章 43: Chapter 43: Son Goku

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Meanwhile, as the four future Z Fighters tried to contemplate ideas on how to tackle the imposing tower before them, further up in the endless rolling clouds, a building could be seen placed within them, hidden away from sight and the mind. Not even a modern day airplane could reach this place. This building was in a certain geological location that it stayed stationary no matter how fast the earth spun.

Korin's House. And further up at the very peak of this place, The Lookout, where a so-called deity aside from Korin acted as a watcher to the rest of the land below. This figure did not contain a name. Many who approached him only called him Kami, which literally meant God. He simply adapted this name over time.

Back inside the building that was seen about halfway up the tower, which was Korin's House, a cat-like creature could currently be seen slowly walking around, carrying a wooden cane in one of his paws. Despite looking like a big and fluffy white, talking cat, on the inside, he was equivalent to that of an old man for having lived almost an entire millenium.

Korin was one of the few who had seen the growth of human history play out before his very eyes. Lives lost in civil conflict, wars, civilizations starting anew, rising up from their previous ashes. And now, most of Planet Earth was at peace, which eased Korin's mind as of late.

And to his surprise, Korin no longer found himself alone. A rather pudgy human could be seen situated not too far away from him, indulging himself into whatever he could find as food.

"You really like to eat eh, Yajirobe?", Korin asked, seeing the pudgy, long, black haired man currently scarving down some food not too far away.

"I can't help it, you know? Ever since Goku showed me those Senzu Beans, my stomach has been in a constant state of starvation, just asking for more!", Yajirobe complained, trying to satiate his stomach.

"It's a miracle you even lived that you idiot. You cleared out an entire year's supply of Senzu Beans when you first brought Goku-kun here. Like damn, calling you a fatso isn't serving you justice. Just what is that stomach of yours? The abyss?", Korin scoffed, hearing Yajirobe complain about how he was still hungry.

"You should have at least warned me ahead of time before I indulged myself like that, you damn cat. When is the next batch due?", Yajirobe asked, continuing to eat his food that was laid out before him.

"We didn't even know each other then. But if you want to know, the next batch isn't due until the end of the month.", Korin responded, slowly approaching Yajirobe with his wooden cane in his paws. Hearing that, Yajirobe paused his current eating, only to reveal a wide-eyed look.

"You telling me I have to sit through this shit for an entire month?", Yajirobe retorted.

"You started it, you deal with it. I did take you in as my disciple after Goku-kun finished his training here and headed on up to The Lookout, but I'm already having second thoughts.", Korin retorted back.

"You wouldn't dare.", Yajirobe retorted again.

"Try me.", Korin said, shutting Yajirobe down.

"Where else would I go? Those Senzu Beans screwed me over, so it's your responsibility alright, Sensei?", Yajirobe said, starting to dig into his food again.

"Heh, that much I know. Speaking of which, didn't you mention there was a group of challengers wishing to try out my tower?", Korin decided to ask, taking a seat down next to him, and brought out some grilled fish to eat.

"Oh yeah. They saw how injured Goku was after he fought with the demon king. Hoping to get a similar power boost monkey boy went through. What'd they call themselves again? Tien-san, Yamcha-san, Chiaotzu-san, and Krillin-san, if I remember?", Yajirobe said, taking a pause to pick something from his nose in a joking manner.

"Was that right? It's good and all that Goku-kun slayed that evil menace that was looming over this land, but I don't see a need for those guys to come up here.", Korin said, beginning to chomp down on his fish with similar manners to Yajirobe.

"Beats me. Speaking of Goku-san though, he's still up there, ain't he?", Yajirobe asked, pointing his finger straight upward. Out of sight, there existed what was known as The Lookout, which was the very tip of this tower. The location where the nameless Kami resided.

"Sure is. Mr. Popo has been looking after Goku-kun for a little over a month now. I'm curious to see how much progress Goku-kun has made since then--?", Korin began to answer Yajirobe, only to be interrupted by a faint voice. It didn't take long for the voice to grow louder, causing the two of them to get distracted.

"You hear something, Sensei?", Yajirobe asked. At the same time, he saw Korin's ears start to twitch, as if they had picked something up.

"--Well, more than what I had originally anticipated.", Korin mused to himself, continuing to eat his fish as if it was a normal occurrence for him.

"The hell you going on about--?", Yajirobe tried to ask, only to hear the faint noise grow louder. It sounded as though it was a scream. It didn't come from down below, however. It came directly above him.

