The final eight fighters for the 23rd Tenka'ichi Budokai wait restlessly in the main hall of the tournament. Son Goku, it seems, is the only fighter that is not restless! Or does he just have a really good poker face? How should I know? I am just the narrator!

Tale 169: Tenshinhan vs. Tsuru-Sen'nin

"…I will call you out by name and then you will draw a number from the box. This will determine who you'll be matched up against," the announcer said in a somewhat bored manner. It was the same thing he said for every tournament and now that the spacing between tournaments is three years instead of five, it was becoming more tedious. It didn't help that three of the contestants where the same three who showed up at the previous two tournaments.

"So, Goku, Kame-Sen'nin filled me in about how you learned t' control your huge monkey form…" Yamcha muttered quietly and nervously to his friend, "…d' you think you'll need to use it against Piccolo?"

"I hope not. I can control it an' all…it's just that it's so strong, it's almost too strong! I am worried that I will miscalculate and accidently hurt someone innocent with it. So, I'm only going t' use it if I absolutely have to," Goku answered as he stared at Piccolo up ahead. Yamcha looked down in silence. Goku took notice, "Wazzup, Yamcha?"

"I am sorry that none of us told you…we-we didn't know how to tell you…"

"Hey, don't worry about it! I understand! Even Kami-Sama had a difficult time explaining it to me when he told me!" Yamcha was taken aback.

"God had a hard time explaining it to you? Wow, I didn't think that was possible…!"

"Yeah, Kami-Sama is pretty, how should I say it, normal acting!" Goku chuckled, "He wasn't the first Kami-Sama, either. They aren't immortal or anythin' like that," Goku explained further. Yamcha was in awe.

"D-does that mean anyone can become the next Kami-Sama?" Yamcha asked in a somewhat excited manner.

"Yeah…but y' gotta be worthy and all…"

"Oh…y-yeah, that makes sense…" Yamcha scoffed, "You probably have to be ridiculously strong, too…fooey."

"Contestant Yamcha?" The announcer called out. Yamcha perked up.

"Be right back! Let's see what number I get…"

With all of the names called and the numbers drawn, the first four matches of the 23rd Tenka'ichi Budokai have been determined! They go as followed:

Match 1: Tenshinhan vs. Tsuru-Sen'nin

Match 2: Son Goku vs. Upa

Match 3: Kuririn vs. Demon Jr.

Match 4: Yamcha vs. Shen

With only ten more minutes before the first match, Son Goku and his friends are all gathered together in the main hall…

"I haven't heard of this Shen guy that I am matched up against…I wonder if he's any good?" Yamcha inquired mainly to himself as he eyeballed his opponent who was across the room.

"Oh, he may not look it but he is," Goku answered knowingly, which earned him a stunned glance from Yamcha.

"Y' know him?" Yamcha asked. All Goku did was smile at him as an answer. Yamcha knew that he wasn't going to get much more out of Goku with that reply. It seemed that Goku did know Shen but apparently couldn't say from where, which made Yamcha a little nervous. He then looked at Shen again, who looked so ordinary. Yamcha smiled.

He can't be that good. Still, I will keep my guard up just in case…

"I can't believe we got matched up, Goku!" Upa exclaimed happily. Kuririn gave him a knowing look.

"You're awfully excited to be facing Goku, Upa," he remarked.

"I know that I will lose against him, don't mistake me," Upa retorted to Kuririn before turning back to Goku, "I am just excited that I get to see how I'll compare to you!"

Goku smiled, "You have grown tremendously, Upa! I can tell jus' by lookin' at you! Did you climb the Karin Sanctuary?"

"Yes, repeatedly! That was my training! I remembered what you had told me about how climbing the sanctuary twice had multiplied your strength. So, that's what I did! After a few tries, I did make it to the top and I even tried to get the "holy water" from Karin, too! It took a month but I did succeed!" Goku looked shocked.

"Um…I thought I told you that th' water was just rain water…?"

"Oh, you did. I didn't care, though. I wanted the same training that you got!" Upa explained.

"Ah, I see! Well, I am glad that it worked out for you!"

"It will not be enough to save you from your inevitable demise…"

Upa and Goku turned to see Tsuru-Sen'nin sneering at them. Upa took a step forward, easily towering over the old man.

"This conversation does not involve you."

"Oh, but it does, brat."

Tsuru-Sen'nin then walked away to join his former disciple near the entrance, for their match was going to start in a few minutes. Upa glared at him with disgust.

"I know for sure that he is a rude one," he growled. Goku could sense that Upa was nervous about Tsuru'Sen'nin. He placed his hand on his young friend's shoulder.

"Tenshinhan will take care of him during this match. If he still tries somethin' after the tournament, I'll deal with him myself. So, you don't need to worry." Upa looked up at Goku, he looked grateful.

"Thank you," Upa said, "I don't know what I'd do if that creep or his brother tried anything…"

"They wouldn't even be able to do much. They think they're strong and all but they forget that there is always gonna be someone stronger than them. That was Taopaipai's downfall and that will also be Tsuru-Sen'nin's when he fights Tenshinhan."

