A short while later, Bulma landed on Planet Namek.
Seeing that the planet's appearance hadn't changed much, she blinked in surprise.
"Huh? That Frieza guy… he didn't even manage to destroy the planet before dying?"
Thinking it over, she nodded to herself.
"Makes sense. After all that professional training I gave Goku…"
"With his current strength, he's far stronger than he was at this point in the past."
"Frieza probably didn't even have the chance to blow the planet up!"
Just as Bulma finished reassuring herself, Son Goku flew over.
"Bulma!"
Seeing that Goku's clothes were barely even damaged, Bulma smiled.
Without the slightest bit of restraint, she rushed into his arms and hugged him tightly.
Earth, Capsule Corporation.
The Namekians had been settled here for the time being.
While everyone was chatting, a few dull thuds suddenly echoed.
"Thump!"
"Thump!"
They turned around, only to see seven stone spheres drop into the courtyard of Capsule Corporation.
"So… Namek's future has finally arrived."
The Grand Supreme Elder looked around at everyone and spoke gently.
"Earth is a fine planet."
"But this is not our home."
"Our Planet Namek has already been exposed."
"It will easily draw the attention of the Frieza Force and King Cold."
"So… do not speak of returning."
"In the future, the Dragon Balls will shine again."
"But I will not live to see that day."
"When the Dragon Balls are restored, Moori, you will lead everyone in searching for a new habitable world…"
"I am tired."
"It is time for me to say farewell."
"Grand Supreme Elder!"
"Grand Supreme Elder…"
Tears welled up in everyone's eyes.
The Grand Supreme Elder turned to Moori and said kindly,
"From now on, Moori will be the Grand Supreme Elder."
"You must all live well."
With his final strength, he raised his gaze to the sky.
"May the Namekian people live in peace for generations to come!"
In the next moment, the Grand Supreme Elder passed into eternal rest.
"Grand Supreme Elder…"
"The Grand Supreme Elder has finally found peace…"
Chi-Chi looked at the others and said,
"There are only about a hundred of you. You won't take up much space at all."
"Earth has billions of people living on it!"
"If you don't mind, you can stay on Earth permanently."
"I'll have Bulma buy you a piece of land."
Moori smiled gently.
"That would be too much trouble."
"We Namekians do not require many resources."
"As long as we have water, trees, and sunlight, we can live."
"When our Dragon Balls recover, we will leave."
"We have our own lives as well."
"During this time… we'll have to trouble you."
Chi-Chi nodded. "That's true. Earth is too noisy anyway—probably not suitable for you."
"Then do as you wish."
"Thank you."
Not long after, Chi-Chi's phone regained signal.
She answered excitedly.
"Hello!"
"Bulma?!"
"Did you win?"
"That's wonderful!"
"I knew Goku would win!"
"What?"
"You're going to the Yardrat planet to train?"¹
Chi-Chi's expression darkened slightly.
Reluctantly, she asked, "Then… how long until you come back?"
"…Alright, I understand…"
Krillin, Vegeta, and the Namekians all looked at Chi-Chi.
"What happened?"
"Did Goku defeat Frieza?"
Krillin asked anxiously.
Chi-Chi nodded.
"Yes. Goku killed Frieza."
"And Frieza didn't manage to destroy Namek. The planet is completely intact."
"That's great!"
"That's amazing!"
Vegeta stepped forward. "Then what did she mean about training on the Yardrat planet?"
Chi-Chi replied, "Nothing special. He's just traveling for a bit."
Vegeta's eyes flickered. "Yardrat… I've heard of it."
"The people there aren't strong, but they possess special abilities."
"He must be going there to learn something."
Chi-Chi nodded. "Probably. I don't know how they found out about it."
Then she turned to Vegeta.
"Hey—you're not allowed to cause trouble on Earth!"
Vegeta froze for a moment, snorted, and turned away.
Chi-Chi suddenly thought of something.
"Oh, right, Vegeta…"
"Now that you're on Earth… what are you going to do?"
