Vegeta had actually noticed it long ago.
Hybrid Saiyans seemed stronger.
Perhaps it was because Saiyan physiques, combined with Earthlings' tendency toward steady emotional development, produced something even more powerful when fused together.
And Vegeta had a faint feeling—
When Molian became pregnant with Trunks, he had already mastered the Super Saiyan transformation.
Maybe that was why Trunks awakened it so easily.
By the same logic, Son Goten could transform for the same reason.
But when Son Gohan, Bulla, and the others had been that age, none of them had been able to transform yet.
The only reason was simple.
When they were born, Kakarot still had not mastered Super Saiyan.
During dinner, Molian hugged Trunks tightly with surprise and joy.
"Trunks, I heard you can transform now! You're amazing!"
But before Trunks could feel happy, his father's cold voice cut in.
"Don't get proud."
"That brat from Kakarot's family could transform long before you."
"You're still far from surpassing him."
Trunks's fighting spirit instantly collapsed.
"…Oh."
"I know…"
The next day, Trunks was dragged into the gravity room by Vegeta again.
"Dad, I'm so tired…"
"Tired?"
Vegeta sneered.
"Once you defeat that brat, you'll have plenty of time to rest!"
"Now continue training!"
Molian watched her son's shaky figure, her heart aching terribly.
She couldn't stop Vegeta from training their son.
The only thing she could do was prepare more delicious food and supplements for Trunks.
Late at night, the backyard of Son Goku's house was still lit.
Goten was crouching in the corner, boredly drawing circles with his small finger.
"Goten."
Goku sneaked over quietly and pulled a rice ball from his clothes.
"Eat quickly."
"Don't let Mom see."
Goten's eyes lit up immediately.
"Dad is the best!"
He grabbed the rice ball and swallowed it in one bite.
Unfortunately, the rice ball was a little too big.
For a moment, he couldn't get it down.
Goku quickly handed him a bottle of water, finally helping him swallow it.
Goten patted his chest.
"Finally got it down…"
Goku crouched beside his son and asked in a whisper:
"Tell Dad, how did you beat Trunks?"
Goten gestured with his hands as he spoke.
"I just transformed into a Super Saiyan, and then I won easily."
Goku's eyes widened.
"You can transform into a Super Saiyan?"
"When did that happen?"
Goten answered innocently:
"Last week, when I was playing with Hongrui, I accidentally transformed once."
"Then she said my hair changing color looked really cool, so I often transformed for her to see."
Goku rubbed his son's hair, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
"You little guy…"
"But nice job."
"Vegeta must be furious right now!"
"Goku!"
Chi-Chi's voice suddenly came from inside the house.
"Are you secretly giving Goten food again?"
Goku hurriedly pushed Goten further into the corner.
"No!"
"I definitely didn't!"
Chi-Chi stood at the doorway with her hands on her hips, her gaze moving back and forth between father and son.
A grain of rice was clearly stuck to Goten's cheek.
Chi-Chi immediately understood.
Goku had fed him again.
She sighed helplessly.
"Come inside."
"Your wall-facing punishment is over."
Goten cheered and threw himself into his mother's arms.
"Mom is the best!"
Chi-Chi's face darkened.
"Wipe the rice off your face first!"
Goten's mouth twitched.
He lowered his head awkwardly.
"Mom, you already knew…"
He hurriedly wiped the rice from his cheek with his little hand.
Chi-Chi crouched down and looked directly into her son's eyes.
Under the moonlight, her serious expression made Goten unconsciously stand up straight.
"Goten, do you know why Mom punished you?"
Chi-Chi's voice was gentle, but it carried undeniable strength.
Goten lowered his head and played with his fingers.
"Because…"
"I made Trunks cry…"
"Not just because of that."
Chi-Chi lifted her son's little face.
"Do you know how different you are from other children?"
Goten blinked his big eyes.
"I…"
"I can turn my hair gold?"
"That's right."
Chi-Chi sighed before continuing.
"Your dad and your brothers always say that's something to be proud of."
"But they never properly told you what that power means."
Goku scratched his head and leaned closer.
"Chi-Chi, Goten is still little…"
"That's exactly why we need to make it clear!"
Chi-Chi glared at Goku, then turned back to Goten.
"Do you know what would happen if an ordinary child took one punch from you?"
