The wind sliced through the mountains where the Crane Dojo was hidden. But that day, something different lingered in the air.
Tsuru, the stern master of the Crane School, stared at the horizon with narrowed eyes and a hard expression. Echoing in his mind was the news of the last Martial Arts Tournament, where Jackie Chun had emerged victorious. But the real highlight had been someone else — the disciples of Kame-Sennin, his longtime rival. And unlike others, Tsuru knew the truth: Jackie Chun was actually Kame, his former martial arts companion, who had entered the tournament to prevent his own students from winning.
Though he didn't know why Kame would want to stop his disciples' victory, one thing had caught his attention — according to the information he had gathered, the boy was already nearly as strong as Kame himself. That meant the Turtle School was superior to the Crane School.
Behind him, two young men knelt in silence. One of them was Chiaotzu — small, pale, and with eyes as black as glass. The other, taller and more muscular, was Tenshinram — with serious eyes and a rigid posture.
— From today on, your training will double. You two will enter the next tournament. And not just to compete… but to dominate. Is that clear?
— Yes, Master Tsuru! — they responded in unison.
However, something had already changed… and no one knew.
...The night before, a soul from another world, from a distant reality where Dragon Ball was merely a work of fiction, had merged with the body of Tenshinram.
There was no pain, no confusion. Just a silent awakening. As if suddenly, all the pieces of a puzzle had fallen into place within him.
Tenshinram woke earlier than usual that morning. The mountain cold felt more bearable. The sounds of nature, sharper. And his movements… more precise.
"Is this real? I… am inside Dragon Ball?"
His heart was racing — not from fear, but from excitement. He remembered. He remembered the Saiyans, the transformations, the cosmic battles, the gods, and how humans were slowly left behind.
But now, he had time. Years. Decades before the universe expanded that far. And he didn't intend to waste a single second.
That very day, when Tsuru ordered intense physical training, Tenshinram exceeded all expectations. Weighted runs, meditation beneath icy waterfalls, punches powerful enough to split thick tree trunks.
— Hmph… he's more determined than ever. — murmured Tsuru, watching him with curiosity. — Perhaps the Crane School still holds greater potential than the Turtle School...
But not even the old master knew what was growing inside his student.
That night, after Chiaotzu had fallen asleep, Tenshinram isolated himself atop a stone, surrounded by the sound of the wind. He crossed his legs, closed his eyes… and began to meditate.
"If I can remember the details of the future techniques… I can