You know today would be the perfect day for a special Valentine's Day chapter but I'll just stick with staying with the memory arc! XD
Hope you all don't mind! XP And with all that said, let's dive right into the chapter! ^_^
P.S: I think my favorite thing to write is Team 7's disdain of Vegeta XD Yeah they don't like him that much XP
As Team Seven stood in the void waiting for the other memory, Naruto decided to speak up.
"You know something? With everything we've seen, I'm just wondering how Gohan has managed to keep himself sane." Naruto said getting the attention of his two teammates.
"Yeah, you definitely have a point. Between nearly being killed as a baby crashing into a tree, being kidnapped by a bunch of monsters, being kidnapped by his 'uncle', losing his father, being kidnapped by a scary goblin looking guy, being left in the wild for a year, watching his friends die viciously, getting his neck broken and nearly losing his father again only for his father to stay away, I'm wondering how the hell can Gohan stay so cheerful?" Sakura asked as her heart truly went out for her Saiyan friend.
"Seriously, Gohan could write an entire book on his life so far. And the sad thing…it's not even over yet." Sasuke solemnly said before the memory came to with Gohan being in his room as he lifted back in his seat.
"Dad…where are you? It's been a whole year." Gohan said.
"A year!?" Naruto and Sakura exclaimed.
"Just what the heck could've kept Goku away for so long?" Sasuke pondered before the room to his door opened.
"Gohan, I have someone for you to meet." Chichi smiled as she gestured to a man besides her. He had a Chinese styled outfit with glasses and a big afro.
Team Seven deadpanned at the sight of him.
"Who the hell is this loser?" Naruto deadpanned.
"Meet your new tutor." Chichi introduced as the man cleared his throat.
"Yes, my name is Mr. Shu. And I specialize in everyone, even the slow children." Mr. Shu said in a voice that the three teens found extremely annoying.
"Slow? This guy?" Sasuke snorted.
"My Gohan is not slow, Mr. Shu." Chichi glared at the man who paid her no mind.
"Well regardless, shall we get started?" Mr Shu asked as Chichi lost her anger before turning to her son.
"Well Gohan, do your best!" Chichi smiled at her son before taking her leave.
"Yep, I don't like this guy." Naruto eye rolled.
"Same." Sasuke and Sakura nodded as Gohan went through several problems in his workbook while Mr. Shu was blatantly going out of his way to mark every problem Gohan worked through, wrong.
Team Seven felt themselves disliking Mr. Shu more and more with every second they were forced to spend with him.
"What an annoying dumbass." Sakura sighed wishing she could sock this guy in the face.
"Wrong again. Honestly how can you become a scholar when you make little mistakes?" Mr. Shu sighed irritably as Gohan rolled his eyes.
"Mistakes are to learn from." Gohan muttered before Mr. Shu suddenly whacked Gohan's back with a whip.
"How dare you!?" Mr. Shu yelled as Team Seven couldn't believe what they were seeing.
"How dare you back talk me!? Do you know who you're talking too!? I am Mr. Shu!" Mr. Shu yelled as Team Seven felt themselves hate him even more.
"Can I sock this guy in the head?" Naruto asked, getting sick of Mr. Shu.
"It's a memory dumbass." Sasuke sighed though he wished the same thing.
Much to the team's dismay the memory suddenly morphed before they found themselves on the edge of the mountainside.
"What just happened?" Naruto asked.
"Who cares? At least we don't have to see that Mr. Shu prick anymore." Sakura said as they noticed Gohan walking out of his mountain home before they noticed a very familiar figure!
"Hey son!" Everyone turned to see no one other than Goku clad in his trademark orange GI.
"Hey, it's Goku!" Naruto happily waved as Sasuke smirked.
"Took him a while." Sasuke smirked as Gohan happily ran to his father before tackling him in a teary hug.
"Haha, it's okay, son. I missed you!" Goku hugged his son back before putting Gohan on his shoulder before Chichi ran out before she started crying happy tears at the sight of her husband.
"Goku…you…." Chichi wiped her eyes happily as Goku smiled his trademark grin.
"Haha sorry it took so long, Chi! I shouldn't have taken that left turn by Mars." Goku said before walking through the window.
"Well you won't get your feast if you go through the window. You know better." Chichi warned with a mock threat as Goku happily laughed.
"I wonder if he's related to Naruto." Sakura joked.
"Considering he's a rude idiot, I wouldn't doubt it." Sasuke smirked.
"Yeah I would HEY!" Naruto yelled as Goku happily set his son down.
"So daddy, you gotta tell me all about how you beat Frieza!" Gohan happily suggested as Goku continued smiling at his son before he suddenly glared at him.
"Daddy?" Gohan asked before "Goku" suddenly transformed into Frieza.
"What the hell!?" Sakura asked as Frieza lunged at Gohan who caught his fist.
"Your dad is a loser! Nothing but a loser!" Frieza yelled before the memory morphed right to where they were in Gohan's room.
Team Seven were nothing short of unsettled with what they saw.
"….Just….what the hell was that?" Naruto asked.
"I assume that was a nightmare…" Sasuke said as he understood the feeling. How many sleepless nights had he gone through with Itachi's massacre of their parents and entire clan?
It was only thanks to Gohan's influence that he had begun to heal….
Gohan slowly opened his eyes to see Mr. Shu holding his wrist.
"You barbarian!" Mr. Shu growled as Gohan rubbed his eyes.
"A…dream?" Gohan asked as he was relieved that Frieza was nowhere near him.
"You monster! You nearly broke my hand when you were napping off!" Mr. Shu said.
"Serves him right." Sakura snorted as Naruto and Sasuke snickered.
"You probably get that from that dad of yours." Mr. Shu said as Team Seven glared at him.
"Talk about a low blow, going after his dad." Naruto growled.
Gohan glared at Shu as he continued.
