Chapter 2: The Unexpected Power-Up

Training under Grandpa Gohan was tough but rewarding. Goku, now fully aware that he was living in the Dragon Ball world, had decided to dedicate himself to growing stronger. He couldn't afford to relax, not with villains like Frieza and Majin Buu waiting in the distant future. Every day, Goku trained harder, learning techniques, sparring, and honing his skills. But secretly, he couldn't stop thinking about his lack of a system.

It had become an obsession. There must be some way to power up quickly! All those other transmigrators in the stories had cheats or systems! Why don't I? Every night, Goku would lie in bed, staring at the ceiling, thinking of different ways to trigger a system.

"Maybe I just haven't found the right phrase," he mumbled one night. He sat up in bed, quietly trying every fantasy word he could think of. "Status! Menu! Skills! Power-up! Unlock hidden potential! Activate! Come on, I know you're out there!"

But nothing happened.

Finally, frustrated, Goku huffed, "I guess I'll just have to do this the hard way. No shortcuts for me."

The next morning, Gohan found Goku lying face down on the floor, dramatically groaning.

"What's wrong with you, Goku?" Gohan asked, concerned.

"I'm doomed, Grandpa," Goku whined, his voice muffled by the wooden floor. "I have to fight super strong bad guys in the future, but I don't have any cheats like other people. How am I supposed to win?"

Gohan blinked, confused. "Cheats? Bad guys? Goku, what are you talking about?"

Goku immediately sat up, smiling nervously. "Uh, nothing! I just… had a weird dream." He rubbed the back of his head, laughing awkwardly. Can't let Grandpa know about the villains. He'd think I've gone crazy.

Gohan raised an eyebrow but shrugged it off. "Well, dreams or no dreams, you still need to train. Let's go."

The training sessions with Gohan were getting more intense. Goku was learning basic martial arts, working on his punches, kicks, and ki control. But in between all that, Goku couldn't stop thinking about the future.

He remembered Goku's original transformation into the Great Ape, or Uzaru, under the full moon. The thought of losing control and going on a rampage worried him. But he had an idea. What if I train to control it?

One evening, after a long day of training, Goku climbed a nearby hill and stared up at the sky. "Alright, Great Ape transformation. You're not gonna get the best of me."

As he sat there, he started talking to himself, as he often did. "Okay, first step: find a full moon. Easy. Second step: turn into a giant ape. Not so easy, but I can handle it. Third step: don't smash everything in sight." He scratched his head, wondering if that part was actually possible. Maybe I should tie myself to a tree or something…

But the more he thought about it, the more he realized this wasn't going to be simple. He needed a secluded place where no one would get hurt, just in case things went wrong.

"I'll just have to practice this later," he muttered, standing up and dusting himself off. "One problem at a time."

As he made his way back home, another thought hit him—Bulma. He remembered from the anime that she'd be showing up soon, looking for the Dragon Balls. Goku grinned to himself. I'll make her my wife!

But then he frowned, realizing he might need more than just raw strength to impress her. Girls like smart guys too, right? His mind immediately went to technology and science, things he was completely clueless about.

"Wait! If I pretend I don't know anything, Bulma will think I'm adorable!" He laughed, shaking his head. "Yeah, that's it. Play the cute, dumb guy card."

Speaking of cute, Goku remembered his ultimate secret technique: the "Cute Face Technique." He'd been practicing it daily, making sure it was perfect for any situation. After all, it was his secret weapon to get Grandpa Gohan to agree to extra training or sneak in extra snacks.

One day, after a particularly exhausting sparring session, Goku sat by the lake, practicing the face again. He puffed up his cheeks, widened his eyes, and gave his best puppy-dog stare. The reflection in the water mirrored his efforts, and Goku grinned at his own cuteness.

But suddenly, a fish jumped out of the water, smacking him in the face.

"Gah!" Goku stumbled back, rubbing his nose. "Hey, that's not cool, fish!"

He stood up, glaring at the water, before bursting into laughter. "I guess even fish can't handle my charm!"

Back at the house, Grandpa Gohan was preparing dinner when Goku walked in, still giggling to himself.

"What's so funny?" Gohan asked, handing Goku a bowl of rice.

"Oh, nothing," Goku replied between bites. "Just practicing my secret techniques."

"Secret techniques? You've got secret techniques already, Goku?" Gohan looked surprised.

Goku nodded enthusiastically. "Yup! But they're super secret. I can't tell anyone."

Gohan chuckled, patting him on the head. "You're a funny kid, Goku."

But Goku wasn't just being funny. His mind was constantly working on strategies, even if they were a bit unconventional. He knew he needed every advantage he could get.

Despite his lighthearted moments, Goku remained focused. Training with Gohan was crucial, and while he might not have a cheat system, he still had plenty of opportunities to grow stronger. And he had his own knowledge of future events, something no one else had.

As Goku lay in bed that night, he thought about the upcoming challenges. His mind kept drifting back to his Uzaru transformation, his lack of a system, and the Dragon Balls. But for now, he was content with one thing: he was Goku. And that meant he could overcome anything.

"I'll figure it all out," he whispered to himself before drifting off to sleep. "I'm Goku. And Goku always finds a way."