On Earth, everyone had already mastered Ki control.
Vegeta, despite his pride, couldn't deny his talent. Ever since he arrived, it had taken him mere moments to copy their ability to suppress power levels and conceal energy signatures.
So, for them, hiding their presence while waiting in ambush was child's play.
With the help of Bulma's Dragon Radar, the group split into six teams and spread out near six Namekian villages holding Dragon Balls.
Bulma, unable to fight, of course went with Son Goku.
They deployed a Capsule House near one of the villages and settled in comfortably.
The others—Krillin, Yamcha, Tien, Chiaotzu, Chi-Chi, and Vegeta—each set up camp in their own way, using Capsule Houses, sleeping bags, or makeshift shelters.
None made a move. They simply waited.
The elder who'd received them days ago—one who had resisted handing over the Dragon Ball—grew more alert, prepared for them to return with force.
But nothing happened.
Then, on the third day, chaos arrived.
A squad of Frieza's soldiers landed on Namek, targeting villages with ruthless precision.
Scattered across the villages, the Z Fighters felt the approaching evil.
Krillin sensed the sinister aura.
"So this is Frieza's energy... God, it's awful.
Please don't let it be him that comes here—just a few grunts, that's all I need.
If he comes, I won't be able to take the Dragon Ball… and Bulma's whole plan will be ruined."
Yamcha, on the other hand, smirked.
"Hah! It's finally time for a real fight!"
He rolled his shoulders and cracked his knuckles.
"I've trained long enough. Let's see what I can do now."
"…Still, gotta wait a bit longer," he muttered.
"Gotta make my entrance at the perfect moment. That way, when I save them, I'll look like a hero."
Elsewhere, Chiaotzu crouched in silence, hiding in the shadows.
Tien lay hidden in the grass, quietly watching.
Vegeta, meanwhile, leaned against a tree, monitoring Frieza's forces with narrowed eyes.
The invaders all relied on scouters. None could mask their Ki.
To him, Frieza was like a floodlight in the night—impossible to miss.
"Heh. So that's where he is…"
Then he sensed three strong signals moving outward.
Dodoria. Zarbon. Cui.
They were spreading out.
Vegeta's grin sharpened.
"My power's increased since last time.
Come on, Cui. Or better yet—Dodoria. Let me kill you."
Soon, Frieza's troops split up.
Captains, elites, and foot soldiers advanced on villages across the planet.
One squad arrived at a familiar Namekian village—one that had previously denied the Earth group a Dragon Ball.
Their leader barked an order:
"Come out! All of you!"
Namekians, young and old, emerged hesitantly.
Children clung to parents' robes, fear in their eyes.
The elder stepped forward, calm but wary.
"I am the elder of this village. Who are you? Why have you come?"
The Frieza squad leader grinned.
"I'm the proud squad leader of Lord Frieza's elite unit.
I've come to collect your Dragon Ball.
Hand it over if you want to live."
"Dragon Ball?" The elder blinked. "How do you know of them?"
"That's not your concern," the leader sneered.
"Give it up peacefully, and you might survive.
Resist—and you'll meet your end.
Be grateful we're giving you that choice."
He raised his hand. An energy blast hummed to life.
Sweat beaded on the elder's brow.
"I'm sorry, but our traditions forbid it.
You must pass the trials of wisdom and courage from each village elder.
The Dragon Balls are not freely given!"
The squad leader's grin vanished.
"Stubborn fool. You'll die for that."
The blast fired—not at the elder, but just past his head.
Before he could react, behind him—
"Eiruuka!"
The villagers screamed.
"He's dead! They killed Eiruuka!"
The elder turned, stunned, only to find a child—burned and lifeless.
Nearby, hidden in the shadows, Chi-Chi watched it all unfold.
She'd arrived silently, setting up an observation point.
But now, hearing the screams, she frowned.
'A kid's already dead… What a waste.'
Chi-Chi clenched her fists but didn't move.
'No. I can't jump in yet. Bulma said they'd kill a lot of people.
They'll be revived with the Dragon Balls… I have to be patient.'
The elder tried to heal the child, but it was too late. The light in his hands faded.
Chi-Chi mused,
'Ah… a healing-type Namekian? If we could bring a few of those back to Earth… they'd be like walking Senzu Beans!'
Meanwhile, the Frieza squad leader stepped forward.
"What's your answer now, elder?"
"…The Dragon Ball is yours. Just leave us alone!"
"Now we're talking. Go fetch it!"
The elder turned away. Moments later, he returned with the massive orb.
Chi-Chi's eyes lit up.
'It's huge! Way bigger than Earth's!'
Unfortunately, she gasped a bit too loud.
"Who's there?!"
The soldiers turned toward her hiding spot.
Realizing she'd been spotted, Chi-Chi stood up sheepishly.
"W-Whoops… guess I'm out!"
The squad leader turned toward her, then smiled lecherously.
"Well now… you're no Namekian. Cute, too. Much easier on the eyes."
The elder's eyes widened.
"It's you…"
Chi-Chi raised a hand in greeting.
"Yo."
Then she turned to the soldier.
"Hey, ugly. Thanks for the compliment, but you guys kill way too easily.
You're bad people. So I'm going to take you out."
The squad leader blinked.
"…You? Kill us?"
Chi-Chi nodded.
"Mm-hmm."
She took a martial arts stance.
The soldiers howled with laughter.
"Captain, better check her power level first."
The scouter beeped. The captain smirked.
"Hah! Useless! Not even a blip!
You're just a weakling in a cute outfit.
How about you dance for us instead?"
The elder scowled.
"I've given you the Dragon Ball. Now leave!"
The captain sneered.
"Shut it, old man. You're really annoying me."
He raised another energy blast—and fired at the elder.
The elder flinched, eyes wide—
And then, Chi-Chi blurred.
She appeared midair, her hand slapping the blast aside like a fly.
The scouter went berserk.
"What?! Her power level—it's spiking?!"
BOOM!
The scouter exploded.
Too late.
Chi-Chi's kick slammed into his face.
Bones cracked. Teeth flew.
The squad leader screamed as she rained down strikes, each one merciless and precise.
In seconds, he was down.
The others rushed her.
But Chi-Chi was already moving.
A blur.
Ten soldiers down in the blink of an eye.
She dusted off her hands.
"Mine now," she said, scooping up the Dragon Ball.
The villagers stared in awe.
Chi-Chi waved them off.
"No need to thank me. I'm just here for the Dragon Ball.
Also… you guys are kinda ugly, so please don't get too close. I'll scream."
Then she blasted off into the sky, leaving a stunned silence behind.
"…Who was that woman?" a child whispered.
The elder pulled out his communicator.
"Grand Elder, did you see that?
Not just Frieza's army—there are others on this planet searching for the Dragon Balls…
I have a proposal…"