widened.
Back then, the two of them were about the same height.
Now, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Bulma, Goku was actually taller than her.
Krillin's chest felt strangely sour.
He'd been thinking about showing off his progress…
Goku spotted them immediately and waved.
"Hey! Krillin! Master Roshi! You guys doing good?"
Krillin rushed up and pulled Goku into a tight hug.
When they separated, Krillin looked up at him, half excited, half bitter.
"Goku, you're seriously trying to kill me with envy.
You've got a bunch of gorgeous girls around you… and you still managed to grow this much in just three years?!"
Goku scratched his head and laughed.
"If you want to get taller, Krillin, why don't you collect the Dragon Balls and wish to grow five centimeters?"
Krillin immediately objected.
"Five centimeters? Why not wish to become a real tall guy?"
Goku muttered, "If you suddenly get too tall, people will think it's unnatural…"
Krillin's brows knit—then he glanced at Goku's height and relaxed again.
"…Wait. Goku, don't tell me you gathered the Dragon Balls and wished to grow taller?"
In truth, the system only gave him ten centimeters.
But compared to the original story, he was way taller than he should've been at this point.
Goku had thought about it too.
Maybe it was diet.
On Mount Paozu, Launch and Violet took care of him—regular meals, massive portions, balanced nutrition.
And of course… the creator never drew the exact growth chart for every age.
Goku smiled.
"Maybe it's because Launch and Violet fed me too well for three years.
Good nutrition, good recovery, steady training… I grew faster.
Besides, I'm sixteen. It's about time I got taller."
The moment Krillin heard Launch and Violet, his face darkened again.
"Seriously… You're young, strong, and girls like you. Unfair.
Sigh… unlike me, I've got only one weapon—effort."
Inside, Krillin couldn't help planning again.
Even if he became world champion someday, fame alone wasn't enough.
If he wanted to be popular, he needed presence too—taller, more "hero-like."
Wishing for a small height boost without changing his face… maybe that was actually fine.
Launch, who had lived at Kame House for a while and knew Krillin well, greeted him first.
"Krillin, long time no see. You've gotten taller too."
Krillin nearly jumped.
"L-Launch?! You're being polite… Does Blonde Launch not cause trouble anymore?"
Launch's lips curved slightly.
"What trouble? You got a problem with me?"
Krillin blinked.
Even blonde, she was holding back. That was a huge change.
"N-no! I'm just surprised.
Before, when you went blonde you'd pull out a gun and start firing. We were terrified…"
Bulma laughed.
"People change. These three years, Launch has been living really well.
She got a massive pile of money, goes shopping all the time…
She'll spend more in one trip than she used to steal in a bank robbery."
Krillin swallowed.
"That kind of life… sounds unbelievably enviable…"
Just then, the announcer's voice rang out across the arena:
[All competitors, registration closes in three minutes.
Anyone not registered, register immediately.
Those registered, enter the arena and prepare.]
Roshi urged, "Goku! Go register—there's no time!"
Goku nodded. "Got it!" and sprinted toward the registration desk.
Soon, the fighters filled the preliminary arena.
Krillin looked around at the massive venue, amazed.
"It's way grander than before… and much bigger too."
As people noticed Goku, Krillin, and Yamcha, murmurs spread through the crowd.
"Those three are monsters from last tournament… they're back again."
"Then there's no way I'm making finals…"
The preliminaries began.
Goku, Krillin, and Yamcha all advanced into the finals.
Krillin beamed.
"Yes! Everyone made it.
Hopefully we don't run into each other early—fighting each other would be such a waste."
Right then, Tien arrived with Chiaotzu.
Tien smirked, voice dripping with mockery.
"Well well—your little Turtle Group made it into the finals too.
Guess you ran into nothing but trash in prelims."
Yamcha snorted.
"Ha. And you made top eight with that cheap kung fu. Must've been lucky."
Tien's smile sharpened.
"You're funny.
I'll make you look ridiculous in front of everyone."
Krillin instantly joined the fight, and the trash talk exploded.
He pointed at Chiaotzu.
"What a joke—how did you even get through prelims? Cheating?"
Chiaotzu stared blankly and jabbed a finger.
"Hehe… bald!"
Krillin snapped back.
"You're bald too!"
Chiaotzu replied seriously, "No. I have hair."
Then he lifted his hat—revealing a single, thin, black strand.
Krillin's mouth twitched.
"You idiot… that's like fifty steps laughing at a hundred."
Chiaotzu puffed up. "You're jealous!"
"One hair! Who would be jealous of that?!"
Tien realized Chiaotzu was losing the "battle of dignity" and quickly dragged him away.
Goku watched the whole exchange and fell briefly into thought.
He'd almost forgotten—when Tien and Chiaotzu first appeared, they really were nasty.
Yet after this tournament, they would change fast—becoming disciplined, steady martial artists.
Who would've thought the man who looked so cold and arrogant now…
would later throw himself into fights with Demon King Piccolo with absolute resolve?
Even after opening a dojo and living away from Kame House, whenever Earth faced disaster—Tien always showed up.
Piccolo. Nappa. Cell. Even Majin Buu…
Every time he stepped forward, it felt like he'd already accepted death.
And in that moment, Goku suddenly realized something:
Maybe the Tien of the later years…
was the one who truly embodied the spirit of Turtle School martial arts.
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