"Piccolo!" Goku turned to look at him.
"We Namekians have very sharp hearing, so I accidentally overheard your conversation just now. Don't worry. I won't say anything I shouldn't."
"Alright then."
Seeing this, Piccolo calmly recounted everything Trunks had said earlier.
However, he deliberately avoided mentioning Trunks' true identity.
After hearing it all, Vegeta's face showed a hint of excitement.
"Interesting. Kakarot, neither you nor anyone else should interfere with those two Androids three years from now. I alone will deal with them!"
"You alone?" Goku looked doubtful.
"Hmph!" Vegeta snorted coldly.
"Kakarot, even if my strength isn't as great as yours now, three years from now, I will definitely surpass you!"
"Is that so?" Goku smiled faintly.
Seeing that reaction, Vegeta turned and left without another word.
Not long after, Krillin and the others arrived and asked what had happened.
Goku explained the situation to them.
After hearing it, everyone fell silent—then all agreed on one thing.
They needed to train harder.
After all, no one wanted to die.
Future Timeline
Trunks returned to the future in his Time Machine.
After confirming that the world was still exactly the same ruined future, he hurried back home.
Future Bulma saw him return and immediately smiled with relief.
"Trunks, you went back to the past?"
"Mm."
"Did you see Goku?"
"I did. I also saw Dad, you, Gohan, and Uncle Piccolo."
"You… saw Vegeta?"
Trunks nodded.
"Mom, the past I went to is different from the one you told me about."
"Different?"
"Yes. I don't know if it's because I traveled back in time."
"Then tell me everything."
"Okay."
Trunks explained everything he learned from Goku.
After listening, Future Bulma frowned.
"Trunks, the Gohan you described is completely different from the Gohan I know."
"Mm."
Trunks nodded.
Future Gohan had been his teacher—he knew him better than anyone.
"Mom… could it be that the Time Machine sent me to a different timeline?"
"That seems unlikely…"
"Then what's going on?"
"…Could the problem be Gohan?"
"Gohan?"
"What if he's a reborn person?"
"Reborn?"
"Isn't that how it goes in novels?"
Trunks gave a dry laugh, not knowing how to respond.
"Mom… if the past changes, can our future really change?"
Future Bulma was silent for a long moment.
"I'm afraid… probably not."
"I used to believe that changing the past could save our future. But after your trip, it seems our world…"
She paused.
"…might need to bring Goku from the past over instead."
Trunks nodded slowly.
However, because the Time Machine's energy was insufficient, he could only return to the past again three years later.
Three Days Later
After learning about the Androids, everyone trained harder than ever.
Future Timeline — Ruined City
Trunks stood among the ruins, collecting energy to activate the Time Machine.
Suddenly—
A hand appeared behind him and pulled him into a strange ripple.
Before he could react, his surroundings changed.
He now stood on a large mountain.
In front of him was a man wearing a black robe and a mask.
Trunks immediately became alert.
"Who are you? And where is this place?"
The man didn't answer.
Instead, he suddenly leapt into the sky.
Trunks chased after him.
The man descended rapidly and landed in a forest.
Trunks followed.
But when he landed, the man had already vanished.
"He's… gone?" Trunks searched the area but found nothing.
"…Where is this? I've never seen this place before."
Suddenly, he sensed familiar ki.
"This… this is Dad's ki! Did I return to the past?"
Mount Paozu
The black-robed man Trunks had been chasing now stood beneath a large tree.
Opposite him was a child.
It was Gohan.
—or rather, a clone of Gohan.
Bang!
White mist exploded around the black-robed man.
When it cleared, his appearance changed into Gohan's.
Gohan had disguised himself earlier to avoid exposing the All-Seeing Mirror.
The All-Seeing Mirror could travel through time—and even spy on the Grand Priest.
It was far too dangerous to reveal.
A man carrying a treasure invites disaster.
"System, this All-Seeing Mirror is really amazing. It even pulled Future Trunks over."
"Of course," the System replied proudly.
"Then is it also useful for stealing things?"
"Filthy!"
The System snorted coldly.
"I was joking. Why are you taking it seriously?"
"But Master… why did you bring Trunks from the future?"
Gohan smiled.
"I want to take him as my disciple."
"Take a disciple? Master, you're still a kid yourself!"
Gohan snorted.
"My body may be small, but my mental age is far beyond Trunks'.
"And isn't there a saying—the accomplished one is the teacher?
"My strength surpasses his. Why can't I teach him?"
"…Alright, Master. You're amazing."
"Mm."
Gohan nodded calmly.
West City — Bulma's House
After realizing he might have returned to the past, Trunks immediately rushed to Bulma's home.
"It's you!"
Bulma recognized him instantly.
Since Trunks hadn't revealed his real name before—fearing it might affect his own birth—Bulma only remembered his face.
"It seems I really did return twenty years into the past…"
"…But why did that man in black bring me here?"
Trunks nodded silently, deep in thought.
...
Author's Note 📢
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