Goten shook his head.
"They would die."
Chi-Chi looked directly into his eyes and said seriously:
"As easily as accidentally stepping on an ant."
Goten's little face instantly turned pale.
Goku wanted to say something, but Chi-Chi stopped him with a single look.
"It was fine when you hit Trunks because he's special, just like you."
"But what if you start playing around with other children at school tomorrow?"
Chi-Chi gently held her son's trembling little hand.
"Mom doesn't need you to become the strongest under heaven."
"I only want you to grow up safely."
"Do you understand?"
Goten's eyes turned red.
"Mom…"
"I won't fight anymore…"
Chi-Chi pulled her son into her arms and gently stroked his black hair.
"Mom isn't saying you can never use your strength."
"I'm saying you need to learn how to control it."
As she spoke, she looked around and pointed toward a dandelion in the corner of the yard.
"Goten, can you pick that dandelion without damaging it?"
"That's easy…"
Goten crouched down and carefully plucked the dandelion perfectly intact.
Chi-Chi stared at the undamaged flower in Goten's hand and was momentarily speechless.
Then she turned and glared at Goku.
"When did you teach him that?"
Goku scratched the back of his head and laughed.
"I taught him a little while training him."
A faint smile appeared on Chi-Chi's face.
"You taught him well…"
Goku scratched his head again.
"Being praised so suddenly feels kind of strange…"
At that moment, Android 18's voice came from nearby.
"Goten, I heard you beat up Vegeta's son."
"Nice job."
Chi-Chi turned around and saw 18 and Zangya walking over side by side.
She frowned.
"18, what nonsense are you saying?"
"Don't teach Goten bad things."
18 chuckled and pulled out a colorful flyer, handing it to Chi-Chi.
"How is that teaching him badly?"
"Being good at fighting is an advantage."
Chi-Chi took the flyer and looked at it curiously.
"What's this?"
18 said:
"This year's World Martial Arts Tournament has added a junior division."
"I think Goten and Hongrui can both participate."
Goten took the flyer, and his eyes instantly shone like stars.
"Really?"
"I can participate too?"
Chi-Chi immediately said:
"No. Goten is still a child."
18 replied directly:
"The junior division champion prize is five million."
Chi-Chi's ears practically stood up.
"How much?"
The corner of 18's mouth curved into a smile.
"Five million."
Chi-Chi immediately turned around and held Goten's little hands.
"My son."
"Mom suddenly thinks proper martial arts training is very important!"
"Huh?"
Goten looked confused.
"But Mom, didn't you just say I'm still only a child?"
Chi-Chi immediately changed her tone.
"Goten, Mom thought about it."
"Since there's a junior division, that means the tournament was created for children your age."
"Besides, our family has been living on savings all these years."
"When you grow up, you must have the ability to earn money."
"Let this tournament be your first step."
After saying that, Chi-Chi quickly took a small notebook from her apron pocket.
"What do we need to prepare for registration?"
"He needs a new martial arts uniform, right?"
"Gohan's old one from childhood should be too small…"
Zangya said:
"You probably don't need to prepare much."
"But he should get ready for the tournament."
"These next few days, it would be best for Goten to train properly and recover his physical condition."
Chi-Chi nodded firmly.
"That makes sense!"
Goten tugged on 18's sleeve and asked:
"Auntie 18, will Trunks really participate?"
"Have you heard anything about him?"
18 ruffled his hair and smiled.
"How many times have I told you?"
"Don't call me Auntie. Call me Sister."
"Sister!"
18 nodded in satisfaction.
"As for whether that kid participates or not…"
"It depends on which is harder—Vegeta's pride or his son's legs."
Goten froze.
He clearly didn't understand.
His face was full of question marks.
"Sister 18, say that again. I didn't get it…"
Goku looked at 18 helplessly.
"18, don't teach him random ways to address people."
"He's already confused about what he should call everyone."
"If he really calls you Sister, does that mean he should call me Brother?"
18 smiled lightly.
"What's wrong with that?"
"At worst, everyone can use their own titles separately."
Goku shrugged speechlessly before looking at Goten.
"Don't worry, Goten."
"With Vegeta's personality, Trunks will definitely participate."
"And his goal will be to defeat you."
"If I'm guessing correctly…"
"Vegeta has probably already started putting Trunks through hell training."
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