"I know your type, little punks abandoned by their fathers. Then again with how worthless that loser is, it's no wonder why his son is such a screw up!" Mr. Shu laughed as Gohan gave him a glare that Mr. Shu noticed.
"You want to challenge me you punk!?" Mr. Shu yelled as he raised his whip before lunging it at Gohan who caught it.
"Now you listen to me, Mr. Shu, my father is not a loser, he's a great man, you got that!?" Gohan demanded, breaking the whip is half.
"W-why you!? Now I can handle you…with your mother here of course! Mrs. Chichi!" Mr. Shu yelled.
"What a baby. He talks all that shit but needs to run behind Gohan's mom." Sasuke shook his head as Chichi came into the room with an expression of nothing short of confusion on his face.
"What's going on here?" Chichi asked.
"What's going on is that we have a classic case of bad child syndrome." Mr. Shu "explained" as Chichi glared at the man.
"Not my Gohan!" Chichi argued.
"Oh my foot it's not. Though this can be attributed to his father." Mr. Shu said as Gohan snarled at Mr. Shu.
"My dad's a saint compared to you!" Gohan growled.
"How dare you!" Mr. Shu yelled, whipping Gohan dead in the face, this time drawing blood.
"THAT BASTARD!" Naruto roared as he had to be restrained by Sakura and Sasuke though this time they couldn't find themselves to berate him.
Though none of them noticed the blackened eyes over Chichi.
"Now after being abandoned by the worthless father, we have a worthless son. Though with my guidance he'll be a rose growing through concrete!" Mr. Shu bragged before laughing.
Thankfully…much to Team Seven's relief and sanity, Chichi slowly opened the windows before…
"GET OUT OF OUR HOUSE!" Chichi yelled before throwing Mr. Shu through the windows.
"Yeah Chichi!" Naruto and Sakura cheered as Sasuke gave an amused smirk.
"Whoa…that was cool mom…" Gohan said in awe.
"Thank you, Gohan." Chichi smiled though her good mood was soon ruined.
"Why you!? No one treats Mr. Shu like this!? You'll be hearing from my lawyers!" Mr. Shu yelled before Chichi hastily chased him off their property.
Naruto found the whole thing hilarious as he fell on his ass as Sasuke and Sakura weren't too far off from laughing.
With everything back to normal, Gohan resumed to his studies before noticing something off.
"What's wrong?" Naruto asked.
"Guess we'll find out soon." Sasuke said before the phone in the living room rang.
"Krillin? What's up?" Gohan asked in a voice that wasn't subtle in hiding his dread.
"You can sense it too right? Frieza's…alive…" Krillin's voice said through the phone as Team Seven's hearts dropped.
"No way….that bastard is still around?" Naruto asked.
"But how? Goku was stronger than him so he should've killed him!" Sakura said as Sasuke narrowed his eyes remembering Gohan's mercy against Zabuza.
"If like Gohan, he probably gave Frieza a chance to repent and change his ways but being the bastard he is, Frieza didn't take it." Sasuke said.
"So you mean he's gonna attack the earth and kill everyone over a petty grudge!?" Naruto demanded, angry and disgusted.
"Some people are sore losers." Sakura crossed her arms with a disgusted expression as Gohan felt the phone fall from his hands.
"Oh no…" Gohan barely gasped.
"We all should get together so we can try to fight him. Even without Goku, maybe with teamwork we can all team up." Krillin said as Gohan nodded.
"Right, I'll get suited up." Gohan said before hanging up the phone.
After getting suited up in the same armor he wore on Namek, he flew and met up with all his friends before touching down in the middle of a desert wasteland where Yamcha, Tien, Chiaotzu and Bulma were.
However much to Team Seven's displeasure….
"Well if it isn't the Kakabrat." Vegeta smirked as Team Seven all groaned in frustration.
"What is he doing here?" Sakura groaned as Naruto suddenly guffawed.
"And why is he wearing pink!?" Naruto laughed as Sasuke and Sakura took some amusement at the Saiyan Prince's ridiculous look at Vegeta's pink "Badman" shirt along with his yellow skinny jeans.
"But why is he even here? After everything he's done, they shouldn't even have him around!" Sakura glared at Vegeta.
"Purely for expediency reasons. Given that Goku's out of the picture that makes Vegeta the strongest so it makes sense why they'd tolerate him. It doesn't mean they have to like him but it's for everyone's wellbeing." Sasuke shoved his hands in his pocket though it didn't mean he liked the sight of Vegeta any more than Naruto or Sakura. If anything, he seemed to dislike him the most out of his teammates.
Tien had the same feelings of disdain as it showed on his facial expressions but chose not to say anything.
"Well thanks to that idiot father of yours, Frieza will be here soon." Vegeta snorted as Krillin glared at him.
"You just don't learn do you!? Goku actually spared your life so shut up!" Krillin said as Vegeta smirked.
"Wanna die again baldy?" Vegeta asked as Krillin took a step back, immediately being reminded of who was the stronger of the two.
"Gah I hate this guy!" Naruto growled before a harsh look from Piccolo cut everyone off.
"Everyone, get down! He's here!" Piccolo yelled as everyone could gape as they noticed a huge ship come down.
"Damn it! And all because that clown father of yours was too soft to finish the job!" Vegeta yelled at Gohan as the ship landed several yards away.
"Oh man….but surely Gohan and the others have gotten stronger in a year?" Sakura suggested.
"I doubt it. Frieza no doubt must be stronger than he was on Namek." Sasuke grit his teeth as he found Goku and Gohan's notions about second chances to be a slight detriment. Yes, it was good but should everyone get a second chance?
He sure as hell wouldn't give Itachi one if he begged at Sasuke's feet for forgiveness.
"Aww man, this sucks! And right after I came back to life I gotta die again!?" Yamcha literally quivered in his shoes.
"You know, I kinda feel for the guy." Naruto said. Hopefully he would never die
"Hmph, coward." Vegeta smirked.
