Fortuneteller Baba is an elderly witch and a recurring supporting character in the Dragon Ball Z narrative. She has been practicing fortune-telling for more than five hundred years, and her unique abilities are tied directly to the supernatural hierarchy of her world. A significant aspect of her background is that she is the older sister of the renowned martial arts master, Master Roshi, a fact that often leads to bickering and playful sibling rivalry between the two. Her name, Baba, is a nickname, and her physical appearance is that of a tiny, wrinkled old woman who is perpetually seen seated atop a large, floating crystal ball, dressed in a dark, witch-like robe and a pointed hat.

In terms of personality, Fortuneteller Baba is known for being shrewd, blunt, and highly business-minded. She is very fond of money and typically demands an exorbitant fee of ten million Zeni for a single consultation. However, she also has a genuine passion for martial arts and combat. For those who cannot afford her price, she offers an alternative: a challenger may earn her services by defeating her team of five powerful, otherworldly martial artists. Despite her gruff and often irritable demeanor, particularly towards her brother, she is not inherently malevolent. She possesses a pragmatic sense of fairness and has shown a hidden, helpful side, especially when greater threats to the world emerge. Her motivation is largely driven by a combination of personal profit, a love for watching exciting fights, and a professional, if distant, concern for the living world's balance, as she is deeply connected to the afterlife realm known as Other World.

Fortuneteller Baba's role in the story is primarily that of a facilitator and a source of unique, supernatural aid. She is able to use her crystal ball to see into the future, locate lost or hidden objects anywhere on Earth, and even project live events occurring in distant locations. More importantly, she serves as an intermediary between the living world and the afterlife's administrators, such as King Yemma. Her most critical ability is to negotiate with King Yemma to grant a deceased person a special one-day leave of absence to return to the living world. She first uses this power to allow Goku's adoptive grandfather, Grandpa Gohan, to return for one day to fight and reveal his identity to a young Goku. This power becomes pivotal much later in the Dragon Ball Z storyline, when she arranges for Goku to return to Earth for a single day to participate in the World Martial Arts Tournament, which allows him to see his young son Goten for the first time. Subsequently, following King Yemma's orders, she later leads a revived Vegeta back to Earth to help in the desperate fight against the monstrous Majin Buu.

Key relationships define her interactions. Her most prominent familial tie is with her younger brother, Master Roshi, whom she frequently insults and refuses to give free services. She has a working relationship with the ruler of the afterlife, King Yemma, who can authorize the one-day revivals she arranges. Her involvement with the main protagonist's family is deep; she shows a particular interest in Goku, and at one point, the Ox-King addresses her as "mother" in a questionable dub moment, hinting at a possible but never fully explained close connection or marital link to Goku's family line. She also interacts with the main group of heroes, including Bulma, Krillin, and Chi-Chi, especially when she uses her crystal ball to let them watch distant battles, such as the fight against the Saiyans and the conclusion of the Cell Games.

Fortuneteller Baba does not undergo significant personal development, but her role evolves from an eccentric obstacle to a crucial ally. Initially introduced as a greedy old woman whom Goku and his friends must bargain with, she later becomes an indispensable asset during the final, most dangerous conflicts. Her willingness to use her connections in the afterlife for the living world's survival demonstrates a shift from personal gain to a more functional, if still cantankerous, form of heroism.

Her notable abilities are extensive and supernatural. She possesses the art of divination, allowing her to perceive visions of the past, present, and future within her crystal ball. She can magically materialize objects out of thin air, once pulling a T-bone steak from her sleeve. She has the power to travel between the living world and Other World at will. Her hypnosis technique, seen primarily in anime-exclusive content, allows her to control the minds of others. Finally, her most significant and impactful power is her ability to act as a broker with the afterlife, using her connection to King Yemma to secure temporary revivals for the dead, a service that proves essential for the Earth's survival.