In this alternate universe, where there are only two differences with the main one: Saiyans weren't destroyed and Gohan kept on training (although not with the same intensity as before Cell). Despite the first incident never occurring in this universe, the events of Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super still happened in the same order. Although Gohan kept his training after Cell, he still couldn't defeat Majin Buu. However, 50 years after defeating Cell Max, most of the Z fighter are no longer around. Goku and Vegeta disappeared, Krillin, Yamcha, Tien, Chiaotzu and Master Roshi all expired their time in this world and were immortalized on Earth due to their contributions to Earth's peace, while Goten and Trunks had a martial arts school, however, they were killed by Kuriza's army, Gohan is training and working as a scholar and Piccolo is living with Dende as Kami's assistant. Goku and Vegeta disappeared 20 years ago and 15 years ago, the Freeza Force was revived by his son, Kuriza.
This is the story of the next generation of Earthlings, beginning with Shintou a 14 year old white-haired human with big dreams for his future. He is learning Ki control from none other than Gohan. This Shintou fellow did his research and made a deal with his Master: If he mastered all of Gohan's trials, he would get a wish from the Dragon Balls.
After a year and a half of hellish training, he still couldn't defeat Gohan, but Shintou is getting stronger, very fast. But that is not a good thing in this timeline because Kuriza's army is occupying the planet (the usual deal is a simple trade: the Kuriza army trades resources for the planet while the planet gives the army's soldiers a place to live. The problem is the small letters and when the representative of the planet signs the contract for the trade (either for desperation or for distraction), it basically makes Kuriza the emperor of that planet, and can do whatever he wants with that planet. Of course, the planet can choose not to renew that contract, however, Kuriza's army makes the planets' dwellers' life so hard, that they have no choice but to sign it.
Earth is under Kuriza's control due to the overuse of its resources and there are soldiers all around the planet, so if they encounter someone with a power level, they either take them to their prison or if they are extraordinary (like Goten and Trunks), Kuriza comes personally and eliminates them.
About one month of training with Gohan, Shintou realizes that his Master was able to escape Kuriza's army due to his ability to supress his energy and camouflage his true power level, being able to do the same thing now, by instinct. During his whole year and a half of training he learned flight, ki charge, ki blasts and all the abilities that Gohan can use and, at the same time, Gohan was telling about his adventures with his friends
"*pant *pant Master, how are you so strong? I've been training and fighting with you for a year and a half and you're not even tired from fighting me… Am I too weak or are you too strong?" Shintou says.
Gohan laughs and responds "Haha neither and at the same time, both of them."
Shintou was looking at him with an unimpressed look, "Are you always that vague, Master?"
Before he was able to answer, a woman comes flying, calling for Gohan, "Dad!"
It was Pan, Gohan's daughter, coming with their lunch. After eating and having a good time, Gohan says, "So, Shintou, it's time for your wish… You are ready. " After a bit of silence, he gets up, happy. When he started his training, he was going to ask Shenron to revive his family that was killed by the harsh conditions of his village. Before Kuriza, was already hard to live there, but ever since he arrived, his army started over-exploring most of the mineral filled places, making those places harder to live in. Although, Shintou didn't know that before his training began, with that knowledge, his desire to be stronger became his obsession.
They went to someplace that nobody knows, yet everyone that knows about the dragon balls, desire. The so called "Holy Tower", the tower that can reach the realm of God. "In order for you to reach the dragon balls, you have to climb this tower, however, in order to earn your wish, you are forbidden to fly."
His confidence was a bit shaken, however, he wanted that wish so bad, that he began climbing it. He used his energy to give him the strength and it took a whole day for him to be unable to use it to his fatigue, but he didn't give up. Half a day later, he reached Korin's former lookout and he got to drink some water to quench his thirst. He took a rest for an hour and feeling a bit more refreshed, he began climbing again. He was so tired, but his desire was strong. Very strong. Nobody told him he had to climb it without resting, but he wanted his wish granted as fast as possible.
A day later, he reached Kami's Lookout where there were three people waiting for him, Master Gohan, Piccolo and Dende. As it was expected, when he reached the Lookout his vision was blurry and, not unexpectedly, he passed out. When he woke up, he gazed upon a friendly face, that of his Master. He got up, he ate like he didn't eat in three days (which, to be fair, he didn't) and then he was ready to make his wish.
