Sunlight filtered through the century-old tree in the courtyard, scattering dappled shadows across the soft lawn.
"Giggle, giggle..."
A string of crisp baby laughter rang out high in the air, more than ten meters above the ground.
The little boy, barely a year old, stuck out his butt as the brown furry tail behind him swished wildly. Like a cannonball gone off the rails, he zipped about through the sky.
"Oh, you little ancestor! Slow down! Don't crash into the rockery!"
Krillin sprinted frantically below, drenched in sweat. Every so often, he leaped upward, flailing as he tried to catch the little monkey.
The strongest martial artist native to Earth was now having trouble catching a diaper-clad baby. He practically wanted to die of embarrassment.
"Yah!"
Gohan sharply twisted through the air, not only dodging Krillin's pounce but also stretching out his chubby little hand to smack Krillin's gleaming bald head with a crisp slap.
Then he giggled and shot even higher in a blur.
"Raditz! Don't just stand there watching! Take care of your own nephew!" Krillin clutched his forehead and shouted in despair at the long-haired, burly man leaning against a tree some distance away.
"A Saiyan hatchling should grow through battle. He's honing his flying skills. Why should I interfere?" Raditz crossed his arms and snorted, speaking with righteous conviction.
Yet his usually fierce eyes were glued to Gohan in the air, his face brimming with the undisguised, doting affection of a foolish uncle.
"Nice one, Gohan! Faster! That's it—circle that bald head just like that!"
On the picnic blanket nearby, Son Goku lay comfortably on his back, hands tucked behind his head and a foxtail grass stem between his lips. Watching the commotion overhead, he grinned from ear to ear.
After fully accepting his identity as