Who is Fortuneteller Baba?

Goku has pledged to use Shenron's wish to bring Upa's father Bora back from the dead, and the group agrees without hesitation. They return to Kame House where Bulma examines the Dragon Radar and confirms it is functioning properly. The seventh Dragon Ball simply cannot be detected, likely hidden inside an animal or concealed by some other means.

Master Roshi, casually trimming his nose hairs, reveals that his sister Fortuneteller Baba could locate the missing ball. While Bulma heads home and Oolong opts out, Yamcha, Krillin, and Puar join Goku on the journey to Baba's palace. They stop in a town on the Southern Continent for fuel and new clothes for Goku, whose outfit is in tatters.

Goku retrieves Upa from the Sacred Land of Korin, promising the frightened boy that they will return with all seven Dragon Balls and revive his father. At Baba's palace, they encounter the Ghost Usher and witness battered fighters stumbling out from their sessions. Fortuneteller Baba agrees to help locate the final Dragon Ball, but her fee is enormous. When the group cannot pay, she offers an alternative: defeat her five warriors in combat. Goku and his friends accept the challenge.

The stop in town for Goku's new outfit provides welcome comic relief as the tailor dresses him in absurd costumes before finally crafting a replica of his familiar gi. Yamcha's bribe to rush the order is a fun character moment, showing the group's impatience to keep moving.

The reunion between Goku and Upa is genuinely touching. Upa hides inside his tepee, afraid and alone since his father's death. When he finally sees Goku, he stumbles forward and leaps into his arms. Goku's reassurance that some things are simply scary the first time reveals a surprising emotional maturity for the young fighter.

The introduction to Fortuneteller Baba and her palace sets an ominous tone. The beaten fighters emerging from their sessions make it clear that whatever awaits inside is no ordinary challenge.

This episode marks the first appearance of Fortuneteller Baba and the Ghost Usher, both of whom will become recurring figures in the franchise. Baba's relationship with Master Roshi as his older sister adds depth to the turtle hermit's backstory.

The shift from hunting Dragon Balls through military conflict to earning them through tournament-style combat sets up the Fortuneteller Baba Saga's unique structure. For the first time, the group must fight for information rather than the balls themselves.