Staying in retirement wasn't so easy after all, especially not after his last taste of real battle against his old enemy had reawaken something long sleeping inside of him; that martial artist's warrior spirit of his youth. Thus did his retirement shape itself into semi-retirement that balanced self-improvement with relaxation and an arguably mild hedonism.

Call it an ironic turn of phrase but Roshi made like the creature after which his Martial Art style was named and paced his training after that of a turtle moving slow and steady toward its destination.

So it went that, with Dende and Mr PoPo's blessing, Roshi would twice a year, once at the start of January and once at the end of June, enter the Room Of Spirit And Time and spend a full year per visit there, committing to his own special blend of mental and physical training. It also meant he was putting his extended, or debatably, eternal youth to good use for the first time in quite a while.

Dende and Mr PoPo were both puzzled when he asked them to not mention the fact he was training, but seeing no harm in it, they happily agreed to keep his little secret.

Even with his newfound power and streamlined full power form, His first stay there was easily the most brutal and harrowing to survive. That place was perhaps the most unforgiving environments he'd ever subjected himself to for a prolonged period of time. Even carefully pacing himself he almost died twice before getting at least partly accustomed to the sudden changes of the dimension.

Naturally he took along a capsule full of reading material for the one day a week training brakes he gave himself to relax and recover his strength for the next week. He supposed for training crazy Saiyans it was easy to throw themselves into the work without want or need of other diversions to stave off the odd loneliness the solitude of that vast white void imposed on the mind.

Gaining eternal youth at a point of old age did impose certain limits however. If he were younger he could push himself harder and improve more swiftly, but while it wasn't so much a stamina issue as it was a simple fact of his body's frozen age, his progress was less than younger people would make. This is why he divided his training routine with lengthy meditation sessions where others might choose a predominately physical approach to training.

Between his stays in the Time Chamber, he split his time between taking it easy at home, watching his favourite exercise programs, enjoying some tasteful graphic reading material and going to the beach to, enjoy the scenery. The other half of his time was devoted to deep and lengthy meditation, image training and ki-control exercises supplemented by a basic if intensive routine of physical training.

During this time he never powered up into his new and improved buff form for out of time chamber training because that form multiplied his base power many times over, meaning most everybody would sense his advancements in power. The goal behind this was twofold. First, to strengthen his base power of his everyday skinny form because it defined the potency, control and balance of his full power form in much the same way The Super Saiyan form's power swells a Saiyan's base power. And second, this routine would ensure he greatly minimized any potential loss of progress in the time between trips to the Time Chamber, thus ensuring he could still enjoy life in semi-retirement.

He wasn't sure why he didn't want people to know what he was up to, yet he firmly held the belief that his quest for self-mastery was a personal matter. Plus, it'd be worth it to surprise Goku with. That boy, or rather man, Roshi at times found it hard not to see Goku as the same cheerful boy he trained, rarely judged a person's ability on their power alone and was happy to spar anybody on even terms, and surely Goku would be eager to test Roshi's progress with a friendly spar; a not unwelcome prospect if Roshi were to be honest with himself.

He kept the fact he was training again to himself since it was more a personal endeavour of self-discovery than a matter of competition with his friends, the strongest of who, in all honesty, he had no hope of ever surpassing anyway.

Piccolo found out about Roshi's visits to the lookout when he arrived just as Roshi was preparing for his third stay in the Time Chamber, but he didn't seem surprised and simply nodded politely and pretended not to notice, seeming to sense Roshi wanted to keep his presence here hidden. Having witnessed Roshi's rematch with his father, perhaps Piccolo understood what drove him.

Perhaps he had one more thing to thank old King Pickles for after all. It also didn't escape Roshi's notice that ever since he sent that demon, now better known as Namekian back to hell, the spectre of King Piccolo no longer appeared in that cave Roshi sent Goku and Krillin to train in on the two visits he himself had made there to galvanize his resolve. Of course that didn't mean there weren't the manifestations of, other, old acquaintances there waiting for him . . .

Still, none of his training up to that point had been nearly as challenging as overcoming his libido. But he'd prevailed in that endeavour too, and just in time for what might just be the most important battle he'd ever partaken in, and in it he lasted a lot longer than he could ever have reasonably expected to; just over a third of the 48 minute deadline in fact. He could honestly, happily say, he wasn't a disappointment to his team, a fact even some unexpected individuals agreed with him on.

It had been truly thrilling to fight alongside his allies and former students for a greater cause. The team work brought a song to his heart he hadn't heard it beat out in ever so long. Not since he was but a lad training under his own Master to be exact, doing battle with the anarchist students of the vile master of the Crow School, his master's powerful rival. Here though, it was more than a continent at stake, but an entire universe, their universe, his home.

