Dragon Ball Roshi

"A promise from the past?"

 Kami hadn't forgotten. Decades ago, Taro had flown to the Lookout, pleading for the Guardian's help to restore his sight. Unable to fulfill this request, Kami had made him a promise instead, in recognition of Taro's role in sealing away Demon King Piccolo.

 "Speak your wish." Kami said slowly. His amber eyes studied Taro, now an aging martial artist. Once clear and straightforward, Taro had become an enigma, someone even the Guardian of Earth could no longer fully comprehend.

 Taro got straight to the point: "I request that you take me to the Underworld. I want to train with King Kai."

 Kami was startled. Hearing the term "King Kai" from a mortal was unexpected, but he quickly recalled that this man had long claimed to have glimpsed fragments of the future.

 King Kai… Surely this was a figure he had seen in those glimpses.

 Kami nodded. "Very well, but I have a question first."

 "Ask away."

 "Your wish to Shenron—for the ability to teleport anywhere in the universe at will—is it because there are beings in the universe you foresaw?"

 Taro answered frankly, "Yes. Beings of terrifying power. With my current strength, even looking at one of them might be enough to get me killed." He paused before continuing, "There's no path left for me on Earth. The future will demand that I step onto a far broader stage, to hone my abilities among the stars."

 Kami was taken aback. In his view, if Taro could still achieve the explosive power he demonstrated in the past, even Kami himself would be no match for him.

 But now, he spoke of beings so powerful they could obliterate Taro with a mere glance? The existence of such entities exceeded even Kami's imagination, though he had always known of formidable beings elsewhere in the cosmos.

 Still, Kami felt the need to temper his ambitions: "You should know that the potential within your body has already been exhausted by the Sacred Water. Even if you reach a broader stage, there's little room left for you to grow."

 Taro chuckled. "There's always a way. Seeing the power of the Dragon Balls has only made me more certain of that."

 Kami asked, "Then why did you discard the Dragon Balls?"

 Taro laughed heartily. Of course, he wouldn't admit his intent to travel to the far reaches of the universe to pursue his goals. Instead, he explained, "Do you think I don't know? Once a wish is made, the Dragon Balls turn into ordinary stones for a year. What's the point of holding onto them?"

 Kami scrutinized Taro's face, searching for any signs of deceit. But the expression on this elderly man's face betrayed nothing—it was impossible to tell whether he was sincere or weaving a clever lie. Finally, Kami shook his head and said, "If what you say is true, then helping you reach King Kai for training is a task I won't refuse. As for the beings you mentioned…"

 Kami tapped his staff lightly, lowering his head in thought for a moment before fixing his gaze on Taro. With a serious tone, he asked, "In the future you've seen, will they destroy our Earth?"

 Taro smiled. "I remember telling my master, Mutaito, long ago that in the future, Earth would see the rise of one powerful warrior after another, who would protect it well. Surely you heard that too, didn't you? My actions now are simply to ensure that, when the time comes, I'm not one of those they need to protect."

 Kami allowed himself a small smile. "If that's the case… the future indeed seems reassuring."

 Taro neither confirmed nor denied the sentiment.

 "In that case, let's not waste any more time. Send me there already."

 Kami nodded and turned to Mr. Popo. "Popo, I'll leave the Lookout in your care for the time being."

 Mr. Popo responded with a bow. "Of course, Kami. You can count on me. I am the best caretaker of the Lookout."

 Kami placed a hand on Taro's chest, briefly eyeing the seven colorful, sluggish birds perched on him. Taro showed no intention of leaving the birds behind.

 Taro cast a calm glance at the sky beyond the Lookout. Beneath the vast expanse of blue was a sea of clouds, and beneath that, the bustling life of Earth.

 In the blink of an eye, Kami and Taro vanished from the Lookout's plaza.

---

 Golden clouds billowed endlessly across this vast, otherworldly space.

 This was the Underworld, also known as the River of Souls—the ultimate destination for the spirits of all living beings across the universe.

 "… That's the situation. I owed him a favor and promised to bring him here. I humbly ask for your approval, King Yemma, to let him travel to King Kai for training."

