Chapter Summaries

Sun Chao awakened in the body of Son Gohan in the Dragon Ball world and decided to train so he could face the powerful enemies he knew were coming. After recovering from his fever, Gohan began martial arts training with Son Goku.

• Sun Chao woke up as Son Gohan and recognized Son Goku and Chi-Chi as his parents.
• Chi-Chi blamed Goku for taking Gohan swimming in the cold, while Gohan defended his father and said he wanted to train in martial arts.
• Son Goku agreed to teach Gohan once he recovered, and Gohan regained his health the next day.
• Gohan began training with Goku, who told him to run to a distant tree and back.
• After half an hour, Gohan returned exhausted, and Goku looked satisfied with his effort.

Son Gohan trained under Son Goku while preparing for the coming arrival of Raditz and seeking a rapid way to grow stronger. When a tiger ambushed him, Gohan fought back as Son Goku watched from the Flying Nimbus, ready to intervene.

• Son Gohan completed 242 one-armed push-ups before getting back up and continuing his training.
• Son Gohan recalled that Raditz would arrive soon and resolved to grow stronger by exploiting the Saiyan ability to increase power after surviving near-death experiences.
• While running through the forest, Son Gohan sensed danger and dodged a fierce tiger's ambush.
• Son Gohan dodged the tiger's attacks and kicked it, while Son Goku watched from the Flying Nimbus and stayed ready to help.

Son Gohan survived a fierce tiger attack during Son Goku’s test and spared the animal after recovering with a Senzu Bean. At home, Chi-Chi insisted Son Goku find work, and Son Gohan tried to steer his father toward asking Bulma’s wealthy family for help.

• Son Gohan clung to the fierce tiger until it collapsed from exhaustion, then Son Goku appeared and fed him a Senzu Bean.
• Son Gohan recovered, recognized that Son Goku had been nearby, and chose to spare the tiger for future training.
• At dinner, Chi-Chi said Son Gohan needed a tutor and ordered Son Goku to get a job to support the family.
• That night, Son Gohan asked Son Goku about Bulma and Capsule Corporation, hinting that Bulma’s family could help him earn money.

Son Goku borrowed cash from Bulma so Chi-Chi would let him keep training, while Son Gohan negotiated permission to train alongside his studies. After a week of hard practice, Son Gohan asked to go to Kami's Lookout, hoping to use the Hyperbolic Time Chamber to prepare for future battles and strengthen his mind.

• Son Goku called Bulma and, after resisting her invitation to borrow money, arranged to collect cash from her in person.
• Son Goku brought home a box of cash, and Chi-Chi agreed he could pursue martial arts as long as the money covered the family’s needs.
• Son Gohan persuaded Chi-Chi to let him train if he maintained excellent grades, and she agreed.
• A week later, Son Gohan had improved his strength through intensive training but remained worried about the powerful enemies ahead.
• Son Gohan told Son Goku he wanted to go to Kami's Lookout to train in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber and temper his mind.

Son Gohan persuaded Son Goku to take him to Korin so he could train and become stronger. Korin allowed Gohan to stay at Karin Tower but said he would observe him before deciding whether to teach him.

• Son Gohan argued that Korin and Kami were better suited than Son Goku to guide his training, and Son Goku agreed to take him to Korin.
• Chi-Chi let Son Goku take Gohan on an outing after reminding them that Gohan's private tutor would arrive that month.
• Son Goku carried Gohan on the Flying Nimbus to Karin Tower, where Korin greeted them alongside Yajirobe.
• Korin remarked on Gohan's unusually mature eyes, then asked why he wanted to learn martial arts.
• Son Gohan praised Korin and said he wanted to become like him, so Korin permitted him to stay while he considered whether to teach him.

Son Gohan revealed to Karin that he came from the future to prepare for the disasters threatening Earth, then entered the ice cavern to seek the Super God Water. He drank it and was immediately overcome by intense pain.

