Trained by Master Shen, Krillin faces Goku in a fierce rivalry to claim the power of the Dragon Balls!
Krillin had always trained under the guidance of Master Roshi, but this time he found himself in unfamiliar territory. After his defeat at the last tournament, his confidence had taken a hit. He was tired of feeling like he was always in Goku’s shadow, and he wanted to get stronger—stronger than he ever had before. So, he made a risky decision. In secret, Krillin approached Master Shen, the Crane Hermit, who was known for his harsh methods and rivalry with Roshi.
Master Shen agreed to train him, intrigued by Krillin’s ambition and the chance to turn one of Roshi’s students to his side. Shen’s training was grueling and relentless, focused on precision and aggression. Under his strict guidance, Krillin learned techniques that were vastly different from the peaceful philosophies he’d been taught at Kame House. Every day, Shen pushed him to fight harder, to suppress any doubts and focus solely on power. One day, Shen finally told him he was ready for his first test: to claim the five-star Dragon Ball and defeat anyone who stood in his way.
Armed with newfound strength and Shen’s ruthless teachings, Krillin ventured out to find Goku. It wasn’t long before he encountered Goku, who had been tracking the Dragon Balls as part of his usual adventures. When Goku spotted Krillin, he waved enthusiastically, but Krillin’s expression was cold, his fists clenched. “Goku, I’m not the same Krillin you remember,” he said firmly. “I’m here for that five-star Dragon Ball, and I’m not backing down.”
Goku tilted his head, confused but intrigued. “Krillin, why do you want it so badly?” he asked. Krillin’s face hardened. “I need to prove myself,” he replied. “I need to know if I can beat you, Goku. I can’t just be the sidekick anymore!” With that, he launched forward, catching Goku off guard. His strikes were fast and merciless, a level of aggression that shocked Goku. This wasn’t the playful sparring partner he’d known; Krillin was serious, and his attacks were relentless.
The two friends clashed fiercely, their battle sending waves of energy through the forest. Goku quickly realized that Krillin had gained incredible speed and power—Master Shen’s training was evident. But Goku could also see that Krillin’s movements were more rigid and driven by anger, rather than the joy of the fight. Sensing his friend’s struggle, Goku tried to reason with him. “Krillin, why are you fighting like this? This isn’t you!” But Krillin’s face twisted with frustration. “It doesn’t matter who I am,” he shouted. “What matters is who’s stronger!”
As the battle raged on, Goku managed to wear Krillin down, countering each of his friend’s moves with a technique of his own. In a final effort, Krillin unleashed a powerful Kamehameha, channeling all his energy into the blast. But Goku met it with his own, their energy colliding in a brilliant burst. In the end, Krillin collapsed, exhausted. Goku walked over, extending a hand to his friend. “Krillin, you’re already strong. You didn’t need to do all this.”
Krillin, panting and drained, looked up, seeing Goku’s genuine concern. He realized he’d been chasing something that had been with him all along—his worth didn’t come from surpassing Goku but from his dedication and friendship. Goku helped him up, as Krillin smiled for the first time in what felt like ages. He’d found something far more valuable than victory in that battle: peace with himself.
