章 3: Chapter 3: Power and Responsibility
The morning sun filtered through the trees, casting a soft, golden glow over the forest. Birds chirped in the distance, and the quiet rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze seemed almost too peaceful for what had just transpired.
I lay on my back, staring at the sky, breathing heavily as my body recovered from the strain of last night. My clothes were torn, my limbs felt like lead, and I could still feel the lingering ache in my muscles from the Oozaru transformation. But I had done it.
I had controlled it.
The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. In the original timeline, Goku had never learned to control the Great Ape form. He had always been a slave to his instincts, a wild force of nature that couldn't be contained. But I wasn't the same Goku. I wasn't just a mindless warrior driven by primal urges. I was more than that. And because of that, I had managed to rein in the beast.
But it hadn't been easy. The power of the Oozaru was overwhelming, and for a brief moment, I had felt myself slipping. The raw, destructive force that coursed through me was intoxicating—like nothing I had ever felt before. It was no wonder why the Saiyans had been such a terrifying race. That kind of power could level entire cities, destroy planets.
And I had it.
But with that power came responsibility. The memory of Grandpa Gohan's gentle smile flashed in my mind, and I felt a pang of guilt. I had almost lost control. If I hadn't fought back, if I had given in to the Oozaru's rage, I could have hurt him—killed him, just like in the original timeline.
I clenched my fists, the dirt beneath me crumbling in my grip. That wasn't going to happen. I wouldn't let it. I had the power to change this world, to make it better, and I wasn't going to waste it.
But I couldn't do it alone.
The walk back to Grandpa Gohan's house was long and exhausting. My body still hadn't fully recovered from the transformation, and every step felt like wading through mud. My muscles screamed in protest, but I pushed through the pain. I had too much to think about to worry about a little soreness.
When I reached the small, familiar house, I hesitated at the door. Gohan was probably worried sick about me. I had run off into the forest in the middle of the night, without any explanation. I could already imagine the concerned look on his face, the gentle questions he would ask, the worry in his voice.
I wasn't ready to face him yet.
But I didn't have much of a choice. I couldn't hide from him forever. Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door and stepped inside.
"Goku!" Gohan's voice immediately rang out from the kitchen, relief flooding his tone. He rushed over to me, his eyes wide with concern. "Where have you been? I was worried sick! You disappeared in the middle of the night, and I couldn't find you anywhere."
I forced a smile, though I was still too tired to make it convincing. "I... I'm sorry, Grandpa. I just needed some time to think."
Gohan's expression softened, but the worry in his eyes didn't fade. "You're covered in dirt, and your clothes are all torn. What happened out there?"
I paused, unsure of how much to tell him. Gohan didn't know about the Oozaru form—he didn't know that I had the potential to transform into a massive, destructive beast under the light of the full moon. And I wasn't sure if he was ready to know. But I couldn't lie to him, either.
"I was... training," I said carefully, choosing my words. "I wanted to get stronger. I know I'm different, Grandpa. I can feel it. And I want to learn how to control it."
Gohan sighed, his expression a mix of concern and understanding. He knelt down in front of me, placing both hands on my shoulders. "Goku, I've always known you were special. From the day I found you, I knew you had a strength inside you that was beyond anything I'd ever seen. But strength isn't just about fighting. It's about knowing when to hold back, when to be gentle."
I nodded, though part of me knew that holding back wasn't always going to be an option. The threats that would come—Raditz, Vegeta, Frieza—they weren't going to be gentle. They wouldn't hold back. And if I wanted to protect the people I cared about, I couldn't afford to hold back either.
"I understand, Grandpa," I said quietly, my gaze dropping to the floor. "But I want to protect you. I want to protect everyone."
Gohan smiled, his eyes filled with warmth. "You already protect me, Goku. Just by being here. But if you truly want to get stronger, I won't stop you. Just promise me you'll be careful."
I looked up at him, meeting his gaze. "I promise."
The days after the full moon passed in a blur. I continued my training, pushing myself harder than ever before. My body was still small, still that of a child, but I could feel my power growing with each passing day. Every morning, I would wake up before dawn and head into the forest to train in secret. I practiced controlling my Ki, focusing on harnessing my energy and channeling it into basic techniques. It was slow going at first—Goku had never truly learned how to control his Ki until much later in life—but I had the advantage of knowing what was possible.
