The years had passed like a blur. It was now August 21, 749, and Goku, at the age of twelve, had grown significantly stronger through his training with Grandpa Gohan. His weighted clothes technique, his secret weapon, had become second nature to him, and the progress he had made was beyond what anyone could have imagined.
During these three years, Goku had chosen not to share any future knowledge from the anime with Grandpa Gohan—or anyone for that matter. After all, this was his journey, and he didn't want to interfere with the natural flow of things too much. Plus, he figured that part of the fun was the challenge of handling things as they came.
But as usual, his carefree attitude led to a few comedic mishaps along the way.
It was early morning, and Goku was doing his usual training, launching rapid punches and kicks into the air while wearing his 5-ton weighted clothes. His movements were faster, his strength more refined, and his energy control had improved drastically. As he finished his set, he flexed his muscles proudly in front of a nearby tree.
"Alright! Look at me now!" he said, grinning at his reflection in the lake. He struck his "cute face" pose as if the reflection itself was admiring his hard work. "Too bad there's no one here to see this. They'd be so impressed."
Goku then switched to a serious stance, testing how quickly he could move despite the weight. "I bet even Freeza wouldn't stand a chance against me now!" he boasted, remembering his most feared villain.
As he took a deep breath, he charged forward, preparing to execute one of his high-speed moves. However, the weight of his clothes got the better of him, and instead of launching forward gracefully, he tripped over his own feet and crashed face-first into the dirt.
WHUMP!
"Ow, ow, ow!" Goku groaned, his voice muffled by the ground. "Okay, maybe not Freeza level just yet..."
Grandpa Gohan watched from a distance, shaking his head in amusement. He knew Goku was doing some strange form of training, though Goku hadn't revealed the details of his weighted clothes technique. Still, he admired the boy's dedication.
As Goku finally picked himself up from the ground, Gohan called out, "Goku, breakfast is ready!"
Goku's ears perked up immediately. "Yes! Breakfast!" He zoomed toward the house—or at least, he tried to. The weighted clothes slowed him down considerably, making his "sprint" look more like a slow-motion jog.
Grandpa Gohan chuckled as Goku approached. "You sure you're not too tired to eat? You've been tripping all morning."
Goku, catching his breath, gave his usual sheepish grin. "Ah, just part of the training, Grandpa! I'm fine!"
"Well, whatever you're up to, just be careful," Gohan said, handing him a steaming bowl of rice. "Wouldn't want to see you hurt yourself too much."
As Goku dug into his meal, his mind wandered back to his goals. He knew Bulma would be arriving soon. He remembered every detail from the anime: the Dragon Balls, the journey, the battles that would eventually lead to his confrontations with villains like Vegeta and Freeza.
But he had made a conscious decision not to reveal any of this to Grandpa Gohan. In fact, he hadn't told anyone. He figured it would be best to keep things under wraps until the right time. Besides, he liked the idea of handling things on his own terms, even if that meant keeping secrets.
"Everything okay, Goku?" Gohan asked, noticing the thoughtful look on his grandson's face.
Goku blinked and quickly stuffed more food in his mouth to cover his pause. "Uh, yeah! Just... thinking about how strong I'm gonna be when I take off these heavy clothes."
"Heavy clothes?" Gohan raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by 'heavy'?"
Goku's eyes widened. "Uh, did I say 'heavy'? I meant... uh... comfortable clothes! Yeah, super comfy!"
Gohan didn't press further, but he gave Goku a curious look as he sipped his tea. "Well, whatever works for you, just don't overdo it."
As Goku finished breakfast, he decided to spend the rest of the day training in secret, away from Grandpa Gohan's watchful eyes. He had set up a secluded spot deep in the forest, where he could practice his techniques without interruptions. Here, he could unleash his full strength without worrying about hurting anyone—or embarrassing himself.
He adjusted the weights on his clothes, feeling the familiar pressure on his body. "Alright, let's see how fast I can go now!"
With a burst of energy, Goku launched into a high-speed dash across the forest, dodging trees and leaping over boulders. His movements were smoother now, and despite the weight, he felt lighter than ever. He grinned as he raced through the woods, feeling the wind whip through his hair.
Suddenly, a wild boar appeared in his path, and Goku, caught off guard, had to swerve at the last second to avoid colliding with it. In his panic, he misjudged his step and tripped over a log, sending him tumbling down a hill.
THUD-THUD-THUD-CRASH!
"Owwww!" Goku groaned, lying in a heap at the bottom of the hill. He slowly sat up, rubbing his head. "Man, these accidents are gonna be the end of me."
The wild boar stared at Goku for a moment before snorting and walking away, clearly unimpressed.
"Yeah, you better run!" Goku shouted after it, though his pride had already taken the hit.
After his little mishap, Goku spent the rest of the afternoon perfecting his ki control. With the extra weight pushing his body to its limits, he had learned to manage his energy with more precision. He could now maintain his energy for longer periods without exhausting himself, a crucial skill for the battles ahead.
As the sun began to set, Goku sat on a large rock overlooking the forest. His body ached from the day's training, but he couldn't help but smile. He had come so far since he first started, and while there was still much more to learn, he felt confident that he was on the right path.
"I can't wait for Bulma to show up," he muttered to himself. "That's when things are really gonna get exciting!"
He looked up at the sky, the stars beginning to twinkle in the fading light. His mind wandered briefly to the villains he would one day face—Frieza, Cell, Majin Buu. They all seemed so far away now, but he knew the time would come when he would have to face them head-on.
And when that time came, he would be ready.
As he prepared to head back to Grandpa Gohan's house for the night, Goku made a silent vow to himself. He wouldn't share his knowledge of the future with anyone. Not yet, at least. This was his journey to shape, and he wanted to experience it fully.
"Alright," he said, clenching his fists. "Tomorrow's another day of training! Let's keep getting stronger!"
With that, Goku headed back home, excited for the future but focused on the present. Whatever challenges lay ahead, he was ready to face them with all the strength and determination he had.
As long as he didn't trip over another log, that is.