Chapter 9

With the passing weeks Kakarot's past with his parents had become more clear to him. Being on earth so long, it was easy to suppress and even forget some of his past, but he started to remember more. He remembered his fathers face from inside the pod. He remembered the look on his fathers face, the way he placed a hand on the pod, the way he said "stay alive". Kakarot remembered reaching for his father, his own hand placed on the glass in line with his fathers hand. He remembered not wanting to leave and not fully understanding what was going on and why he was sent away.
Kakarot also remembered the intense training. He was being trained to one day fight for the Frieza Force. He remembered the task given to him, one that he initially would have followed, until he actually went to earth, until he met his friends, until he met Vegeta. Seeing Vegeta, Kakarot saw what he could have become, he didn't think he wanted to be that person, and he believed Vegeta didn't really want to either. Kakarot felt Vegeta was made to do his duty as the prince of Saiyan's, and avenge their home planet.
Kakarot wished he could see his planet again, smell the air, take in the sights, a way to remember and connect with the life he should have lived more deeply. At the same time, Kakarot was grateful for where he was. His father saved him from the destruction of planet Vegeta. If nothing had gone this way, he may never have been able to call Vegeta a friend, he wouldn't be where he is today.

Kakarot left his home to go and train with Whis on Beerus' planet.
When he arrived, Vegeta was already there.

"Kakarot, you're finally here" Vegeta says "I'm surprised, you're usually training before me."

"Decided to have a slow morning." Kakarot replies

"You sure you're all good?" Vegeta asks "You seem...different."

"Yeah, I'm fine." Kakarot replies almost dismissing Vegeta's slight concern and surprise

"This is about what happened a few weeks ago isn't it?" Vegeta presses

"I'm fine, Vegeta" Kakarot says with a tone of slight annoyance "I just want to get on with training."

Vegeta quietly stares at the fellow Saiyan, something was different, but he couldn't figure out what.
Kakarot was more firm, yet reserved lately. Kakarot had always been more carefree than the average Saiyan, but he seemed less so the last few weeks.
With Vegeta in his thoughts, Beerus noticed Vegeta's distraction during their training.

"Vegeta, what's up with you?" Beerus asks "You seem distracted."

"It's Kakarot." Vegeta replies "He's different somehow, I don't really know how or why. He's not his usual self."

"We all change sometime." Beerus says

"I know, but this? It's different." Vegeta says "This change could mean anything, and could affect his ability to fight and how he fights in future. Kakarot needs to be at his best, not just of body, but mind too."

"You have an interesting way of showing concern" Beerus laughs

"Huh?" Vegeta looks at the God of Destruction confused

"You can say you're concerned about him without hiding it under the guise of his training." Beerus replies

"It's not concern, it's an observation." Vegeta says folding his arms and rolling his eyes

"Suuure..." Beerus laughs again "If that were the case, why is this 'observation' affecting your own training? Why is it distracting you so much?"

"It's not!" Vegeta scowls "I've just noticed it that's all!"

"You mentioned before that Kakarot met his father, correct?" Beerus asks

"Well, yeah." Vegeta replies "I never saw him myself, but that's what Kakarot told me."

"Think of it this way, he's just met his father, he's finally put a face to where he comes from." Beerus says "So he's likely remembering things. Kakarot spent almost his entire life on earth and up until he met you, he believed he was an earthling. He, upon finding out who he was, rejected the idea of being a Saiyan because he saw what they did through you at the time. He'd heard the stories, he believed Saiyan's were bad people. He was once the same as you, but being on earth changed that. Now, he's likely fully coming to terms with the truth. The truth that Frieza was the reason the Saiyan's were that way, that Frieza is the reason they're gone, along with his own family. He's accepting that the Saiyan's aren't what he thought and is finally coming to see what being a Saiyan really is, and essentially finding his true self."

"Hmm" Vegeta replies looking over at Kakarot who's trying very hard to land a hit on Whis, which he seems to be failing to do.

"This change, it's normal, and to be expected." Beerus says "He might go back to how he was before, but he might not. What he experienced, is a big thing. Imagine if it was you in his position, imagine if it was you who saw your father again. You'd likely be the same."

