Raditz's pod hit the earth with a resonant crash, sending sand scattering across **Kame House**. The Z Fighters had been in high spirits, training hard and developing new techniques, largely thanks to Zohan's quiet influence through the **Great Sage**. While no one fully understood their boosted power levels, Goku, Zohan, and Gohan had felt something shift in the past year, and Zohan—guided by the Great Sage—had trained intensely with Gohan, honing the young half-Saiyan's potential.
But Raditz's arrival brought an end to their peace.
Raditz, towering over them, sneered at Goku with a gleam of recognition. "Kakarot! So you are alive. I didn't believe it until I saw it with my own eyes." His scouter beeped wildly as he assessed the power levels around him. The shock on his face was evident—he hadn't expected Kakarot to have gathered a group of fairly strong fighters.
Goku, surprisingly calm, looked back at Raditz with steady eyes. A year ago, he might have been as confused and lost as he seemed now. But recently, a quiet quest had helped him find clarity. After sensing some strange instincts in himself, he had secretly sought out **Kami** and **Fortuneteller Baba** to uncover the truth of his origins.
Through them, he learned about his Saiyan heritage, his father Bardock, and the warrior instincts that flowed through him. It had been a difficult truth, and it hit him hard, especially realizing that he was sent to Earth as a destroyer. But through a mysterious wish on the Dragon Balls, Kami had allowed him to connect briefly with his father, Bardock, in the Other World. There, he spent time with King Kai, training for two months and mastering the basics of Kaio-Ken and Spirit Bomb. He also met his father briefly, who taught him about the **Oozaru** form and the artificial moon technique. Goku's memories of the encounter were vague yet powerful, especially his father's promise that, one day, they would reunite with the family.
Goku's voice was steadier than Raditz expected. "Raditz… or should I say… brother. I know why I was sent here."
Raditz's eyes widened. "So… you remember! You're Saiyan, Kakarot—a proud warrior race! And I see your tail has even returned." He eyed Goku's new black tail, a result of Zohan's Great Sage influence which had tapped into Goku's primal Saiyan nature. The tail marked a deep, ancestral power, influencing not only Goku but Zohan and Gohan as well, giving them an Oozaru-linked **enraged state** with 3.5x multipliers, while Goku's went up to 5x with the Oozaru energy coursing through him.
However, Raditz wasn't here to bond. He quickly jumped to his point. "Kakarot, I'm here because I have a mission for you. Our home planet, Vegeta, was destroyed, but some of us survived. We need your help to conquer other planets. Join me, and together, we'll rule the galaxy."
The words were punctuated with Raditz's evil laugh, and Krillin, standing nearby, was getting increasingly annoyed. He whispered to Zohan, "Who does this guy think he is? I mean, does he even know who he's dealing with?"
Zohan smirked. "Probably not."
Raditz noticed Krillin muttering, and, in a swift movement, knocked him to the ground, muttering, "Foolish Earthling."
Krillin lay there, groaning, "Why… does this always happen to me?"
Zohan couldn't resist a **TFS-inspired quip**, "Because, Krillin, you're the token punchline. It's like… cosmic law at this point." Gohan, trying to be supportive, giggled and patted Krillin on the back.
Goku's calm, controlled tone surprised even himself. "Raditz, I appreciate the family reunion… but I'm not going anywhere. I'm an Earthling now. This is my home."
Raditz's smile vanished. "Fine, if you won't join willingly, I'll make you." He powered up, unleashing a burst of energy that sent a tremor across the island.
Goku motioned for Zohan to stand back, not noticing Piccolo's sudden arrival, watching from the shadows with growing interest. As he observed, he was struck by something strange—Goku's eyes, usually kind, held a glint of primal power, and his body had an unusual calm strength.
As Raditz charged, Goku dodged smoothly, his body moving almost instinctively. Raditz was taken aback. "How… how did you get so strong, Kakarot?"
Zohan chuckled to himself. "That would be the **Great Sage** helping out behind the scenes."
Unknown to Raditz, Zohan's influence had been quietly affecting everyone, subtly boosting their natural talents and adapting their fighting instincts. It was through the Sage's quiet tweaks that Goku's training had developed, allowing him to return from King Kai's with a deeper instinct for battle.
Finally, Piccolo stepped out of the shadows. "This fool's babbling is getting on my nerves. Kakarot, what's the story here?"
Goku briefly explained, and Raditz, annoyed by Piccolo's entrance, laughed mockingly. "And who are you supposed to be? Another Earthling weakling?"
Piccolo smirked. "Weakling? You wouldn't last two minutes against me."
With Piccolo's entrance, Raditz suddenly realized he was outnumbered. Despite his confidence, he could sense power radiating from both Goku and Zohan, while Piccolo and Gohan, though seemingly weaker, held themselves with a readiness that made him uneasy.
"I'll give you one last chance, Kakarot," Raditz snarled, preparing to launch a final attack.
But Goku's response was immediate, and without warning, he launched himself at Raditz, knocking him to the ground. Raditz tried to get up, but Goku had him pinned. "You don't belong here, Raditz. And you're not hurting my family."
Raditz was dazed, and as he looked up at Goku, he felt an unexpected flash of respect for his younger brother. "Fine, I yield," he muttered, realizing he was bested.
As Raditz lay defeated, Zohan approached, smirking. "So, Raditz, what's next for you? Going to try another 'big brother' speech?"
Raditz rolled his eyes. "What… exactly are you, kid?"
Zohan's eyes sparkled with mischief, but he kept the Great Sage a secret. "Just your average half-Saiyan."
As everyone gathered around, Piccolo observed them with a sense of challenge. He'd felt humiliated seeing Raditz disregard him, and it lit a fire inside him. He knew that if he wanted to surpass Goku, he'd have to train harder than ever. And, if it meant cooperating for a time, so be it.
Looking back at the group, Goku's mind drifted back to his father. He remembered Bardock's words and his training—a time spent in hell with Kami's influence guiding him to learn of the Oozaru and artificial moon techniques. His father had mentioned his mother, too, someone he had yet to find. Goku's tail was black, a result of Zohan's Sage influence, enhancing his Saiyan form. When he entered his enraged state, his irises shifted, a new form barely controlled, a small nod to Broly's power.
Goku turned to Raditz, "My father trained me. My mother's still out there somewhere. When the time comes, I'll find her, and I'll meet my family again."
Raditz raised an eyebrow, finally beginning to understand the strange bond Goku shared with his family. This was nothing like the warrior race he knew. Kakarot, unlike the Saiyans he'd grown up with, had retained a kindness and integrity that made him strange—yet powerful.
Raditz shook his head, bewildered. "You're an odd one, Kakarot. You're just like… Mother."
As the sun set, Zohan activated his Sage system, scanning the galaxy in the background, seeking information, quietly learning about their next threat. But for now, the battle was done, and Raditz, humbled but alive, lay in the sand, a mystery to the rest.
---
**Updated Power Levels:**
- **Goku**: 2000 (suppressed), 10000 enraged
- **Zohan**: 1800 (suppressed), 6000 enraged
- **Gohan**: 1000 (suppressed), 3500 enraged
- **Piccolo**: 1000
- **Raditz**: 5000
- **Krillin**: 250
The strange family reunion left everyone feeling uncertain, and as Piccolo observed the fighters around him, he knew he couldn't fall behind. Goku's newfound calm and strength were just the beginning. But in the shadows, Zohan was learning