Dragon Ball Manga Volume #8.





New Characters:

Senpyou: The short, squat cat holding a staff, that lives at the top

        of Karin Tower.  He guards the Chousei water, and is

        initially faster and stronger than Gokuu.

Bora: Correction to the last chapter's guide.  Bora is the big

        Indian protecting the Seichi Karin holy grounds, and is the

        father of Upa.

Violet Taisa -- One of the few women working for Red Ribbon (showing

        that Blue Shogun lied to Buruma in the last volume, about women

        not being accepted as RR soldiers.  She uses Gokuu's Dragon

        Radar to recover one of the other Balls, but is seen for only 3

        panels.  Another RR commander.



Fighting styles:

Dodon -- This actually a mimetic adjective used to describe something

       that is very powerful (eg. -- That bull is dodon strong.)  This

       is the name Tao-pie pie uses for his finger-blast, which is

       more powerful than Gokuu's Kamehame-ha.  Dodon can also be

       used as a sound effect for an explosion (kind of like calling

       your bomb a "ka-whump".)



Other notes:

Seichi Karin -- The holy grounds surrounding the base of the tower

      leading up to Senpyou-sama.

Chouseisui -- Or, the holy "chou" water.  Rumored to bestow great

      strength and speed on the person who drinks it.  Gokuu climbs the

      Karin Tower to reach the home of Senpyou-sama, to drink this water

      in the hopes of becoming strong enough to defeat Tao-pie pie after

      the assassin had killed Bora.

Senzu -- An edible seed.  Just one can help you recover from fatigue and

      physical damage.  First appears at the top of Karin Tower.



Story:

   Volume 8

   As Bora is thanking Gokuu for rescuing his son, Upa, our hero notices

that the Indian is holding his grandfather's Dragon Ball in one hand.

Gokuu goes crazy celebrating, and Bora demands to know why people want

the thing so badly.  At the same time, Blue Shogun is returning to Red

Ribbon HQ.  One guard doesn't recognize him, and dies for his mistake.

Inside, Tao-pie pie is introducing himself to Red Sousui as the world's

greatest assassin.  He demands 1 billion zenii for his services, and

Black wants to know if he's really the great Tao-pie pie.  However,

since the assassin wants to set up a special assassins' "campaign," he's

willing to shave off half the cost if Red will help him.  Black is still

dubious.  Then, Blue rushes in.  Red isn't impressed with Blue's

performance, even after Blue turns over Buruma's Dragon Radar.  Although

the radar is better than anything that RR has, the only way Red will be

mollified is if Tao-pie pie uses Blue to prove if the assassin is as

good as he claims.  Tao tells Blue to attack any way he wants, while the

assassin will limit himself to just using his tongue.  Blue says that

this will be fun, attacks, missing the other guy, and then falls dead on

the ground after Tao pokes a hole in his temple.  Tao slurps off his

tongue, Red and Black admit that he is what he claims, and then show him

a photo of his target.  Tao is surprised that it's just a kid, but Red

warns him that Gokuu had already defeated a number of other talent.

(Note: On page 18, we get to see for the first time just exactly how

short Red really is.)  Black offers Tao the use of a helicopter, but Tao

declines, saying that would take too long.  He breaks off a section of

pillar, calculates the distance to Gokuu's current location, says he'll

be there in 30 mintes, throws the pillar, and then leaps on it for the

ride.  Black is stunned, and Red is ecstatic in the knowledge that Gokuu

will soon be dead.

   Bora comments on the nature of the Balls, and Gokuu says that he

doesn't want them to make a wish, he just wanted the one that has his

grandfather's soul.  Then, he asks about the Tower, which leads into the

heavens.  At the top, it's rumored that there's a magical water that can

give you great strength and speed.  Gokuu is impressed, because even

Kintoen can't fly that high.  As they remark on the water's ability, Upa

sees something approaching.  Tao-pie pie lands ("Aloha,") announcing that

he's the world's greatest assassin.  Bora tells him to leave, but Tao

says that he has business with Gokuu, and is working for Red Ribbon.

