Goten Chapter 12

Goten Chapter 12

Author's Note: Hey everyone, sorry for not uploading any new chapters of Goten this past week. To be honest, I'm struggling to move the story forward in a way that makes sense. As for the next chapter of Kaito, I'll be uploading it by the end of tomorrow. Thanks for your patience!

A while later Goten walked into the living room, towel in hand, still drying his hair.

Chi-Chi was already waiting at the dining table, setting out the reheated food. She looked up as Goten entered. "Come, sit," she said.

Moments later, Gohan joined them, and the brothers sat down. Chi-Chi handed them bowls of food, watching as they dug in hungrily.

As they ate, Chi-Chi leaned forward slightly and asked, "So… what happened? How did you both escape from the androids?"

Gohan paused, his grip on his chopsticks tightening slightly. He lowered his gaze. "It was… Goten," he admitted. "He saved us from the androids."

Chi-Chi’s eyes widened, and she looked at Goten in shock.

Goten, swallowing a mouthful of food, casually added, "Yeah, I used a distraction to get Gohan and Videl away, and then I fled."

Then, with a mischievous grin, he threw in, "Oh, and by the way, Videl is Gohan’s new girlfriend."

Gohan was caught completely off guard, choked on his food, coughing violently.

Chi-Chi paused mid-bite, her chopsticks frozen, and shouted, "WHAT?!"

….

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the ocean as gentle waves lapped against the shore of Kame House’s island. Videl stood on the beach, her arms tucked close to her body, eyes shut in deep concentration. She wore a loose white T-shirt over black shorts, her long dark hair neatly tied into two strands that draped over her shoulders.

The sea breeze picked up slightly, ruffling her shirt as she focused. The sand beneath her feet shifted subtly as she began to lift off the ground, her body gradually rising, inch by inch. A feeling of lightness spread through her, the wind tickling her skin as she hovered a few feet above the sand.

Finally, she opened her eyes, glancing around in amazement. A wide smile broke across her face as she exclaimed, “I did it… I finally did it!”

From below, Master Roshi nodded in approval, stroking his beard. “Well done, Videl! You managed to fly! Though…” His expression shifted into a perverted grin. “You really should have worn a skirt for this.”

Oolong, standing beside him, smirked and crossed his arms. “Yeah, that’s a shame.”

Before they could continue, a loud smack echoed through the air. Both Roshi and Oolong went flying into the sand, groaning in pain as Bulma stood over them, her fists clenched and eyes burning with fury.

“You would like that, wouldn’t you?! You old perverts!” Bulma shouted, her voice dripping with disgust.

Videl, still floating, glanced down and let out a small chuckle at the sight of Roshi and Oolong sprawled on the ground, large lumps forming on their heads.

But before she could enjoy her small victory, a sudden gust of wind slammed into her, throwing her off balance. Instinctively, she crossed her arms over her face to shield herself.

Her body wobbled in the air as she struggled to regain control. Looking toward the ocean, she saw the source of the disturbance—Goten and Gohan, locked in an intense battle above the water. Their Kamehameha waves clashed violently, the force sending shockwaves across the sea and kicking up gusts of wind that reached all the way to the island.

“man those two are on a completely different level.” Videl narrowed her eyes, steadying herself in midair. As the massive energy clash began to die down, she hovered in place, watching in awe as the two brothers continued their sparring match in the distance.

Bulma cupped her hands around her mouth and called out, “Videl! You better come down and get some rest!”

Hearing her, Videl sighed and let herself descend gently, landing next to Bulma, Master Roshi, and Oolong. She wiped her forehead with the back of her hand, breathing a little heavier than before. “Man, that was exhausting,” she muttered.

A few feet away, Pilaf and Shu sat at a small wooden table under the shade, each holding a glass of lemonade as they watched Trunks and the others train.

Pilaf took a sip, sighing in satisfaction. “Man, this lemonade is refreshing.”

Shu nodded in agreement, his tail swishing lazily behind him. “Yeah, it’s really good.”

Just then, the sound of a sliding door opening caught their attention. Chi-Chi stepped out of the house, carefully balancing a large bowl of stir-fried meat in one hand and another bowl filled with vegetables in the other. The delicious aroma quickly spread through the air.