Poor Krillin though, to fall off the stage in such a foolish manner; but that's the cost of celebrating a victory in such a hostile situation. Did that boy learn nothing from . . . oh well, not that he's one to talk, what with him doing his own silly victory pose before that duck man ambushed him. Well at least he didn't do it so close to the edge of the stage, so he concluded he'd lost less points than his goofball of a former-pupil.

At first he'd been a little concerned when faced with that sweet, pretty little minx from universe 4. The nerve of her, trying to seduce him, so lovely and adorable, and it'd have worked if this were him from a week ago, but he was immensely proud of himself for overcoming his greatest weakness. Not that temptation hadn't lurked at the back of his mind, it always would. After all, being a healthy, young, virile, red-blooded human specimen of the finest quality and substance, why would it be otherwise?

That demon woman with the talismans and mind altering magic could have been a troublesome hindrance to his teammates, many of whom didn't have experience dealing with people like her, but he did, hell he even married a woman capable of such tricks over 2 centuries ago, thus it was lucky he was there to put that particular bad omen on a one way bottle ride to elimination city.

When he'd fired off his greatest of Kamehameha to eliminate that giant duck man, Ganos, then collapsed, Roshi remained convinced he had died. But then Goku had revived him and he'd opened his eyes to gaze upon the face of his former student which wore an tearful expression of relief and worry he'd never before seen on Goku. It was rare for that ever carefree Saiyan and was a heartbreaking sight Roshi hoped never to have to see again. He preferred those he cared about to smile, but he knew life, and he knew better, just as he knew one had to take their happiness wherever it could be found and create more of it at every opportunity.

Pity he had to leave the sexy otherworldly angels, though. If that had been the heaven of otherworld, Goku might have deprived him of a really good time. Then again, if he'd been sent to Hell for his 300 plus years of perversion, perhaps the sexy angels were a trap waiting to be sprung upon him caving to temptation. Frieza had his flower garden of peace, harmony, love and friendship. So what form would hell be like for a letch, or rather a former-letch himself take?

Then there was Frost. A foe beyond any he'd already confronted and also an opportunistic sneak looking to pick off the weakened and unguarded of the team he most despised. Truly, even if he hadn't already been worn out and at a level several times his best, Roshi couldn't have done much more than annoy someone of Frost's level outside of unconventional tactics or specialized techniques like the Evil Containment Wave. That said, impotent as it was against Frost, Roshi was proud of the new streamlined Full Power form he'd earned in his rematch against King Piccolo.

The form performed beyond expectations despite everything, and its stamina problem had been overcome for the most part, proven in his recovery and ineffective surprise offensive against Frost who was surprised despite being in no danger of taking injury; if anything Frost seemed to have a hard time controlling his power to not kill an opponent of Roshi's comparably laughably low level, which also worked to Roshi's advantage, otherwise it'd have been over faster than he could blink.

Though Roshi didn't sense the same sickening potency of pure, unrelenting evil and malevolence Frieza exuded, that Frost was still a nasty piece of work. Even so, Roshi was not one to deny credit where it's due. Frost displayed his cunning mind and quick instincts to great effect by misleading him into using then seizing control of the Evil Containment Wave like that to trap Vegeta. But Frost also miscalculated this old man's own cunning wits and scurried off like a starved cockroach one his plan backfired before scuttling off like a cowardly cockroach when it went against him.

But as the saying went; run away, live to fight another day and all that, and cowardice or not, that snake remained in the fight, albeit only for a minute.

The shocks kept coming too. First Goku's emotional outburst, then Vegeta of all people speaking to him with genuine, if reserved respect in his voice and eyes when he suggested Roshi retire from the Tournament, as if to say "You gave it your all for our sake and fought well, but you've hit your limit. Nobody will see any dishonour if you step down after all that you've done. Now go get a senzu bean, rest up and leave the rest to us." Such a thing to hear from the proud prince was more an honour than most might realise, especially when he didn't deserve the man's respect after being partly responsible for the Evil Containment Wave being used against him. Rhosh knew it wasn't his fault, not entirely, but he still felt the fool for what happened.

Of course Roshi knew better than to verbally acknowledge Vegeta's veiled compliment and instead just nodded his weary agreement, dropped off the fightign stage and was about to give in to unconsciousness (Or was it death?) when the gentle offer of a sensu bean hauled him back from that edge.

