Raditz sat cross-legged on one of the floating platforms of Kami's Lookout, his long black hair drifting softly in the breeze.
His eyes were shut tight.
He was trying—truly trying—to follow Kami's guidance and "feel inner peace," but no matter how long he sat there, not even a trace of that so-called calm appeared.
"Damn it…"
Raditz's brow twitched, irritation bubbling up.
"Even Super Saiyans can't handle those future Androids."
"So what the hell is the point of me training? What can it even do?"
Kami sighed gently.
"Mr. Raditz… you're far too restless. This kind of cultivation may not suit you yet…"
Raditz immediately crossed his arms, offended.
"Kakarot can do it."
"As his older brother, I should be able to do it too. Stop looking down on me!"
Just then, Kami lowered his head, gazing down toward the world below.
"…Nappa?"
"What is he doing here?"
A few minutes later, Nappa landed on the Lookout.
His right wrist was wrapped in a crude bandage, and there were bruises on his face that hadn't fully faded.
Raditz looked him over, eyes widening slightly.
"Nappa… who beat you up like that?"
"…Vegeta?"
Nappa's face darkened.
"That's right!"
He spat the words out like they burned.
"That bastard Vegeta… he attacked me over some ordinary Earth woman."
"He broke my arm—hell, he almost killed me!"
Raditz's jaw practically fell off.
"What?"
"You're saying Vegeta almost killed you… for a human woman?"
Nappa nodded, still furious.
"Yeah. He just kicked me out."
Raditz's eyes lit up with pure gossip-fueled curiosity. He dropped into a cross-legged seat right on the Lookout floor, leaning forward like he'd just been handed the universe's best entertainment.
"Alright, alright—tell me everything."
Nappa rubbed his wrist, his expression complicated.
"A woman named Mollyanne showed up at the gravity room to bring Vegeta food."
"I was just messing with her a little."
"And Vegeta went berserk—like someone stepped on his tail."
He gritted his teeth.
"You know what he said to me?"
Raditz leaned in even closer.
"What did he say?"
Nappa straightened, mimicking Vegeta's posture, then jabbed a finger like a furious prince and shouted in a perfect imitation:
"Nappa! Mollyanne is my woman!"
"You touch her again, and I'll make you regret ever coming to this world—UNDERSTAND?!"
Raditz blinked, stunned.
"…No way."
"He really said that?"
Nappa snapped back immediately.
"You think I'm lying? Look at my injuries!"
"If I hadn't experienced it myself, I wouldn't believe it either."
"Vegeta actually admitted a woman was his."
"Heh… heh heh…"
Kami suddenly chuckled.
Both Saiyans turned toward him at the same time.
Nappa scowled.
"What's so funny, old man?"
Kami rested a hand on his staff, his eyes carrying that calm, ancient wisdom that made people feel small without him needing to raise his voice.
"Even the hardest stone can be worn down by the softest drop of water."
"It seems Earth is changing you Saiyans."
He glanced toward Raditz and Nappa.
"Just like Goku."
"He's also a Saiyan, but he grew up on Earth—so his heart became different from yours."
"Gentle. Kind."
"And responsible."
Raditz and Nappa exchanged a look.
Raditz snorted, shaking his head.
"Kami, you don't get it."
"Kakarot is a freak."
"My mother was kind too—he probably inherited it from her."
"But Vegeta is different."
"He's a pure-blood Saiyan prince."
"I've followed him for years. Nappa has too."
"We know him better than anyone."
Raditz's eyes narrowed.
"I'll put it like this—he'll die a villain."
Nappa nodded hard.
"That's right."
"Vegeta's always been ruthless."
"Even after all these years, if Raditz and I ever became useless to him… he'd toss us aside without blinking."
Raditz nodded again, as if that settled it.
"Exactly. That's who Vegeta is."
But instead of being offended, Kami simply smiled.
"Once a bad man… does not mean forever a bad man."
"Now he's beginning to treasure someone else."
"That is a good sign."
Kami's gaze softened.
"If you two can correct your ways as well…"
"Perhaps your entire race might still have a chance at redemption."
Nappa snorted like he'd just heard the dumbest thing in the universe.
"Redemption?"