"Ahhhhh!", A third voice suddenly called out to the two, causing Yajirobe to stand up, not finishing his meal. He quickly rushed to the side of Korin's place, and sure enough, it didn't take long for a quick blur to reach Yajirobe's eyes. He saw a boy with black, spiky hair drop out of the clouds above him. If one had a close eye, a brown tail could be seen poking out of the boy's butt.

In a mere moment, Yajirobe saw the blur come at him from up above, only to continue screaming without an end in sight, quickly vanishing down below with his eyes tracking the blur as it sped downward.

"Something like that.", Korin said, ignoring the fact the figure was currently free falling from up above. Korin continued to eat his fish as if this was a normal thing for him.

"Uh-huh. That sure was Goku-kun alright. Will he be okay?", Yajirobe asked. This time, it was another faint noise, something that struck against Korin's Tower as if it was grinding it. Yajirobe leaned over, and saw the figure clasp onto the tower's base, trying to stop his falling.

"It looks like Mr. Popo really has been giving him a thrashing lately.", Korin said, letting out a happy purr as he continued his meal.

"Mr. Popo?", Yajirobe couldn't help but ask, a name unknown to him.

"Eh, you'll come across him from time to time. If anything, he's probably training Goku's ki. Be ready for the long haul.", Korin simply said, without giving much explanation to Yajirobe.

"Sounds like it.", Yajirobe said, proceeding to sit back down. If Korin was used to this behavior already, he could only follow suit after him, and continued eating as well.

After some moments have passed since that little happenstance, Yajirobe heard another noise reach his ears, the sound of feet shuffling.

"Hup!", A third voice said, causing a shadow to reach Korin's place. It quickly somersaulted, launching themselves inside the empty gap on one of the sides of the building. Yajirobe raised his eyebrows seeing an upbeat youth sporting black, spiky hair.

"See? No need to worry. Goku-kun here is quite capable of taking care of himself.", Korin said, finally answering Yajirobe's doubt.

"Man, Mr. Popo really didn't hold back this time. That was the first time he kicked me off the tower, haha.", The black-haired boy said, letting out a playful laugh, despite showing several bruises currently on his body. "It's nice to see you again, Korin-sensei.", The boy continued.

"I take it only temporarily, Goku-kun, but likewise.", Korin replied, nodding his head.

"Yeah. I see Yajirobe-san is here too. Still hanging around?", The boy asked.

"For now. And by the way, those friends of yours said they're heading to this tower. Not sure if they've reached the base yet.", Yajirobe said. The boy's eyes lit up hearing that.

"Really? Glad they made the decision to come then. This place is totally worth it. I've already learned so much from Mr. Popo, and it's only been a month or so. The next tournament isn't until three years, there is plenty left for me to learn.", The boy happily responded.

"I won't delay you. You just caught us in a lull. Send Mr. Popo my regards, Goku-kun.", Korin said.

"Un!", Goku replied, waving his hand at the two. Before he turned the other way, Korin's ears suddenly twitched again. It wasn't like before, a startling look appeared in Korin's eyes.

"Nyaaa?", Korin suddenly uttered, causing Yajirobe to stare at him, not expecting Korin to react this way. Korin even stood up, only to turn his body to a certain direction inside his house. Korin's eyes landed on the clouds in the never-ending distance.

"Nya?", Yajirobe. It wasn't often Korin had an outburst like this.

"Oh right, you probably don't feel it, seeing as you can't control your ki yet, Yajirobe. Has Mr. Popo taught you Ki Control yet, Goku-kun?", Korin asked, still gazing out toward the clouds.

"Ki control? It hasn't been long since we've started going over the topic, why, Sensei?", Goku replied, tilting his head, acting clueless on the matter.

"You can't feel it then?", Korin decided to ask. "Such domineering ki...yet for some reason, I don't feel any oppression or malice. Truly intriguing.", Korin uttered, rubbing his fur as he did.

"Domineering ki? Is it someone strong?", Goku's eyes lit up, wondering what Korin was going on about.

"I've no idea. It's being released very, very far away from here.", Korin mused to himself. Wondering where this ki signature was coming from as well.

Little did the cat know that the ki currently being released came from beyond the land of Dragon Ball. It came from one of the neighboring countries to the left, the country of Japan.

Goku just watched on with a look of interest in his eyes, wondering what Korin was going on about.

As to whether Goku would explore where Korin felt this ki was being released, only time would tell.