The training got even weirder. The next thing they had to do was plowe a field with their bare hands. Unsurprisingly their hands were extremely sore, and they were covered in dirt once they were done. They were also told they would have to go quicker the next day, when the fields would get bigger. They were finally allowed to eat breakfast after this, where they ate more then they had ever in their entire lives. For the rest of the morning they did not do any physical training, they simply had to train their minds. Apart from Buford, they all got through this part extremely easily. Baljeet was the most excited about this part.
After lunch they were told they would be napping for an hour. They were all ok with this because they were all still tired from their early morning exercises. Once this was done the weird training continued. They were forced to do construction work. The upside to this was that they could use tools and they got paid for the work. The only problem was that they had to work twice as much harder than all the other construction workers. But it did not stop there. The next thing they needed to do was swimming exercises. Thankfully, they had been told to pack their swimmers and could go home and change before doing the exercise. They were told they only had to swim ten laps in the lake, which seemed like an easy task. That was until they discovered there was a shark in the lake. Once the swimming exercise was over, they were once again out of breath and ready to collapse.
"Alright kids we have one more exercise left for today," said Master Roshi.
"What? You mean we're not done yet?" asked Phineas.
"Of course, we're not done. Did you really think that was all we were gonna do today?" asked Master Roshi.
Buford had enough of this. All they had done all day was deliver milk, plow fields, nap, do construction work and swim laps. What did any of this have to do with Martial Arts and when were they gonna learn how to fight and use energy techniques like Goku.
"That's it Buford's not doing anymore of this until you tell us what this has to do with Martial Arts," said Buford.
"All the exercises you have done today, are to help push your minds and body beyond their physical limits, which is an important step in mastering Martial Arts," answered Master Roshi.
"But when are you actually gonna teach us how to fight?" asked Buford.
"Yeah when can we learn energy tricks like Mr Goku?" asked Phineas.
Master Roshi had a feeling this question would be asked. Unlike with Krillin and Goku he decided not to scold these children, because they knew less about fighting then when Goku and Krillin arrived. He did however decide to give them the same motivation that he had given Goku and Krillin. Since they were on the same island and at the same lake where he had trained Goku and Krillin he quickly located the two boulders he had told them to push, before he taught them any fighting moves. He decided to skip right past the smaller boulder. While he knew that none of the kids present could push the smaller boulder, he thought it would be better to give them the same goal he had given to Goku and Krillin. With that he walked over to the bigger boulder.
"You see this boulder?" asked Master Roshi, as the gang nodded. "I will only teach you martial arts moves, if each of you can build up enough strength to be able to move it from its current destination."
"What?" asked the five friends in unison.
"But that can't be physically possible, especially for people our size," said Baljeet.
"Goku did it when he was about your age and he was smaller than you when he did," said Master Roshi trying to encourage the children.
"Really Mr Goku could push this rock when he was young?" asked Isabella in amazement.
"Yup, but only when he reached the end of his training," said Master Roshi.
"That's incredible," said Phineas.
"Indeed, and if you all work hard enough you should be able to push it one day as well," said Master Roshi.
"Do you think we could call Mr Goku to come and push the boulder?" asked Phineas.
"Kids, do you really think the greatest fighter in the world has the time to come here and do something so meaningless?" asked Master Roshi, though he knew that Goku most likely more then enough time to do it.
"He makes a strong point," said Ferb, who had been silent all day.
"Will we really be able to get that strong by doing these exercises?" asked Buford, who was still wondering about the effectiveness of this training.
"Well it worked for Goku. Why shouldn't it work for you?" asked Master Roshi.
The gang talked amongst themselves before answering this question. In the end they decided, that if this training had been effective for people before them, then surly it should also be effective for them.
"Alright Master Roshi, we're ready to continue," said Phineas eagerly.
"Good, but before we continue, are any of you allergic to bees?" asked Master Roshi.
The Gang looked at each other and they all said no. They soon learned why Master Roshi would ask such a question.
After they had gone home to change Master Roshi instructed them to follow him to a large tree. He tied ropes around the waists of all of them and then tied the ropes to the three.
"Um what's this for?" asked Baljeet.
"This is to hone your reflexes and help you learn how to dodge," said Master Roshi.
"How will this help us learn how to dodge?" asked Isabella.
"You'll see in a second," said Master Roshi, who started tiptoeing over to the base of the tree.
It was then that the kids learnt why Master Roshi had asked if any of them were allergic to Bees. He walked right up to a be hive that was in the tree and hit it. He then ran away as quickly as he could.
"Bees," yelled Baljeet.
The kids did their best to avoid the attack of the Bees, but in less then a minute they had all been stung at least five times.
"You gotta be quick if you want to avoid getting stung," said Master Roshi, as the kids did there best to avoid the bees.
After the Bees had calmed down and kids were covered in Bee stings Master Roshi said it was time to head home.
"Well kids that's all for today's training," said Master Roshi.
"You mean we're done?" asked Baljeet who was sore all over.
"Yup, but only for today," said Master Roshi.
"Um, Master Roshi are we gonna do this every day?" asked Phineas, who had a feeling he already knew the answer was yes.