Upa asks his father to help, and Bora ignores Gokuu's pleas to stay out

of this. Tao calls Bora a fool, then shows Bora just how weak the Indian

really is.  When Bora lands, with the spear through his chest, he's

dead.

   Gokuu attacks, and Tao is surprised that the boy can survive his kick

into the tower.  Gokuu swears, uses Kamehame-ha, and just manages to rip

up Tao's clothing.  This pisses off Tao, who answers back with Dodon,

and kills Gokuu.  Tao finds the Dragon Balls, and says that his job is

done.  In anger, Upa throws a rock, which Tao blows back, says that the

boy is lucky he's not dead.  Then Tao leaves on his pillar.  Back at RR

HQ, Red is still gloating, but this turns to anger when the Radar board

shows Gokuu's three balls leaving the Seichi Karin (Note: the board

indicates that RR has one ball, and one is still in Seichi Karin.)

   In a small town, Tao has found a tailor that will make him a copy of

his old uniform.  The man says it'll take 1 week, Tao insists that it

only take 3 days.  Tao then asks to use a phone, and calls in to tell

Red that he has all of the Balls.  Red corrects him, saying one is still

back at the tower.  However, the news that Gokuu is dead keeps Red from

getting too angry, and Tao promises to get the remaining ball.

   After burying his father, Upa promises to grow up strong like him,

and starts burying Gokuu.  But, the boy is still alive, and the Dragon

Ball that falls out of his ripped jersey shows why.  His grandfather

saved him.  But, he sees Bora's grave, and vows to get all of the Balls

to make a wish to bring Bora back.  Upa is surprised that this is possible,

and Gokuu explains about the Dragon.  However, he's not strong enough to

face Tao-pie pie by himself.  That's when Upa tells him to climb the

Tower.  Gokuu decides to do this, and rushes up the pillar, leaving Upa

behind in amazement.  However, it takes him a full 24 hours, and as he's

about to give up, he sees the top.  He starts searching for the water,

and a voice tells him to go up one more floor (where "the master"

lives.)  There, he finds a big house cat, holding a staff.  Gokuu asks

for the water, the cat gives him a hard time, and when Gokuu asks where

the master is, he's shocked to hear that he's talking to him.  The cat

introduces himself as Senpyou (cat master)-sama, and points out where

the Chousei water is.  He also knows why Gokuu wants it.  So, when Gokuu

tries to take the water, he's very surprised that Senpyou hits him with

the staff.  Turns out that Gokuu must take the water away from Senpyou,

first.

   After a while, Gokuu gets tired, and Senpyou tosses him lunch -- a

senzu seed.  Gokuu is disgusted at first, then very happy at being

completely recharged.  They continue fighting for the water.

Eventually, exhausted again, Gokuu asks questions: No, he's not the

first person to come for the water; there was another 300 years ago.

And, Senpyou-sama is 800 years old.  The other person was Mutenroushi

Kamesennin.  Took Kamesennin "3" to get the water.  ("3 minutes??!!"

"No, 3 years.")

   Gokuu panics at first, then renews his attack.  He uses everything,

including "One pattern" on a massive scale.  Senpyou attacks the wrong

pattern by mistake, but Gokuu still misses when he lunges for the water.

Senpyou then escalates matters by stealing Gokuu's Dragon Ball and

throwing it over the railing.  Furiously, the boy rushes down the

pillar, gets the ball, and rushes back up.  He demands to know why the

cat did that, and Senpyou replies that Gokuu is already improving -- the

first time, it had taken 1 day to climb the tower, and now he's just

gone down and back up in 3 only hours.  So, they get back to fighting

until finally breaking to sleep.  Gokuu almost steals the water while

the cat is sleeping, but decides against it.  The cat was just faking

sleep, and is happy with the boy's honesty, thinking that Kamesennin had

tried the same trick, too.

