On Earth, the air suddenly parted to reveal a familiar aura.
Goku, Vegeta, Whis, and the God of Destruction Beerus had just arrived. Goku had sensed a strange energy erupting briefly—energy released by Future Trunks at his mother's command. Goku immediately seized it and used it as a teleportation point.
Bulma was waiting for them. Without wasting any time, she led them to where Future Trunks lay on a bed in a spacious room, his breathing irregular, his body bearing the marks of a fierce battle. Goku and Vegeta approached anxiously. "What happened to him?" Goku asked, looking at the wounds. "Why is he like this?"
Bulma sighed, her eyes filled with concern. "He came in the time machine… he appeared in the back garden. I rushed to him, but when the cabin door opened, Trunks emerged, barely able to stand, and then he collapsed."
She paused, then added, "I called for Future Trunks, and he carried him here so we could treat him."
Vegeta turned sharply to Goku. "Hey, Kakarot… have some of those pills?"
Goku scratched his head with a faint smile. "You mean the Senzu pills? Yes."
He took two pills from his pocket and handed them to Future Trunks. Meanwhile, the young Trunks stared silently, his eyes wide with astonishment. The resemblance between him and the man lying before him was shocking, as if he were looking at his own reflection in a mirror.
Beerus approached and looked at the two of them with amusement. "Hey, kid… why does this guy look so much like you?"
The young Trunks was flustered and said hesitantly, "No… I don't know."
At that moment, Future Trunks stirred. His eyelids slowly opened, his vision still blurry. A white mist filled his eyes, then the scene began to clear. The first face he saw was Goku.
His expression changed instantly. He gritted his teeth and leaped up, throwing a punch directly at Goku. "You bastard!"
But Goku easily blocked the blow, surprised. "Trunks?!"
"I'll never forgive you!" Trunks roared, blinded by rage.
Before things could escalate, Bulma slapped Future Trunks hard across the head. "You idiot! What do you think you're doing?!"
Trunks froze. He turned slowly, his eyes wide with shock. "M… Mom?!"
He stared at her for a long moment, as if to confirm she was real, then looked back at Goku and then at his father, Vegeta. His voice broke as he hugged Bulma tightly. "So… you really did manage to return to the present…"
Bulma patted his head, trying to calm him, while young Trunks watched in utter bewilderment. Seeing his mother hug someone who looked exactly like him was completely confusing to him. Future Trunks finally sat up. Bulma said seriously, "Tell us, Trunks… what happened to you? And why did you attack Goku?"
Trunks lowered his head. "I'm sorry, Master Goku."
Goku smiled calmly. "It's alright."
Future Trunks sighed and began to tell his story: "After I defeated Androids 17 and 18, and destroyed the laboratory and the capsules where Cell was… I thought peace had returned."
He clenched his fist. "But a new threat emerged."
Silence fell. "Someone… wanted to exterminate all humans on Earth. He said that this planet didn't deserve humans because of the destruction, wars, and killing they caused. He wanted to turn Earth into a home for beings from other planets… and he saw humans as nothing more than selfish creatures fighting over land and resources that didn't belong to them."
He swallowed hard. "I fought him several times. At first, I was superior… but with each battle, he adapted to me. And the stronger I became, the stronger he became too."
Vegeta interrupted sharply, "Huh? So you ran away because you're weak?!"
Bulma immediately cried out, "Vegeta! Don't be so harsh on the boy!"
Vegeta crossed his arms. "If he's my son, he should stay and fight to the end."
Goku chimed in, surprised, "What's wrong, Vegeta?"
Bulma sighed, then looked at Trunks. "So… why did you attack Goku when you woke up?"
Trunks raised his head, his eyes dark. "Because that person… resembled Master Goku."
A heavy silence fell. "What?" Goku exclaimed in astonishment.
"And his name was… Goten," Trunks continued in a low voice.
Everyone froze. "Goten?!" Goku said, stunned. "But he… is my son!"
"That's impossible!" Vegeta snapped. "Goten wasn't born in your time. Kakarot died before he was even born from a heart condition!"
Trunks shook his head in confusion. "I don't know… so far, all I know from you is that he's Goku son."
"What are you talking about?!" the younger Trunks suddenly shouted.
All eyes turned to him. "Who is this person who looks like me? And why does he have the same name? Where did he come from? It's impossible that Goten did all of this!" he asked anxiously.
Bulma approached him, crouched down to his level, and said in a heavy voice, "That person… is you, from the future."
The younger Trunks' eyes widened. "I'm from the future!"
Goten Black shadow began to loom over the present. Looking at a ring on his hand, the ring began to glow. In the place where Trunks had disappeared, the ring emitted a beam, and black gates opened. "Goten Black," he said. "So you've traveled to the present? Wait for me, Trunks, I'm coming."
He entered the gatehouse laughing.