“Hey, you two!” Chi-Chi called out, looking toward Pilaf and Shu. “Help me set up the table!”

Both of them straightened up immediately, scrambling out of their seats. “Yes, ma’am!” they said in unison, quickly moving to help arrange the plates and utensils.

Bulma, noticing Chi-Chi carrying over the food, turned her attention to the group still training nearby. She put her hands on her hips and called out, “Trunks! Come take a break!”

Trunks was in the middle of doing push-ups, a massive turtle shell strapped to his back, its weight pressing him into the sand. Sweat dripped from his forehead, but he kept pushing through.

“897… 898… 899… 900!” Trunks counted before finally stopping. He let out a heavy breath, sitting up as the weighted shell thudded onto the ground behind him.

“Huh? Sure thing, Mom,” he said, standing up and stretching his arms.

Mai, who had been watching nearby, walked over and held out a towel. “You okay, Trunks?”

Trunks gave her a small smile and took the towel, wiping the sweat off his face. “Yeah, thanks, Mai.”

Meanwhile, Videl made her way toward Chi-Chi, rolling her shoulders as she walked. “Chi-Chi you Need any help?” she asked.

Chi-Chi smiled at her. “Yeah, can you grab the rest of the food from inside?”

Videl nodded. “Got it,” she said before heading toward the house.

…

High above the ocean, Goten flew backward, twisting and weaving as he dodged a rapid barrage of Ki blasts. Each one whizzed past him, exploding upon impact with the water below. Massive splashes erupted into the air, creating waves that rippled across the ocean’s surface.

Narrowing his eyes, Goten fired a Ki blast of his own toward Gohan.

Gohan didn’t flinch. He flew straight at the attack, raising his forearm and effortlessly deflecting the blast to the side. Without slowing down, he closed the distance and threw a punch at Goten.

Goten dodged it, shifting to the side at the last second. and used the opening, he countered with a swift kick.

Gohan raised his arms in time to block, but the impact still sent him flying backward.

Goten didn’t let up. He shot forward, keeping close behind his brother. Before Gohan could fully regain control, Goten launched a punch straight into his stomach.

“Ugh!” Gohan grunted, his eyes widening as the force knocked the air from his lungs.

Goten followed up with a sharp uppercut, then twisted in midair, spinning around to deliver a powerful kick. The blow sent Gohan hurtling downward.

With a loud splash, Gohan crashed into the ocean, sinking beneath the surface.

For a moment, the water was still.

Then, with a sudden surge, Gohan burst out of the ocean, hovering above the surface. He wiped his chin with the back of his hand and smirked. “You’ve really gotten strong, Goten.”

Goten shook his head. “It’s only because you’re holding back,” he said. His expression turned serious. “Come on, Gohan, don’t hold back. Use Super Saiyan. I want to see how big the gap is between us.”

Gohan hesitated, shaking his head. “It wouldn’t be fair.”

Goten clenched his fists. “Come on, Gohan! I need to push myself. I want to unlock Super Saiyan!” His eyes burned with determination. “You know the androids won’t hold back the next time we meet them, right?”

Gohan let out a sigh, knowing Goten wasn’t going to drop it. “Alright then…”

Taking a deep breath, he clenched his fists and let out a loud, powerful shout. “AHHHH!!” His energy skyrocketed, sending shockwaves rippling through the air. Golden light burst around him as his hair turned bright blonde, his aura crackling with energy.

Gohan looked at Goten, his expression serious. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Goten grinned, the excitement clear in his eyes. “Bring it on!”

Without another word, Gohan vanished from sight.

BOOM!

Before Goten could react, Gohan’s fist connected with his face, sending him reeling.

….

Down below, the group sat around the table, finishing up the setup while watching the sparring match unfold in the sky.

Videl walked over, carrying the dishes Chi-Chi had asked her to bring. She carefully placed the food on the table before glancing up at Goten and Gohan, who were clashing fiercely above the ocean.

Taking a seat next to Bulma, Videl let out a small whistle. “Those two are really going at it, huh?”

Trunks, sitting nearby, leaned forward, eyes glued to the fight. “Man, Gohan is amazing… Goten doesn’t stand a chance.”

Chi-Chi sighed, clasping her hands together in worry. “I really hope Gohan isn’t being too rough on Goten.”