"No, wait—I need to arrange a place for you to stay."
"Otherwise you'll probably go rob someone's house!"
She tilted her head, thinking.
"Hmm… this is hard. Where should I put you?"
"The Lookout is definitely out, Kame House won't work, and my dad's castle probably doesn't want you either…"
Hearing her mutter, "Not this… not that…,"
Vegeta's brow twitched, his mouth tightening.
As if he were some stray dog waiting to be taken in.
But Vegeta could tell—Chi-Chi was a bit scatterbrained.
She spoke without thinking and often hurt people without meaning to.
She wasn't actually rejecting him.
So he remained silent.
He had planned to go straight to the gravity room and continue training.
Living in the seaside resort mansion would have been enough.
But at that moment, he remembered what the Namekian dragon had said.
To become a Super Saiyan, the requirements weren't many.
Base battle power, a powerful body, and intense rage—he already had all of that.
Only one thing remained: enough S Cells.
Vegeta had spent his life in battle.
When had he ever known peace?
Perhaps… he should relax for a while.
Even without the gravity room, a gravity wristband would be enough.
Only after calming the heart—
and then shattering that calm with rage—
would he reach Super Saiyan.
As a genius warrior.
As the prince of the Saiyans.
Having heard Porunga's explanation, Vegeta could grasp this truth.
Just then, Chi-Chi's eyes lit up.
"I've got it!"
"After Goku's grandpa went to Fortuneteller Baba, the house on Mount Paozu has been empty for years…"
"It's been unoccupied for so long, I don't even know if it's collapsed yet."
"If it has, I'll just buy a Capsule House and put it there for you!"
Vegeta looked at her.
"Mount Paozu?"
Chi-Chi nodded.
"Yeah. That's Goku's home—where he grew up."
"You're not allowed to damage that place."
"I'll lend it to you for now, alright?"
Vegeta's gaze sharpened.
"Kakarot grew up there?"
Chi-Chi nodded. "Yes. Goku lived in the mountains with his grandpa."
Vegeta's eyes flickered.
"Let's go. I'll live on Mount Paozu."
Chi-Chi waved her hand. "I'm not taking you. A man and a woman alone wouldn't be appropriate."
"Wait here—I'll call Goku's brother and have him take you."
Vegeta: "..."
Chi-Chi suddenly froze.
"Oh no… I don't think he's ever been there either. He wouldn't know the way."
Vegeta: "..."
Krillin stepped forward. "Chi-Chi, I'll go with you."
"I want to see where Goku grew up too."
Chi-Chi nodded. "Alright, I'll take both of you."
"But Krillin, since you're coming, do me a favor."
"There's a gravity room in Capsule Corporation's warehouse. Pack it into a capsule and bring it along."
Krillin grinned. "No problem."
He hurried off.
Chi-Chi turned to Vegeta again. "You wait here. I'll grab a portable house too."
"Just in case the old place collapsed!"
Yamcha said in surprise, "Chi-Chi, you're really taking care of him."
Chi-Chi smiled. "It's nothing. Bulma told me to."
"She said Vegeta is dangerous and unstable."
"If we don't settle him properly on Earth, he'll start destroying things."
Vegeta: "..."
A short while later, Chi-Chi, Krillin, and Vegeta left Capsule Corporation.
After flying for a bit, they arrived at Mount Paozu.
"Wow… Mount Paozu looks even more beautiful from the sky!"
Krillin nodded. "Yeah, the environment here is really nice."
"If we settled the Namekians here, I bet they'd be happy."
But Vegeta's expression turned serious.
"Someone lives here."
Chi-Chi blinked. "No, it's been empty for years…"
Vegeta said, "Look at the fields, the irrigation channels. Everything is in order. Someone definitely lives here."
Krillin stared at the neatly arranged terraces and crops in shock.
"You're right…"
"Could it be that some drifter moved into Goku's house?"
Chi-Chi and Krillin exchanged a glance.
"Possible."
"Let's go. Let's see who dares occupy Goku's home and drive them out."