"Look all we can do is bide our time before hopefully Goku comes." Piccolo said.
"Right. I'm sure we can handle him. If we all work together." Tien said as Yamcha suddenly found himself gain some semblance of confidence.
"Right, and I'll protect everyone, especially Bulma! Especially since she'll need it the most…" Yamcha muttered towards the end, earning him an ear tug from Bulma.
"Excuse me!?" Bulma said.
"N-nothing, Bulma Bunny!" Yamcha sheepishly grinned as everyone shared a good laugh.
"She kinda reminds me of Sakura!" Naruto laughed as Sakura glared at Naruto.
"Am I really that scary?" Sakura asked as both boys chose not to answer as she glared at the two of them.
"Dicks." Sakura folded her arms.
"But how can they beat Frieza?" Sasuke asked.
Soon everyone began flying to where Frieza was once all laughter was done however they saw something bizarre in the distance.
A youth with golden hair had literally cut up Frieza.
"Holy crap! He cut Frieza into cold chops!" Naruto exclaimed as Sakura and Sasuke were too stunned to correct Naruto like they normally would.
"Look at his hair! Another Super Saiyan!" Sakura pointed at the mysterious youth.
"And there's another one of Frieza's family?" Sasuke asked as Team Seven's attention was drawn to a frightened King Cold.
"If he can transform he'd be just an annoying as Frieza!" Naruto said before the mysterious youth made short work of King Cold as soon as he blasted Frieza into nothing.
"No…way…" Sakura nearly fell to her knees as the youth powered down to his lilac covered locks before flying away.
"Hey guys! Come with me and I'll tell you everything!" The boy smiled before flying away as the Z-Fighters debated whether or not they could trust him before Bulma surprisingly decided to humor the boy feeling somewhat of a connection with him as the others reluctantly agreed.
Soon two hours passed with the boy even offering them refreshments as the boy seemed to know Goku's coming back to earth and his exact time and location.
"Okay this guy smells mad suspect." Sakura said.
"Yeah, he knows when and where Goku will arrive?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow not trusting the new "ally".
"I dunno, this guy seems good!" Naruto shrugged.
However much to everyone's amazement, a mysterious spaceship rained down from the heavens. Everyone looked to see Goku come out of the spaceship wearing a very eccentric outfit.
"Pfft, what is Goku wearing!?" Naruto snickered as Sakura clonked Naruto's head.
"At least Goku's back!" Sakura yelled in relief as Sasuke narrowed his eyes at the purple haired youth.
"So he was right? Who is this guy?" Sasuke glared at the youth before the youth took Goku with him as soon as Goku finished his catching up with his friends.
After Goku came back with the right information in tone, he revealed news that would forever change their world.
The mysterious youth is revealed to be Trunks, the mysterious son of Vegeta and Bulma from the future (though Team Seven doesn't know this. Yet anyways.) that has fallen into chaos.
The cause? A former Red Ribbon Army soldier by the name of Dr. Gero who has wanted revenge against Goku for him toppling the entire army as a young boy. As such, Dr. Gero created two homicidal androids who has made the entire future Earth their playground.
They even went as far as to annihilate all of the Z-Fighters save for Gohan. Although eventually…they got Gohan leaving Trunks as the only Z-Fighter remaining.
However thanks to the help of a Future Bulma, Trunks was able to go back in time and give a warning in hopes of a better future. Not to mention saving Goku's life who unfortunately died of a heart virus six months before the Androids came.
"Wow…looks like they're really in it this time." Sakura said.
"Yeah though I'm wondering how Gohan came to us." Sasuke added.
With all of this information absorbed Team Seven watched as Goku and Co. trained for three years until the fateful day came.
May 12th...
"I hope they're ready." Sasuke said.
"But I'm just wondering how Gohan became a Super Saiyan." Naruto wondered as Team Seven couldn't help wondering the same question.
Soon the trio of Goku, Piccolo and Gohan met up with Krillin who then met up with Bulma holding a small baby in her arms. As they touched down, the team was met with a VERY huge bombshell, in her arms was Trunks, the baby of Vegeta and Bulma.
"NO FREAKING WAY!" Naruto, Sakura and surprisingly Sasuke yelled.
"…How….even…" Sakura pondered as she couldn't think of any plausible scenario on Bulma and Vegeta hooking up, especially making a baby.
"….Was she sober?" Naruto asked as even Sasuke couldn't think of a refute for that statement.
However once the shock died down, the team noticed how Yajirobe had come with Senzu beans in tow.
"Haha he reminds me of Choji!" Naruto chortled.
"Nah he's too lazy to be Choji." Sasuke corrected Naruto as Yajirobe dipped out ASAP.
However he was soon blasted from the sky by two mysterious specs in the sky.
"What the!? Who's that!?" Naruto asked.
"The Androids!" Sakura said as they vanished into Amendo Island quickly.
"Gohan! You go save Yajirobe! I'll handle this!" Goku told his son.
"Right!" Gohan said as he flew and saved Yajirobe from drowing thankfully. As soon as he returned Yajirobe to safety he flew to where Goku as a Super Saiyan was fighting a white puffy Android with an elderly man down on the ground below.
"Are those the Androids?" Sasuke asked.
"I dunno. Wouldn't they be more….menacing?" Naruto asked as Sakura looked upwards.
"Awesome! Goku's winning!" Sakura cheered as Sasuke was silent for a few seconds.
"No, look at him. He's slower and more sluggish." Sasuke said.
"You don't think…" Naruto dreaded as he realized what Sasuke was getting at.
"It's the Heart Virus! Father!" Gohan yelled as he tried rushing to his father's side as Goku stopped him.
However….Goku was soundly defeated by Android 19, even managing to return him back to his base mode.
"Oh no!" Naruto yelled as Android 19 wasted no time in jumping on him before placing one hand on his neck.
"M…my energy!" Goku yelled.
"What's he doing!?" Sakura yelled as Sasuke gasped.