Master Roshi, stroking his beard, hummed thoughtfully. “Hmm… Goten seems to be trying to push himself to unlock Super Saiyan on his own.”

Oolong, taking a bite of a rice ball, frowned. “if Goten manages to become a Super Saiyan… wouldn’t he and Gohan actually stand a chance against the androids?”

Roshi nodded, his expression serious. “It’s possible… especially at the rate Goten is growing.”

Videl turned to Roshi, a curious expression on her face. “Super Saiyan?” she asked.

Chi-Chi, sitting beside them on the beach, sighed. “It’s the form Gohan is using right now,” she explained. “I just really hope my baby Goten doesn’t get that delinquent hair.”

Bulma sipped her iced tea, watching the fight with an amused smile. “I’m honestly surprised Goten is already this strong. It’s like watching Goku when he was young all over again.”

Chi-Chi shook her head. “Goten is just like his father—he loves to fight. But Gohan… Gohan never liked fighting. He’s only doing it because he has to. He’s carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.” Her voice softened with sadness. “My poor baby…”

Roshi nodded solemnly. “Gohan has been under so much pressure that he’s lost sight of who he really is.”

Videl glanced at him, her brows furrowed. “What do you mean, Master Roshi?”

Roshi sighed, his voice heavy with emotion. “Like Chi-Chi said, Gohan doesn’t enjoy fighting… but ever since Goku died, he’s been trying so hard to fill his father’s shoes. He’s so focused on being Goku that he’s forgotten how to be himself. That’s why he can’t surpass the androids.”

Videl looked up at Gohan, her expression filled with concern. She muttered under her breath, “Gohan…”

Meanwhile, Trunks clenched his fists as he watched the battle unfold. The gap between him and Goten—and even more so between him and Gohan—was glaringly obvious.

Bulma noticed his frustration and reached over, gently patting his head. “You’re just getting started, Trunks,” she said with a reassuring smile. “You’ll catch up to them soon enough.”

….

Goten was struggling to keep up with Super Saiyan Gohan.

He threw punch after punch, kick after kick, pushing himself as hard as he could. But no matter what he did, Gohan effortlessly dodged each attack, weaving through them with ease.

Then, Gohan suddenly countered. He stepped in and threw a punch straight at Goten.

Goten gritted his teeth, barely managing to block. The force of the punch sent him flying backward.

Before he could recover, Gohan appeared above him. "You're wide open!" he said before bringing his leg down.

BAM!

The kick struck Goten's back, sending him hurtling toward the ocean below.

Water rushed up to meet him at high speed, but at the last second, Goten managed to stop himself just above the surface, his body trembling from exhaustion.

Panting heavily, he looked up at Gohan, determination burning in his eyes. He clenched his fists and rushed back at him, refusing to give up.

Just as they were about to clash again, Chi-Chi’s voice rang out from below.

“Gohan! Goten! Come take a break and eat your lunch!”

Gohan let out a breath and powered down, his golden aura fading. "Hey, how about we take a break?" he suggested.

Goten exhaled sharply, clearly frustrated. “Yeah, sure…”

As he flew toward the beach, irritation gnawed at him. Why can’t I unlock Super Saiyan yet?

In Dragon Ball Z, the original Goten had unlocked Super Saiyan effortlessly while sparring with Chi-Chi—even before he could fly. And Goten was certain that right now, he was stronger than the original Goten had been at that age.

So what am I doing wrong? he thought, his fists clenching slightly.

Gohan landed beside him and stretched. “Man, I’m starving.”

Chi-Chi smiled, waving them over. “Well, come on, I made lunch for everyone.”

Goten sat down next to his mother as she handed him a steaming bowl of rice. “Here you go, Goten. Eat up! You need your strength if you want to keep training.”

Goten took the bowl and gave a small smile. “Thanks, Mom.”

Everyone else gathered around, joining in as they said, “Thank you for the food,” before digging in.

Videl took a bite and hummed in satisfaction. “Chi-Chi, this is really delicious, you have to share your recipe”

Gohan nodded in agreement. “Yeah, Mom, you really outdid yourself today.”

Chi-Chi beamed at the compliments. “I’m glad you all like it! sure I’ll give it to you later.”