Bit by bit, I began to make progress. I could feel the energy inside me, like a current of electricity waiting to be released. I practiced simple Ki blasts, nothing too flashy, just enough to get used to the sensation of manipulating my energy. I knew I had a long way to go before I could pull off anything like the Kamehameha, but I was getting there.
And yet, despite my progress, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing.
One Year Later
By the time I was five years old, I had made significant strides in my training. I could control my Ki more effectively, and my physical strength had grown far beyond what it should have been for a child my age. But no matter how hard I trained, I couldn't escape the nagging feeling that I wasn't ready. The memories of the future—of Raditz, Vegeta, and Frieza—loomed over me like a dark cloud. I knew the timeline. I knew the events that were coming. And I knew that I wasn't strong enough to face them.
Not yet.
But I wasn't the only one who had changed.
Grandpa Gohan had noticed my growth, of course. It was impossible not to. I was stronger than any child he had ever seen, faster, more agile. He had even caught glimpses of my training in the forest, though he never said anything about it. He just watched me with quiet pride, never pushing me too hard, but always offering a gentle word of encouragement when I needed it.
But I could see the concern in his eyes. He knew I was different. He just didn't know how different.
One evening, after a long day of training, I sat by the fire with Gohan, the two of us eating dinner in comfortable silence. The sun had set, and the stars were beginning to appear in the night sky, twinkling softly above the mountains.
"Goku," Gohan said suddenly, breaking the silence. "There's something I've been meaning to talk to you about."
I looked up from my bowl of rice, curious. "What is it, Grandpa?"
Gohan hesitated for a moment, then set his bowl down and turned to face me fully. "You've grown so much in the past few years. You're not like other children, Goku. I've known that from the start. And I think... it might be time for you to meet someone who can help you get even stronger."
I blinked, surprised. "Meet someone?"
Gohan nodded. "There's a man who lives near the sea, a martial artist named Master Roshi. He's one of the greatest fighters in the world, and I think he could help you learn to control your strength."
Master Roshi. Of course. I had been waiting for this moment—the moment I would begin my formal martial arts training. In the original timeline, Goku had trained with Master Roshi at the age of twelve, not five. But I wasn't bound by the original timeline anymore. I could change things. I could start earlier, train harder, and become stronger.
"I want to meet him," I said eagerly, my heart pounding with excitement. "When can we go?"
Gohan smiled at my enthusiasm. "We can leave in the morning, if you're ready."
I nodded quickly. "I'm ready."
That night, as I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. This was it. The next step in my journey. The moment where I would begin my formal training with one of the greatest martial artists in the world. But more than that, this was my chance to change things—to alter the course of history.
I knew what was coming. I knew the dangers that lay ahead. And I wasn't going to sit idly by and let things play out the way they had in the original timeline. I was going to be stronger, faster, better. I was going to protect the people I cared about.
No matter what.
The Next Morning
The sun had barely risen when we set out for Master Roshi's island. Gohan carried a small bag of supplies, while I ran ahead, too excited to stay still. The journey was long—much longer than I had anticipated—but I didn't care. I was ready.
By midday, we arrived at the edge of the sea, the vast ocean stretching out before us. And there, in the distance, I could see it—a tiny island with a single house perched on its shore. The Kame House.
My heart raced as we climbed into the small boat that Gohan had prepared, and we began to row across the water. The island grew closer and closer with each passing moment, and I could feel the anticipation building inside me.
This was it. The beginning of my real training. The start of my journey to becoming stronger than ever before.
As we reached the shore and stepped onto the island, I could see a figure standing in front of the house, waiting for us. A small, hunched man with a long white beard, wearing sunglasses and a Hawaiian shirt.
Master Roshi.
He smiled as we approached, his gaze settling on me with a curious glint in his eyes.
"So," he said, his voice gravelly but kind. "This is the kid you've been telling me about, Gohan?"
Gohan nodded, placing a hand on my shoulder. "This is Goku. He's special, Roshi. I think he's ready for your training."
Master Roshi studied me for a moment, then smiled.
"Well then, Goku," he said, his tone light but serious. "Let's see what you've got."
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