"Are you certain that Tenshinhan will win?" Kuririn piped in. Goku shot him a cheerful grin.

"I guarantee it!"

"You have not changed much, Son Goku, though you have gotten taller, at least…"

Kuririn and Yamcha froze when they heard the voice of Piccolo behind them. Goku only turned nonchalantly to face Piccolo himself.

"So, it's true that you have the memories of your dad, huh?" Goku inquired.

"Indeed. So, my suspicions are correct…you have been training with Kami-Sama."

"Yup! Heh, we were both right about our thoughts about each other!" Goku said cheerfully. This caused Yamcha and Kuririn to stare at Goku in a baffled manner. The two were even stunned by how Piccolo was acting. For a "demon", he was not acting like one, or at least not like his original.

"Your training will not be enough, Son Goku, for I will end this today," Piccolo said darkly. Goku smiled but his eyes were serious.

"We shall see. Until then, good luck against Kuririn!"

"EEP!" Kuririn squeaked, "I-I forgot…I am fighting Piccolo …!"

Piccolo regarded Kuririn for a second before he smirked and then walked away. Kuririn and Yamcha watched him nervously while Goku and Upa turned their attention to the entrance.

"Looks like Ten's match is about t' start. Let's go!" Goku ushered the others along to follow him outside to watch the match. When they were all out in the viewing area for the contestants, Tenshinhan and Tsuru-Sen'nin were already gearing up to start their match. Goku observed Tenshinhan and smiled knowingly, "I see that he is aware of his strength compared to Tsuru-Sen'nin now…"

"Prepare yourself, boy! But don't worry too much, I will not kill you during the match," Tsuru-Sen'nin boasted as he got into a fighting stance. Tenshinhan followed suit but stayed silent, "Feh. Not going to say anything to me? You just made your inevitable death more prolonged!"

"BEGIIIIIN!" The announcer yelled out. With a yell, Tsuru-Sen'nin charged at Tenshinhan, only to find himself attacking the air.

"You are no match for me." Tsuru-Sen'nin swirled around to see Tenshinhan standing behind him.

"Wh-what did you just say to me?!" Tsuru-Sen'nin screeched, "How dare you!"

He swung a fist at full force into Tenshinhan's face, only to be completely be flabbergasted by the fact that not only did Tenshinhan not dodge the attack, but that he was unfazed by it as well!

"Stop humiliating yourself," Tenshinhan pleaded with his former mentor, "Forfeit the match and go home."

"Y-YOU INSOLENT PIECE OF TRASH!" Tsuru-Sen'nin jumped back as he glared at Tenshinhan, "YOU WILL DIE RIGHT NOW FOR THAT REMARK! PREPARE YOURSELF FOR I WILL KILL YOU WITH MY ULTIMATE DONDON-PA!"

"Ugh, here we go again…" Goku muttered in an annoyed fashion, "Does he really think he can kill Tenshinhan with that attack? Not with his current strength." Kuririn watched on nervously.

"This sounds like it is more powerful than the Super Dondon-Pa that that assassin guy used on you, Goku," he remarked. Goku shook his head.

"It is but it still is not nearly strong enough to kill Tenshinhan, let alone hurt him," Goku replied. When he noticed the shocked look Kuririn was giving him, he continued: "You, Tenshinhan, and Yamcha are really not aware of how much better you guys have gotten over the past three years, huh? You guys surpass this old bird and his brother by a long shot!"

"W-we do?" Kuririn gasped.

"ULTIMATE DONDON-PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

"Close your eyes, everyone!" Goku yelled to the other contestants. They obeyed just in time. The blinding light of Tsuru-Sen'nin's attack could be seen from a few miles away and the sound of the attack making contact could be heard within a mile radius from the tournament. When the light eventually faded along with the smoke, the entire audience of spectators gasped. Goku shook his head slightly.

"See? What did I tell ya?" Kurirn squinted into the arena only to see that Goku was right. Aside from Tenshinhan's shirt being obliterated, he was completely unscratched. Tsuru-Sen'nin was at a loss of words. His finger was still pointed at Tenshinhan and it was slightly trembling. Tenshinhan stared down at his old mentor, he looked disappointed.

"I told you that you are no match for me."

"Y-y-y-you…!" Tsuru-Sen'nin was practically foaming at the mouth, "YOU WILL DIE!"

Tsuru-Sen'nin pulled out a dagger and lunged at Tenshinhan. Tenshinhan widened his stance and with blinding speed, he punched Tsuru-Sen'nin in the stomach. The impact caused Tsuru-Sen'nin to go flying out of bounds. He was out cold.

"O-out of bounds! Tenshinhan will move on to Match 5!" The announcer yelled out, the response from the audience was a roaring applause. Kame-Sen'nin was among the audience next to Bulma and Lunch. He smiled with pride.

"It seems that I am not needed anymore. These young men have all surpassed me in a way that I never dreamed of. Well done, boys."

To defeat his old mentor so easily, it is clear that Son Goku is right about how far his friends have come…but will it be enough to face the looming danger that is so near? Up next: The Fruits of Karin Sanctuary!