Shintou met with Dende and Piccolo and learned from Kami the procedure to make a wish to Shenron. The young Earthling also learned that Piccolo was also his Master's Master, so he considered the Namekian his Master as well. After learning the procedure, the dragon balls were in front of him.
He was so nervous as he looked upon the wanted treasure, but he took a deep breath and shouted, "Rise Shenron, and grant my wish!"
The sky turned cloudy, darker and the seven balls began to glow. Suddenly a massive gust of wind emerged and an enormous green dragon appeared.
A very low voice said, "You have three wishes. State your first wish."
With a determined voice, Shintou proclaimed, "Mighty Dragon, I wish to become a full fledged Saiyan, like my Master's father!"
Everyone gasped in surprise. Yet Shenron was unimpressed. The Mighty Dragon confirmed, "You wish to have the genetic composition of Saiyans? You understand that by doing that you're going to inherit their inherent power, however, you're going to inherit their battle lust and mood."
Shintou means it and says that he still wants that wish granted. "It shall be done" Shenron says, "However, I'm modifying your whole genetic composition and that takes a lot of power, so I'm using the power of three wishes in just this one wish. Do you understand that?" Shenron continued.
"Mighty Dragon, please grant this wish, no matter what it entails." Shintou asked. "Very well! It shall be done." Shenron made his eyes glow and concluded the wish, "Your wish has been granted. Farewell…"
The mighty dragon vanished and Shintou doesn't feel any different. While he is turning around and checking if anything's different, he faces his Master and he is looking at him surprised, "uhm, look in the mirror, Shintou." When he does, he realises that his once white hair became black and he is surprised. Of course, this doesn't mean that he became a Saiyan, however he wants to try his power out.
Gohan challenges him to a sparring match to check if his instincts became Saiyan-like. To test it, Shintou's Master, suddenly became blond to see if he wanted to fight or not. As soon as his hair colour changed, Shintou was smiling, taking an immediate fighting stance. "Hmm, you are definitely a Saiyan now, Shindou. Come, let's train those instincts of yours."
Gohan leads Shintou into a room where time passes differently and they fight and train, Shintou's new power. They were training so that Shintou could get used to his new Saiyan instincts… He already had good instincts for battle as an Earthling, add the Saiyan's factor, he quickly became a monster. They spent the whole year in the Room of Spirit and Time and by the end of it, Shintou was able to compete on equal terms with Gohan on his Potential Unleashed form.
They emerge, Dende asks the new Saiyan how he's feeling and Shintou says that he has a very sharp pain on his lower back but nothing that he can't handle. After eating, Gohan, Dende, Piccolo and Shintou are feeling very uneasy. Kuriza and his army are nearing Earth.
"What is he doing here? The emperor never comes personally, after signing the contract." Gohan says.
"Let's see what he wants down there. Kami-sama, please get to safety, you cannot fall…" Piccolo says after Gohan.
Shintou, Gohan and Piccolo leave the Lookout and arrive at the large city where Kuriza landed. He is questioning the people why the energy of the planet shifted and why did the planet go darker for about thirty seconds. Nobody knows the answer, so he, being more sadistic than his father Frieza, starts killing everybody with Death Beams.
Shintou is getting mad, he's losing his control. Gohan tries to calm him down, because he knows that even if they fight Kuriza at the same time, at full strength, they still won't be able to best him.
His power is leaking, and suddenly, *thump* he starts losing consciousness. Gohan put him to sleep with a chop to his neck, however, Shintou's power leaked a bit too much and Kuriza's army scouters caught it.
"Piccolo, take him back to the Lookout, please. I'll buy some time before I can rejoin you there!" Gohan says.
The namekian refuses to do it, because he knows that Gohan won't make it. Too late, Kuriza and his army are on top of them. They have no choice but to fight. Both of them power-up and get in a fighting stance. Suddenly, the Earth starts shaking. First, they thought it was Kuriza, but when they turn back, they realise that Shintou is waking up.
A bright white column of energy emerges and the new Saiyan wakes up with a very loud roar, "Is it time ot fight yet:.. Master Gohan?" he asks.
