Chapter 7: The Turtle Hermit's Secret Technique

The weeks passed quickly, and our training under Master Roshi became more intense with each day. We continued our physical exercises—hauling boulders, running with weights, and doing all sorts of mundane tasks that seemed pointless but were secretly building our strength and endurance. But the real focus of our training had shifted to controlling our Ki.

Krillin's breakthrough had given him a newfound sense of confidence. He still struggled with his Ki control, but every day he improved a little more. He was catching up, and I could see the determination in his eyes. It was no longer about competing with me—it was about proving to himself that he could do it. And that made all the difference.

As for me, my control over my Ki was improving too, but I still felt like I had a long way to go. There was a power inside me that I hadn't fully tapped into yet, and I knew that if I didn't master it soon, I wouldn't be ready for the challenges that lay ahead.

And then, one day, Master Roshi dropped a bombshell.

The Kamehameha

It was a quiet morning. Krillin and I had just finished a long run around the island, and we were sitting by the beach, catching our breath. The sun was just rising, casting a warm glow over the water, and for a moment, everything felt peaceful.

That's when Master Roshi walked over, his cane tapping softly on the sand. He had a thoughtful look on his face, and I could tell that something was on his mind.

"You boys have been working hard," Roshi said, his voice calm but serious. "I'm proud of the progress you've made. You've both come a long way."

Krillin and I exchanged glances, unsure of where this was going. Roshi rarely gave out compliments, and when he did, there was usually a catch.

"But," Roshi continued, "there's still something you're both missing. Something that will take your training to the next level."

Krillin sat up straighter, his eyes wide with curiosity. "What is it, Master?"

Roshi smiled, his eyes twinkling behind his sunglasses. "It's time for me to teach you the Turtle School's most powerful technique. The Kamehameha."

My heart skipped a beat. The Kamehameha. I had been waiting for this moment ever since I arrived in this world. The Kamehameha was Goku's signature move, a technique that would become a cornerstone of his fighting style. And now, Master Roshi was finally going to teach it to us.

Krillin, however, looked confused. "The Kame… what?"

Roshi chuckled. "The Kamehameha. It's a powerful energy wave, created by focusing your Ki into a single, concentrated blast. It's not an easy technique to learn, but if you master it, you'll be able to harness incredible power."

I could barely contain my excitement. This was it. This was the moment I had been waiting for.

"Watch closely," Roshi said, stepping back and raising his hands in front of him.

Krillin and I stood up, our eyes fixed on Master Roshi as he began to gather his energy. His hands moved in a slow, deliberate motion, cupping together as he focused his Ki. I could feel the air around us shift, the energy building and crackling like static electricity.

"Kaaaa… meeee…" Roshi chanted, his voice low and steady. A glowing ball of energy formed between his hands, growing brighter with each passing second.

"Haaaa… meeee…"

The energy intensified, and I could feel the raw power radiating from his hands. Krillin and I watched in awe, completely captivated by the display.

"HAAAA!!!"

With a shout, Roshi thrust his hands forward, and a massive beam of blue energy shot out from his palms, blasting toward the ocean with incredible force. The wave of energy raced across the water, creating a huge explosion in the distance as it hit the surface. The shockwave sent a gust of wind rushing past us, and I could feel the sheer power of the technique in every fiber of my being.

Krillin's jaw dropped. "That… that was incredible! I've never seen anything like it!"

I was speechless. Even though I had known about the Kamehameha from my memories, seeing it in person was a completely different experience. The power, the precision—it was everything I had imagined and more.

Master Roshi turned to us, a satisfied smile on his face. "That, boys, is the Kamehameha. It took me fifty years to perfect."

"Fifty years?!" Krillin exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief. "How are we supposed to learn it if it took you that long?!"

Roshi chuckled. "Don't worry, Krillin. You won't need fifty years to learn it. You've both been training hard, and you've already started to learn how to control your Ki. The Kamehameha is just the next step. But don't expect to master it overnight. It'll take time, patience, and a lot of practice."

