Dragon Ball Roshi

"Why aren't you happy?"

 Taro froze, lowering his gaze to his daughter, Yumeko. But the little girl, after asking her question, didn't seem interested in an answer. Instead, seeing her father looking at her, she tilted her face up and pointed to her cheek.

 "Dad, my face is dirty. Can you clean it for me?"

 "Dirty?" Taro squinted, his daughter's face appearing somewhat blurry in his vision.

 Even though he had taken every precaution to conserve his eyesight over the past ten years, the inherent flaws of the Mangekyou Sharingan had slowly caused his vision to deteriorate.

 He leaned closer and finally noticed a small stain from the soup bun she had eaten earlier, just at the corner of her mouth. Reaching out, he wiped it away. Yumeko giggled uncontrollably.

 "That tickles!"

Taro's hands, hardened by years of martial training, were rough with calluses.

 "All done. Go play now." He said, patting her on the head and sending her off.

 Turning back, he resumed his watch over the drifting white clouds in the sky, his thoughts swirling. Dragon Balls, oh Dragon Balls... when will I have the chance to gather all of you?

 Shaking his head, he sighed. In an era where no radar could be crafted, even with all his martial prowess, he had no means to locate them.

 To make matters worse, he didn't even have a single Dragon Ball in his possession.

 "If only I had one, he thought. I could use it to request a divination, and maybe that would lead me to the other six."

 But the Earth was vast, and finding even one tiny orb without help seemed impossible.

---

 Down in the valley, Aragon had roasted and eaten the deer he had carried earlier. Only after finishing his meal did he slowly make his way back to the family farmhouse. Unsurprisingly, he was greeted with a barrage of scolding from his father.

 "You useless brat! Running up the mountain again while there's work to do? Get your lazy hide out into the fields and help your brothers! No breakfast for you!"

 Aragon frowned but didn't argue. Silently, he left the thatched house, grabbed the farm tools leaning against the wall, and headed to the fields.

 Faintly, he could hear his father humming a tune from inside the house.

 "A strong, healthy man leaving all the work to his three sons... and he's so unfair too. Just because my two brothers are stronger, he makes sure they're fed while leaving me to starve…"

 Aragon harbored anger and frustration deep within, but after so many years, these feelings had long been buried in his heart. That was simply his life—what could he do about it?

 Until half a year ago, when he encountered Taro on the mountain. It was then that he realized... perhaps his fate didn't have to remain the same.

---

 Taro stood on the edge of a cliff, gazing at the vast expanse of stars.

 He had been there since midday, watching the sun sink below the horizon, the moon rise into the sky, and the stars slowly scatter across the night. The faint, drifting clouds glowed faintly as they danced in the dark heavens.

 "Taro, what are you thinking about?" Fanfan's voice came softly. He hadn't noticed her approach until she draped a light shawl over his shoulders.

 Taro held her hand, replying simply.

 "Nothing."

 Fanfan gave him a knowing, gentle smile.

 "You can't hide things from me, Taro. I know you well. Ever since you changed all those years ago, I've seen it—this little mountain could never hold you back. For years, you've stayed here, humoring me and Yumeko, living a peaceful life. I'm grateful for that."

 "Fanfan." Taro murmured, tightening his grip on her hand. He felt a rush of emotion.

 To be honest, marrying Fanfan and starting a family with her wasn't born out of deep love. It was more about repaying the kindness of his former master, Mutaito, and fulfilling the wishes of this body's former self.

 His feelings for Kogane were shaped by years of shared experiences and a quiet companionship.

 Now, as he heard her so thoughtfully express his unspoken thoughts, he couldn't help but feel deeply moved.

 "Let's go down the mountain. Tomorrow, we'll leave together." Fanfan said, meeting his eyes. "I don't want Yumeko to grow up like me—a wild girl stuck in the mountains. Taro, with your abilities, you'd never let us suffer, would you?"

