Soon, the Top 8 list was finalized: Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu, Yamcha, Krillin, Jackie Chun, Son Goku, Man-Wolf, and Naruto.
Almost every participant hailed from either the Turtle School or the Crane School. The only beast-man who managed to slip through should have been trembling as the weakest man there. Because he couldn't sense ki, he remained oblivious, staring at Jackie Chun with intense hatred.
The Top 8 brackets were decided by a drawing system. It was fair in theory, but unfair in practice, it was unpredictable. Unlike the Chunin Exams, where matches were predetermined, the Tenkaichi Budokai used a true lottery. The organizers didn't cheat, but that didn't stop the contestants from trying.
"Chiaotzu, leave Yamcha to me." Tien looked at Yamcha with a sinister expression. "He should be the strongest of the Turtle School."
Currently, Yamcha was slightly stronger than Krillin. However, Naruto was certain Krillin would win in a real fight. Compared to Yamcha's rigid style, Krillin had far too many tricks up his sleeve.
"Yes!" Chiaotzu curled his finger.
Tien drew number 3, while Yamcha drew number 6.
"Sorry, Tien, I think I remembered wrong. Three should be followed by four." Chiaotzu looked at Tien with teary eyes.
First, there was Goku, who confused twelve with fourteen. Now there was Chiaotzu, who thought three was followed by six.
"Forget it." Tien shook his head. His friend was good alot of things except math. "I planned to intimidate the Turtle School, but it seems I'll have to wait."
"Chiaotzu, put the previous champion and that kid who offended Master together. I want to observe their strength. This time, don't mix up the numbers."
"Okay, Tien." Chiaotzu nodded seriously and curled his finger again.
Master Roshi drew number 2. Naruto drew number 5.
"Chiaotzu, five is followed by six, not two," Tien said, covering his face.
He would face the previous champion immediately. Originally, he intended to use his esper powers to handpick his opponents. Instead, his teammate had given him the hardest possible path.
He wasn't afraid, but he felt inexplicably annoyed.
"Tien." Chiaotzu shook his head, insisting he hadn't made a mistake.
The psychic powers had failed.
"Kid, don't go making little moves like that." Naruto's voice rang in both their minds. He curled his finger at them, the exact same motion Chiaotzu had just used.
The boy really did have a way to counter psychic powers.
As for psychic abilities of Chiaotzu's level? Naruto had ten thousand ways to imitate them.
Both ki and ninjutsu were perfectly acceptable.
"Good." Tien stared at Naruto with a provocative gleam. "Beating you will be fun."
Under Naruto's interference, the quarterfinals bracket was as follows:
First match: Son Goku vs Man-Wolf. Second match: Tien Shinhan vs Jackie Chun (Master Roshi). Third match: Naruto vs Yamcha. Fourth match: Chiaotzu vs Krillin.
After seeing the bracket, Yamcha spoke with barely hidden satisfaction. "What a pity. I didn't expect you'd have to pack up and go home so soon."
He knew Jackie's strength. In the previous World Martial Arts Tournament, Jackie had inexplicably knocked him out of the arena with a single wave of his right hand. Even though he had improved greatly in the three years since, he still couldn't guarantee victory.
"You should keep that remark to yourself."
Yamcha watched Tien Shinhan with barely hidden satisfaction, but Tien Shinhan watched Yamcha with the same expression. The move Naruto had shown moments ago proved he was a formidable opponent.
"Damn it! Why didn't I get Jackie Chun?!"
Man-Wolf, the weakest among them, was the only one unhappy. He glared at Master Roshi with gritted teeth, his face full of resentment.
"Whatever. Let's start by dealing with you, kid," Man-Wolf told Goku with delusional confidence.
Among ordinary martial artists, Man-Wolf's strength was respectable. He claimed to be a 30th Dan in martial arts, while no one knew exactly what that level meant, it likely wasn't weak.
Unfortunately, his opponent was Kid Goku.
The match started, and Man-Wolf rushed Kid Goku without hesitation. From the spectators' perspective, he collapsed the instant he reached Goku.
"Three elbow strikes, one heavy punch," Krillin said, having tracked Goku's movements.
"Goku's strength has improved a lot. That attack was fast and ruthless. To face him, I'd have to go all out."
Yamcha nodded. "Just the strength he's shown is already impressive. He's truly our strongest opponent."