   The next day, Gokuu lunges forward, and tickles Senpyou, making the

cat drop the staff and water.  Gokuu also fakes a falling-to-his-death

scream, having grabbed the railing with his tail.  Gokuu is happy, the

cat is stunned that it had only taken 3 days to get the water, including

the time to climb the tower.  But, the Chousei water is just plain

ordinary tap water -- the true secret is that all of the fighting is

what makes you faster and stronger.  Happy, Gokuu leaves.

   At the base of the Tower, Upa is expecting visitors, and hopes that

his friend is ok, since three days have already passed.  In town,

Tao-pie pie is pleased with the fit of his clothes, but annoyed that the

tailor doesn't recognize him as the world's greatest assassin, and has

demanded payment for the clothes.  So Tao kills the tailor and returns

via his pillar to Seichi Karin.  Arriving at the Tower, he demands to

know where the other Ball is, and when Upa attacks, Tao throws the child

at the Tower.  Gokuu arrives just in time, yelling for Kintoen, to save

Upa and surprise Tao.  Gokuu faces the assassin, saying that he's the

one with the Dragon Ball, and he wants the other 3 back.  They banter

with each other, then fight.  Tao can't believe that Gokuu has changed

so much in just three days, and is further shocked to hear that Gokuu

had been at the top of the Tower (Tao knows the rumors, himself.)  He

prepares to have some fun with a real challenge.  They fight some more,

until Tao's clothes get trashed again and he loses his temper.  However,

when he unleashes his Dodon attack, Gokuu catches it in his hands.  Tao

can't believe this, and Gokuu refuses to waste a Kamehame-ha attack on him.

Then the assassin gets mad, pulls out a capsule, and starts using his

sword to dismember Gokuu.  Upa runs to the teepee and throws Gokuu's bo

to his friend.  After breaking the sword, he discards the bo to continue

fighting hand-to-hand.  They banter some more (Tao repeats his claim as

the world's greatest assassin,) then Tao gets in a really good attack

(Upa wants to know what's gone wrong.)  Convinced that he's finally won,

Tao gloats about keeping his title.  Then Gokuu stands up and says it's

his turn.  Tao calls him a monster.

   Gokuu beats up Tao some more, and Tao realizes that the boy is faster

and stronger then him.  When Gokuu takes a stork-pose (ala Karate Kid,)

Tao admits that he's a bad man and surrenders.  This takes Gokuu by

surprise, which gives Tao the chance to pull out a canister, throw it,

leap up, and yell out "Die!!!"  Upa recognizes the thing as a bomb, and

Gokuu kicks it out of the way.  Up beside Tao-pie pie.  Where it

explodes.  Killing him.

   This ends the combat on a high note, and Gokuu promises to get the

remaining Balls and bring Bora back to life.  But, two of the Balls are

in RR HQ, so Upa tries to talk Gokuu out of his quest.  Gokuu won't be

swayed, and calls Kintoen before rushing off.

   Black announces that Violet has arrived.  The woman hands over a

Dragon Ball, commenting on the usefulness of the little Radar.  Red is

happy.  Then, a soldier announces that the 4 Balls are moving, and

everyone thinks that Tao-pie pie is returning to the HQ.  Meanwhile,

Gokuu catches up to a strange little aircraft.  It's a remote camera

that Buruma is controlling from Kamesennin's house.  The people in the

house are surprised to see Gokuu, and wonder if the boy is coming back

home.  But, their Radar screen shows that 4 Balls are moving away from

the island.  Kushami realizes that the other 2 Balls are sitting at the

site of RR HQ, and Buruma sends the camera out to confirm this (Gokuu

tried asking the camera to accompany him on their flight, but is

surprised at being rebuffed.  That, and the camera is faster than

Kintoen.)  Flier 84 reports that he's shot down a UFO, and the radio

operator thinks that it may have been Tao-pie pie.  But, the 4 Balls are

still moving.  The pilot says that he sees Tao approaching, then yells

that it's not the assassin after all.