Gohan and Piccolo smile and they transform, "AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH". A purpleish light comes out of the half-saiyan and an orange glow comes from the second. They've maxed their energy output and they start fighting. Shintou is defeating Kuriza's underlings with one attack while Gohan and Piccolo are taking on Kuriza. While, Shintou is taking care of the underlings easily, Gohan and Piccolo are getting toyed with. They are no match for Frieza's son. Since they were no match for him, "Hmmm is this all that Earth's mightiest are capable of? Most disappointing…" Kuriza mocks, "After I kill you, I'm going to kill everyone on this pitiful planet and keep exploiting its resources, until there's nothing left! AHAHAHAHAH" he makes an evil laugh.
Shintou hears this and leaps against Kuriza. He punches and kicks, but Kuriza isn't even feeling as the evil emperor, doesn't even face him to counterattack. Suddenly, Shintou gets smacked with a tail and falls, very hurt. That's when Gohan snaps.
"You're gonna pay! AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH" He is fighting Kuriza with everything he's got, Shintou never saw anything like that, it's almost like his Master is a total Beast.
Beast Gohan, turns to Piccolo, makes him take Shintou to the lookout. The namekian has no choice but to comply. Gohan looks to Shintou, gives him a determined look and a thumbs up, and leaps against Kuriza.
Shintou knows what that means and is starting to summon his power to help his master, but Piccolo doesn't allow that, "You'll only be in the way, Shintou… If you go, you'll kill him!"
He took those words very hard and he let himself be taken by Piccolo. Gohan yells, "Shintou, it's going to be you! I believe in you!"
He leaps against Kuriza, but he stood no chance and Shintou saw it all. As Gohan is fighting with all his power and might, he launches one final attack, the Masenko. But to no avail, Kuriza tanked it and pierced Gohan's heart with his tail.
"No, no, NOOOOOO", Shintou yells and struggles against Piccolo. "You coward, help your student, he's dying! MASTER GOHAAAAAAAN!"
When they arrive in the Lookout, Shintou is crying his eyes out as he stops feeling Gohan's energy. "Gohan sacrificed himself so you could live, now do as he wishes and live your life." Piccolo says. Shintou is so mad that he snaps.
"It's your fault, if we helped him, he could've lived! It's – It's our fault because we didn't save him, we could've gotten him a Senzu Bean… It's – It's – It's my fault… If I wasn't so damn weak he wouldn't be dead…" Shintou desperately rambles.
Piccolo is looking at him as he is giving in to desperation, as he doesn't know what to do…
"Master…Gohan." He repeats. "Master Gohan." He says again. "MASTER GOHAAAAN" he yells. In that moment, a miracle occurs. Shintou's new black hair and his aura turn golden. "He is a Super Saiyan… What incredible potential he has. Although not enough to best Kuriza, definitely better than his base form."
However… After transforming, Shintou collapses and falls unconscious.
Two hours later, he wakes up. Piccolo and Dende are there and ask if he's okay.
Both Namekians are overwhelmingly surprised, when the answer to their question was, "I'm okay, but who are you? Do I know you?"
Shintou had lost his memories and after a concerned look from both namekians, Piccolo decides to say, "You collapsed, maybe you used too much of your physical strength, you should rest."
The Saiyan closes his eyes and he sleeps again. He wakes up and Piccolo explains everything, or rather, an altered version of what happened. "You already know me, but since you can't remember, I'll explain it to you. You climbed Korin's Tower in search of a master and you found me and since you used too much strength climbing it, you collapsed and now you don't remember anything."
After hearing the explanation, Dende gives Shintou a cup of tea, in silence and then, the young Saiyan says, "I remember climbing the tower, it's everything past that event that I don't remember, I see three figures, both of you and another greeting me after I reached the top."
"Don't worry about that, you came here looking for a master, if you're still interested, I could train you" Piccolo says.
Shintou agrees with Piccolo and after recovering he begins training with him.
6 years later, Shintou is still training with Piccolo and he still doesn't remember about what happened before. He never turned Super Saiyan again and during all his training, any time he was coming close to defeating Piccolo, his power would break and he never understood why.
Of course, Shintou now being an adult, he also desires a normal-ish life, so despite training everyday, he does it after his day job. He teaches non energy based martial arts to children and adults and he tries to pass on values and life skills more than punching and kicking. Despite that, he also competes in the regional and world tournaments, where he made lots of friends.
Despite his day job he is fully aware of the world's conditions, with Kuriza and all those events, he just doesn't remember anything related to Master Gohan. He is determined to do something; he just doesn't have those memories…
And his adventure is about to really begin, with difficulties, battles, friends, and love…
Stay tuned for the next chapter of Dragon Ball: Alternate War