"His energy! He must be taking it!" Sasuke said as his teammates looked at him in disbelief.
"But how!?" Naruto demanded.
"It must be because he's an Android!" Sasuke growled, wishing he could save Goku before remembering these were merely events that already happened.
However much to their disbelief, Vegeta kicked #19 away!
"You stay away from Kakarot you robotic freak! If anyone is going to defeat Kakarot, that honor will rightfully go to me!" Vegeta smirked.
"Oh great! Not this guy!" Naruto rolled his eyes.
"You must've not taken your virus medication. Hmph, you should've known better knowing only going Super Saiyan would've made the heart virus worse!" Vegeta scoffed.
"You just leave it to me. Then we're next, got it?" Vegeta asked before kicking Goku away where Piccolo caught him.
"Ugh! I really hate this guy!" Sakura groaned.
"Daddy…." Gohan muttered.
Much to everyone's amazement, their attention was drawn to Vegeta who shockingly managed to turn Super Saiyan!
"No way!" Naruto yelled.
"But how?" Sakura asked.
"Kakarot said a pure heart was needed and yes my heart is quite pure. Pure EVIL that is…" Vegeta bragged as if hearing her question.
"Of course." Sasuke said in a slight dry tone.
With Vegeta's Super Saiyan form he was able to easily defeat Android 19, thanks to his "Big Bang Attack".
However Android 20 used this time to escape as the Z-Warriors went chasing after him before a shocking scenario was revealed form the older version of Trunks.
This android along with #19 were not the Androids who terrorized Trunks' future.
No, the Androids were #17 and #18.
"What!? But how!?" Naruto demanded.
"It must be a time paradox of sorts." Sasuke said.
"A paradox?" Sakura asked.
"Basically with Trunks coming back in time, events would be different than in the original timeline." Sasuke simplified for his friends as the hunt for Gero was on.
However Gohan took Yajirobe and Bulma to safety.
Afterwards with everyone reunited with each other, they then talked about their new game plan.
They would move Goku to Kame House in order to hide him from Androids 17, 18 and even 16 as they were significantly more powerful than they were in Trunks' future.
"And…shit has just gotten worse." Naruto sighed.
"Can things get even worse?" Sakura asked.
"Don't jinx it." Sasuke sighed as new information was released in the memory.
Apparently a new Time Machine was found in the remote wilderness. Though with Future Bulma only being able to produce one Time Machine, Trunks and Gohan decided to investigate this only to find out that it was indeed a model similar to the one Trunks had.
As Gohan, Trunks and Bulma returned to civilization to investigate it turns out the cause was actually an Android from another alternate timeline, the Android…known as Cell….
"Oh man….so we're gonna see Cell…" Naruto said, slightly excited.
"It looks like it." Sasuke said as Goku soon woke up soon after as he suggested a new method of training, the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, a place where one can get a year's worth of training in one day.
"Wow….sounds awesome!" Naruto grinned.
"Sounds like something out of an anime." Sakura deadpanned as Goku, Gohan and Co. made their way to Kame's Lookout.
"Holy crap we're so high!" Sakura said, feeling slightly nauseous.
Vegeta and Trunks were allowed to go first while Goku and Gohan stayed behind and kept tabs on what was happening on earth.
Androids 17 and 18 had managed to find out where Kame House was but Piccolo had fought 17 for a good while….However…Cell had managed to make his way over to their fight thanks to the amount of Ki, Piccolo had mistakenly put out.
Despite Piccolo's best efforts Cell had made quick work of Piccolo.
Thankfully Goku was able to save Piccolo thanks to a technique he showed earlier, the Instant Transmission.
"Man! I wish I could learn that!" Naruto exclaimed with sparkly eyes.
"Same." Sasuke said feeling slightly envious.
With Piccolo and even Tien saved by Goku, Vegeta and Trunks had returned from the Time Chamber with Trunks' hair being longer along with him getting taller along with Vegeta.
"Wow….I hope we can use something like that!" Naruto said.
"Right?" Sakura asked. Just how strong could a normal ninja get by training in a room like that?
With them getting done, soon Goku and Gohan were permitted to enter, after receiving some cool new armor from Bulma.
"Alright son. Despite me barely staying a few months in here when I was little I think you can handle it." Goku smiled as Gohan grinned.
"Right!" Gohan said as Gohan tried turning into a Super Saiyan for the first couple of weeks but to no avail….
However Gohan getting frustrated attacked his dad.
"Dad…Piccolo was right about you, you are too soft on me! I can't get stronger with you being like this!" Gohan yelled as he lunged himself at his dad.
"Okay that was a bit too much!" Sakura said.
"He's doing this so Goku can push him to being a Super Saiyan." Sasuke said as Sakura sighed.
"Why can't you warriors be more rational?" Sakura sighed.
"But…you're a warrior too." Naruto reminded.
"SHUT UP!" Sakura yelled.
"Yes ma'am." Naruto yipped.
Soon Goku soon powered up to a Super Saiyan.
"KAMEHAMEHA!" Goku yelled shooting the beam of energy towards Gohan who deflected it as Gohan grit his teeth in frustration before his eyes widened as his fights against the Saiyans, the Ginyu Force and even Frieza flashed through the memory.
"If I can't get stronger I can't protect anyone! I WILL get, stronger, stronger, stronger, stronger and stronger! That way NO ONE will die for me again!" Gohan yelled before he was surrounded in a golden aura, turning the memory golden for a second before it returned to normal.
Yes….Son Gohan had become a Super Saiyan.
"So that's how Gohan became a Super Saiyan!" Naruto grinned, happy Gohan didn't lose anyone close to him.
Well…at least not right now.
"Whoa…look at him!" Sakura said as Sasuke couldn't believe what he was seeing.
The scene shifted as Goku and Gohan were training as some time had passed with Gohan's haircut being cut to the hair they all know.