Vegeta thought about it for a moment. He thought about how he'd react, what he'd say. "I suppose you're right."

"He will be fine, He's strong and resilient." Beerus says "This is just a small hurdle for him to overcome. Finding his true self, and accepting it will help his training."

Vegeta and Beerus look over at Kakarot again.

Kakarot looks determined, he's trying so hard to land a hit, but Whis is quick and graceful with each movement. His power honed so much that it seems impossible to land a hit, as if Whis can't ever be touched.
Then, it happens.
Kakarot actually lands a hit on Whis and sends him flying, but Whis quickly corrects himself before crashing to the ground.

Vegeta and Beerus stare in complete shock, and Whis looks at Kakarot with a smile.

"W-what the fuck?!" Vegeta stutters in misbelief "How?!"

Kakarot looks surprised too. Yes, he was trying to land a hit on Whis, but he never expected to actually do it!

"Well done." Whis praises Kakarot

"How did you do that?!" Vegeta asks

"I don't really know, I just...tried to match Whis' speed I guess" Kakarot says shrugging his shoulders

"You were focused" Whis says "I could feel it. You had one goal in mind, and you stuck with it. You let everything else go. The difference in our powers, the thought of not being able to hit me, your fear, your limitations, all of it. You let it go."

"That's a good thing then?" Kakarot asks

"Yes" Whis replies "It means you are coming into a better understanding of Ultra Instinct. Of course, you should find the way that works best for you, but letting go of all of those fears and thoughts that have the possibility of holding you back is important. It gives you a chance at looking at things the way they are in the moment without letting your thoughts run wild."

"But my feelings, that's what pushes me, that's what's gotten me this far." Kakarot replies

"I know, but you also focus too much on your own limitations and fears." Whis says You can use your emotions without letting fear and your limitations decide how you fight."

"I see." Kakarot replies wiping the sweat from his forehead. "I'm gonna take a break."

"Really?" Vegeta asks surprised "I thought you'd keep going considering."

"It's been a long day" Kakarot sighs

"Kakarot, seriously, what's going on with you?" Vegeta asks "I know something's up. You can't lie to me."

"Fine..." Kakarot sighs "With meeting my father, learning more about him I have come to learn more about myself. Who I am, who I'm supposed to be. It's tough, but I'm starting to accept myself as I am, as I should have been all along. I never exactly rejected being a Saiyan, but I am learning to accept it more. To reach further into my roots."

"You could have just asked me" Vegeta replies "I could have told you what you wanted to know"

"I wanted to learn for myself" Kakarot replies "With a better understanding, I know what I will do next."

"Which is?" Vegeta asks

"Frieza destroyed our home. He took the life I should have had away from me. He took not just my family, or yours, but he destroyed the Saiyan's" Kakarot says his expression hardening with the thought "He destroyed planet Vegeta because he was afraid of the Saiyan's becoming Super Saiyan's, his fear led to the rise of the Super Saiyan, and I'm going to show him what it means to be a Saiyan. I'm going to finish the bastard off. Once and for all. I'm going to give him reason to fear us. I know this is what our parents, and our race would want. to avenge them. He can take our lives, but never our pride!"

"Then let's take him, together." Vegeta says

Vegeta wasn't always one for fighting alongside Kakarot, he liked to fight solo, but if he needed Kakarot, he knew his fellow Saiyan ally would step in. It's how it's always been.
Kakarot smiled back at Vegeta, a smile of determination, acknowledging Vegeta's offer to fight Frieza together, to truly fight together.