   On the island, everyone is panicking over the idea of Gokuu

single-handedly attacking RR HQ.  Buruma has to be reminded that she has

the equipment to call up Capsule Corp.  Her father answers, and wants to

chat.  She yells at him to have Yamcha put on the line.  When she says

that Gokuu needs help in fighting Red Ribbon, Yamcha hesitantly voices

his support, but Oolong is caught trying to sneak out of the room.

   The radio operator unsuccessfully tries to raise flier 84.  Then a

camera is turned on to show Gokuu approaching.  This causes some more

panic.  Black realizes that Gokuu is too strong to face, but Red orders

out his men.  Gokuu trashes everyone in his way, occasionally checking

the Radar to locate the 2 Balls.  Once, he uses Kamehame-ha.  In the

control room, Gokuu is being tracked, and Red realizes that his enemy is

after the Balls.  Black wants Red to retreat to safety, but Red claims

that he has the best soldiers in the world, and orders out more men to

be trashed.  One sniper shoots Gokuu in the face, but that just stings

the boy, and the sniper then cowers in fear.  The control panel operator

says that Gokuu has entered sector 8, and Red and Black run to sector 8

to protect the Dragon Balls.

   On the island, Yamcha, Oolong, and Pool are telling the others to

board the jet quickly.  Buruma and Oolong complain about being dragged

along, but Kushami gleefully looks forward to a fight.  They stop along

the way to pick up Kuririn, who had been out for a swim.  Red and Black

have reached the room with the 2 Balls.  Gokuu keeps coming.  Since he

doesn't know what an elevator is, and he can't find the stairs, he busts

through the ceiling and ruins the trap that had been waiting for him if

he'd taken the elevator (Red complains about this.)  The bazooka missile

explodes in Gokuu's face, but this just makes him mad.  He kills the two

behind the table, and keeps advancing.  The remaining soldiers yell

"monster" and run away.  Black comments on the other soldiers escaping

too, and Red gripes about the loss of his dream.  Turns out that he'd

really wanted the Balls to make a wish to become taller.  All his life,

Red had been derided for being short.

   Black is stunned that Red wasn't going to wish for world domination

(like he'd promised to.)  Since he now realizes that Red isn't the

leader he'd thought, Black shoots Red in the forehead and declares

himself the new RR Sousui.  This is when Gokuu busts in, demanding the

Dragon Balls.  He asks who's in charge, and Black says he is. Black

wants to make a deal with Gokuu -- they can rule the world together.

Gokuu just wants to bring Bora back, and Black says that can happen

after they take over the world.  Gokuu's not interested, so Black gets

ready to fight.  When he realizes how strong Gokuu is, Black uses a

capsule to make a combat robot (called a "Battle Jacket.")  Gokuu gets

pounded a bit, and Yamcha says that they'll reach the HQ shortly.

[Notice that when Gokuu is first hit by the robot, he's up against a

wall, but in the next scene he's in the middle of the room.]

   Black gloats, saying that he's going to kill the boy.  They do some

damage to the buildings, and Black thinks that his fist blast has killed

Gokuu (who'd leapt up to a tower to safety.)  Black celebrates his

victory, until Gokuu leaps onto the robot (saying that Black is acting

like an idiot.)  Black over-reacts and punches himself in the head,

causing Gokuu to insult him some more.  Black launches himself upward,

shaking off his opponent.  Then he fires his biggest missile.  Gokuu

assumes that this is a bomb, like the one Tao-pie pie had used, so he

kicks it again.  This hurts his foot.  The missile destroys a mountain,

and Gokuu is impressed.  Black decides to run away, and Gokuu launches

himself through the battle jacket.  Saying that he can't believe this,

Black dies as the robot explodes.

   Gokuu gets the two Balls, saying that only one remains.

   In their jet, Yamcha and friends yell out "Hold on, Gokuu!!  We're

coming to rescue you!!"



   End of book 8.





                                                -- Curtis H. Hoffmann

                                                   June 19, 1993