They landed on the mountain peak.
As they walked toward the house, a small boy came running up from below.
"Mom! I'm back!"
Chi-Chi and Krillin both froze.
They turned around.
A boy of four or five, wearing a little backpack, dashed up the slope.
"Who is this kid?"
The boy stopped when he saw them.
Guarded, he asked, "Who are you? What are you doing at my house?"
Krillin and Chi-Chi were stunned again.
"Your house? That's impossible! This is Son Goku's home!"
Just then, a woman's voice came from inside the house.
"It's so noisy outside… Is that little Kong back already?"
Chi-Chi scratched her head. "This voice… why does it sound so familiar?"
Krillin nodded. "You too? I was just thinking that."
A few seconds later, a woman walked out.
She had deep blue hair, wore an apron, and held a kitchen knife.
Chi-Chi and Krillin's pupils shrank.
"Launch!"
"Why are you here?!"
Launch covered her mouth in shock.
"Chi-Chi? Krillin? Why are you two here?"
Chi-Chi stared at her in disbelief.
"Launch… how did you end up here?"
"Did… Goku lend you the house?"
Krillin suddenly looked enlightened.
"I get it now, Launch!"
"So that's why you disappeared after leaving Kame House."
"You've been living here, getting married and having a kid—nice!"
"But seriously, you didn't even invite us to the wedding!"
He turned to the boy.
"Hey kid, I'm one of your mom's old friends. My name is Krillin."
"This is Chi-Chi, and this is Vegeta."
"Just call us uncle and aunt."
"What's your name?"
Launch said gently, "Little Kong, they're mommy's friends. Call them uncle and aunt."
The boy looked at them shyly.
"Hello, Uncle. Hello, Auntie."
"So polite!" Krillin laughed.
"Too bad I came in a hurry and didn't bring anything."
"Next time I'll bring you a big toy."
Chi-Chi asked Launch, "He's about five or six, right?"
"I can't believe you've been married all these years."
"What's his name?"
Before Launch could answer, the boy spoke proudly.
"My name is Son Xiao Kong!"
"Son as in Son Goku's Son, 'Xiao' as in small, and 'Kong' as in Goku's Kong!"
"My dad is Son Goku!"
Crack—
It felt like a thunderbolt struck Chi-Chi and Krillin.
Chi-Chi stared. "I… I didn't hear that wrong, did I?"
"You said… your dad is Son Goku?"
The boy nodded seriously.
"Yes. Mom said so!"
Krillin's scalp went numb.
How could Son Goku suddenly have a son?
And Chi-Chi had just heard it.
In that instant, Krillin realized—
the one who should be panicking wasn't him.
It was Chi-Chi.
After all, Goku already had two wives—Chi-Chi and Bulma.
How could he still be hiding another woman?
But Krillin knew Goku too well.
He was absolutely not that kind of man.
Krillin hurried to comfort her.
"Chi-Chi, don't panic."
"You've known Goku since childhood—better than anyone."
"He's not that kind of person. There must be some misunderstanding…"
Chi-Chi nodded nervously. "I… I know. Goku isn't like that…"
They both turned toward Launch.
Seeing their questioning looks, Launch scratched her head innocently.
"Let me think how to explain…"
"…Oh, it's about time to eat."
"Why don't you come inside first?"
"I'll explain after I sneeze."
Chi-Chi and Krillin both understood.
Blue-haired Launch and blonde Launch were the same person—
but completely different in personality.
If blonde Launch explained, everything would become clear quickly.
So they nodded.
At that moment, Vegeta stared at the boy with interest.
"He shouldn't be Kakarot's son."
Chi-Chi and Krillin froze.
"Why?"
Vegeta said, "A Saiyan child should have a tail."
"But look—he doesn't."
The boy immediately replied, "No, I do!"
"Mom said if I keep it, I'll turn into a Great Ape and lose control, so she cut it off!"
Vegeta's mouth twitched.
"Then there's no doubt."
"He really is Kakarot's child."
"Only Saiyan children grow tails…"