Piccolo should have expected this... aw who is he kidding, he totally expected this scenario.
He stood against the wall with his arms crossed while Tien, Chiaotzu, Krillin, and Yamcha all surrounded him while in ready stances. A quick sensing of their energies and Piccolo estimated they were all hovering around 1,000- 1,500.
Good numbers to have this early in the timeline of the original show. But they will need his intervention for the coming threats. He was not going to risk these characters or his new found life. But first... he had to get them on his side. And it pertains to his plan made with Goku regarding the tournament. He had to make sure they let him participate without issue.
He got off the wall and put his arms down at his sides in a relaxed stance. The z fighters all tense up as he does so and then he bows gently to them. They all go wide eyed at this move and listen up as Piccolo speaks, "I am sorry for what my father did. I am not that person. I might have his strength, but I don't have his heart. And if it is difficult for you to believe it. Then observe me in the tournament. I will prove to you that my heart has changed. Especially since I have managed to gain Gokus trust."
That made them all pause as Goku finally comes over after grabbing his assigned block thanks to Tien and Chiaotzu. He comes past his friends and sees the situation. he goes to stand next to Piccolo, "Please understand guys! He is a friend now! He and I have trained together for the last few years! Trust me when I say that we are not enemies and that he has indeed changed! Give him a chance and he won't let you down."
After Goku's endorsement they all one by one let their guard down. But not their hatred. They all glare at Piccolo and walk to their individual blocks. With that situation handled for the moment Piccolo turns to Goku, "Thanks."
Goku rubs the back of his head and goes, "Eh no biggie, after all better handle this tension in the bud before things get ugly with others thinking the same. And with this tournament and our plan we will change peoples perspective for the better about you."
Piccolo shrugs and barely notices the presence heading for them. A familiar female presence. He smirks at the signature he learned during their training and was hoping to surprise Goku. Especially after such an... interesting conversation with him regarding marriage, what it means, ad what you need to do to show how important your chosen partner is to you.
Goku wouldn't look him in the eye out of embarrassment for a week or two after all of that discussion with Popo and Kami providing insight into the matter. But they got it through Goku's head that Marriage is more than living together and having children. it is about commitment and love and protecting the family you grow with your loved one. And it was very important to help Goku know... how children were made. The poor young Saiyan nearly turned God saiyan from how red he got.
But the work was done, and when Goku had a personal training trip to the echo dimension for two weeks Piccolo made a special trip to a certain kingdom with some training weights, and martial arts training programs to aid a certain princess who loves a certain orange clothed dingus.
Piccolo refocused on the matter at hand and nodded to Goku's words as Chichi appears behind Goku. She was blushing a bit as she saw Piccolo motioning with his head towards Goku to signal her to get a move on before either of them were called to the ring. She nods back and breathes in and out to calm her nerves. With a slight blush she taps Goku's shoulder, the young man turns at that and notices the girl behind him. With a small hello he asks, "Wait... Do I... Know you from somewhere? You seem really familiar."
Chichi holds back the outburst that would have exploded from her in the old timeline as she remembers the lessons in the books Piccolo dropped off about patience with a partner in any relationship. She needed to give Goku time to learn and understand things at his pace or else she would push too hard and never get anywhere with her big lovable saiyan warrior.
Goku thinks back hard before an old memory resurfaces, about a girl in pink and blue armor promising him marriage for helping her father and her with her castle home. He snaps his fingers and looks back to the young maiden and yells, "Wait! Are you Chichi?! The Ox kings daughter I promised to marry when we were kids?!"
She tears up a bit in happiness that her patience was rewarded with a wonderful reward of Goku remembering her on his own. He picks her up at the hips and spins her around happily. She blushes and giggles cutely at this action before he puts her down and hugs her going, "I am so glad I remembered you! You were cute back then but now you are so pretty!"
Chichi had turned into a tomato at that.
Piccolo was smirking at this interaction as he knew those books about relationships and how to honestly compliment your partner would help smooth over their reunion. He perks his ears up as the two chat and catch up while holding hands as their relationship began to grow more naturally versus how it was in the main timeline. With Chichi happily chatting her fiance while Goku enjoys getting to know his future wife. He notices as well that Chichi did well to train with the books and weights he left her on his visit. She had managed to reach 400 power level despite the limitations of her fathers power and how few opponents she had nearby to push herself with. But she will grow nicely in the coming years as a potential fighter to their cause.
However while their conversation is cute he perks his ears up at another sound, he has been called to the ring. He enters with a small smile at the glares the other z fighters are sending him as he enters to find a large powerful wrestler who is impressive in physique, but lacking hard in ki. His power is estimated to be around 18 max. Hardly worth any effort with his current abilities. Piccolo simply waits for the start. Then shocks everyone around as he takes the tackle from the wrestler head on without a twitch. He then raises a single hand while the fighter struggles to move the green warrior. And the hand comes down in a light chop.
The chop knocks out the opponent quickly and with a 10 count the ref declares Piccolo the winner.
The other fighters all realize that this won't be an easy fight. In fact if is wasn't for the fact that they really wanted to show their stuff and gain fame and fortune as the title holder, half of them would have forfeited already.
The z fighters were all hoping and praying that they would be able to handle Piccolo, with his energy to their senses, they stood a chance of wounding him, but not defeating him. Piccolo was currently holding his power at 1,800. Otherwise he would have won the tournament by simply exerting his pressure full force on everyone within a one mile radius. And that would defeat the purpose of the plan.
Piccolo laid back and waited again for his next turn. So far it was dull, but once the finals were chosen he knew they would be having fun once again.