Saiyan Legacy: A New Dawn

Chapter 4: Saiyan Blood

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The days following your arrival on Earth passed in a blur of quiet routine. You'd settled into the old man's home, though you remained vigilant, never allowing yourself to fully relax. Kakarot—now called Goku by the old man—had adapted to this strange, peaceful world faster than you'd expected. But his Saiyan blood burned as fiercely as ever, and you knew it was only a matter of time before his true strength would awaken.

Grandpa Gohan, as he had come to be known, had taken on the role of caretaker with surprising ease. He treated Kakarot with an almost fatherly tenderness, despite the boy's wild tendencies. There was something about the old man, something you couldn't quite place, that made you trust him in ways you didn't trust others. Still, you kept your distance, ever the warrior.

The training had started almost immediately. You couldn't afford to let Kakarot become soft in this peaceful place. His destiny was greater than this planet, and you were determined to see him become the warrior he was meant to be. Every day, you pushed him, testing his limits, teaching him to harness his innate power.

It was on a quiet morning, not long after your arrival, that things took a drastic turn.

The day started like any other. You stood outside the house, your eyes narrowed in concentration as Kakarot—barely a toddler—struggled to push a large boulder across the ground. His small hands gripped the rough surface, and his face was scrunched up in determination. He was classified as a warrior with a power level of 2, worse than any child you'd ever seen, but you decided he could grow. After all, he was Bardock's son.

"Focus!" you barked, your voice sharp. "Use your legs, not just your arms!"

Kakarot grunted, his tail flicking back and forth as he leaned his whole body into the effort. The boulder shifted slightly, but not enough. He fell forward onto the dirt, panting, but before you could scold him for his weakness, the old man's voice called out from the house.

"Why don't you give him a break, lad? He's just a toddler."

You turned to see Grandpa Gohan standing at the door, his arms folded, a patient smile on his face. You frowned. Gohan's soft approach grated on you, but you couldn't deny that he had a way with Kakarot. Still, you couldn't let him interfere with the training.

"He needs to be pushed," you said, crossing your arms. "He's not like other kids."

"I know that," Gohan replied, walking over to you. "But he's still young. Let him grow. There's time enough for training."

You didn't argue, but the tension between the two of you was palpable. Kakarot, unaware of the exchange, had already jumped back to his feet, ready to try again. That was one thing you couldn't deny—the boy had the heart of a warrior.

But then, something unexpected happened.

As Kakarot ran to the boulder for another attempt, he tripped on a rock and tumbled forward. You heard the sickening crack before you even saw what had happened. Kakarot's head collided with the sharp edge of the boulder, and he crumpled to the ground.

For a moment, everything went still.

"Goku!" Gohan shouted, rushing forward.

You were right behind him, your heart pounding in your chest. You lifted the boy's limp form from the dirt, checking for any signs of life. He was breathing, but barely conscious. His eyes fluttered open for a moment, glazed and unfocused.

"Stay with me, kid," you muttered, shaking him gently.

Gohan knelt beside you, his face lined with worry. "We need to get him inside. Quickly!"