Yamcha threw a quick straight punch, followed by a jab and a hook. His movements were fast and sharp, clearly showing the improvement in his skills. Yamcha's movements were crisp and solid. His abilities were getting better and he could feel it in each of his strikes. He however also felt a good deal of nerves.
He felt the nerves not because of training in front of Gohan. He found training in front of Gohan wasn't too difficult; the old man was a great teacher who had significantly improved Yamcha's form. But training in front of Bulma was a different story. She was smart, capable, and undeniably beautiful—everything that made Yamcha anxious.
Gohan had insisted on this training, knowing it would help Yamcha overcome his fear of beautiful women. After all, one never knew when a potential enemy—or ally—might be female. Plus, it was a way to boost his confidence in life overall.
But it still wasn't easy, especially since Yamcha was pretty sure Bulma had feelings for him, which only added to his anxiety.
As he finished his set of punches and kicks, he paused to catch his breath. Puar floated over, holding out a towel with a supportive smile. Yamcha took it gratefully. "Thanks, Puar. That really helps."
"No problem, Yamcha! You were doing great out there," Puar said, doing his best to encourage his friend. "If you keep this up, you'll be as strong as you want in no time!"
"Yes, you are improving," Gohan said calmly, a wise smile on his aged face. "But remember, there's always room for growth. One never truly masters their abilities; there's always more to learn. We're in a constant battle with our own limitations."
"Well, you looked really cool out there!" Bulma chimed in, a playful smile on her face. Yamcha blushed, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly as he walked towards the jet bike.
"Bulma, Master, we're heading to Fire Mountain today, right?" Yamcha asked, glancing at both of them. He knew there was supposed to be one of the Dragon Balls there, somewhere on that burning mountain.
Gohan smiled knowingly. "That's right, Yamcha. Fire Mountain is home to an old friend of mine, the Ox-King. We'll find the Dragon Ball there but be prepared—his temper's as fiery as the mountain itself."
Yamcha nodded, understanding Gohan's words. "Yes, I've heard plenty of stories about him and how strong he is. I'll make sure to be careful."
"Good as long as you keep in mind that he does have a dangerous temper we should be fine," Gohan reasoned as he figured that Yamcha wasn't an idiot who would provoke people. That he had a good head on his shoulders.
"Hey guys, let's get going, the dragonball won't wait, and I really want to find it as soon as I can," Bulma declared towards them both. "I am sure we can figure this out when we get there," she added as he made her way back into the capsule RV. One that they had taken away from a shapeshifting pig before they had run into Yamcha.
"I'll see you when we get there, Master," Yamcha said, preparing to head off. "Puar, we're moving out."
Yamcha followed the RV on his jet bike, with Puar floating close by. The trip was relatively smooth, with no real challenges that Gohan couldn't handle on his own. Yamcha was increasingly convinced that Gohan was even stronger than he'd let on.
They made good time following the Capsule RV until they arrived at Fire Mountain. It wasn't just a name—the mountain was literally engulfed in flames, with the charred remains of a nearby town visible at its base.
As the two vehicles came to a stop in a small, ruined town with a clear view of the blazing Fire Mountain, Yamcha dismounted his jet bike. He watched as Gohan and Bulma emerged from the RV, both taking in the sight of the raging flames. Yamcha wasn't sure how they could possibly extinguish such a fire, but he had a strong sense that it needed to be done.
A moment later, Yamcha spotted two figures approaching them. One was a young preteen girl with long, dark hair, and the other was a towering man clad in armor with a helmet—none other than the Ox-King himself. Yamcha recognized the imposing figure instantly, though he had no idea who the girl was.
Yamcha knew that he was nothing compared to these two. He knew that both the Ox-King and Gohan were students of the great and legendary turtle hermit. He knew that they had experience, and abilities that outclassed him in every single way. As a result, he knew that it was best to just keep out of the whole situation.
Yamcha found himself standing next to Bulma. He had moved over towards her without even thinking about it. He was so focused on the interaction between the two legendary martial artists. So much so that, he wasn't thinking about his fear. As such, he wasn't blushing, wasn't a nervous mess for once and was just standing there calmly.
As the Ox-King and the young girl, who was none other than a preteen Chi-Chi, approached the group, Gohan stepped forward with a warm smile. The massive figure of the Ox-King, with his towering stature and helmet, might have intimidated most, but Gohan showed no sign of fear.
"Gohan! It's been too long, old friend!" The Ox-King's booming voice echoed through the ruined town as he reached out and embraced Gohan in a bear-like hug.
"It's good to see you, Ox-King," Gohan replied, chuckling as he returned the hug. "I see you're still as strong as ever."
The Ox-King released Gohan and nodded with a smile. "I've had to stay strong, especially with the trouble around Fire Mountain." He then gestured to the girl by his side. "And this is my daughter, Chi-Chi."
