The Kamehameha Wave

Goku and Chi-Chi arrive at Kame House to retrieve the Bansho Fan, but Master Roshi admits he threw it away after using it as a placemat. Feeling responsible, Roshi decides to travel to Fire Mountain himself to put out the fire. He negotiates a side deal with Goku: if Goku can arrange a date with Bulma, Roshi will help. The group rides Baby Gamera, a flying turtle, to the mountain.

Upon arrival, the Ox-King rushes to greet his old master with such force that Roshi is knocked to the ground. After scolding the Ox-King for terrorizing people over his treasure, Roshi prepares to demonstrate his true power. He strips off his shirt and turtle shell, and his scrawny body suddenly bulks into a muscular frame. Yamcha and Puar watch from hiding in disbelief.

Roshi gathers his energy, chants "Ka-Me-Ha-Me-Ha," and unleashes a devastating blast that extinguishes the flames entirely. The castle, however, is completely destroyed along with them. Bulma digs the Seven-Star Dragon Ball from the rubble, completing their collection of six. Roshi explains that the technique took him fifty years to develop. Goku, having watched just once, fires his own Kamehameha and obliterates the group's car. His version is weaker, but the fact that he replicated it at all leaves Roshi stunned.

Before the group departs, Oolong disguises himself as Bulma to fulfill Roshi's "date," and Chi-Chi shares a tender farewell with Goku, who agrees to a promise he does not fully understand.

Master Roshi's Max Power transformation is a jaw-dropping visual shift, going from frail old man to hulking powerhouse in seconds. The Kamehameha itself is the episode's crown jewel: a slow, deliberate buildup followed by a beam of energy that wipes Fire Mountain clean. It is the franchise's first truly iconic attack.

Goku's instant replication of the technique is arguably more impressive than the original blast. In a single moment, it communicates his limitless potential more effectively than any dialogue could. The destroyed car is just collateral damage in the birth of a prodigy.

The Kamehameha Wave is the most recognizable technique in anime history, and this is where it first appears. Roshi's Max Power form also debuts here, a transformation concept that foreshadows the power-up mechanics central to Dragon Ball Z and beyond. Goku's ability to learn the move instantly marks him as a martial arts genius, a trait that will define his growth under every future teacher. Chi-Chi's farewell carries weight that only becomes clear episodes later, as her understanding of Goku's "promise" differs greatly from his own.