• Karin saw through Gohan’s claim that he was simply a mature three-year-old, and Gohan admitted he came from the future.
• Gohan warned Karin about the alien threats and artificial life-forms coming to Earth, and explained that he wanted to grow stronger and meet Kami.
• Karin let Gohan enter the ice cavern, where he fought the self-repairing ice man and found a hidden cave.
• Gohan encountered the mysterious black head, poured the Super God Water into a cup, and drank it.
• Gohan felt an intense pain spread through his body.

Son Gohan endured the Super God Water’s deadly trial and survived, gaining clearer ki perception and a major increase in strength. He returned to Karin Tower and asked Korin to teach him martial arts so he could adapt to his new power.

• Son Gohan suffered unbearable pain after drinking the Super God Water, lost his senses, and eventually passed out as Korin watched.
• Son Gohan woke alive and discovered his ki was clearer and his physical abilities had greatly improved.
• Son Gohan tested his new strength by punching the cavern wall and cracking it, then told the mysterious black-faced being he wanted only to protect himself and those he loved.
• Korin received Son Gohan at Karin Tower and asked what he wanted to do next.
• Son Gohan asked Korin to teach him martial arts, and Korin agreed.

Karin began teaching Son Gohan martial arts, impressed by his rapid grasp of the fundamentals and exceptional talent. During practical training, Son Gohan sensed Karin’s attacks and closed his eyes to pursue a deeper form of instinctive combat, but Karin struck him again, leaving him with a clue.

• Karin asked Son Gohan about Master Roshi and Goku’s teachings, then began teaching him martial arts fundamentals.
• Son Gohan absorbed Karin’s lessons so quickly that Karin was astonished by his talent and moved on to practical combat instruction.
• Karin explained how technique and strength served combat, then struck Son Gohan, who sensed the attack but could not react in time.
• Son Gohan anticipated Karin’s next attack and blocked it, prompting Karin to explain how martial arts could be used as a tool in combat.
• Son Gohan recalled Ultra Instinct and closed his eyes to sharpen his reactions, but Karin hit him again, and Son Gohan found a clue.

Son Gohan tested a fighting method that let his body sense danger and dodge automatically while sparring with Karin. Karin warned that the method was too demanding for Gohan’s current body, but confirmed that it could become a powerful combat style if he trained his body enough.

• Son Gohan closed his eyes and asked Karin to attack, hoping to let his body react to danger without conscious thought.
• Son Gohan dodged Karin’s first attacks subconsciously, and Karin wondered whether he had touched the realm of Ultra Instinct.
• Karin kicked Son Gohan away and explained that sensing danger could not overcome a large gap in strength.
• Son Gohan said he wanted to dodge and counterattack at the same time, but Karin warned that the method would overwhelm his current body.
• Karin affirmed that Son Gohan’s path could lead to a powerful combat mode once his body was sufficiently tempered, and advised him to progress gradually.

Son Gohan asked Karin for help preparing to face the evil aliens who would arrive on Earth, and Karin brought him to Kami’s Lookout. Kami agreed to train him after learning the Saiyans would arrive in twenty-three days, but concluded that the short deadline meant sending him into the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.

• Karin told Son Gohan that his martial arts path was clear and suggested his body could benefit from training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber after drinking the Super God Water.
• Karin gave Son Gohan two bags of Senzu Beans and took him to Kami’s Lookout using the Power Pole.
• Mr. Popo welcomed Son Gohan and led him to meet Kami.
• Son Gohan told Kami he wanted to grow stronger and help defend Earth from the evil aliens who would arrive soon.
• Son Gohan said the aliens would arrive in the afternoon twenty-three days later, and Kami decided to send him into the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.

Gohan trained with Mr. Popo at Kami's Lookout and discovered a fighting style that suited him by clearing his mind and relying on pure instinct. As Gohan's strength continued to rise, Kami watched from the shadows and made a decision.