"Don't be silly today was just a warmup," said Master Roshi, who went to retrieve something from his house.
"What do you mean?" asked Isabella, as Master Roshi returned carrying what appeared to be giant turtle shells.
"For the next three months you will be doing all the exercises you did today. The only difference is you'll be wearing these 30kg turtle shells," said Master Roshi.
"What?" asked all the kids at once.
"Why do you think they call me the turtle hermit?" asked Master Roshi, as the kids all fell to the ground.
Master Roshi knew it was probably cruel to make them wear heavier turtle shells then he had initially made Goku and Krillin wear. Especially when considering these kids were not nearly as strong as Goku and Krillin had been when they started. Unfortunately, Master Roshi had only three months to get these kids ready for the World Championships, meaning he had to push them even harder. He also decided to keep a closer eye on these kids just in case they got into a situation they could not handle. The kids spent the rest of they day trying to get use to the 30kg turtle shells they were forced to wear. This was a difficult task. It would only get more difficult when they had to repeat the exercises the next day.
For the next month, The Summer Vacation Gang repeated the exact same exercises every day. As the days went on the exercises became easier for the gang. It got to the point that Master Roshi felt he did not have to keep monitoring them, but he decided it was best he did, just in case there was an accident. These kids were his responsibility and although any damage could be fixed by the Dragon Balls, he'd have to deal with five angry mothers if any of these kids got hurt, so he felt keeping an eye on them was the right thing to do. At the end of the month, just as the kids were finding it easy to do their daily exercises, they were met with an unexpected surprise. Master Roshi told them he would be doubling the weight of the turtle shells. This meant they now had to each carry a turtle shell weighing 60kg. Master Roshi did this to speed up their already rushed training once again.
While the kids were not exactly happy about this, they had managed to get use to the 30kg shells, so surely, they could also get use to the 60kg ones. The exercises repeated for another month and sure enough they eventually got use to the extra weight and the exercises became routine. One afternoon near the end of the second month, about an hour after they had finished their training. Phineas burst through the door to give Master Roshi some news.
"Master Roshi come quick, we've done it," said Phineas.
"Hmm done what?" asked Master Roshi.
"Just come and see," said Phienas, who gestured Master Roshi to follow.
Phineas led Master Roshi to the boulder near the lake, where the rest of the Summer Vacation were waiting. Master Roshi knew what was coming next.
"Master we did it we pushed the boulder," said Phineas.
"Did you? Well let's see then," said Master Roshi.
Phineas went first and sure enough he managed to move the giant boulder. The rest of the Summer Vacation Gang followed suit and each managed to move the boulder at varying lengths. Master Roshi was impressed. If memory served him right, each of them had managed to move it at least the same length as Goku and Krillin had. Which was even more impressive considering the turtle shells they were wearing were three times as heavy.
"So, do we get to learn how to fight now?" asked Buford.
"Well if I'm honest there isn't much else I can teach you," said Master Roshi.
"What? But you haven't taught us anything," said Buford.
"All the basics of the turtle school training are incorporated within the daily exercises you've all undertaken for the past two months. What you don't seem to have noticed is that your entire bodies and your minds have been pushed beyond their physical limits and have been forged like steel swords. The application of these abilities is all Martial Arts is," stated Master Roshi.
"Really?" asked Phineas.
"Yes. You must understand that you are not here to train to defeat your opponents. You are here to defeat yourselves. That has been the foundation of your training. I have not been training you to ensure you win the world Martial Arts tournament, only for you to have the opportunity to test your strength and abilities against other strong opponents," stated Master Roshi.
"So, you mean we don't get to learn energy attacks like the one's Mr Goku can use?" asked Isabella.
"I'm afraid not. Your training up until now and for the next month, has been focused solely on testing the physical limits of your body. Leaning energy attacks involves drawing from your inner energy, which is an entirely different lesson. And to master that you must first master this training," stated Master Roshi.
"Wait what do you mean by drawing from our inner energy?" asked Phineas.
"All in good time Phineas. For now, the only thing I want you kids to do, is repeat what you have been doing for the past two months," said Master Roshi.
"Well that doesn't seem too bad," said Ferb.
"Oh, I almost forgot, for the last month you'll be wearing turtle shells that are twice as heavy as your current ones," said Master Roshi.
"So, we're gonna be carrying turtle shells that weigh 120kg?" asked Baljeet.
"Hey you all just pushed a giant bolder, I think you can handle a little extra weight," said Master Roshi.
"He makes a good point guys," said Phineas.
And so, for one more month the Summer Vacation Gang continued their turtle school training. Some of them were still a little sceptical about whether this training would really help them qualify for the World Martial Arts Tournament. Ferb pointed out that maybe they needed to think of the tournament, as just another day of construction work. This lifted everyone's spirts about their chances of qualifying, but not by much. During this time everyone noticed that Phineas seemed distracted by something. By what they did not know. In truth Phineas was distracted by what Master Roshi had said about using energy attacks. 'The energy came from within'. What this meant, Phineas did not know, but he was determined to find out.