"Haa... haa... haa..."
A tall, muscular man wearing a suit similar to the Red Hood's, except his was entirely black, with a pair of arching, horn-like shapes on the helmet, panted heavily after running nonstop.
'I think that's enough for today. I have other things to do.'
His right index finger began to glow. He pointed it at himself, and a beam of light engulfed his entire body, transforming his outfit. When the glow faded, his true appearance was revealed: a green humanoid with two antenna on his forehead, several colored patches of skin with red borders, and thin black lines running across his arms. He now wore a dark purplish-blue gi, a red obi, and red boots with greaves beneath the pants.
He walked straight to a nearby house and opened the door, removing his shoes. In the living room, an old man sat on a couch, watching a massive television. This was his grandfather.
His grandfather looked over. "Taro, done with your training?"
"Yeah, Ojii-chan." Taro headed toward the kitchen to find something to eat.
"Your grandmother made breakfast," his grandfather replied.
"Okay," Taro said.
When Taro entered the kitchen, he found an old woman washing plates. She looked up as he walked in and smiled warmly at her grandson.
"You finished training early today," she noted.
"Yeah, I've got some business to handle today. I've been putting it off, so I'm heading out to take care of it." Taro sat down, grabbed a bowl, and began scooping some fried rice.
"Okay." She didn't react much, as if she'd expected this day would come.
Taro paused. "You're not going to ask where I'm going?"
"No. It's not like you'd tell me what you're really doing anyway." She dried her hands and sat across from him.
"I'm meeting my other half," Taro said.
"Okay..." She was briefly stunned but quickly masked it, she knew Taro was anything but ordinary. She leaned forward slightly. "I just worry. You're still a three-year-old child, even if you act so mature. That only makes me worry more, Taro. Just come back safe. That's all I ask."
"Alright." Taro nodded and finally began eating.
"Eat until you're full," his grandmother said with a gentle smile.
After finishing breakfast, Taro stood by the door and conjured a red gauntlet, similar to Kazama Jin's from Tekken 8, adjusting it on his arm. His grandparents stood nearby, watching him prepare to leave. His grandfather stepped forward.
"You've grown so fast," the old man said quietly. "I still remember when you hatched from that huge egg. I can't help but worry."
Taro knelt down and placed a hand on his grandfather's shoulder, looking into the old man's eyes with a warm smile.
"Don't worry, Ojii-chan. No one on Earth can hurt me. That's why I've trained so hard these three years."
"But you're still just a child," his grandfather insisted.
Taro's smile didn't fade. "It's fine, Ojii-chan. It's not like I'm not coming back. Once I've handled the problem, I'll return home. You're acting like I'm being sent off to war."
His grandfather chuckled softly and pulled him into a hug. Taro glanced over at his grandmother.
"Come here too, Obaa-chan."
She joined them, and the three shared a long embrace, all for what was, to Taro, just a simple trip. After a moment, Taro pulled back, smiled at them both, and shot into the sky.
His grandmother watched him disappear into the clouds. "I'm worried about him, honey."
"So am I," his grandfather said, slipping an arm around her. "But like he said, this is something he has to handle first. Let's just get things ready for when he comes back, alright?"
"Alright," she whispered.
. . . .
'The fact that it's been three years since I arrived here is amazing. Never thought I could imagine being reincarnated into the Dragon Ball world as a Namekian.'
Taro flew through the sky, heading toward the tower that would help him locate what he was searching for. It took a while, but he finally found it, a tower with a skinny pillar and an oval-shaped building at the top.
Korin's Tower.
As soon as he spotted it, he knew he was in the right place. He flew upward, passing through the clouds. When he emerged above them, he finally found the location of his other self.
A massive platform sat in geostationary orbit, dotted with a few trees. At its center stood the temple where his other half resided.
'Finally. I can be unlinked from him. I don't want to take any chances of accidentally dying because he's too weak.'
Taro landed gracefully on the platform. The moment he did, the two beings who lived there already sensed his arrival, he had deliberately let out one-fortieth of his power.
A short, plump humanoid with very dark complexion stood nearby: Mr. Popo. Next to him was an ancient Namekian with wrinkly skin, wearing clothes bearing the kanji for "God", Kami.
"Piccolo... or should I say Taro now?" Kami said with a smile, sensing no malice or evil intent from the visitor, only calm and relaxation.
"Call me whatever you like." Taro shrugged, unbothered.
"So, what's your objective in meeting me? You're not here to fight, even though your muscles are coiled and ready." Kami observed Taro's posture, noting his readiness for battle.
"I want you to use the Dragon Balls and wish that my life is no longer linked to yours," Taro stated plainly.
Kami nodded, understanding where Taro was coming from. "Alright."
Mr. Popo watched the exchange in disbelief. The two of them were having a normal conversation without fighting, especially after everything that had happened with Demon King Piccolo. He finally believed what Kami had said right after the egg hatched.
'Popo... he is pure. It's as if evil never took root in him.'
Mr. Popo then noticed the genuinely happy expression on Kami's face. It had been a long time since he'd seen Kami look this joyful.