After savoring his satisfying meal, Kakarot took a moment to collect himself before deciding to confide in Gohan. In the presence of this compassionate old man, he felt a deep sense of trust and comfort, making him believe that the time had come to reveal his life story.
Thus, Goku, as he preferred to be called, began his tale by introducing his new name. Seated at a small table, he embarked on the retelling of his origins as an alien from a shattered planet.
Gohan's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly regained composure, wondering if the young Saiyan had become delusional after being abandoned in the forest by his parents.
However, Goku was aware that he needed to provide evidence to substantiate his claims. With that in mind, he swung his tail in front of Gohan, dispelling any doubts.
Gohan's astonishment returned, now mixed with curiosity and concern. Goku was relieved by this response, as he hadn't formulated a solid plan and had been too focused on his training to consider the aftermath.
"My planet was obliterated by a space tyrant who unleashed a devastating Ki blast, taking away everything I held dear," Goku explained, his words accompanied by tears that slipped down his face. Despite his maturity, the pain of losing someone dear was a difficult burden to bear, regardless of age.
After a few minutes of calming down, Grandpa Gohan, himself startled by this revelation, offered some comforting words. "You know, it's okay to cry now," he said. The old martial artist had only witnessed his master destroy a mountain with a blast of Ki, but the idea of a tyrant capable of obliterating entire planets sent shivers down his spine.
Though despite the terrifying notion, Gohan resolved to care for the child who had lost everything.
"I refuse to shed tears. Instead, I will ensure that the tyrant pays for every single thing he has taken from me," Goku declared, his determination unwavering.
Goku's declaration seemed to have backfired evident from the deep frown on Gohan's face. As a disciple of the Turtle School, Gohan held a different perspective, one that discouraged vengeance. As it is a matter of perspective, their school followed a more neutral stance when it came to matters of justice and evil, though it leaned slightly towards the side of justice.
'Although I understand why he feels this way, vengeance is never the right course of action to take. I'll start by guiding him so that he doesn't think about revenge all the time, and if he doesn't think of revenge as his only source of power by five, I'll start training him.' Gohan had this thought after observing Goku's damaging mental state caused by his vengeful thoughts.
"Alright, let's not dwell on that for now. We can focus on gathering some food for tonight, and afterward, you can continue sharing the rest of your story," Gohan suggested, relieved to see Goku gradually calming down and attempting to shift his attention from the distressing memories to something more positive, particularly food.
Gohan had noticed that the young Saiyan had a fondness for food, and he hoped it would provide some comfort and distraction from the troubling thoughts.
"Sure, Gramps," Goku responded, perceiving Gohan's attempt to steer away from the potentially awkward situation or any disapproval towards his vengeance-driven plan. However, Goku felt a strong desire to convey his genuine thoughts to the old man, recognizing that trust could only be established through open cooperation between both individuals.
Deeply moved by the old man's character and the love he exhibited for his canonical self while watching the show, Goku yearned to foster a sense of trust with him.
..
The next day, they proceeded to gather herbs, with Gohan carrying a basket behind his back. As they collected the plants, they passed by a deep ravine where Goku unexpectedly stumbled and fell, his foot catching on a rock. It seemed as though fate was at play, as the system had already forewarned Goku about these events.
The system had informed him that unless significant action was taken to alter the course of events, the same occurrences would unfold as in the canon. The impact of such actions could range from minor changes, like not encountering the large wolf during his adventure with Bulma as his canon self did, to more substantial alterations, such as not journeying to Planet Yardrat or Namek.
However, the changes can't be overly drastic, as that would risk destabilizing the entire timeline, and powerful individuals like the Omni King and others would intervene to prevent such catastrophic consequences by erasing him from existence.
Goku, aware of the impending danger in this new chapter of his life, desperately clung to the side of the ravine as if his very existence depended on it. And indeed, it did, as plummeting into the deep ravine would result in him losing his memories and experiencing long-term amnesia, just as his canon self had endured. This was a pivotal event that was fated to occur, shaping his destiny.
Although Goku's Saiyan physiology would prevent him from meeting a fatal end in the ravine, the loss of his memories and identity would be a devastating consequence. It was uncertain whether he would be able to recover them or if fate deemed it necessary for him to retain his memories intact. Thus, Goku persisted, gripping the walls with all his might, despite his fingers bleeding and the heavy weight of gravity weighing upon him.
In his perilous predicament, Goku even caught sight of a snake slithering towards him, its eyes filled with unmistakable hostility that appeared crimson to Goku, who clung to life with all his might. Thankfully, Gohan swiftly moved to Goku's position, wielding his Power Pole to fend off the snake that had come dangerously close.
However, despite Gohan's efforts, Goku couldn't shake off the nerves that overwhelmed him as the snake continued its relentless approach. With each passing moment, the specter of death grew more pronounced in Goku's mind. While he understood that falling into the ravine wouldn't bring about his demise due to his Saiyan resilience, the thought of losing his personality and memories felt akin to facing his mortality.
As anxiety consumed Goku, his attention faltered, causing his grip to weaken. Unbeknownst to him, a strong gust of wind had begun to blow, further adding to the already precarious situation. He glanced at Gohan, whose previously relaxed and cheerful expression transformed into one of pure horror.
This scene was entirely foreign to Goku, as he had never witnessed such fear on Gohan's face during the show. At that moment, the grim reality became undeniable—he was on the brink of death. It was a realization he had previously dismissed, confident in his skills.
'Will I die right after I get the chance to live the life I've always wanted?' Goku reflected as the weight of impending doom sank deep into his being. It seemed ironic that after finally obtaining the opportunity to live the life he had always desired, it might be snuffed out before him. The thought lingered in his mind, haunting him with uncertainty.
As Goku plummeted downwards, fragments of his newfound life flickered rapidly in his mind. Amongst them, he recalled the vow he had made, swearing not to meet his demise in a foolish or undignified manner. A surge of anger coursed through him, fueled by the notion of squandering everything he had been granted since his wishes were granted.
"No, this cannot be the end of my story! I refuse to let it end like this," Goku shouted with unwavering determination, mustering every ounce of strength within him. Summoning his inner resolve, he swung his tail with all his might, creating a small but powerful gust of wind. The force of this gust propelled him back towards the ravine's wall, allowing him to regain his hold and avoid the impending doom.