Goten, however, ate silently, barely paying attention to the conversation.

As they ate, the conversation naturally shifted between different topics.

Videl, sitting next to Gohan, turned to him with a curious expression. “Hey, Gohan… do you think I could become a Super Saiyan too?”

Gohan paused mid-bite, blinking in confusion. “Huh?”

Videl repeated, “I asked if I could also become a Super Saiyan like you.”

Gohan scratched the back of his head, looking a little unsure of how to answer. “Well, you see—”

Before he could finish, Goten chimed in. “You can’t.”

Videl frowned, confused. “Huh? Why not?”

Goten looked at her like it was obvious. “Because you’re not a Saiyan… or even half-Saiyan, like me and Gohan.”

Videl raised an eyebrow. “A Saiyan? What’s that?”

Goten swallowed his bite of food before answering. “It’s an alien race. My dad and Trunks’ dad—Vegeta—they’re both aliens.”

Videl’s eyes widened in shock. “Wait… what?! Aliens?!”

Bulma chuckled, sipping her iced tea. “It’s been a while since we’ve talked about this kind of stuff.”

Chi-Chi nodded thoughtfully. “Hmm, yeah… the last time we were all together like this was before you guys went off to space.”

Videl nearly choked on her food. “Wait—you’ve been to space?!”

Bulma nodded casually. “Yep. Me, Gohan, and another friend of ours went to Planet Namek.”

Goten’s ears perked up. This is the perfect chance to ask about the Dragon Balls… he thought.

Looking at Gohan, he asked, “Planet Namek? Why did you go there?”

Gohan sighed, setting down his chopsticks. “We were looking for the Dragon Balls.”

Videl, still trying to wrap her head around everything, asked, “Dragon Balls?”

Bulma leaned back and explained, “They’re magical wishing orbs that can grant any wish. We used to have them on Earth, but they were deactivated when the Guardian of Earth died.”

Videl crossed her arms, giving Gohan a skeptical look. “You have to be kidding me, right?”

Gohan shook his head. “It’s real. The Dragon Balls can grant almost any wish.”

Trunks, who had been listening intently, suddenly perked up. “Then why don’t we just go to Planet Namek and wish for a way to defeat the androids?”

Gohan sighed, setting down his bowl. “It’s not that simple. Planet Namek was destroyed when we were there. Frieza managed to blow it up, even after Dad defeated him. Before that happened, everyone on Namek was wished to Earth for safety. Later, they used the Dragon Balls to wish for a new planet, but it’s somewhere far away, and they relocated.”

Bulma leaned back and crossed her arms. “I’ve tried searching for New Namek, but it’s beyond our sector of the universe. It’s completely out of our reach.”

Goten let out a small sigh, pretending to be frustrated. “If only there was a way to go back in time and use the Dragon Balls to stop the androids…” He said the words casually, but inside, he was watching carefully for Bulma’s reaction.

Bulma froze.

She turned her head sharply toward Goten, narrowing her eyes slightly as if processing what he just said. Then, without a word, she grabbed a notepad and started scribbling furiously, numbers and equations filling the page.

Chi-Chi tilted her head, watching Bulma work. “Bulma? What in the world are you doing now?”

Bulma didn’t look up, her voice filled with excitement. “Time travel.”

Videl nearly choked on her food. “Wait—what?!”

Bulma continued writing, flipping pages as she went. “I think it might be possible. We already have the technology to build spaceships, gravity machines, and all sorts of advanced tech. If I adjust some of the theories I’ve been working on… yes, this could work.”

Videl stared at her, wide-eyed. “Time travel? Seriously? That’s even crazier than magical Dragon Balls.”

Gohan leaned forward, clearly interested but hesitant. “You really think it can be done, Bulma?”

Bulma finally paused her note-taking and looked up, pushing her pen against her chin in thought. “I won’t promise anything,” she admitted. “But if we could create a machine that can move across timelines, it might be our best shot. We’d have to be extremely careful… but it could change everything.”

Trunks stared at his mother, awe evident in his eyes. “That’s incredible, Mom.”

Goten gave a small, knowing smile, trying to look just as amazed as everyone else. But inside, excitement bubbled within him.

This is it, he thought. Bulma’s going to build the time machine. If we do this right, we might actually be able to fix everything.