"Okay Gohan…let's call it a day…" Goku said as he was limping as Gohan fell over.
"Gohan!" Naruto yelled, running to his brother's side only to pass right through him.
"Gohan?" Goku asked as Gohan slowly got up with a small smirk on his face as he powered up to a Super Saiyan before lightning surrounded him, turning him into a mode beyond a Super Saiyan!
"Whoa what the!?" Naruto asked as the memory blacked out.
"There's a form beyond Super Saiyan?" Sasuke asked.
"Okay how many more forms of Super Saiyan can there be?" Sakura asked as the memory soon returned to Goku and Gohan leaving the Time Chamber as they all received a rundown on what happened over the last day.
Cell had managed to reach his perfect form for one.
"Of COURSE Vegeta would be the reason why!" Naruto yelled.
"Can I smack this guy? PLEASE!?" Sakura asked as Sasuke merely shook his head in frustration.
After becoming perfect, Cell quickly made short work of Vegeta and Trunks before deciding to host the Cell Games in ten days.
However everyone's faith was put in Goku though Team Seven could tell Gohan would be a way bigger part.
"I think it's unfair how everyone's essentially ignoring Gohan. I mean he's not just some kid…" Naruto said as he felt like he was treated the same.
"Well with Goku saving them for so long I can understand their perspectives." Sasuke said as Team Seven were treated to a slight montage of Goku and Gohan spending quality time together, even fishing together, completing Goku's promise back in the memory of the Saiyan battle and even Chichi was involved as they celebrated Gohan's eleventh birthday.
"It's so nice seeing Gohan happy." Sakura smiled as the other two boys agreed.
It's too bad this wouldn't last….
Soon the day of the Cell Games came as Team Seven followed the Z-Fighters as they made their way to the Cell Games arena were Cell eagerly awaited them.
"Wait that's Cell!? He sure is ugly." Naruto grimaced.
"Yeah no kidding." Sakura agreed.
"I can tell this guy is powerful though." Sasuke said as after dealing with a local annoyance known as Hercule Satan, Goku then squared off against Cell.
"So Goku's the first to go down? That's too bad, here I was hoping to save the best for last." Cell mused as Goku assumed a fighting stance before powering up with so much power even the memory shook.
"Whoa…..how strong is he?" Naruto asked.
"He's Gohan's dad after all." Sasuke calmly answered though internally he was slightly unnerved at the amount of power he saw.
Soon Goku and Cell went at each other with speeds that Team Seven were able to barely keep up with.
Eventually as Cell started to get the upper hand, Goku then released a trump card.
"Kameheme…" Goku muttered before vanishing.
"HA!" Goku yelled as he hit Cell dead on with the Warp Kamehameha.
"Whoa! He used Instant Transmission with the Kamehameha!" Sakura exclaimed.
Sasuke was quiet as he wondered what would happen if he could combine the Instant Transmission with the Chidori.
As the smoke cleared, it revealed nothing but Cell's torso left.
"Alright! Goku got him!" Naruto cheered before Cell was able to shockingly reform himself!
"No way!" Naruto groaned.
"Well Gohan did say Goku sacrificed himself." Sasuke reminded his teammate.
As Cell flexed his new limbs, Goku soon did something shocking to everyone.
"I give up!" Goku announced.
"WHAT!?" Team 7 yelled.
"That's right. I see how strong you are and Cell, I give this bout to you." Goku smiled as Team 7 stared at Goku as if he was insane.
"….Did he hit his head again?" Naruto asked.
"Maybe that fight knocked his brain out of whack." Sasuke said as he wished he could kick Goku's head to knock some sense into Goku.
"Goku….Do you know what those words mean?" Cell asked as even he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Yeah but it's not like as if there isn't anyone left to fight right. And if you beat this person, there's no one that can beat you." Goku said.
"Who is he…" Naruto began.
"Gohan! It's your turn! Come on down!" Goku smiled to his son who looked like he was going to fall back in shock.
"What!?" Gohan and Piccolo yelled.
Naruto however grinned.
"Hehe, talk about Gohan's big moment!" Naruto grinned.
"Okay but how? He doesn't seem much stronger than Goku." Sakura said.
"Well there was that power he released back in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber." Sasuke reminded her as Goku made his way to his son.
"Piccolo, Gohan has a lot more power than you know. It was revealed to me for the first time in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber." Goku said before turning to his son.
"Now son, this is your time to bring peace back to the world and go to school like you always wanted." Goku smiled as he pat his son's back.
"Got it. I'll do my best dad." Gohan said before throwing his cape off.
As Gohan touched down where Cell was and assumed a fighting stance, Cell smirked at him.
"Such a conceited child. So full of fantasy. And you'll be dead before you even experience fear." Cell smirked.
"Does this guy ever shut up?" Naruto asked.
"Nope." Sasuke rolled his eyes.
However the fight started as Cell was easily getting the best of Gohan, even sending him to a nearby cliff.
Though despite the scratches covering him, Gohan walked to Cell before looking at Cell.
"Look Cell, let's stop fighting, okay?" Gohan asked.
"But why would he?" Sakura asked.
"Do you even need to ask?" Sasuke asked.
"Look I hate fighting. As much as I hate you. I'm beginning to understand why dad said that only I could defeat you. Ever since I was child, I was prone to rage and after losing it I would go into unbelievable amounts of power so dad must be taking that into account." Gohan said as Team Seven stared at their friend.
"So peaceful…" Naruto slightly teared as Sasuke felt for his friend.
He was essentially thrown into a world he never wanted to be.
"That was a very nice monologue. But that means now I've found a way to release that power of yours." Cell grinned as Team Seven dreaded what he meant.
As Team Seven could ponder what he meant, Cell soon produced small clones of himself, Cell Jrs. Who soon went after the Z-Fighters.
"That bastard!" Naruto yelled.
"He's going after the others knowing they're weaker!" Sakura glared at Cell.
