Chapter 3: The Quest for More Ki

Goku had been training under Grandpa Gohan for several weeks now, but something still didn't feel right. Sure, he was learning how to fight, improving his martial arts, and building up his stamina, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was missing something vital.

One morning, after finishing his morning practice with Gohan, Goku sat down by a tree and crossed his arms in deep thought. I need more power… but where am I supposed to get it? He tried calling out to a system for help again, just in case it decided to show up late.

"System! Status! Skills! Menu! Hey, can you hear me up there? Just throw me a bone here!" He opened one eye, hoping some flashy screen would pop up.

Nothing.

"Argh, this is hopeless," he groaned, slumping against the tree. Gohan, who was sitting nearby sharpening a stick for fishing, looked over at him.

"What's wrong, Goku? You seem down."

"Oh, nothing," Goku sighed. "I just… I want to get stronger faster, but I feel like I'm hitting a wall."

Gohan chuckled. "That's because training takes time, Goku. You're young. Be patient, and the results will come."

Goku frowned, shaking his head. "But I don't have time, Grandpa! There are… uh, bad guys! Really strong bad guys coming, and I need to be ready. I can't just wait around."

Gohan raised an eyebrow. "Bad guys? Like who?"

Goku froze, realizing he'd let something slip again. "Uh… You know… wolves! Bears! The usual stuff!" He waved his hands in the air awkwardly, trying to cover his tracks. Gohan looked at him with suspicion but eventually shrugged it off.

"Well, if you're that eager to get stronger quickly, maybe you should look inside yourself," Gohan said, poking the stick into the ground. "Real strength comes from within, Goku."

Goku blinked. "From… inside?" He thought about it for a moment and then suddenly lit up. "Wait, Grandpa, you're a genius!" He jumped up with a big grin.

Gohan smiled, though clearly confused. "Oh? Well, thank you, but what do you mean?"

"Inside! Ki! That's it!" Goku was pacing now, energized by his new realization. "I need to learn how to gather more ki, Grandpa. It's the source of all my power, right? If I get more ki, I'll get stronger!"

Gohan rubbed his chin. "Well, yes, that's true. But it's not easy to build up ki. It takes time, meditation, and practice. It's not something you can rush."

Goku sat back down, thinking hard. There's got to be a faster way. Wait, I remember something from the anime! He recalled the time Goku had spent training under heavy gravity, which boosted his strength in a short period of time.

"Grandpa, do you know if there's a way to train with extra weight or something? You know, like adding pressure to my body so I can get stronger faster?"

Gohan looked surprised. "Hmm, weight training? Well, you could wear heavy clothes while you train. But you'll need to be careful not to overdo it."

Goku's eyes lit up. "Heavy clothes! That's it! I'll make some really heavy clothes and wear them all the time!"

Before Gohan could protest, Goku was already imagining how this would work. I'll make clothes so heavy that just walking around will feel like I'm carrying a mountain! And then, once I get used to it, I'll be super strong! His mind raced with excitement. Maybe I can make some weighted training gear with ki!

Gohan sighed, watching Goku's enthusiastic rambling. "Just don't hurt yourself, Goku."

Later that day, Goku set to work on creating his new Weighted Training Clothes Technique. He tried to channel his ki into his clothes, imagining them growing heavier and heavier, but all he managed to do was tear his shirt.

"Well, that didn't work…" he muttered, sitting shirtless in the grass, holding the ruined remains of his top.

"Maybe you need to focus more on control, not just power," Gohan suggested, walking over with a new shirt for Goku. "Ki is about balance. You can't force it."

Goku took the shirt, sighing in frustration. "Yeah, yeah, balance. But I'm not getting any younger, you know!"

Gohan chuckled at that. "You're only ten, Goku. You've got plenty of time."

Goku put the new shirt on and flopped onto the ground. "But I need more ki! How am I supposed to beat the bad guys without more ki? What if I run out of energy in the middle of a fight? What if they transform into something crazy like a giant bug or an evil genie?"

Gohan blinked. "A… giant bug? Evil genie?"

"Uh, never mind," Goku said quickly. I've got to stop mentioning future villains. He stared at the sky, his mind racing again.

Suddenly, a thought popped into his head. Wait a minute… Bulma! She's gonna show up soon, right? And she's a genius! Maybe she can help me with some kind of invention that'll boost my power! He grinned, feeling a spark of hope again.

But then another thought interrupted his excitement. Wait… what if Bulma doesn't want to help me? I need to make a good impression!

And that's when Goku knew what to do. He dashed to the lake again and started practicing his "Cute Face Technique." He stood in front of the water, puffing out his cheeks, widening his eyes, and trying to look as adorable as possible.

"I've got this," Goku said to his reflection. "Bulma won't be able to resist helping me when she sees how cute I am!"

Behind him, Gohan watched silently, shaking his head in amusement. "That's one strange kid."

Days passed, and Goku continued his intense training with Gohan, all while trying out his new ideas for power-ups. The Weighted Training Clothes Technique was still a work in progress, but Goku was determined to get it right. He also kept thinking about the Uzaru transformation and how to control it. But for now, he decided to keep that plan on hold until he found a secluded area to test it.

Still, with every punch, kick, and burst of energy, Goku could feel himself getting stronger. He didn't have a cheat system, but he had his determination and his wild ideas. And, of course, his "Cute Face Technique," which he was sure would come in handy.

As Goku lay in bed that night, he smiled to himself. "I may not have a system, but I've got Grandpa, training, and my brain. And that's more than enough to beat any bad guy!"