"We Saiyans don't need redemption."
"We're a warrior race."
"Vegeta's just confused for the moment, that's all."
Raditz, however, rubbed his chin, strangely thoughtful.
"…Still."
"If Vegeta really starts caring about that Earth girl…"
"Maybe he'll fight even harder against the Androids."
"Because those Androids threaten Earth."
Nappa's eyes bulged.
"Raditz—what, did you get brainwashed too?!"
"Vegeta and I are training to fight the Androids to prove Saiyan strength."
"Not to protect some weak little planet!"
"I know," Raditz said, voice slower.
"But…"
Nappa frowned.
"But what?"
Raditz hesitated, then spoke carefully.
"I can't say for Vegeta."
"But for years now, Kakarot has been training to protect the people around him."
"Maybe…"
"Maybe Vegeta is changing in that direction too."
Nappa squinted.
"You saying Vegeta's copying Kakarot?"
Raditz spread his hands.
"No idea. I'm not training with him."
Kami added calmly, "From what I can see, Vegeta has begun to learn how to fight for someone else."
"If you truly want to keep living on Earth…"
"You should try changing too."
"Changing?" Nappa scoffed, anger rising again.
"We Saiyans don't need soft emotions like that!"
"We were born for battle—born to conquer!"
"If you make me live in comfort too long…"
"I'll go insane!"
Raditz suddenly grinned, the kind of grin that meant he'd found something to poke at.
"Then why are you so mad?"
"Just because Vegeta hit you?"
Nappa's face went dark. He touched the bruise on his cheek and said nothing.
Raditz stared at him for two seconds—then snapped his fingers like he'd solved a mystery.
"Oh—I get it."
"Vegeta kicked you out because you were in the way."
"Now you've got nowhere to go, so you're furious."
Nappa's eye twitched.
"…You bastard."
"You'd die if you didn't say it out loud, huh?"
Raditz laughed.
"Looks like Vegeta's just like Kakarot."
"Both got hooked on Earth women."
"Kakarot told me to train properly too."
"And he told me not to bother him for no reason, and not to hang around him."
Nappa blinked.
"So that's why you're up here alone…"
Raditz shrugged.
"I'm here to train, not because I'm homeless."
"Kakarot at least gave me a lot of money."
"Enough for me to waste for a long time."
"Unlike you—getting tossed out the moment you became inconvenient."
Nappa: "..."
Raditz waved a hand as if granting mercy.
"Fine."
"I'll take you in."
"Train here with me."
Nappa raised a brow.
"Raditz—calling the shots now, huh?"
"You think you've gotten stronger than me?"
Raditz stood and assumed a fighting stance, eyes sharp.
"If I hadn't trained this long, I wouldn't have believed I could grow this strong."
"Right now?"
"I'm terrifying."
"Come test me."
Nappa cracked his neck, then took his own stance.
"Test you? Fine!"
"I've been training with Vegeta."
"I've been getting beaten half to death for months."
"My strength isn't what it used to be."
In the next instant, the two slammed into each other.
But it was a controlled spar—pure exchange, no killing intent. Both had restraint.
Kami watched the scene, his eyes glowing with quiet satisfaction.
Then he looked off in Vegeta's direction again.
And in that moment, he felt as if he'd seen a faint outline of a future that might actually change.
"…Unbelievable."
"To think Vegeta could change this much…"
…
In the blink of an eye—
A year passed.
Goku stood in front of his three children, smiling brightly.
"Starting today, we're not doing 'milk delivery' training anymore."
"From now on…"
"We begin real training."
"Yes, Dad!" Gohan clenched his fists excitedly, his eyes sparkling.
Meiqi and Bulla also rubbed their hands together, eager and restless—still young, but their Saiyan blood made them crave battle anyway.
Goku prepared the gravity room.
Since it was for the kids, Bulma had set a hard cap: 20x gravity.
Any higher and it could seriously injure them.
And heavy gravity training was too damaging if used nonstop—good for short bursts, not long-term.
"Alright," Goku said, pressing the control on his wrist.
"Today's training is—Gravity Resistance!"
Hummm—
The air instantly grew heavier.
The ground trembled.
Meiqi and Bulla's small faces tightened, knees bending slightly under the pressure—but they adjusted fast and stood firm.