Vegeta felt his respect for Kakarot increase. He knew Kakarot held that mighty Saiyan pride, but to see him display it this way? To see him actively take action and make the choice to avenge their on people? This was a new side of Kakarot that Vegeta had not yet seen. Vegeta had no idea what caused this sudden change. Kakarot knew what happened to planet Vegeta and those who lived there. It seemed like recent events seemed to concrete how he felt already, like he needed some confirmation, like he needed something to give him that little bit of a push to do it. meeting his father, even for a brief moment seemed to awaken something inside Kakarot. Even Kakarot wasn't entirely sure what part of him woke up, all he knew was that now, it was awake, and it was ready to avenge what was taken away.
Kakarot wanted to fight for the life he lost, he wanted to fight for losing who he was, where he was from. Kakarot had no idea who he'd have become had planet Vegeta not been destroyed, but what he did know, was that he wouldn't have let Frieza control him, or his race. Frieza used the Saiyan's, took advantage of them and their power. It was time to change that. Frieza may have been revived after the Tournament of Power, but he's out there, somewhere, doing the same thing he did to the Saiyan's to another race, and no doubt planning to come back and try to finish him off, along with his loved ones, and the planet. There was no way he'd take another home from him, Frieza wouldn't take the people he loves and cares about away again. It was time Frieza went back to where he belongs...hell. No other place was fitting, and this time, never to return.

Kakarot had shown mercy to others in the past, but now, that part of him didn't exist any longer. Kakarot felt he had been reborn in a way. The Saiyan/earthing was gone, his true Saiyan self was all that was left now. It was time Kakarot truly lived up to who he was. In this moment, nothing else mattered more than his goal. Nothing and no one could stop him now.
With the power of Ultra Instinct at his side, and continued training, Kakarot felt he'd soon enough be near impossible to stop. He no longer fights for fun, he fights for reason, a purpose.

Kakarot headed home, training had been intense and he was tired. Right now, he just wanted to rest, he knew he would continue his training in the coming days, week and even months, and once he was ready, he was going to seek Frieza, and end all of this. He was going to do what the other Saiyan's didn't get the chance to do, and let Frieza feel real fear. Frieza was going to finally understand that he was the one who made the mighty Super Saiyan come to life for the first time in over 1,000 years. The Saiyan's, their pride, their legacy, will live on Until the end of time.

After a night of well needed rest, Kakarot woke up feeling refreshed, and ready for the day.
He partook in his usual morning routine before leaving his home.
He met with Vegeta who was preparing to head to Beerus' planet for training.

"You ready?" Vegeta asks

"Damn right I am!" Kakarot says with a determined smile "I will always be ready. Let's get ourselves ready to end Frieza."

"I'm beginning too like this new you a lot more, Kakarot" Vegeta replies

"I'm just a Saiyan with a fucking purpose" Kakarot smirks "I always have been, but I didn't fully understand my purpose until now."

"I'm glad you found it" Vegeta replies

Before the pair could leave, they heard an explosion and saw smoke rising into the air.

"What the fuck was that?!" Kakarot exclaims as he stares at the smoke rising

"Well, let's go find out!" Vegeta replies "Looks like we have a different kind of training today."

"Well, let's get started!" Kakarot say before taking off and heading in the direction of the explosion.

Vegeta follows close behind.
They Saiyan's arrive, but other than a sizable crater left in the ground, no one who could have caused it seemed to be present. Just civilians scrambling to safety.

"What the fuck..." Kakarot mutters "Where are they?"

"Is the bastard who did this actually hiding right now?!" Vegeta snaps

"They must be." Kakarot says "This...this was no accident. This was someone's doing, and it was beyond what a civilian would be able to do."

"Get your ass out here and stop hiding!" Vegeta snaps

There was nothing

"Wait...it's possible this is a trap" Kakarot says

"What makes you think that?" Vegeta asks

"surely if someone really wanted to cause harm, they wouldn't be hiding." Kakarot says "They're close, and they're watching us. They're hiding their Ki well. Stay on guard, whoever this is could do anything at this point, and we would be unaware of what they do next."

"So we need to draw them out" Vegeta replies "trap them in our own way."

"Yes, that, or find them." Kakarot says "And quickly.

Kakarot and Vegeta look around them in hopes to find who was behind all of this.

"I can't sense their Ki at all" Kakarot says

"It seems they've taken a page out of your book" Vegeta replies knowing Kakarot often hides his Ki, making it much harder for people to sense him.