 Taro couldn't help but smile.

 "Never."

 Pulling her into his embrace, they stood together beneath the starlit sky for a long time.

---

 The next morning, Yumeko stumbled out of bed, still groggy with sleep, but she quickly perked up when she overheard her parents discussing something about "leaving the mountain." Her eyes lit up with excitement.

 "Are we going down the mountain? Take me! Take me with you!"

 "You can't come with us." Taro said with a teasing smile.

 "Nooo! I want to go play in the village too!" Yumeko pouted, puffing her cheeks in protest.

 "Alright." Taro relented with a grin. "But on one condition. You have to listen to your mother on the way. No tantrums, okay?"

 Hearing this, Yumeko's mood instantly shifted. She nodded enthusiastically, practically bouncing on her feet.

 "Okay, okay! I'll listen to Mama! Let's go!"

 Seeing Taro still looking at her, the clever little Yumeko quickly added, -

 "I'll also listen to Daddy!"

 Taro exchanged a smile with Fanfan.

 :Let's go! Kinto'un!" Taro stepped outside, calling to the skies. The yellow cloud soon flew in from the horizon, stopping right in front of him. Yumeko leaped onto the cloud with glee, rolling around playfully. Suddenly, she sat up and asked, - Daddy, will that strange person from yesterday come back today?

---

 When Aragon climbed the mountain again and arrived at the cliff where Taro usually trained, he was surprised to find no sign of the familiar figure.

 "That's strange. Is Uncle late today? No, wait... did he go home early for something?" Aragon muttered to himself. As he walked closer, he noticed a line of clumsy writing scratched into the ground:

 "My daddy took me and Mommy down the mountain. We won't come back. Play on your own!"

 Next to the writing, a rock lay carelessly tossed aside. Clearly, the letters had been carved with it.

 Aragon, having learned to read a little as a child, was able to understand the message.

 Panic rose in his chest.

 The world before him suddenly split into two. On one side was the dull, gray life of the fields; on the other was the colorful, magical world of martial arts that the Uncle had shown him.

 His thoughts were in turmoil, and he felt a wave of anxiety. Instinct told him that if he didn't seize this moment, it would slip away forever.

 For a long time, he stood frozen in place. Then, with a sudden shout, he bolted down the mountain, running like mad.

 Aragon charged along the mountain path with reckless abandon. He tripped and fell countless times, once tumbling from the top of a steep set of stairs all the way to the bottom, ending up battered and bruised. Yet, he paid no attention to the pain, gritting his teeth and continuing his desperate dash downhill.

 He ran and ran, over and over...

 Finally, he burst out of the woods at the foot of the mountain. Spinning around frantically, he looked in every direction, but there was no sign of the Uncle anywhere.

 Breathing heavily, drenched in sweat, Aragon stood in place, utterly exhausted in body and soul.

 Overwhelmed by sorrow, the boy began to cry.

 "Hey, why are you crying? That's embarrassing."

 Startled, Aragon looked up sharply. To his amazement, the little girl from yesterday was right in front of him again. She was still sitting atop that magical yellow cloud, staring at him with wide eyes.

 Aragon didn't have time to wipe away his tears. His gaze drifted past Yumeko to where Taro, holding Kogane close, descended gracefully from the sky. The man was smiling as he looked at Aragon.

 With a jolt, Aragon dropped to his knees, bowing his head to the ground repeatedly.

 Fanfan glanced at her husband.

 Taro said calmly.

 "Stop bowing for a moment. What are you chasing me down the mountain for?"

 When Yumeko had left the boy a message on Kinto'un, Taro had decided to linger in the air and wait.

 From his perch, he saw the boy pause at the cliffside for a while before suddenly charging down the mountain in a frenzy. This display of determination had pleased Taro enough to reveal himself.

 Aragon continued bowing frantically, shouting.

 "Please, Uncle, teach me martial arts!"