Led by Ashura, the group of Dark Demons departed, taking the wounded Piccolo and the Devil Man with them. The audience had already left long before that, and now only the Dragon Ball warriors remained at the arena.
"Although I would have liked for you to inherit my position as Guardian of the Earth, I know that none of you would agree to it," the Guardian said, glancing first at Naruto, then at Goku. "So… it's time for me to go."
"Wait, Kami, don't be in such a rush to leave!" Naruto called out just as Kami was about to depart. "Goku hasn't even had his wedding yet. Something that important — shouldn't we all celebrate properly?"
As he spoke, Naruto patted Kami's shoulder with a grin. "Besides, I still need your help with something else."
"Something else?" Kami looked puzzled, but Naruto gave him no chance to ask further questions. Instead, he pulled everyone along to join in the joyful celebration for Goku's upcoming marriage.
Because the World Martial Arts Tournament had been broadcast live, the Dragon Ball warriors' incredible battles and displays of strength had won them a huge following among martial arts fans.
Many people wanted to become their disciples, but since none of the Dragon Ball warriors had any plans to take students for now, the would-be apprentices could only leave in disappointment.
A month later, Goku's wedding was held as scheduled on Mount Paozu.
The small wooden house — less than twenty square meters — where Goku and his grandfather had once lived was transformed into a spacious two-story villa.
Even though Goku hadn't won the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament, he'd reached the semifinals and earned a generous prize. After his marriage to Chi-Chi, their life was much more comfortable than in the original story.
And unlike in the original timeline, Goku and Chi-Chi's wedding wasn't a quiet, private affair. Nearly all of Goku's friends attended. Most of them weren't wealthy, and their gifts weren't extravagant —
but there was one exception: Bulma, the heiress of Capsule Corporation and one of the richest people in the world.
Naturally, Bulma's gift was luxurious — a collector's edition set of Capsule products worth a fortune. Just that gift alone could sell for an unimaginable price.
Naruto wasn't as rich as Bulma, but he'd accumulated a fair amount of wealth in West City, and the gift he gave was no less impressive.
With the combined generosity of his friends, even considering Goku's legendary appetite, as long as he and Chi-Chi didn't waste their fortune on stocks, futures, or luxury goods, they'd live comfortably for the rest of their lives.
After all, no one expected Goku to get a job — Saiyans were famously averse to regular work. The only time they "worked" was when it involved fighting, like when they served under Frieza.
Even Vegeta, known for being fiercely protective of his wife, wasn't the type to hold down a regular job.
The wedding guests came from all walks of life — monks (like Nam), mechanical beings (Android 8, also called Eighter — though thankfully, no "secret hamburger recipes" this time), and even members of the indigenous Bora tribe.
Then—
"I didn't expect you to show up," Kami said in a low tone, staring at the familiar face that looked so much like his own younger self.
"Why wouldn't I?" Piccolo replied, leading his group of demon followers to sit on the right side of the banquet. "As his future opponent, it's only natural for me to… observe his condition up close, don't you think?"
It was an obvious lie — one that even Kami didn't believe.
"Forget it," Kami sighed. "As long as you don't cause trouble."
He didn't want to argue the point, but in his heart, he had already confirmed one thing — Piccolo was not the same as the purely evil King Piccolo of the past.
Later, after a few rounds of drinks, Naruto approached Kami.
"Kami, have you ever heard of King Kai?" he asked.
"Where did you hear that name?" Kami, a little tipsy, looked startled. "You want to train under King Kai?"
King Kai's existence wasn't exactly a secret, but few mortals knew about him.
"No, not me," Naruto said, shaking his head and turning his gaze toward the other Z Fighters. "They are the ones who should go."
The power growth of the Z Fighters had always been strange — most notably in the four years between the 23rd Tournament and the arrival of the Saiyans. During that time, their progress had been minimal; their strength barely increased at all.
According to official power levels, the numbers at the end of the 23rd Tournament were nearly identical to those four years later. It was as though their progress had completely stalled — even though that period should have been their golden age for training.
The reason, as Naruto saw it, was simple: the world had become too peaceful.
Training is like rowing upstream — if you don't advance, you fall back.
"You want them to go to King Kai's place?" Kami murmured, frowning slightly. "The Snake Way is extremely dangerous."
The path to the Other World was no easy journey. Almost everyone who tried to cross the Snake Way to reach King Kai had fallen into Hell along the way.
According to records, the last one to make it across was none other than King Yemma himself.
"Don't worry," Naruto said confidently. "I believe in these young warriors. They can do it."
"What about you?" Kami asked. "Don't you want to train under King Kai yourself?"
"There's nothing King Kai can teach me," Naruto replied calmly.
Everything King Kai knew — the Kaio-ken, the Spirit Bomb — Naruto already knew. And there were things Naruto knew that King Kai did not. For him, the trip wasn't necessary.
But for the Z Fighters, it was.
After all, the fate of the Earth couldn't rest solely on the Saiyans.
"I'll see what I can do," Kami said with a nod. "I don't know why you're so intent on making them stronger so quickly, but… my instincts tell me you're right."
For some reason, the Earth's Guardian held unusual authority — even to the point that he could appeal directly to King Yemma for special permissions.
Of course, that privilege only extended to those of good intent. The wicked, naturally, would be sent to Hell.
And as for living mortals visiting the Other World — that wasn't unheard of. Baba the Fortuneteller did it quite often.
With the Z Fighters' training handled by Kami, that left the matter of the other warriors — those aligned with the darker side.
Naruto's gaze turned toward Piccolo and his group.
That part was easier to arrange.
"Piccolo, do you want to become stronger?" Naruto asked after the wedding.
He didn't wait for a reply. With a flick of his wrist, he tore open a shimmering dimensional rift in the air.
"If you do, then follow me."
"Lord!"
As Piccolo prepared to step forward, Asura called out, his voice full of concern, eyes fixed warily on the portal.
Piccolo brushed Ashura's hand off his shoulder with a sharp motion and said, with the commanding presence of a king:
"I am the Demon King — the Great Demon King who will one day destroy this world.
If anyone should be worried, it's not me."
With that, he leapt into the rift without hesitation.
After a brief moment of uncertainty, three of his followers — the Devil Man, the Mummy, and Rai Wu — followed him through.
I've got to think of a way to get rid of that "grind-king," or I'm going to be buried alive by his pace…
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