Branch looked around and finally turned his gaze toward a rock nearby.
Behind it, Son Gohan was cautiously peeking at him.
Branch smiled awkwardly—the familiar, friendly smile of the neighbor's older brother.
"Gohan… um…" Branch scratched his black hair. "I didn't do anything too excessive, right?"
Gohan stared at him, fear already fading now that Branch looked normal again.
But when he heard that question—
His mouth twitched.
He pointed at Raditz, who was lying on the ground almost unrecognizable, then pointed at the several fresh craters around them.
"Uh… it's… it's okay… I guess… not too excessive…"
Branch looked down.
Raditz lay there with a swollen face, torn armor, and barely any strength left.
Then he looked around at the devastated ground.
"Uh…" Branch scratched his head awkwardly.
"What happened to him? Did he fall or something?"
Gohan forced a smile.
"Branch… you really don't remember?"
"Remember what?" Branch blinked innocently.
"When I turn into that… uh… golden hair and green eyes form, I don't remember anything afterward. It's always like that. When I wake up, it feels like I just took a nap."
Gohan: "..."
He glanced at Raditz's miserable body.
Then at Branch's innocent expression.
For a moment, Gohan actually felt a little sorry for Raditz.
But then another thought struck him—
Maybe Branch is even scarier when he forgets everything…
"Branch! But when you transform, that golden version of you remembers everything!" Gohan said anxiously.
Branch sighed.
"That's the unfair part. I forget everything… but he remembers it clearly."
He crouched beside Raditz like a tiny doctor and began examining him seriously.
He checked his breathing.
Touched his pulse.
Looked at his swollen face.
After finishing the inspection, Branch patted his chest in relief.
"Good! He's just unconscious. His heartbeat and breathing are normal. No life danger."
Gohan's mouth twitched again.
No life danger…?
The man looked like he had just survived a meteor strike.
"My mom transforms when she sneezes," Branch explained.
"I'm the same."
"When it happens, my hair turns gold and my eyes turn green. My personality changes a lot too."
"Mom says she becomes very violent after transforming. Stronger too."
"I guess I'm like that."
"And I can't remember anything afterward."
"I see…" Gohan nodded stiffly.
Then Branch suddenly became serious.
"Listen carefully, Gohan."
"When I transform, my personality changes completely."
"I might become… very unreasonable."
"And I'll want to fight."
"So if you ever see me sneeze or turn golden…"
"Stay far away."
"Don't talk to me. Don't provoke me."
"Otherwise I might beat you up like a punching bag."
He even bared his teeth playfully.
But compared to the terrifying golden Branch earlier—
This version looked a thousand times safer.
"Yes! I understand, Branch!" Gohan nodded rapidly.
Then suddenly—
He dug into his pocket.
And pulled out a small colored pencil.
Branch watched curiously as Gohan rolled up his sleeve.
Then the boy carefully began writing on his arm.
Very slowly.
Very seriously.
Branch leaned over to read.
On Gohan's arm were the words:
"When Branch turns golden, do NOT talk to him! Run away immediately or you will be beaten badly!"
Branch blinked.
Then awkwardly wiped nonexistent sweat from his forehead.
Am I really that scary…?
He cleared his throat.
"Gohan… your hand is so small but you wrote so much."
"When you grow up… do you want to be a scholar?"
"Yes!" Gohan's eyes sparkled.
"That's my dream!"
"I want to read lots of books and learn many things!"
"I want to become a scholar like Bulma!"
"A scholar… that's nice," Branch nodded.
Then he looked up at the starry sky.
"What about my dream…?"
The four-year-old boy murmured quietly.
But suddenly—
Raditz groaned faintly.
Branch snapped back to reality.
Right.
More important problem.
They were hungry.
"I remember asking this uncle to find food…"
"Why is he sleeping?"
"That's irresponsible."
Branch walked over and gently slapped Raditz's swollen face.
"Wake up!"
"Uncle, stop sleeping! It's almost dark!"
After repeated slaps, Raditz's eyelids trembled.
His consciousness slowly returned.
Pain exploded across his entire body.
But when his eyes focused—
And he saw Branch's face—
"AAAH—!!!"
Raditz shrieked in terror.
His body twitched violently.
Branch looked hurt.
"Am I really that scary?"
Raditz nearly coughed blood.
You smashed me into the ground for ten minutes straight!
And you're asking if you're scary?!
But he didn't dare say that.
"N-no… not scary… not at all…" Raditz forced a distorted smile.
"Oh good," Branch nodded.
Then frowned.
"But uncle… look at you."
"You're injured so badly."
"How will you find food for us?"
Raditz: "..."
WHO DO YOU THINK CAUSED THAT?!
But he swallowed his anger.
"I-it's fine!"
"I can still find food!"
"I'll go right now!"
He struggled to stand.
Inside his mind screamed one thought:
Run.
Run as far away as possible.
Branch waved casually.
"Okay! Go find food!"
"Come back soon!"
Raditz nearly cried with relief.
He immediately flew into the air.
Even though he moved awkwardly like a drunk bird—
He flew determinedly away.
But just as he reached twenty meters in the air—
"ACHOO!"
A familiar sneeze echoed below.
Raditz froze.
His blood turned cold.
Slowly… slowly…
He looked down.
Branch's hair was already turning golden again.
His eyes glowing green.
Golden aura blazing.
Raditz's brain went blank.
HOW DID HE TRANSFORM AGAIN SO FAST?!
Nearby, Gohan quickly covered his face.
Then quietly ran away.
He glanced at the warning written on his arm.
Good decision.
"Hey."
The cold voice came from below.
"You flying trash."
"Where do you think you're going?"
Golden Branch floated in the air with arms crossed.
Raditz trembled.
"I-I'm finding food!"
"No need."
Branch beckoned with his finger.
"Come down."
Raditz shook his head violently.
"No! I must find food!"
Branch's eyes narrowed.
"You're disobeying me?"
Raditz shivered.
The memory of the previous beating crushed his courage.
"I—I'm coming down!"
He slowly landed like a prisoner awaiting execution.
"Good."
Branch smiled brightly.
"Reward time."
"You get to choose again."
Raditz's heart sank.
"Last time you fainted halfway through," Branch complained.
"I wasn't satisfied."
"So we continue."
Raditz almost fainted again.
"Remember the rules?"
"You come to me, I beat you lightly."
"I go to you, I beat you heavily."
"You tried to run earlier."
"So technically I should beat you heavily."
"But since you came down obediently…"
"I'll beat you lightly."
Raditz: "..."
You NEVER said that before!
But he had no choice.
He walked forward slowly.
Closed his eyes.
Prepared for impact.
SMACK!
A loud slap exploded.
Raditz spun and crashed to the ground.
Then the small hand grabbed his finger again.
And the nightmare returned.
BOOM!
THUD!
CRASH!
Branch swung him around like a meteor hammer.
Raditz wanted to die.
YOU SAID LIGHTLY!!!
Branch casually explained while swinging him.
"I am going lightly."
"You just feel more pain because you're already injured."
"Same strength, injured body—of course it hurts more."
Raditz's mind briefly froze.
That… almost makes sense…
Then another slam erased the thought.
Ten more minutes passed.
Finally—
Raditz lost consciousness again.
The Saiyan warrior collapsed into darkness.
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