I nodded, already eager to try it for myself. This was the technique that would help me in so many battles to come. If I could master it, I'd be one step closer to achieving the strength I needed to protect this world.

The First Attempts

Master Roshi had made the Kamehameha look easy, but I knew it was anything but. The amount of focus and control needed to gather that much Ki and release it in a single, concentrated blast was immense. But I wasn't going to let that stop me. I was determined to learn the technique, no matter how long it took.

Later that afternoon, Krillin and I stood on the beach, ready to try our first attempts at the Kamehameha.

"Alright," I said, taking a deep breath. "Let's give it a shot."

Krillin looked skeptical. "You really think we can do it? I mean, Master Roshi said it took him fifty years…"

I grinned, feeling a surge of excitement. "We'll never know until we try."

I raised my hands, mimicking the stance that Roshi had shown us earlier. My hands cupped together, and I focused on the energy inside me, trying to gather it the way Roshi had.

"Kaaaa… meeee…" I chanted, just like Roshi had.

Krillin watched, his expression a mix of doubt and curiosity.

"Haaaa… meeee…"

I could feel the energy building in my hands, a small flicker of light forming between my palms. It wasn't much, but it was there.

"HAAAA!!" I shouted, thrusting my hands forward.

A tiny beam of energy shot out from my hands, barely more than a spark, and fizzled out before it even reached the water. I frowned, disappointed by the weak result. It wasn't anywhere near the powerful blast that Roshi had demonstrated.

Krillin snickered. "Well, that was… something."

I laughed, shaking my head. "Hey, it's a start!"

Krillin stepped up, his hands raised in the same stance. He closed his eyes, focusing on his Ki, and began to chant the familiar words.

"Kaaaa… meeee…"

For a moment, nothing happened. Krillin's brow furrowed in concentration, but I could see the flicker of doubt in his eyes.

"Haaaa… meeee… HAAAA!"

He thrust his hands forward, but nothing happened. No spark, no beam, nothing. Krillin groaned in frustration, dropping his arms to his sides.

"This is impossible!" he muttered. "How are we supposed to do this?"

I patted him on the back, smiling. "Don't worry, Krillin. It's just our first try. We'll get it eventually."

Krillin sighed, but he nodded. "Yeah, I guess. But it feels like we're so far from where Master Roshi is."

"We'll get there," I said confidently. "We just need to keep practicing."

A New Determination

Over the next few days, Krillin and I practiced the Kamehameha every chance we got. We didn't make much progress at first, but slowly, little by little, we started to improve. My energy blasts were getting bigger and more controlled, and Krillin was starting to get the hang of gathering his Ki.

But it was hard. Really hard. The amount of focus and concentration needed to perform the technique was exhausting, and there were times when I wanted to give up. But every time I thought about the battles that were coming—the threats that this world would face—I knew I couldn't stop. I had to keep pushing myself. I had to get stronger.

Krillin, too, was starting to find his own rhythm. He wasn't as strong as me, but he was determined, and that determination fueled him. We were becoming real rivals, pushing each other to get better with every training session.

One evening, after another long day of practice, Krillin and I sat by the beach, watching the sun set over the water. The sky was painted with shades of orange and pink, and for a moment, everything felt calm and peaceful.

"I still can't believe we're learning something like the Kamehameha," Krillin said, shaking his head in disbelief. "A few weeks ago, I didn't even know what Ki was, and now here we are, trying to shoot energy blasts like Master Roshi."

I chuckled, feeling the same sense of wonder. "Yeah, it's pretty amazing. But we've got a long way to go."

Krillin nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Do you think we'll ever be as strong as Master Roshi?"

I paused, thinking about the question. Master Roshi was one of the strongest fighters in the world, but even he had his limits. I knew that Goku would eventually surpass him, and I had every intention of following that path. But Krillin? I wasn't sure what his future held.

"I think we can be even stronger," I said, my voice filled with determination. "If we keep training, if we keep pushing ourselves, there's no limit to how strong we can get."

Krillin smiled, his confidence returning. "Yeah. You're right. We can do this."

And in that moment, I knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, Krillin and I would face them together. As rivals, as friends, and as warriors.