"It looks like only Trunks and Vegeta are able to keep up. If only barely." Sasuke observed as Gohan squinted his eyes.
"Stop! Stop it! Stop the fighting!" Gohan yelled as he tried powering up but to no avail at least before the head of Android 16 came.
"Eww gross!" Sakura grimaced.
"G…gohan…" Android 16 muttered.
"Huh? Was that you?" Gohan asked.
"There….is nothing wrong…with fighting…to bring about….peace…..free….free your spirit as your anger rises…you can't hold it back any longer…." Android 16 practically begged as Naruto and Sakura were moved to tears by his speech.
However…
"Give your big mouth a rest you factory recall." Cell grunted before crushing in 16's skull!
"Why that!" Naruto yelled who was being held back by Sasuke.
However…Sakura was the first to notice Gohan's expression was blank.
"G-Gohan?" Sakura asked as Gohan grit his teeth.
"Android 16…you loved life….and I let you die…I can feel it…slipping….I can't…..I WON'T WATCH THIS ANYMORE!" Gohan yelled to the heavens as he was bathed in a golden light turning the memory golden for a second.
Gohan…had become a Super Saiyan 2….
Team Seven could stare with mouths agape at their friend.
"H…he….looks like…." Sakura fell to her knees.
"A god….." Naruto couldn't even force himself to scream if he wanted.
Sasuke could say nothing though he was unnerved at the look in his eyes…
It reminded him of when he awakened his Sharingan….
A powerful power awakened by hate….
Super Saiyan 2 Gohan had made short work of Cell, easily decimating them although it was in a very gruesome fashion.
Slicing off their heads and even popping their eyes out.
"G-gohan…" Naruto gasped out.
Sasuke and Sakura were highly disturbed seeing Gohan like this. It didn't fit someone as calm and gentle as Gohan.
With the Cell taken care of, Gohan made his way over to where Cell was.
"Hmph, you seem quite confident for a toddler. But you can't defeat me." Cell said as Gohan smirked.
"Wanna bet?" Gohan asked as Cell powered up before even he was being thrown around like a rag doll by the eleven year old.
"Alright, Gohan's winning!" Naruto cheered getting over his initial shock of Gohan.
"But he should've killed Cell here…." Sakura said as Sasuke narrowed his eyes.
"Gohan! What're you doing!? Take out Cell now!" Goku yelled as his son turned to him with a rueful look on his face.
"Gohan!" Goku yelled.
"Hmph, I wanna have some fun with him!" Gohan arrogantly stated.
Sasuke shook his head now having somewhat of a clearer picture as to how Goku died.
"Now I get it. Gohan's going to let Cell get to him and he'll kill Goku." Sasuke said as his teammates turned to him in horror.
"You can't be serious!" Sakura said.
"It's his arrogance." Sasuke narrowed his eyes as Gohan continued his toying before Cell managed to spit up Android 18!
"Okay that's gross." Naruto grimaced as Sasuke and Sakura cringed as Cell cringed at Gohan realizing his loss of power.
"I cannot accept this! IT'S NOT TRUE!" Cell yelled before he suddenly grew to ginormous heights.
"What the hell is that!?" Sakura and Naruto yelled as they stared at Cell's bulbous form.
"Hehe…shoulda finished me off little man when you had the chance! In sixty seconds I'll explode and be gone forever but I'm taking YOU and this entire planet with me!" Cell yelled as Gohan stared at Cell in horror as the implications of his actions fully set in.
"WHAT!?" Naruto and Sakura yelled.
"He can't be serious!" Naruto yelled.
"He is!" Sasuke grit his teeth.
However before he could make a move, Cell playfully raised a hand.
"Hahaha one minute boy and it'll all be over!" Cell grinned as the severity of the situation really hit Gohan as he lost his will to stand.
"There's forty more seconds left!" Cell gleamed while Gohan could only contemplate on his previous failure to stop Cell. Or rather his refusal to do so.
"Dad was right….I should've destroyed Cell when I had the chance but I let my powers go to my head….I could've destroyed Cell! I've failed! What have I done!?" Gohan lamented before banging his fists in the dirt below him. He wanted to kill Cell as soon as he awakened his Super Saiyan 2 power but he wanted to make Cell hurt….no…suffer for all the innocent lives he took in his power trip on becoming perfect. But now it seemed as if it was all for naught….All the training with his dad….all the training with Piccolo and the others…Android 16's noble sacrifice….He had wasted all of it and thrown it all away….just on a feeling of revenge!
"Damn it! I've been a fool and let Cell win again! Damn it! Damn it! DAMN IT!" Gohan growled as Cell continued laughing while muttering how he only had ten more seconds left before he would explode and take everyone with him. With Cell's victory assured, Gohan could only wait patiently for his inevitable death. He couldn't believe it….the life of everyone he held precious to him would be lost….All because of his arrogance and need for vengeance.
"Gohan…." Sasuke balled his fists wondering how he survived this.
"But he had to have survived!" Naruto yelled.
"DON'T YOU THINK I KNOW THAT!?" Sasuke yelled, hating himself for being useless.
That is before a blur of orange and blue appeared in front of him.
Gohan looked up in utter surprise to see his father smiling at him while Cell wore a similar expression of shock and horror.
"Goku!?" All of Team 7 yelled.
"Daddy!?" Gohan yelled as if he were with him.
"Hey you put up a good fight, Gohan. I'm proud of you." Goku complimented his son with a voice full of pride as Gohan raised an eyebrow as he could only wonder what his unpredictable father was thinking.
"D-daddy?" Gohan stammered as Goku's smile remained firm on his face.
"Take care of your mother for me. She needs you. Tell her that I had to do this, Gohan." Goku said as Gohan's eyes raised in horror as he recognized the look in Goku's eyes. It was the same look he saw back when he fought Frieza. Although…unlike last time, he knew with one-hundred percent certainty that whatever plan Goku had in mind would no doubt result in his death.
