Planet Yardrat

With Old Kai's guidance, Dende's progress shouldn't be too slow.

If Gohan waited until their bond was strong enough before unlocking Dende's potential, Dende would take off like a rocket.

Son Gohan suddenly found himself looking forward to it.

Next, Son Gohan had to make plans for his and Trunks's future.

Their goal was clear: they were going to Planet Yardrat.

They would learn Instant Transmission and many other wondrous techniques.

But this time, they wouldn't be gone for just a day or two.

Son Gohan remembered clearly.

Son Goku had spent more than half a year just learning Instant Transmission. Including the time spent traveling, the whole trip had taken a full year.

He and Trunks would be gone for a long time, and he couldn't help worrying about Earth's safety.

Fortunately, most of the obstacles had already been dealt with in advance.

Cell had been killed, and Majin Buu had been moved to the Sacred World of the Kai.

He had taken care of both of those major villains ahead of time.

As for Zamasu, whose existence was uncertain, there was no way he'd show up this early and start causing trouble. So Son Gohan felt fairly at ease.

Still, to make absolutely sure,

the cautious Son Gohan had asked Supreme Kai and North King Kai to keep an eye on Earth for him.

If some idiot showed up looking for trouble, Son Gohan figured he had Kibito at his disposal. With the whole galaxy to choose from, where couldn't he go? He'd beat them until they questioned their entire existence.

When Trunks learned that Son Gohan was taking him to another planet to train, excitement lit up his face.

Bulma, however, was reluctant to see the brothers leave. She gave them one reminder after another, then kept them talking for ages.

"Gohan, since you'll be gone for so long, shouldn't you say goodbye to Videl? She asks me about you every day. I think that girl has fallen for you," Bulma said.

Son Gohan thought it over. "I'll pass. I'll see her when I get back."

"Are you sure you don't mind hurting her feelings?" Bulma asked helplessly.

"Haha, it won't come to that. We've barely even met, and she's only curious about me right now. Calling that love is a bit of a stretch. It'll be fine."

"Anyway, Trunks, do you want to go see Komai?" Son Gohan teased, turning to him.

Trunks's face instantly flushed red. "N-no! I don't want to go! You should marry Videl first, Gohan!"

"Hahaha, look at you getting all shy!" Son Gohan pointed at him and laughed.

That night, perhaps because he was too excited, Trunks lay awake counting Dragon Balls.

Even so, he got up early the next morning, looking bright-eyed and full of energy.

After the brothers hurriedly washed up, Bulma had already gotten the robots to prepare a delicious breakfast.

Just then, Kibito arrived at Capsule Corp.

At Son Gohan's warm invitation, Kibito joined them for breakfast, though he seemed a little embarrassed. His appetite, however, rivaled a Saiyan's.

Afterward, while Bulma watched them reluctantly, Kibito took Son Gohan and Trunks and teleported away from Earth.

Staring at the suddenly empty house, Bulma sat motionless on the sofa for a full hour. Only then did she drag herself off to test the Time Machine.

North Galaxy.

Planet Yardrat.

Three figures suddenly appeared out of thin air with a whoosh.

They were Son Gohan and the others.

"Sorry for the trouble, Kibito," Son Gohan said.

Trunks chimed in, too. "Thank you, Mr. Kibito."

Kibito remained expressionless. "There's no need to thank me. Mr. Gohan, just contact our ancestor if you need anything. I can come and take you away at any time."

"Okay, thanks." Son Gohan nodded.

"Then goodbye, Mr. Gohan, Mr. Trunks." Kibito waved to them.

"Goodbye!"

"Goodbye!"

This was the first time anyone had called Trunks "mister," and it made him like Kibito a lot more. He waved back, too.

With a whoosh, Kibito vanished in an instant.

Son Gohan and Trunks looked around carefully.

As far as the eye could see, towering buildings stretched endlessly into the distance. Their designs were elegant and unique, and they were brimming with advanced technology. They were every bit as impressive as any city on Earth—if not more so.

By comparison, Namek seemed like a planet inhabited by primitive humans, desolate beyond belief.

And beyond the towering buildings, crowds of Yardratians stood all around them. Every one of them was staring at the two of them, as if they'd been watching for a while already.

Just then, the Yardratian at the head of the group moved.

He walked toward the brothers, and the densely packed crowd of Yardratians followed behind him.

In an instant, the sound of countless footsteps filled the air.

There had to be at least two hundred of them.

Seeing the tense atmosphere, Trunks grew wary and whispered, "Gohan, what are they planning? Are they going to gang up on us?"

"It's fine. Let's wait and see. They don't have any killing intent." As Son Gohan spoke, he studied the Yardratians carefully.

He had seen the clothes they were wearing once before. They were almost identical to the outfit Son Goku had worn when he returned from here more than a decade ago.

The Yardratians gathering around them came in two varieties.

One kind had pink skin, bulging fish-like eyes, and a head covered in dense black spots. They looked utterly unappealing, a lot like the alien ET.

The other kind had a huge green head shaped like a bulb of garlic. Their features were very simple, and their skin looked just like a slime's.

If he had to choose which type looked better, Son Gohan thought the second was at least tolerable.

At least their heads were round, and their simple features made them kind of cute.

The Yardratian leading the group was a garlic-headed one. He, too, had been studying Son Gohan and Trunks.

The garlic-headed Yardratian stopped a few meters away from them and spoke. "Hello, visitors from another planet."

His voice was soft, just like his appearance.

"Hello, friend from Planet Yardrat. The two of us are brothers from Earth. As you can see, we mean no harm. We came here because we'd like to learn some techniques from you." Son Gohan smiled, doing his best to seem friendly.

The garlic-headed Yardratian looked surprised when he heard that.

"Huh? You came from Earth? Do you happen to know Son Goku?"

Well, look at that—they'd run into someone who knew his father.

Son Gohan was delighted.

Then he smiled. "Hello. Son Goku is my father. My name is Son Gohan."

"Ah, I see! No wonder you look so much like him. Welcome, welcome! Is Goku doing well?"

The garlic-headed Yardratian seemed very happy, though his simple features made his expression hard to read.

Son Gohan sighed. "My father passed away more than ten years ago."

"Ah, Mr. Goku passed away?" The garlic-headed Yardratian was greatly shocked.

"Yes. Just a year after he returned from Planet Yardrat, my father suddenly died of the Heart Virus," Son Gohan answered honestly.

"That's truly unfortunate. Please accept my condolences, Mr. Gohan," the garlic-headed Yardratian said.

"..."

After chatting for a while, Son Gohan finally learned why the Yardratians felt so kindly toward Son Goku.

The Ginyu Force had once invaded Planet Yardrat.

But halfway through, Frieza had suddenly summoned them back.

Son Goku had dealt with the Ginyu Force, so all the Yardratians were grateful to Goku.