Gohan was strange. Sure, a kid with a tail isn't rare in this world. That was just a striking feature, like having red hair or no nose. It was nothing new or remarkable on this colorful planet.
No, Gohan's strangeness lay in something more intrinsic to him. Bulma had noticed that this young Saiyan was extremely sensitive to the outside world. Not only that, but despite his young age, he absorbed a great deal of knowledge with incredible curiosity. However, he still had a young, confused mind lacking the criteria possessed by a fully developed mind.
Furthermore, using her empathic ability, Bulma could sense the rich emotions bubbling within Gohan. However, he seemed to have excellent control over them, not letting them overflow. Instead of disappearing, though, these emotions were building up.
He wasn't repressing himself, though. Bulma realized it was more instinctive than anything else. It was as if the boy knew that if he let himself be too influenced by his feelings, something he couldn't control might happen.
Today, however, the little boy seemed to lack that superb emotional instinct. He wouldn't stop crying, casting aside all the brilliant wisdom he sometimes displayed. Not only that, but his hidden power was unleashing itself uncontrollably, forcing Chi-Chi to be more careful as she held him.
Even though he couldn't see how the fight between his father and his supposed uncle was unfolding, he could hear the constant explosions, feel the gusting wind, and sense that the land and sea were shaking ceaselessly. All of that made him extremely anxious.
He could hear and understand what his father's friends were saying. His aunt Bulma seemed calm, and no one was alarmed. Still, a feeling was growing in the little Saiyan's heart.
'I want to help Dad,' Gohan thought through his tears. He wanted to know what was happening because, despite being in his mother's arms, everything around him seemed terrifying. Instinctively, he strained to sense the battle.
Although he was considered a martial arts prodigy, his training had only been preparatory. After all, he had just reached the right age to receive more comprehensive guidance.
How could you expect excellent control and patience from a four-year-old? His most primitive instincts constantly alerted him to an unparalleled threat, and he was getting in his own way.
This was the first time he had encountered a being like Raditz, who had helped exterminate dozens of civilizations over the decades. How could a little boy like him withstand such a bloody, terrifying, death-filled aura?
However, he was familiar with many concepts, such as ki, thanks to his excellent memory and ability to understand. Unlike many others, Bulma didn't treat him like a little kid. She always made sure to answer his questions.
'Calm your mind and heart. Let your energy resonate with the world and connect with others so you can sense any ki signature, even that of the smallest insect. Remember, the Path of the Sky encompasses everything. Do not limit yourself, for the Sky has no limitations.' Gohan recalled this, sinking deeper and deeper into a meditative trance that helped calm the turmoil of his power and mind, as well as help him perceive the source of his anxious emotions, if only fleetingly.
The fight between Goku and Raditz. With his eyes closed and held by his mother, who preferred to calm him with human touch rather than spells, Gohan was finally able to grasp the conflict somewhat. However, despite his brilliance, he knew he couldn't interfere.
"Aunt..." Gohan lifted his head from his mother's chest and looked at Bulma, who was a few meters away, gazing into the distance and watching the fight between the brothers intently. When she heard the child's voice, she looked at him with a smile.
"Are you worried about your father? You should have felt how strong Goku is," the blue-haired woman said. But Gohan shook his head and rested his face against his mother's chest.
"It's not that. I feel like I'm too weak," the boy murmured. Bulma burst out laughing, drawing the attention of the others. The rest had been listening to Gohan, but hadn't paid much attention, focusing instead on the fight.
"Boy, you're stronger than I was at your age. Even though you're smart, you're still a kid. We're not going to let a kid get involved in dangerous fights, no matter how genius he is. We're not that desperate," Krillin said, causing the others to nod.
"Krillin is right, little Gohan. Besides, your father is strong. Even though the other Saiyan is, too, I can see that they aren't trying to kill each other. No matter how fierce their attacks are, Goku is holding back," said Yamcha. He narrowed his eyes upon realizing this, a gesture that only those familiar with him would notice.
They didn't know much about Raditz, but the fact that someone with such a dark ki hadn't resorted to drastic measures suggested that he had his own considerations. It was clear that neither of them was seeking to end the other's life.
"They're communicating with each other through combat. They're testing their hearts and sharing their true feelings. It's not for nothing that they say the best way to understand another warrior is to fight him," Ten Shinhan mused. This caused Piccolo to growl softly, but he said nothing more.
After all, as the descendant of an evil being, Piccolo didn't readily join the group. However, after fighting hard against them all, including Master Roshi, he managed to reach an understanding with them through combat. This served as a living example of Ten Shinhan's words.
Returning to the topic of Gohan, perhaps he hasn't had as many life-or-death battles as in the original timeline. However, thanks to Bulma's intervention, he is much more aware of the dangers of the universe. Besides, he is destined to achieve far greater things than his counterparts.
Would they really let a child get involved in potential conflicts with beings who have taken more lives than they have eaten loaves of bread? Never! Perhaps when Gohan reached a certain age, they would allow him to get involved in those matters because geniuses are always welcome.
But for now, they wouldn't let him or any minor get involved. They had all consciously reached this consensus. Gohan could only remain silent, focusing all his senses on the fight. However, his emotions were reaching a breaking point, which Bulma noticed.
