Z Warriors Return, Goku's Challenge

North Kai's planet.

Goku and Vegeta were preparing to return to Earth. "Goku, remember, you're only allowed to stay on Earth for one day. After that, you'll have to return here," North Kai reminded him.

"I understand, Kaiō-sama!" Goku responded quickly, his mind already on Earth. To ensure a smooth journey back, they would need the assistance of Uranai Baba, the old woman floating nearby. "Uranai Baba, please," Goku requested, and with a light affirmation from her, they set off towards the snake road.

Whether one was a deceased soul journeying to North Kai's planet or a living being departing from it, the snake road was the only path. For Goku and the others, traversing the snake road was a matter of moments. A quick greeting to King Yenma, and they could return to the world of the living.

…...

Meanwhile, on Earth, aboard a luxury cruise ship.

Everyone seemed to have forgotten all the unpleasantness from before and were enjoying the feast. During this time, Videl approached Goten. "Goten, I asked you to teach me how to fly last time. Have you thought about it?" she asked.

"Why are you so eager to become stronger? You should know that with greater strength comes greater danger," Goten replied calmly. He believed that sometimes, it was nice to be an ordinary person. The stronger one became, the more effort and risk it entailed.

"If it was before, I would have wanted to become stronger to punish wrongdoers, purely for justice. But now, I want to become stronger because I don't want to fall behind you!" Videl declared firmly. She was determined to close the gap between them, even if it meant confessing her feelings to Goten.

[T/N: Heh! Dream on!]

"Really…" Goten smiled, knowing that as an ordinary human, Videl would always be at a disadvantage compared to him. Trying to bridge this gap was nothing more than a dream.

"Anyway, I've made up my mind. If you won't teach me, I'll go to Mount Paozu every day until you agree to teach me how to fight and fly." Videl threatened playfully. She was determined to learn from Goten.

"Fine! When I have time, I will teach you how to fly." Goten finally agreed. It wouldn't take too much of his time, after all.

"Hee hee~~yeah!!"

Hearing Goten's agreement, Videl laughed happily, giving him a victory sign. Seeing Videl's childish expression, Goten was left speechless.

'And here I thought that I was the younger one!'

Just as the birthday party was in full swing, Goten's face changed slightly as he sensed several Ki signatures approaching rapidly.

whoosh whoosh!!

In the next moment, with the sound of air being pierced, six figures appeared in front of everyone. It was Uranai Baba, Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Trunks and Piccolo.

Upon hearing the sound, Krillin quickly turned his head. Seeing the familiar faces, his eyes welled up with tears.

"Yo!! Long time no see, Krillin," Goku greeted him, waving his hand in his signature manner.

"Goku… Goku!!" Krillin couldn't control his emotions and rushed towards Goku. The bond between Krillin and Goku was special, something no one else could understand.

At this moment, Krillin no longer displayed the maturity and seriousness expected of his age. The old man in his thirties was as excited as a child at this moment.

As everyone else looked over, they too recognized the familiar faces. "Goku?" "Gohan, my Gohan…" "Vegeta!!" "Is that… Trunks!!" Upon seeing their loved ones, Chichi and Bulma burst into tears. Especially upon seeing their respective sons, they couldn't hold back their tears. They had missed them every day for the past eight years, and now they were finally able to see them again.

"Mom!!" Gohan and Trunks were also very excited to see Chichi and Bulma. Gohan hadn't seen Chichi for eight years, and Trunks had been on North Kai's planet for as long as he could remember. He missed his mother every day.

"Gohan…" "Trunks…" Chichi and Bulma ran directly to Gohan and Trunks. Seeing this scene, everyone felt a lump in their throats.

After Goten saw the halo above Goku's head and Uranai Baba, he instantly understood why they could come to the living realm. They had received special permission from North Kai and King Yenma. However, they couldn't stay on Earth for long.

This touching scene lasted for five full minutes before Chichi and Bulma's emotions stabilized. Goku pushed Krillin away and walked over to Goten. "Goten, I finally get to meet you. You're really very strong! Much stronger than me!" Goku said, looking at Goten with a kind smile on his face.

"Goten, this is your father, Goku," Chichi introduced.

As a transmigrator, Goten naturally knew about these things. But it had been six years since he traveled back in time, plus two years in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. He had never met Goku at all. Not even a word had been spoken between the two of them. So his feelings for Goku were completely incomparable with Chichi.

The word "father" was indeed difficult to pronounce for him, therefore, Goten just nodded.

Chichi wasn't upset about this. After all, Goten had never met Goku before. Now that there was suddenly an extra father, it was quite a lot to take in.