"Oh no…." Sasuke dreaded realizing what Goku was planning.
"Goodbye…my son…" Goku winked as Gohan could've sworn he saw several tears fall from his father's eyes before he vanished instantly with his Instant Transmission technique.
"No! Come back!" Gohan yelled before his heart fell as he felt his father's Ki lower down to zero….it was then….
Son Goku…had once again died…..
Naruto and Sakura couldn't stop the tears from falling down their faces.
"G…Goku…." Sakura weeped.
"He…sacrificed himself….for everyone…again….." Naruto sobbed into his arm.
"What…a true…hero…." Naruto sobbed. Although he didn't understand why he was crying over someone he didn't truly know.
Sasuke himself composed himself before a scream cut him off.
"DADDY!" Gohan yelled before he sunk to his knees openly crying on the ground as he banged his fists into the ground, again and again.
Sasuke felt nearly sick as he recognized the look in Gohan's eyes.
It was the same look he had in his eyes….that look of eternal despair in his eyes…..
What made him feel sick was that he realized that Gohan was indirectly the cause of his father dying.
That bastard Cell deserved every bit of Gohan's anger though his anger clouded his judgement and was it not for Goku's instant transmission, everyone would've died in vain.
"You…." Sasuke let a few tears fall despite his efforts.
He and his team now knew Gohan's entire story and now they wished they hadn't.
Gohan's entire story was built on tragedy.
From the day his "uncle" came down, he was thrust into a world no child should ever be in and when he finally obtained the power necessary, it wasn't enough. With this it almost made everything Gohan trained for meaningless.
"Gohan….I'm sorry…" Naruto reached down trying to hug Gohan the way he hugged him after finding out he was the Nine Tails' container only to pass right through him.
The team was so transfixed with Gohan's grief as well as their own before they noticed the memory change where they were now in a black void.
"What is this?" Naruto asked.
Much to the team's confusion, Gohan appeared with them as he continued his crying before a very familiar figure loomed over him.
"It's him! The Moryo!" Sakura pointed through her tear stained eyes.
Gohan continued his crying before he raised his slightly weakened body.
"What…do you want?" Gohan gasped out.
"Why did you show me….everything…..even dad dying?" Gohan asked as he stood up as he tried to demand but his grief kept him back as Team Seven were confused by his words.
"Wait, so that's our Gohan then?" Sakura asked.
"It…must be Gohan physically from the past but his current self is coupled with the memory." Sasuke explained finally realizing what was happening.
"Hmph, you didn't enjoy seeing your father nobly sacrifice himself for you?" The Moryo smirked. Though his words seemed to change Gohan's attitude from grief to anger.
"You…" Gohan growled as the Moryo tilted his head.
"Why are you angry at me? I wasn't the one who killed your father. You were." The Moryo snarled as his mouth was seemingly fit into a glare.
Gohan lost his anger as pure horror overtook his features.
"It's trying to guilt trip him! Don't listen to him Gohan!" Naruto yelled as he tried reaching for his friend only to apss through him.
"DAMN IT!" Naruto cursed, frustrated.
"M-mine?" Gohan meekly asked as Sasuke was immediately taken back to when Gohan was a child with no self confidence.
"Of course it is. No one else had the power to make the difference in that fight save for you. Maybe you blame Cell. Hmph, how naïve. No, there is only ONE person to blame for the tragedy that befell that day." The Moryo sneered before raised one of its fingers at Gohan.
"It was you that caused Son Goku to die!" The Moryo accused Gohan.
"Shut up!" Sakura yelled, attempting to punch the Moryo only to pass through him.
"What!?" Sakura asked.
"It must've made its way inaccessible to us!" Sasuke grit his teeth, frustrated.
"How…was it me..?" Gohan asked.
"Don't listen to him!" Sasuke yelled.
"How? It was your selfishness, arrogance and irrationalability that led to everyone around you suffering." The Moryo said.
"What?" Gohan asked as he tried to shake his head in disbelief.
"You were warned not to toy around with that Android and to kill him as quickly as possible but with your arrogance you thought you were above everyone. As though you were the only person who deserved to kill that Android." The Moryo stated in an accusing voice.
"That's…not true…" Gohan teared up.
"Of course it is true. Though then again with your history it makes sense why you'd have that ignorant mindset. From the young age of four you were able to land a hit on the evil Saiyan Raditz. Not even a year later you were able to square against the evil tyrant Vegeta and even the galactic emperor Frieza. And you were even able to become the youngest Super Saiyan to date. Feats not even your father achieved." The Moryo said as the blood drained from Gohan's face as Sasuke's eyes also widened.
"So that's why he just didn't show us the Cell memories. This monster fully wanted Gohan to see it all…..to fully re-experience his rise and fall…" Sasuke said.
"Rise and Fall?" Naruto asked.
"And as such you thought with that big head of yours you deserved to kill Cell more than anyone else than with your petty torturing?" The Moryo taunted.
"He helped bring the future to ruin in addition to killing several people in my future so he deserved it!" Gohan tried arguing though it wasn't with his usual fire.
"Oh? And just tell me this? Just what would have happened if your father never learned Instant Transmission? What fate would befall you and your friends, boy!?" The Moryo demanded as Gohan's mouth went dry as he had to answer.
"Asshole!" Naruto yelled throwing a kunai at the Moryo for it to pass right through.
"You were warned to end the fight yet you decided to toy around anyway. Tell me, what would you have done had your father not had the ability to transmit that monster away? Tell me please." The Moryo asked, putting emphasis on the please.
Gohan was speechless as he couldn't answer.
"Damn it! That dragon is ripping Gohan apart!" Naruto roared.
"That's because he's attacking the insecurities Gohan has deep in his heart…" Sasuke growled. What he wouldn't give to touch this monster.