"I have an idea." Kakarot says

"Which is?" Vegeta asks

"So whoever it is can likely see us, right?" Kakarot answers in a low voice "So let's make it look like we are leaving, like we've not found anything here and are going to look elsewhere. Whoever it is may be more likely to come out if they think we are gone."

"You think that'll work?" Vegeta asks

"Truthfully? I don't know" Kakarot replies with a shrug "But it's worth trying

"Alright" Vegeta says "We can hide ourselves behind those buildings over there"

Kakarot looks to where Vegeta is pointing. There are 2 tall skyscrapers, they're a decent spot to hide.
Kakarot used Instant Transmission to get there, making it look like they left the area completely. Kakarot did his best to lower his Ki as much as possible, with Vegeta attempting the same so they couldn't be sensed.
The 2 Saiyan's stayed hidden, sneakily peering out from behind the buildings. Sure enough, a figure was seen floating above the wreckage.

"There" Vegeta says in a low voice

"I wonder why they hid from us" Kakarot wonders

"I'm guessing to destroy more of earth without us getting involved" Vegeta answers "And they likely know they're not strong enough to face us. I think it's time to greet our guest, don't you?"

Before Kakarot could say another word, Vegeta rushed off.

Vegeta managed to crack the mask of the enemy he was fighting, that's when he truly realised who he was fighting.

"Black..." Vegeta snaps

"I do not go by that name anymore. I am the Crimson Masked Saiyan now."

"Well isn't that just a fucking stupid name" Vegeta couldn't help but laugh

"Yet, you're still going to die at my hand" The Masked Saiyan replies

With one hand above his head, the Masked Saiyan began charging an attack. A large purple orb of energy appeared just above his hand, with it getting bigger by the second.
Vegeta grew concerned, but also wondered where Kakarot was. The masked Saiyans eyes grew wide, and twitched. was it anger, or fear he felt? It seemed like fear. Someone, or something was able to disperse his attack so easily with no effort. He felt a presence behind him, it was strong. he'd not felt a presence like that before. He wondered who it was, and then, he quickly realised.

Kakarot was floating in the air, just behind the Masked Saiyan, as Vegeta looked, he saw Kakarot come into his view.
Kakarot was staring right at the back of his head, determination written all over his face. He had taken on His True Ultra Instinct form. Kakarot didn't speak, he didn't feel he needed to say anything. He felt his point was conveyed perfectly.
The Masked Saiyan turned to face Kakarot. He quickly became angry and tried to fire an attack at Kakarot hoping to kill him, but as the energy dispersed, he realised he failed, as Kakarot still stood before him, not a single scratch on him.

"W-what?!" the Masked Saiyan stares in disbelief

"You think you can kill me that easily?" Kakarot almost laughs "You have nothing on me. Maybe you stood a chance before, but not anymore. you're pathetic."

"I'm you!" The Masked Saiyan replies

"No, you're not." Kakarot says "You're nothing like me. You may have my body, and access to what it can do, but you're not me. You can't utilise the power like I can, you don't think like me, act like me, you can't control that power like me. You can pretend all you want, but you're just a pathetic copy who can't even do that right! You tell yourself you can stop me, act like you're better than me, but the truth is, you're a fucking joke."

"No, the real joke is letting mortals live." The Masked Saiyan replies

"Right...yet you took the body of a mortal because my power exceeds your own." Kakarot replies "This is MY timeline, you may have destroyed your own, but you're not destroying mine too. you're mistaken if you think you will do so. so you have one chance, go back to your own timeline and stay there, or you die in this one."

"This won't be the last timeline I destroy, I assure you." The Masked Saiyan replies "Once this one is rid of all mortals, I'll move on to the next, and the one after that, and so on"

"Wanna fucking bet?" Kakarot smirks "You have no fucking idea what I can do."

"I can't wait to end your life, AGAIN." The masked Saiyan replies "Oh how glorious it will be. Once I do, I will destroy your pathetic family, friends and everyone on this planet."

