The arc spans through volumes 1 to 3, or more specifically, covers chapters 1 to 23 of the manga and episodes 1 to 13 of the anime. This arc entails Son Gokū's first adventure to search for the seven mystical Dragon Balls, after a fateful encounter with Bulma. The Hunt for the Dragon Balls Arc (ドラゴンボール 探 （ さが ）し 編 （ へん ）, Doragon Bōru Sagashi Hen) also known as the Pilaf Arc (ピラフ 編 （ へん ）, Pirafu Hen) is an arc from the Dragon Ball series.
Main article: Hunt for the Dragon Balls Arc
Gokū's Childhood Days Saga (悟空少年時代編, Gokū Shōnen Jidai Hen) is the first portion of the Dragon Ball series that spans during the first 194 chapters of the manga and all 148 episodes of the entire Dragon Ball anime, before transitioning into the second anime, Dragon Ball Z. The legend has it that once an individual collects the seven magical Dragon Balls they summon a giant dragon named Shenron who grants them a wish of their choice. Bulma wishes to find the magical balls in order to wish for a boyfriend. Where years after crash-landing onto the planet Earth is offered the chance to join Bulma in her journey to find all 7 magical Dragon Balls. The story begins when a then monkey-tailed boy named Son Gokū meets a girl named Bulma.
