Dragon Ball Roshi

 As soon as Taro stepped out of King Yemma's hall, the seven colorful birds perched on his shoulders began chirping noisily again. These little creatures might very well be the first living birds to ever set foot—or claw—in the Underworld.

 The slick-haired, suit-clad oni assigned to guide Taro by King Yemma led him to a small car parked nearby. Taro couldn't help but question the existence of cars in the Underworld. What's the fuel source? Could it be the omnipresent yellow clouds of this realm?

 "Hop in, Mr. Taro." the oni said.

 The oni shut the car door with a click, glancing back at Taro, who was now seated in the back.

 "I must say, you're the first living human to request a trip down Snake Way to meet King Kai."

 Taro stroked the feathers of the seven birds perched on him, pondering how to temporarily house them safely. As his senses extended to the vast energies of the Underworld, he responded casually to the oni's remark.

 "Oh? Is it really that difficult to traverse Snake Way?"

 The oni laughed.

 "Difficult? That's an understatement! Do you know that in the past hundred million years, only King Yemma himself has managed to cross Snake Way to see King Kai?"

 "How long is it?" Taro asked, mildly curious.

 "About a million kilometers, give or take."

 Taro was silent for a moment. If his memory served him right, Earth's equatorial circumference was roughly 40,000 kilometers. That would make Snake Way equivalent to circling Earth 25 times.

 The oni caught his reaction in the rearview mirror and smirked.

 "Now you get it, don't you? And that's not all. You must be extra careful not to fall off Snake Way because beneath it lies Hell. If you fall, there's no coming back!"

 Taro simply closed his eyes and leaned back against the seat.

 "It's fine."

 The oni shrugged. If he's not afraid of Hell, then there's nothing more to say.

 The car wobbled along the hellish road, its suspension creaking as it passed through dense yellow fog. Before long, they arrived at the entrance to Snake Way. Taro stepped out of the car and was greeted by the sight of a massive, menacing snake head blocking their path. Beyond it stretched an endless expanse of golden clouds and the winding, seemingly infinite path of Snake Way.

 Taro walked up to the enormous snake head, rapping his knuckles against it. Thud, thud, thud. It didn't seem to be made of stone but rather some unique material of the Underworld—light yet incredibly sturdy.

 "Oh, I just remembered something!"

 The oni had stepped out of the car as well. Watching Taro knock on the snake head, he suddenly exclaimed:

 "You're still alive! Unlike the dead, you'll feel hunger! Even if you manage to walk all the way to the end of Snake Way, how are you planning to eat? And what about those birds of yours? They won't survive the journey either!"

 Taro glanced at the concerned oni and waved dismissively.

 "Don't worry. I'm prepared."

 This trip was critical, perhaps the turning point of his life. There was no way he would be careless about such a mission. Among his preparations were, of course, Senzu Beans.

 Seeing Taro's confidence, the oni relaxed.

 "Well, as long as you're prepared. In that case, I'll take my leave. I wish you the best of luck in reaching King Kai."

 "Thank you." Taro replied with a nod.

 With that, his body began to lift off the ground, rising steadily above the snake head. The oni stared in surprise.

 "Flying? As expected of a human capable of entering the Underworld alive. You must be a powerful martial artist!"

 Still, he doubted Taro could fly the entire length of Snake Way. He's bound to fall into Hell halfway through… But before the oni could finish his thought, Taro vanished into thin air.

 Taro took a single step into the chaotic tavern, his sharp eyes scanning the room. The energy signature he had been following was strong, distinct, and unmistakably close. The seven colorful birds on his shoulders squawked nervously, their feathers ruffling at the unsettling atmosphere.

 At the bar counter, a hulking figure sat hunched over a mug of dark, viscous liquid. His back was broad, and his aura radiated a power level that was leagues above anyone else in the room. Taro's gaze narrowed as recognition dawned.

 "Mutaito..." he muttered under his breath.

 The figure turned slowly, his eyes locking onto Taro with a mix of surprise and caution. His weathered face, marked by countless battles, softened slightly as he recognized his old student.

 "Taro." Mutaito said, his voice deep and steady. "What are you doing here? And alive, no less."

 Taro stepped forward, his expression unreadable. The other patrons of the tavern took notice of the interaction, their conversations faltering as they turned to watch the exchange.

 "I could ask you the same thing, Master. Why are you here in Hell, of all places?"