"You may have done it in your timeline, but you won't do it in mine, I assure you." Kakarot snaps at the threat

"We'll see" The Masked Saiyan retorts with a smirk

The Masked Saiyan attempts to attack Kakarot but is left surprised as Kakarot dodges every single punch with ease. The Masked Saiyan fires Ki blasts at him, only to find he dodges those too. He can't touch Kakarot and doesn't fully understand how it is possible. How could a mortal move like this?
The masked Saiyan continues firing Ki blasts in hopes Kakarot will slip up and one hits him, but Kakarot moves toward the Masked Saiyan swatting the Ki blasts away as if they were annoying flies getting in the way.

Kakarot stopped moving once mere inches from the Masked Saiyans face. "I see everything."

Kakarot serves the Masked Saiyan a devastating punch to the abdomen that sends him crashing to the ground and groaning in pain.
The Masked Saiyan struggles to move, but tries to get up anyway, refusing to give in but instead is met with Vegeta's food pressed on his chest, pushing him back to the ground.

"You made a mistake coming back here" Vegeta snarls "But I'm sure you just figured that out. Maybe we were weak in your timeline, but in this one, we are far stronger than you could imagine."

As Kakarot charged a Kamehameha, Vegeta look liberty in keeping the Masked Saiyan occupied by attacking him. The Masked Saiyan struggled to fend of the Saiyan Prince's attacks, which left him weaker.

"Now, Vegeta!" Kakarot shouts

Vegeta knew what to do.
Vegeta picks up the Masked Saiyan and threw him into the air.
Kakarot fires his Kamehameha, which is aimed at the Masked Saiyan and pours everything he had into the attack.
As he does so, a portal opens some distance away, dragging the Masked Saiyan back to his timeline, but not before being hit by Kakarot's attack.
Whether it was enough to kill black, Kakarot was not sure, but it definitely did some damage!

"Shit" Kakarot says landing next to Vegeta "I don't think it was enough to kill him"

"If he has any sense, he won't come back here" Vegeta replies "But something tells me he will do his best to get stronger and try to come back."

Kakarot sighs "Let's just get the DragonBalls and fix this mess."

Vegeta nods in agreement and the 2 Saiyan's head back to Capsule Corp where the DragonBalls were kept.
They wished for things to go back as they were before The Masked Saiyan showed up.
With the wish granted, life went on as normal for the humans as if nothing had happened.

"What happened out there?" Bulma asks

"Black" Vegeta replies

"I thought he was done with us." Bulma says "Is he dead?"

"No." Kakarot says "He got dragged back to his timeline before we could finish him."

"There's no doubt he will try again" Vegeta says "He's really got it out for you, Kakarot."

"I know." Kakarot says "All because he doesn't like the fact that I have the power I do. Pathetic if you ask me."

"I think seeing how strong you were in the Universe 6 verses 7 tournament really solidified his hate for mortals, and you." Vegeta says "It seems that he doesn't think mortals should have this sort of power."

"But why?" Bulma asks

"Who knows" Kakarot replies "I guess he thinks only gods should have such power. It likely angers him that mortals have such an ability to do so."

"Huh.." Bulma replies "Does the Zamasu of this timeline feel that way too?"

"He did" Vegeta replies "In order to stop the events of the future timeline happening here, Beerus erased him. It's why Kakarot is still alive and there's no Black here."

"Thank god!" Bulma replies

"there's only one person allowed to defeat Kakarot" Vegeta says "And that's me!"

"Hey!" Kakarot exclaims "If you did that, you'd not have your sparring partner!"

"And look at you, all alive and shit" Vegeta replies with a smirk

"You see me as a friend, admit it!" Kakarot remarks

Vegeta crosses his arms and rolls his eyes "I'm not admitting anything."

"That wasn't a no!" Bulma says looking at Kakarot with a smile.

"Awww Vegeta is going soft!" Kakarot laughs

"I am not!" Vegeta snaps

Vegeta and Kakarot head to Beerus' planet to do some more training. If black decided to turn up again, the Saiyan's wanted to be ready. They knew Black would come back stronger, so they had to be too.