• Kami told Gohan he needed to train with Mr. Popo before entering the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, and Gohan followed Mr. Popo inside the Lookout.
• Gohan asked to spar with Mr. Popo and attacked, but Mr. Popo effortlessly dodged him and struck him in the abdomen twice to guide his training.
• Gohan adjusted his attacks and studied Mr. Popo's movements, but Mr. Popo explained that he had not found the fighting style best suited to him.
• Gohan emptied his mind and attacked with a pure, instinctive style, causing his speed and strength to keep increasing.
• Kami watched Gohan's rapid progress from the shadows and made a decision as Gohan enjoyed the fight.

Son Gohan pushed himself through intensive sparring with Mr. Popo, gradually drawing out his dormant power. After Mr. Popo recognized that Gohan had stimulated and used ki, Gohan realized his fighting had crossed a new threshold.

• Son Gohan fought Mr. Popo until exhaustion, chose to eat instead of using a Senzu Bean, and then returned to training.
• Son Gohan focused on finding the right attacking rhythm as Mr. Popo adjusted his defense to match his improving strength.
• Son Gohan’s aura grew as his energy surged, and he landed a punch on Mr. Popo before being struck and knocked backward.
• Mr. Popo told Son Gohan to eat a Senzu Bean because he had stimulated his ki and risked breaking down his body if he kept fighting as before.
• Son Gohan learned that he had used ki for the first time and celebrated his breakthrough.

Son Gohan explained his understanding of ki and continued training with Mr. Popo, awakening his ki and rapidly growing stronger. When Son Goku arrived at Kami's Lookout, Son Gohan revealed his dream of an alien who would defeat him and Piccolo, and Kami proposed using the Hyperbolic Time Chamber to prepare.

• Son Gohan reasoned that ki reflected a living being's body, energy, and spirit, and that Saiyans could awaken and control it more readily than ordinary humans.
• During his battle with Mr. Popo, Son Gohan awakened his ki, restored his strength with half a Senzu Bean, and continued training.
• Five days later, Son Goku arrived at Kami's Lookout and was astonished by Son Gohan's newly powerful ki and rapid progress.
• Son Gohan told Son Goku that he had dreamed an evil alien would defeat him and Piccolo, and that he and the alien would die together.
• Kami confirmed that he had sensed an evil presence approaching Earth and suggested the Hyperbolic Time Chamber as a way to gain enough time to prepare.

Son Gohan persuaded Son Goku to let him train alone in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber so he could strengthen his mind and prepare for future battles. He also urged Son Goku to recruit Piccolo as a training partner, reassuring Kami that Piccolo would help protect Earth.

• Son Gohan told Son Goku he planned to enter the Hyperbolic Time Chamber alone to temper his mind, and Son Goku agreed after hearing he could leave if he could not endure it.
• Son Gohan reasoned that training in the chamber would prepare him and Son Goku to defeat Raditz and later learn Kaioken from King Kai.
• Son Gohan planned to control his Great Ape form and keep backup options in case he lost control or Piccolo betrayed them.
• Son Gohan suggested that Son Goku ask Piccolo to train with him in the chamber, and Kami grew concerned about trusting Piccolo.
• Son Gohan assured Kami that Piccolo wanted only to defeat Son Goku and could serve as a final defender of Earth.

Son Gohan entered the Hyperbolic Time Chamber to train, while Kami agreed to let Piccolo come to Kami's Lookout. After struggling to adapt to the chamber’s harsh conditions, Son Gohan began training and meditating there.

• Kami agreed to let Piccolo come to Kami's Lookout, and he left the next steps to Mr. Popo.
• Son Gohan followed Popo through the chamber door while Son Goku waited outside and warned him not to push himself too hard.
• Son Gohan entered the chamber and struggled under its tenfold gravity, thin air, and extreme temperatures.
• Son Gohan gradually adapted to the gravity, managing to walk normally by the fourth day and begin regular training by the fifth.
• Son Gohan trained and meditated each day, feeling his strength steadily increase.