Chi-Chi stepped forward, looking up at Gohan with wide eyes. "Wow, are you really Gohan? My papa says you're a great martial artist, even better than him!"
Gohan smiled as he looked at the adorable little girl. The fact that this was his friend's daughter made the moment even more special. He moved and slowly got down onto her level. "Yes, little darling, that is who I am. I have known your father for a long time. I don't know if I am stronger, your dad is a very strong person, as I am sure you already know that."
Chi-Chi beamed with pride at the compliment to her father and the acknowledgement from such a respected figure. "Thank you, Gohan! Are you here to help us with the fire?"
"Yes, we are," he said softly, as he then rose up to his feet. "We are here to help put out the fire, and make sure that it is done away with for good," he said, his tone becoming more serious as he talked.
The Ox-King's face softened as he looked at the burning mountain in the distance. "I knew you'd come through, Gohan. But be careful; the fire is unlike anything I've ever seen. I've tried everything, but nothing works."
"I think I will use the master's move to handle this one Ox," Gohan said with a knowing smile. "I think that it might be enough to put out the fire. After all, sometimes it is best to fight fire with fire," Gohan said, looking at the mountain. It would take a lot of power to pull off, but he was pretty sure he still could do it. A massive kamehameha should do the trick.
The Ox-King's eyes widened in recognition. "The Kamehameha, huh? Master Roshi always said you had a talent for it, even when we were just students. If anyone can do it, it's you, Gohan."
Chi-Chi looked between the two older men; her curiosity piqued. "What's a Kamehameha?" she asked, her voice filled with innocent wonder.
Gohan smiled gently at her. "Little one, this move is the most powerful move that I know. It is the most prized move of my master as well. It was taught to me a very long time ago. However given its power it is not something to be ever taken lightly as it is a deadly move and can cause a great deal of destruction too."
Bulma listened in carefully as she thought about it. The idea of a single person creating a massive attack with their hands was impossible. Yet, given everything she had seen, it seemed like the impossible was made possible by people like Gohan. However, another thought soon crossed her mind, as she thought about this situation and the answer that Gohan had for it.
"So, you're saying this technique can generate enough force to extinguish that fire? That's incredible! But... are you sure it won't cause more damage?" She reasoned as she thought about the results of this move.
"It most likely will, but that's part of it. To rebuild, they have to put the fire out. So, any more damage done now won't really matter. Plus, isn't your Dragon Ball here in the fire?" Gohan reasoned as he looked over at Bulma.
Yamcha watched, transfixed. He had heard of the legendary Kamehameha wave and knew it was created by the Turtle Hermit, Master Roshi. The idea that Gohan could perform it made sense, given how strong he was and the fact that he was one of Roshi's students.
"You got this, Gohan!" Yamcha said loudly. He was so excited; this was going to be the chance to see a legendary martial arts move. In fact, as far as he knew the legendary martial arts move. He never thought this would ever happen. He felt his hands shake from excitement. What would it be like? He honestly had barely any clues outside of a few things he had read which seemed too grand to be real.
Gohan looked at the group, sensing the potential in Yamcha. He had a feeling that someday, this teenage boy would master the Kamehameha, and he intended to teach him when the time was right.
With that thought, Gohan walked to a clearing, positioning himself as he focused his mind and ki, preparing for the iconic technique. "Ka…" he began, cupping his hands in front of him. "Me…" He pulled his hands back, the energy between them intensifying. "Hame…" The ball of light grew, radiating an intense blue as the power surged. "Ha!" he shouted, thrusting his hands forward. A brilliant beam of energy shot out, traveling the distance between Gohan and the mountain. The beam struck with tremendous force, obliterating the fire and the mountain along with it.
Yamcha was shocked, and in complete amazement by the ability that he had just seen. The Kamehameha wave, it was something that was worthy of legend. It was so incredible, and so impressive. He had never seen anything like it before, and honestly, he didn't think he would at that moment at least. He also felt a sense of determination welled up inside him; he vowed to learn and master the move one day, knowing he had a long way to go.
Gohan turned to the Ox-King, who was watching the aftermath with wide eyes. "Well, the fire is out, Ox, but I'm sorry about the mountain. I'm sure you can handle the rebuilding—just be more careful with your temper in the future," Gohan advised with a gentle smile. "Now, let's find that Dragon Ball. These youngsters have quite an adventure ahead of them."
The Ox-King chuckled, his deep voice resonating as he looked at the remnants of the mountain. "Ah, Gohan, you haven't changed a bit. Always straight to the point!" He shook his head with a warm smile. "Don't worry about the mountain, old friend. What's important is that the fire is gone, and my daughter is safe."
He glanced at Chi-Chi, who was still wide-eyed with amazement. "And as for my temper, well... maybe it's time I learned to cool it a bit, huh?"
Turning back to Gohan, the Ox-King nodded gratefully. "Thank you for helping us out. And about that Dragon Ball—let's find it quickly. I owe you a meal and a proper thank-you, Gohan."