With Black threatening the safety of his family, Kakarot knew he had to be on top form. There was no telling when Black would return and there was no doubt he would do something to harm his family. He's done it before, so he'd definitely do it again.
Kakarot had to protect them. He already lost his home planet, and his parents, he was not letting anyone take away the family he's made for himself. He didn't know what he'd do with himself if he loses his family. He would have no one. He wouldn't have a family to fight for.
He believed his fight with Frieza could wait. Frieza wasn't the threat right not, at least not until he makes himself one. Kakarot knew the issue at hand was more important.
The Saiyan race was gone, but his family were not.
Kakarot's determination to get stronger increased with every moment that passed. He had a reason to go beyond his limits, to keep pushing.
This determination is was fuelled his training with Whis. He put everything he had into his training, pouring his whole heart and soul into each moment, each strike and the refusal to give up became more obvious as time went on.

"You seem even more motivated today" Whis remarks suddenly

"I have good reason to be" Kakarot replies

"Ah, of course, the return of Goku Black I assume." Whis says

"He threatened my family." Kakarot says "I won't let him do that, I will protect them."

"I see." Whis replies "I guess he thinks destroying all versions of you will help him feel successful."

"Yet, it won't work" Kakarot says "He made a mistake coming here the first time, let alone coming here again."

"Next time will be his last" Vegeta pipes up

"I couldn't agree more." Kakarot says

The 2 Saiyan's continue their training for a few more hours before calling it a day.
Kakarot felt the urge to spend more time with his family than he usually does. He wanted to make the most of it, just in case something happened.
He guessed he could bring them back with the DragonBalls, but he wasn't sure how Chi-Chi would feel about it, or even if she'd want that. She'd likely want it for Goten at least. There was also the possibility of Black attempting to destroy Earth's DragonBalls to stop it from being possible, it's what he did in his own timeline, and if Black manages to destroy their bodies, there will be nothing for them to come back to, and no way to revive them.

Once Kakarot got home, the first thing he did was hug his wife.
Kakarot wasn't always so outwardly affectionate so this took Chi-Chi by surprise a little.

"Are you okay?" Chi-Chi asks

"Yeah, I'm okay." Kakarot replies

He did not mention anything about blacks threat. He did not want to worry Chi-Chi at all and he wasn't really sure how to tell her about it. He had to figure out how to tell her, she was going to worry regardless. That, Kakarot could not change, but he would protect her and Goten until his dying breath. As long as they lived, he would do whatever it takes.
He spent the rest of the day doing whatever Chi-Chi and Goten wanted to do, no questions asked.

Chi-Chi noticed this sudden change in Kakarot and wondered what caused it. She wondered if something was wrong, what had happened that caused it. was he going away for a while? Was something wrong with him?
Chi-Chi tried to go over the possibilities, something, anything that would make sense.
She loved having him around, spending time with him, but this sudden change, it means something, and she wanted to know. She knew there was a possibility that she would not like what she heard, but she wanted to know anyway. She had to be willing to accept the truth, regardless of what it was, so while Goten was occupied, she took the opportunity to ask.

"What's going on?" Chi-Chi asks

"Huh?" Kakarot looks up at his wife

"There's something you're not telling me" Chi-Chi replies "Come on, tell me, I know something's up."

"I..." Kakarot sighs, knowing he could not keep it a secret "Black made another appearance in the city today."

"So?" Chi-Chi asks

"He told me how he planned to kill you and Goten." Kakarot says softly "He wants to get back at me, to hurt me. He wants me to suffer and he is willing to use you both to do so."

"Can't you just use the DragonBalls?" Chi-Chi asks

"Sure but they're only usable once a year, and that's only if he doesn't destroy them first." Kakarot admits

"I see" Chi-Chi replies "You're worried he will destroy them and you can't bring us back as a result."

"Yes." Kakarot says "I'm not ready to lose either of you. I won't let it happen, I promise you. You both deserve full happy lives and I will do anything to protect that."

"I know you will." Chi-Chi says with a smile "We are lucky to have you."

"Thank you, and I'm lucky to have you both" Kakarot smiles back "I'm worn from today, I'm going to try and get some sleep."