He wasn't a big believer in fate, but what he had come to believe of it over the last 350 odd years of his life told Roshi that fate had a twisted sense of humour; it'd have to for Frieza of all people to be the one who gave that little snake, Frost, his comeuppance. But to do it in such an elaborate and deceptive fashion; that vile lizard actually had them all fooled into believing he'd allied with Frost and betrayed them, and while such a betrayal may yet be incoming from the former despot, it was fortuitous that Gohan had his wits about him and caught on fast enough to play along with Frieza's clever little scheme. Even so, that monster truly is diabolical.

Roshi trusted Frieza, but not to do what is right for them and their universe, no, not at all, but Roshi does trust Frieza to do what is best for Frieza, and for now, what is best for Frieza is also what's best for the rest of them. As to his greater plan, he could only guess. What he could say though is that whatever Frieza's true intentions are, Roshi no longer believed it was something as simple as revenge on Goku, not after that masterful display of manipulation he pulled on Frost. No, Frieza's goals had evolved beyond a petty vendetta, and perhaps, so has Frieza himself.

It's good he doesn't have a heart condition at his age because a final shocking surprise also awaited Roshi just after he dropped out of the fight. Beerus, who never bothered to remember the names of anyone outside of Goku, Vegeta and Bulma actually praised him and used his name. While he wasn't one to sustain himself on the approval of others, after all what self-respecting letch, or former-letch, oh okay, part-time letch, would? Yet there was a very poignant weight, a gravitas to earning the respect of a Destroyer God like Beerus.

Of course he'd answered with a tired bow of his head and a heartfelt thank you, having seen what happens when he isn't shown the proper courtesies, even Bulma was wary of him. Yet he'd grown to like the guy and liked to think Beerus had a soft spot for them and their planet as well, not just its food. Is he a friend of their group at this point? Maybe, but maybe not. Who but Beerus himself and possibly Whis could really say for sure? And that is to say if they ever said anything about it at all.

Putting all that aside though, Roshi felt satisfied that he'd fought hard and done his utmost for those he cared about and he had no regrets beyond wishing he could have done more for them and his universe. Alas, that duty fell to the others. This Old man's part in the Tournament Of Power was at an end.

As he leaned back with a sigh and resumed watching the ongoing radiant violent chaos of the battle below, explosions of myriad colours and dust clouds blossoming and dispersing, he reflected on something Krillin had said about him having bridged the gap between them in power and being a firm contender for Earth's strongest human once again. He idally wondered what old Shen The Crane Hermit would think to see him now. That thought made him smile inside just imagining that old grouch's sneering face.

Roshi couldn't repress his amused grin when Krillin wondered how Yamcha would react to the new power Roshi had been hiding, for it had always been a point of pride for the scar faced former bandit that he'd surpassed his former master who now had reversed that status-quo once more and dropped him back at square one. Poor guy never could catch a break, for real, Goku even chose Frieza over him for the team, friendly shoulders don't get much colder than that.

It was a marvel to look back on his recent years, the last three decades to be precise. He'd gone from a solitary loner with only a turtle older than himself for company to becoming part of the second true family he'd ever had in his whole life, just over three centuries since he lost his first. The emptiness of their passing still hurt, as did the betrayal that caused their deaths, but now the void had been filled, and not only that, this time he'd actually had the chance to fight to save that family, the very chance he'd been so cruelly denied with the first.

Everybody has their secrets, their tragedies, their regrets and dark memories, some far worse than others. But his life has been long and those times were nearly as long ago, burdens unworthy of being carried any further for the sake of self-torment, and he'd carried those burdens longer than would many for he had lived longer than would many human beings, and now the burden was far easier to bear, all thanks to a single fateful meeting with a spikey haired boy 2 decades before.

Indeed, he held little stock in fate, but even now he could not deny its sense of humour, ever the fickle bitch. But whoever said a fickle nature always portends ill omens and dire dooms when the good can come as unexpected and haphazardly as does the bad. People would always complain about all the ways life could be better, never looking to the good things they may already have. For Roshi though, he'd not have it any other way.

"A Martial Artist's life is the only life for me."

A Martial Artist adapts.

A Martial Artist endures

A Martial Artist seizes the moment

A Martial Artist lives life for life.

A Martial Artist fights and even dies to protect what matters most.

He is a Martial Artist and each of these things and more he has done. Beyond them, he can do no more than smile and think well of those who fight on in his stead. That is all. He had done his all . . .

And it was enough.

I understand the movies are non-canon and don't really fit into Super, but I couldn't pass up the chance to link the achievement Roshi made in this fic to his participation in Super's Tournament of Power, both to give him a little spotlight and also to help explain his out of the blue power up. I have my gripes with Super's writing, but they did Roshi justice in the Tournament, such that it inspired me to write this epilogue for this 4 year old fic of mine.

Thanks for reading and those who have left reviews over the years. You helped make the writing experience all the more rich and fulfilling.