"Can't answer? Not surprised. You know I feel nothing short of sympathy for Son Goku. Here is a man with the Universe at his feet yet he was forced to give it all away for a selfish brat who can't even heed his warnings. And this is the boy Goku died for? Such a waste." The Moryo sighed as Team Seven growled at the monster.
Oh their hatred for this bastard far exceeded the hatred they had for Vegeta.
"That's…not true…" Gohan muttered as a few tears fell from his eyes.
"Oh? It's not? Or do you feel that way because of the truth you have been trying to deny over these last couple of months?" The Moryo smirked.
"I just…I wanted to make Cell pay…for everyone he hurt….I didn't want my daddy to die…I would've happily died if it meant saving him!" Gohan whispered.
"Gohan…." Sakura whispered in tears.
"But you didn't. It would've been poetic justice for you to have died in that explosion that day because of your arrogance but you survived. Despite everything, you are still that small runt who had to run behind his daddy and "Mr. Piccolo" for protection. They're not here with you. Who's going to protect you now, child?" The Moryo asked.
"I don't need protection! I've gotten stronger to protect everyone I love!" Gohan glared as his golden hair slightly staggered upwards.
"Hell yeah!" Naruto cheered, delighted to see his friend fight back.
"Oh and you'll get stronger, stronger, stronger and stronger and never let anyone die for your protection again?" The Moryo mused as Gohan lost his color.
"That's it!" Sasuke yelled before forming hand signs.
"Fire Style! Fireball Jutsu!" Sasuke yelled as the fire balls were still ineffective at hitting their target.
"You promised yourself this before, yes? After your friends, who you let die were killed in that Saiyan invasion and when you attained your Super Saiyan transformation. But deep down you cannot die it. You asked why I showed you everything but you know it. It should have been you who died during the Cell Games!" The Moryo yelled.
"SHUT UP!" Naruto yelled only to pass through the Moryo.
"Had you not been so arrogant and selfish Son Goku would still be alive. Everything would have gone well had you listened but with that big head of yours, you thought you were better than everyone. Everything is your fault. It's because of you your friends were killed by the Saiyans, it's because of you that your ninja team is in this predicament and it is because of you that your father is dead! You deserve all the pain you were in! You deserve to go to hell!" The Moryo finished bitterly as Gohan took deep breaths before openly sobbing on the ground.
Team 7 could only watch helplessly as their friend was lost in his despair.
How could they conquer their inner demons yet Gohan be so ineffective against his?
"Such a pathetic brat you are. I wonder how Trunks must feel knowing his plan to change history nearly failed due to the actions of a selfish boy?" The Moryo sneered.
"SHUT UP!" Gohan yelled as Team Seven were slightly taken aback. Was Gohan finally fighting back?
"Everything…you said…I already know…." Gohan said, stunning Team Seven into silence.
"Ever since I woke up in the Leaf I know…..I should've….died….my father didn't deserve it…to pay….for my screw up…..Why did I live instead of him? It should've been me who died…." Gohan muttered.
"G….Gohan…." Naruto said as this was NOT the friend he loved.
Sasuke couldn't believe what he was hearing. Was this the sunny, cheerful Son Gohan?
"But you didn't die. You realized you woke up with nothing but memories of happier days. Your father is your world and without him, it's a pitch black hell." The Moryo said.
Gohan said nothing, giving everyone the answer they wondered.
"Gohan…." Sakura teared up.
"It hurts doesn't it? Despite how much time has passed and everything you've accomplished, your guilt is just too much for you isn't it? The despair is just too much for you. After all, all you ever wanted was a happy life with your father and loved ones. Your father was the person you loved the most." The Moryo said in a surprisingly soft tone.
Gohan closed his eyes and let tears fall silently agreeing with the Dragon.
If you truly want peace, I can give it to you." The Moryo said as its eyes glowed red as Team Seven and Gohan were suddenly transported to where Mount Paozu was.
"Why…am I? Here?" Gohan asked as he walked to see another incarnation of himself running and fishing with his dad.
"Daddy!" Gohan smiled, looking happier in a while.
"Now c'mon Son! Let's grill this bad boy!" Goku grinned as Gohan and his father ran inside their house where all the Z-Fighters were.
"Hey, Gohan!" Krillin grinned.
"After defeating Cell why not throw a party!?" Trunks remarked smiling.
Team 7 and Gohan were suddenly pulled from that world before appeared in the dark voided dimension.
"That's….your true wish. To live with your friends and family in peace had you actually listened." The Moryo said as Gohan's silence was all the confirmation everyone needed.
"Team 7 felt like they were kicked in the face.
Not only had Gohan all but forgotten them but his dream world didn't even include them in it.
Were they worth anything to Gohan?
"I can give it to you…in exchange for your soul." The Moryo said.
"GOHAN! NO!" Naruto yelled.
"Damn it! You idiot!" Sakura yelled with tears streaming down her face.
"But….why…" Gohan asked as Team 7 found it strange that while Gohan didn't accept the Moryo's offer, he didn't outright reject it either.
The Moryo glared at Gohan.
"I am not doing this for your sake, child. I am doing this for your ninja team and so they won't suffer with you!" The Moryo said as Gohan said nothing, looking down.
The Moryo finally acknowledged the team with a smirk.
"Another soul for my collection." The Moryo said in a voice not subtle in hiding its smugness.
And…after a while we're finally back with OUR Gohan!
Though that begs a question. Will Gohan give into his inner desires and sacrifice himself to live in a dream world or will he rise above his grief and overcome it?
Now I decided to base this world slightly on the Infinite Tsukuyomi and I know I said THIS chapter would be the end to this arc but I decided to make it one more week longer since I'm REALLY enjoying this arc! But NEXT chapter will DEFINITELY be the finale, I PROMISE! ^_^
Now what will become of Gohan's fate?
You can find out all of this in more in Chapter 26 of Saiyan Shinobi coming NEXT THURSDAY February 21st!
And with that I'll leave you all with this:
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! ^_^