Gohan took one deep breath, eyes focused, and adapted even faster.
"Nice," Goku said, satisfied.
"You all stayed standing."
"Now follow me—push-ups. Twenty per set!"
Meiqi immediately made a face like her soul had left her body.
"Why push-ups?!"
"We want real combat training—like Piccolo Uncle does!"
Goku laughed.
"Mornings are for foundations—strength and endurance."
"In the afternoon, we fight."
The three kids nodded obediently.
After half a day of training, it was time for sparring.
Goku grinned.
"I'm starting!"
All three nodded, excitement burning.
"Yeah! Come on!"
Goku's body vanished.
And in the next instant—
His fist was already in front of Gohan.
Bang!
Gohan crossed his arms to block, but he still got shoved back several meters, his feet carving two lines into the ground.
"Fast reaction," Goku praised.
"But not enough!"
He'd learned something over the past year—
Being a good teacher had its own tricks.
Praise first.
Then push harder.
Goku flashed behind Gohan and swept a kick in.
Gohan gritted his teeth, jumped, and spun in midair—barely avoiding it.
"Hyaa!" Meiqi and Bulla rushed in from both sides at once.
"Ha—good!" Goku laughed.
He blocked easily, but his eyes were full of approval.
"Your coordination's improving!"
The spar grew more intense.
Gohan's breathing became rough, but his eyes sharpened, becoming almost ferocious.
Then, during a hard clash—
His hair trembled.
The air around him distorted.
And a faint golden shimmer flickered at the edge of his aura.
"Hm?"
Goku's expression shifted instantly.
He felt it.
Gohan let out a strained roar, fists clenched tight as power surged through him.
"Aaah—!"
For a fraction of a second—
His pupils tightened.
His hair almost turned gold.
But then the energy snapped back.
The aura collapsed.
Gohan dropped to one knee, panting hard.
It was clear: his body still couldn't withstand the transformation.
His foundation wasn't strong enough.
But his talent had pushed him to the threshold early—he'd already touched the barrier.
"If his body were just a bit tougher…"
"If his base were steadier…"
"…he could transform," Goku thought, genuinely disappointed for him.
Goku walked over and patted his shoulder, smiling with pride and expectation.
"Gohan—you've grown a lot."
"Super Saiyan isn't far for you anymore."
Gohan lifted his head, eyes burning.
"I'll keep training, Dad!"
Meiqi and Bulla ran over too, circling him excitedly.
"Big brother Gohan is awesome!"
Goku burst out laughing.
"Good!"
"Then we'll push even harder."
"And tomorrow's the weekend—if you train well, I'll take you to the amusement park!"
"YES!"
"That's great!"
"I wanna go to the aquarium!"
"I wanna play in the indoor playground!"
…
Two more years passed in a blink.
Gohan, Meiqi, and Bulla grew noticeably older—stronger, sharper.
And then—
May 12th.
The day the Androids were supposed to appear.
"Meiqi, Bulla—stay home and protect the family," Goku said calmly.
"I'll go with Gohan."
Both girls nodded at once.
"Don't worry, Dad! Be careful!"
Goku nodded.
"Don't worry."
"Let's go."
Just then, Chi-Chi rushed forward with a small medicine bottle.
"Goku—these three years, you haven't shown any sign of heart trouble, but I'm still scared it could happen anytime."
She held it out with trembling hands.
"This is the heart medicine."
"I separated a few pills for you."
"If you ever feel it coming on—take it immediately."
Snow and the others looked at him too, their expressions full of concern.
Goku wanted to refuse.
He knew he wouldn't get sick.
But he also knew this wasn't just medicine—it was peace of mind.
So he accepted the bottle.
Gohan spoke firmly.
"Mom, don't worry. I'll be with Dad."
"I'll take care of him."
Chi-Chi nodded, eyes wet.
"Gohan really has grown up…"
"Be careful. Both of you."
At that moment, Piccolo arrived at Mount Paozu.
"You still not ready?"
"It's almost time!"
Soon, Gohan, Piccolo, and Goku set out.
Elsewhere, Krillin, Tien—
Even Nappa and Raditz—
All began heading out from different places.
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