Son Gohan adapted to ten times gravity and began training his endurance and ki control by testing his own energy attacks. After taking injuries from his first experiment, he continued refining how quickly and efficiently he could form an energy ball.

• On the twenty-third day, Son Gohan concluded that he had adapted to ten times gravity and decided to train his ability to withstand blows and control ki.
• Son Gohan formed an energy sphere and threw it ahead, then rushed forward to block its explosion with his bare arms.
• The blast injured Son Gohan, who recognized that he had wasted energy and failed to control the attack properly.
• Son Gohan refused to use a Senzu Bean, studied the pain and damage, and began forming and dispersing energy spheres to improve his control.
• After repeated experiments, Son Gohan shouted that he had finally succeeded.

After half a year of training, Son Gohan had greatly improved his ki control, durability, and strength, but meditation failed to reveal a path beyond cultivating his body and ki. He decided to focus on increasing his S-Cells and prepare to rely on the Grand Elder on Namek to unlock his potential.

• Son Gohan refined his ki control by repeatedly creating energy balls and bracing against their explosions, using Senzu Beans to recover.
• Over six months, Son Gohan grew taller, learned to fly, and raised his battle power to about 4,000, or around 5,000 when he released his ki.
• Son Gohan tried shaping ki into a golden core and energy swords, but abandoned the experiment when the constructs dispersed.
• Son Gohan judged the Super Saiyan forms to be physically burdensome and identified Ultimate Gohan and Super Saiyan Blue's flawless golden body as more complete states.
• Son Gohan resolved to meditate to increase his S-Cells while continuing physical training, and planned to have the Grand Elder unlock his potential on Namek.

After leaving the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, Son Gohan showed Kami his improved power and asked for help reaching Kami’s old spaceship. They flew it to Capsule Corporation, where Bulma and her parents came out to inspect it.

• Son Gohan emerged from the Hyperbolic Time Chamber after nearly seventeen hours, surprising Son Goku and Piccolo with his changed appearance.
• Kami asked Son Gohan if he was confident, then took him aside to demonstrate his power and gave him clothes.
• Son Gohan asked Kami to help him find the spaceship Kami had used to reach Earth, and Kami took him to the Yunzabit region.
• Kami and Son Gohan boarded the spaceship and flew it to Capsule Corporation in Central City.
• Bulma and her parents came out to examine the landed spaceship.

Son Gohan brought an alien spaceship to Capsule Corporation and asked Bulma to modify it so he could travel to the planet threatening Earth. He also persuaded Kami to take him and Son Goku to Hell after the alien threat was dealt with, so he could seek King Kai’s training.

• Son Gohan asked Kami to take him and Son Goku to Hell to meet King Kai, and Kami agreed after Son Gohan promised to prevent his father from offending him.
• Son Gohan arrived at Capsule Corporation, where Bulma and her parents examined the spaceship.
• Bulma recognized Son Gohan as Son Goku’s son, and he explained that he needed a spaceship to strike at the alien threat’s home planet.
• Son Gohan asked Bulma to modify the ship after explaining that its control system had been unlocked.
• Bulma agreed to help, citing Earth’s safety while eagerly taking the opportunity to work on an alien spaceship.

Son Gohan secured the Senzu Beans and waited at Kami’s Lookout for Son Goku and Piccolo to finish training, but Raditz arrived before they emerged. Son Gohan flew down to meet him, leaving Raditz surprised to see a child instead of Kakarot.

• Son Gohan collected nearly all the Senzu Beans from Karin Tower and gave the bag to Mr. Popo for safekeeping.
• Son Gohan meditated at Kami’s Lookout while Son Goku and Piccolo continued training inside the room.
• Kami detected Raditz approaching Earth, and Son Gohan told him he would handle the alien.
• Raditz landed, killed an Earth farmer, and detected a power level of 920 approaching him.
• Son Gohan landed before Raditz, who realized the approaching figure was a child rather than Kakarot.