"So underwhelming." Tien sneered at Krillin and Yamcha's comments. "So that's all the Turtle School has to offer."
In Tien's view, he could finish Goku's current level in ten seconds.
Nothing but trash.
"The second match: Tien Shinhan vs Jackie Chun. Would both contestants please step onto the stage?" the sunglasses-wearing announcer shouted into his microphone.
This announcer was a legendary figure in the Dragon Ball-verse. An ordinary man, he had commentated on the World Martial Arts Tournament ever since Goku first appeared.
He remained the voice of the matches all the way until the end of Dragon Ball Z.
"Old geezer, go all out. Let me see what you've got." Tien Shinhan looked at Master Roshi with extreme arrogance.
Master Roshi, disguised as Jackie Chun, and Tien clashed in the arena, trading blows in an endless cycle. After dozens of exchanges, neither could claim victory.
This was a battle between the Turtle School and the Crane School.
Master Roshi held the edge with solid fundamentals and seasoned experience, while Tien possessed raw power, youth, and natural talent.
Tien's attitude shifted from initial disdain to gravity, and finally to complete focus.
'Just who is this old man? He's even stronger than Master Shen.'
Tien acknowledged the truth, Jackie Chun (Master Roshi) was the strongest opponent he had faced since reaching his current level.
"Your skills are impressive. Why do you align yourself with Master Shen?" Master Roshi developed a rare appreciation for the youth's talent and began to converse as they fought.
As someone who had lived for hundreds of years and possessed the ability to see through others hearts.
"Why not walk the proper path?"
It made sense. If Naruto could develop numerous abilities after just a few years of ki training, the founder of the Turtle School possessed even greater capabilities.
Hypnosis Technique, Thunder Shock Surprise, Paralysis, Evil Containment Wave, Mind Reading, Telepathy, all these remarkable powers revealed themselves gradually throughout the story.
It wasn't surprising that he could see through a person's heart.
"Old geezer, stop making things up! My dream is to become the world's number one assassin!" Tien Shinhan screamed.
"That's right, Tien Shinhan," Master Shen said proudly from below the stage. "You will become the world's strongest assassin."
Tien's current dream is indeed to become an assassin. His greatest idol was Mercenary Tao. Master Shen saw this reverence and raised him accordingly.
Everyone has an edgy phase.
Who didn't dream of having the Death Note as a child? Who didn't wish for a Cosmo? Who didn't imagine becoming a Nebula M78 and transforming with Ultraman? Who didn't want to visit Digimon World? Who didn't want Bible Black and device for stopping time?
Besides, who didn't claim they wanted to be a scientist when they were young?
Few actually became scientists.
"Yeah, yeah, got it," Master Roshi said, picking his ear with his pinky. "No need to shout."
Master Roshi's gaze sharpened, fixing on Tien like a blade piercing his heart. "But your heart tells me..."
"That's not what you truly think."
"You don't want to be an assassin, you don't even want to kill. You crave martial arts, you desire to walk further down the path of the warrior."
"Can't you feel it? Your heart is crying."
Confronted by the interrogation, Tien found himself unable to refute. Every word hit home. He could only repeat the words, "My heart is crying?"
Master Shen stared at Master Roshi on the stage, and a realization struck him. 'Damn it, why didn't I notice it sooner?!'
Master Shen's voice rang directly in Tien Shinhan's mind, 'This old man is Roshi.'
This remarkable Telepathy usually associated with King Kai in the later stages of Dragon Ball Z had actually been demonstrated early in Dragon Ball.
"It's you..." The revelation made Tien temporarily forget the lecture.
"Oh dear, I've been found out." Master Roshi reacted with grace. He had only entered the arena to keep his disciples from becoming complacent.
"Please keep this secret for me."
"I've been waiting for a promising young one like you to appear. If you walk the right path, you'll definitely become someone extraordinary."
Master Roshi turned and jumped off the arena.
"What are you doing? We haven't determined a winner yet!" Tien shouted.
"Does victory really matter that much?"
"Young people." Master Roshi jumped off the arena, then climbed back up to whisper into Tien's ear. He dressed himself and hummed a little tune as he left.
The melody sounded like the opening music of a Sunday Women's Fitness Program.
'He's definitely afraid of being defeated and losing prestige, the old fox,' Master Shen mocked.
Only Tien, who had faced Master Roshi head-on, understood that the other had been holding back. 'He hasn't gone all out yet.'
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