"Goku, Gohan, why is there a halo over your head?" Chichi finally noticed the silver halo above Goku and Gohan's heads. Bulma also looked curiously at Trunks and Vegeta, each of whom had a similar halo above their heads.

"Chichi, we haven't really been revived. This time, Kaiō-sama specially approved us to return to Earth for one day. After that, we still have to go back to the Otherworld," Goku explained. As soon as these words came out, the excitement in everyone's eyes dimmed. This kind of parting after a short reunion was more painful than not meeting at all.

"Fine! One day at a time, at least you can meet Goten and let him see what his father looks like," Chichi said with a forced smile. She had thought the whole family would be able to reunite this time. Unexpectedly, they only had one day to come back.

"Okay, everyone, don't stick around, hurry up and eat! I have prepared a lot of food today. I guess you guys didn't eat very well in the Otherworld," Bulma said, forcing a smile. Some things, they couldn't change. That being the case, they would let everything take its course.

"Ah! The food at Kaiō-sama's place is really bad, and I can't get enough every time. Hee hee~~ I can finally have a good meal today!" Goku said heartlessly. It seemed that he didn't notice the gloomy expressions of Chichi and Bulma at all.

"Hah! Damn you Kakarot, you eat the most every time," Vegeta cursed directly. Every time it was Goku who ate the most food, and now he said such a thing. And it was estimated that if North Kai heard about it, he would die of heartbreak!

Two hours later, everyone had almost finished eating. Goku patted his round belly, then got up and walked over to Goten. At this time, Chichi and the others also looked at Goku, not knowing what he was going to do.

"Goten, the main purpose of my visit to Earth this time was actually to test your power. Because the last time I saw you fighting Janemba, my blood was boiling with excitement. So I've been looking forward to a fight with you," Goku said, looking very serious. This was the purpose of his visit to Earth, to fight Goten and get a good feel for Goten's current strength.

"Goku?"

"Goku, what nonsense are you talking about?"

"Goten is your son, not your enemy, what do you want to do with him?" Chichi immediately stepped forward to stop him.

Goku, this guy, was really weird. After finally returning to Earth for a day, he didn't even get along with his family, he actually wanted to fight his son. This was really unreasonable.

"Goku, what is going on in your mind?"

"He is Goten, your own son," Bulma scolded. They finally had the chance to meet again. Today was her birthday, and it was originally a joyful occasion. But Goku behavior was out of line. Why did he want to fight Goten?

"Chichi, Bulma, don't you know Goku yet? He's always been like this. Goten's strong strength must have aroused Goku's desire to fight! So you don't have to worry, they are just simply competing," Krillin said, smiling slightly.

'Sure enough, it isn't Chichi who knows Goku. It's only I who knows him the best. After all, we had practiced together and grown up together.' 

[T/N: He's Gay for Goku.]

"Come on! Goten," Goku said to Goten with a smile.

"You are no match for me. Even if I don't transform, you won't last a few rounds against me, so this is a meaningless battle!"

Goten raised his head and glanced at Goku, then said calmly. He totally understood what Goku was thinking. Because Goku was a battle addict, when he met a stronger opponent than him, he felt extremely excited. And he didn't care who the opponent was. Even his son was no exception.

Goku's power, as it stood, was considerably weaker than Goten's. Even if he were to transform into Super Saiyan III, he would still fall short of Goten's strength. This made the impending battle seem somewhat pointless, and Goten wasn't particularly interested in it.

"I understand," Goku said, nodding. "But I want to experience your strength firsthand."

Goten knew that Goku was aware of the gap in their power levels. Even if Goku were to transform into his Super Saiyan form, he wouldn't be a match for Goten. But Goku seemed to have a sense of regret about not having a battle.

"It seems that a battle today is inevitable," Goten said. "Let's get it over with quickly so we don't spoil Bulma's birthday party."

"Alright!" Goku agreed, his face lighting up with excitement.

The others tactfully retreated to a safe distance. Vegeta and Piccolo watched Goten closely, eager to witness his power and feel his Ki for themselves.

Haaaa!!!

With a low growl, Goku transformed into Super Saiyan II. Blue lightning crackled around his body, and his aura surged wildly.

"Goten, I'm going to transform into a new Super Saiyan form next," Goku said, a smile playing on his lips. "That's the full extent of my power."

He clenched his fists and roared, his aura skyrocketing at an incredible speed. To the surprise of Krillin and Chichi, Goku's golden hair began to grow rapidly, reaching down to his waist in an instant. The aura flames and blue electric arcs around his body became more intense, and his aura reached an unprecedented level.

[T/N: Do you remember my words from the chapter 40 notes? Goten holds grudges!]