 Mutaito chuckled dryly, the sound low and mirthless.

 "This place? It's a training ground of sorts. Even in death, I couldn't rest. Too many things left undone."

 Taro's lips pressed into a thin line. He had always admired Mutaito's relentless dedication, but the sight of his master in a den of demons was unsettling.

 "You reincarnated," Taro began, "but then why are you here again? I thought your soul had moved on."

 Mutaito leaned back against the bar, his gaze distant.

 "I did. But even in my new life, the call of battle and the need for strength brought me back here. My soul remembers, Taro. Even death and rebirth can't erase the will to fight."

 Taro remained silent, processing the revelation. The tavern's patrons began to lose interest, returning to their previous debauchery as the tension between the two subsided.

 Finally, Mutaito gestured to an empty stool beside him.

 "Sit. Tell me why you've come all this way. Surely it's not just for a reunion."

 Taro hesitated for a moment before taking the seat, the birds on his shoulders fluttering slightly as they resettled themselves.

 "I need to grow stronger," Taro said plainly. "Stronger than I've ever been. And for that, I've decided to train with King Kai."

 Mutaito raised an eyebrow, impressed despite himself.

 "Ambitious. But why the detour here? Surely, Snake Way leads directly to King Kai's domain."

 Taro's gaze turned serious, his voice quiet yet firm.

 "Before I can move forward, I needed to see you, Master. To understand the path you took after your death—and to learn from it."

 Mutaito studied his pupil for a long moment before nodding.

 "Very well," he said. "Then I'll teach you one last lesson. But be warned, Taro. In Hell, lessons come with a price."

 Taro's eyes sharpened, his resolve unwavering.

 "I'm ready."

.Mutaito smirked faintly and set his mug down with a heavy thud.

 "Good. Let's begin."

 Taro didn't flinch at Baba's skeptical expression. He met her gaze steadily, his resolve unwavering.

 "I need to become stronger. More than anything else, I need to unlock my potential. King Kai is the key." His voice held a quiet determination that seemed to momentarily pierce through the noisy clamor of the tavern.

 Baba studied him for a moment, her eyes narrowing as she took in his earnest expression. The bizarre figure seated across from her, an ethereal being with shimmering, translucent skin, tilted its head, seemingly intrigued by Taro's request.

 "You think that by meeting King Kai, you'll find what you're looking for?" Baba asked, her tone softening, yet still laced with uncertainty.

 Taro nodded.

 "I have my reasons, and I believe this is the path I need to take."

 Baba sighed, leaning back in her seat and stroking the crystal ball before her. The dim glow from within the ball seemed to flicker in time with her thoughts.

."King Kai's training is not something to be taken lightly. It's not about just becoming stronger. It's about testing your very limits. Many who seek him end up broken. What makes you think you're ready for that?"

 Taro's eyes hardened, the faintest flicker of fire lighting within them.

 "Because if I don't, I'll never be able to protect what matters. Not now, not ever."

 Fortune Baba studied him a moment longer, then slowly nodded.

 "You truly are a determined one, aren't you?" She paused. "Very well, I'll help you with your little birds. But know this, Taro: the Otherworld is a place of strange and unpredictable forces. It's not all about strength. Some things in the universe cannot be controlled or bent to your will."

 Taro's expression softened ever so slightly as he glanced at the birds, their colorful plumage bright even in the dim, chaotic surroundings of the izakaya.

 "I understand." He replied quietly. "I just need them to be safe while I'm gone."

 Baba's gaze lingered on him for a moment longer before she stood, her robes flowing with a graceful motion that somehow seemed out of place in the disarray of the tavern. She gave a slight nod to the strange figure beside her, who promptly waved their hand in a mystic gesture.

 "They'll be well taken care of." Baba said with finality. "I'll see to it. Now, go ahead and get yourself to King Kai. Your journey won't be an easy one."

 Taro bowed slightly, his gratitude evident but reserved.

 "Thank you, Fortune Baba. I'll make sure to return soon."

 Without another word, he turned and exited the tavern, the wild music and chaotic noise of the izakaya fading behind him. The moment he stepped outside, he felt the heavy air of Hell shift, and the weight of the world seemed to momentarily lift from his shoulders.

 The path ahead was long, and the journey uncertain, but Taro knew that every step brought him closer to the strength he sought.

 He looked toward Snake Way, and with a deep breath, he began his ascent once more, but with the vision of King Kai's training waiting at the end.

---

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