'He's stopped crying. His aura seems to have calmed down, but his ki is still raging inside him. It's like a small pressure cooker about to explode. Perhaps...' An idea popped into Bulma's mind, but first, she had to deal with the immediate situation.
Something had changed in the fight between the brothers. After a surge of energy, everything calmed down rapidly as if some unforeseen changes had occurred. Before they had a chance to figure out what had happened, both Saiyans flew toward the island where Master Roshi lived.
"Goku! What happened?" Chi-Chi asked urgently because, as a witch, she could see things that others might not, especially those related to the esoteric.
In her eyes, Goku was a bright, warm light, like a sun in the sky. He didn't feel distant, and his gentle touch was accessible to those who chose to approach him.
The others had special characteristics, so Raditz obviously looked different from how he actually appeared. To her, the Saiyan was a red moon dripping with blood, surrounded by darkness with bright flashes within, as if desperately clinging to the faint light within.
Seeing this man, who claimed to be her husband's brother, approach them unsettled her. Every hair on her body stood on end, and a golden glow representing her magical power flared in her eyes, ready to unleash her full might at the slightest sign of danger.
Raditz noticed this change in her. Though he was a warrior hardened by over a thousand battles, he felt a pang of absolute terror as if a giant beast were staring at him, ready to devour him at the slightest hesitation.
He had encountered magicians and witches throughout the universe. Though they were not as common as brute-force users, these spellcasters always proved to be a headache.
They were always the worst to face, like psychics. He harbored a personal grudge against them because, as he recalled, his father had once been attacked by a psychic while invading a planet called Kanassa.
During the last few months, when he was able to contact his father, the latter had behaved erratically. He claimed that an alien had endowed him with an uncontrollable ability to foresee the future, an ability that felt more like a curse than anything else.
However, it was those strange visions that made Bardock try to prepare himself. Over time, he gradually gained control of the visions and sought a glimmer of hope amid so much despair.
Seeing the witch carrying a young Saiyan in her arms, Raditz sighed deeply. Had his father seen this? Was this the hope he had fought tooth and nail for?
"Kakarot, is that your mate? It seems you chose well." Raditz didn't know what they called the union of two people on this planet, and he didn't have much experience with such matters, so he was rather blunt.
"Do you mean Chi-Chi? She's my wife," Goku replied with a slight smile. He looked at Gohan, who was staring at him with red, watery eyes. His face was still swollen from crying. Even now, he seemed to be fighting back tears, but he held them in.
Goku looked at his hands, which were covered in debris from the scouter he'd snatched from Raditz. This had led to the fight ending in a draw after a final clash of powers.
After that, his older brother quickly stepped away and began explaining the situation. His scouter was being monitored by two groups: his immediate boss, a megalomaniacal Saiyan who believed himself to be the prince of a race, and an even bigger megalomaniac who wanted to achieve dominance over the North Galaxy through real estate.
"So, this is your older brother? He really is taller than you, Goku!" Krillin joked as he approached Raditz quite confidently, extending his hand in a friendly gesture and donning a smile.
However, Raditz tensed his facial muscles. What was that little guy doing, showing him his hand and teeth? Was he threatening him? Just as the Saiyan was about to respond with a tail attack, Goku placed his hand on Raditz's shoulder.
"It's a courtesy. The hand gesture is a greeting. Showing your teeth isn't a threat; it's a friendly social gesture." Goku, who could understand his brother's instinctive reaction, offered this advice.
It was only later, through the Space Forum, that he came to understand this aspect of the Saiyans. Raditz calmed down, returned the greeting stiffly, and looked directly at Gohan. Gohan's mother had set him down on the ground after realizing there was no real danger.
The young Saiyan approached his father and hugged his leg, clinging to his pants, which were full of holes from the battle. Goku crouched down and touched his son's head, which was covered by a cap adorned with a pearl instead of a Dragon Ball.
"You cried a lot, didn't you? Don't worry. Daddy's okay. Look, I came here with your uncle. Why don't you say hello to him?" Goku suggested. Gohan glanced shyly at Raditz, who grimaced when he saw that the boy had indeed been crying.
However, remembering how much his younger brother used to cry when he wasn't in the incubator, so much so that he upset the other children, which is why they sent him home, Raditz sighed with nostalgia.
'Crybaby father, crybaby son,' the Saiyan thought, before flashing a gentle smile that showed his teeth. In his view, this was a friendly gesture. But for someone who had never smiled like this before, it was a terrifying sight that made Gohan burst into tears.
He might have been a little genius, but even he was afraid of strange things.
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AN: ... finally, I guess. I got a big case of writer's block, and my University went hard this period, lol.
Never smile at a monkey, gorilla, or other primate. They interpret it as a threat because baring your teeth is a threatening gesture. I thought the Saiyans would have that quirk, too. Of course, not all smiles involve showing your teeth, so keep that in mind.
You'll also notice that I've mixed things up regarding Bardock's origin. Yes, I did that on purpose. Both the Bardock special and Dragon Ball Minus (as well as Bardock's story in the Granola Saga) are interesting, but I felt blending them would work much better. I felt that blending them would work much better. The same goes for Goku and Broly's childhoods.