 Kami and Taro, with his seven colorful birds perched on his shoulders, stood inside the grand hall of the Underworld. Before them sat the colossal figure of King Yemma, his massive frame dwarfing the two like ants before a mountain.

 "This is absurd!" King Yemma slammed his massive hand on the table, his booming voice shaking the hall.

 "Earth's Kami! How dare you bring a living person to the Underworld? Do you realize this disrupts the balance between the realms of the living and the dead?"

 The oni guards stationed in the hall, along with the line of souls awaiting judgment, shuddered in fear at King Yemma's sudden outburst.

 Kami offered an awkward smile, clearly uncomfortable, while Taro glanced sideways at him with mild amusement.

 With a huff, King Yemma began flipping through a large book—likely some sort of registry, a Book of Life and Death, Deeds, or perhaps even his work ledger.

 Chirp, chirp, chirp…

 The sudden sound of birds chirping echoed through the hall.

 King Yemma slammed the book shut with a thunderous bang, his patience wearing thin.

 "I've been wanting to say this from the start! Earth's Kami, bringing a living person here is one thing, but why in the world did you bring birds with you?"

 Kami's face twisted with embarrassment as he tried to maintain his forced smile. Taro, on the other hand, shot a sharp glare at the mischievous creatures on his shoulders. With a gentle pat on their tiny heads, he finally managed to quiet them down.

 King Yemma continued flipping through his massive book, mumbling as he read:

 "Taro… let's see here… 'Once assisted in saving all life on the planet'… hmm. With achievements like this, sending you to Heaven wouldn't be an issue. Are you sure you want to go to King Kai? That place is dangerous!"

 Taro replied with determination. "I've made my decision. Please grant your approval, King Yemma."

 King Yemma sighed heavily, rubbing his temple.

 "What kind of human willingly seeks out King Kai? That's just asking for trouble..." He shuddered as he recalled King Kai's notorious love for bad puns.

 Still, King Yemma thought to himself: This guy probably won't even make it halfway down Snake Way. He'll fall off into Hell for sure! Oh well, it's his choice.

 "Fine, fine." King Yemma relented.

"I'll have someone guide you. Head through that side door over there!" He pointed to a side entrance of the hall.

"But let me warn you, if you fall off Snake Way, that's on you!"

 Kami nodded and chuckled nervously.

 "Of course, of course."

 He knew full well that Taro's Instant Transmission ability would render Snake Way irrelevant.

 Just as they were about to leave, Taro stopped, a thought crossing his mind. He turned to King Yemma and asked,

 "King Yemma, could you help me check on my master Mutaito and my late wife, Fanfan?"

 King Yemma frowned, clearly annoyed.

 "You're full of requests, aren't you, Earthling? Can't you see how many souls are lined up waiting for my judgment?"

 Taro clasped his hands together and bowed deeply.

 "Please, I'm begging you."

 With a grumble, King Yemma flipped through the hefty book again. After a moment, he muttered,

 "Found it. Mutaito, right? Oh, that old guy!" He let out a snort.

"His merits were enough to get him into Heaven, but he refused and chose to reincarnate instead. What a peculiar Earthling."

 Taro nodded to himself. Knowing his master's character, it made sense—Mutaito would never settle for a passive life in Heaven.

 King Yemma continued,

 "And your wife, Fanfan, Mutaito's daughter, right?" He flipped a few more pages. "She reincarnated as well. No major merits or sins, so she didn't qualify for Heaven or Hell. She passed on and reincarnated shortly afterward."

 "... I see. Thank you, King Yemma."

Taro bowed once more, his expression contemplative, before following a well-dressed, slick-haired oni escort through the side door.

 "Taro." Kami called out, stopping him at the doorway.

 "What is it?" Taro turned back.

 "... Nothing. Train hard." Kami shook his head slowly, suppressing the nagging feeling that Taro's motives for going to King Kai weren't as straightforward as they seemed.

 Taro gave a faint smile and disappeared through the side door, leaving Kami to ponder in silence.

---

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