Watching little Gohan glare stubbornly at Tarin while wiping away his tears, Krillin's thoughts drifted far away.
Another scene seemed to appear before his eyes.
A ruined future.
The sky was forever gray.
A young man wearing a torn martial arts uniform stood with only one arm left. He faced two androids who treated human life as worthless. Yet he still wore a determined, tragic smile.
That was the grown-up Gohan.
He fought until the last drop of his blood to protect the final spark of hope.
The scene shifted again.
In another timeline, the awakened Ultimate Gohan overwhelmed Majin Buu with unstoppable power. His strength and confidence dominated the battlefield. That moment should have been his greatest glory.
Yet in the end, arrogance led to his downfall. He was absorbed and turned into little more than a bitter joke.
Then there was the Gohan from another story line, the scholar who neglected his training so much that he could not even transform into a Super Saiyan anymore.
And later, even when he awakened the powerful Beast form, the heart of the warrior he once had was no longer the same.
One scene after another from the anime Krillin once knew overlapped with the child standing before him now.
A timid, tearful four-year-old who still possessed terrifying hidden potential.
Krillin felt a mixture of emotions.
Regret.
Frustration.
And above all, a heavy sense of responsibility that only someone who knew the future could carry.
This child was meant to become one of the most brilliant warriors in the universe. His potential even surpassed Goku's.
Yet because of his environment and personality, he repeatedly missed his chance to reach that peak. His life became a series of painful "what ifs" that left fans disappointed.
This time, that will not happen.
Krillin made the vow silently.
He walked over and tapped Goku on the shoulder.
"Goku. Come here for a second."
The two of them stepped onto the balcony. Krillin handed him a can of juice and spoke seriously.
"Your son, Gohan. His potential is much greater than you realize. Honestly, it may even surpass yours."
"Really? That's great!"
Goku finished the juice in one gulp and laughed.
"That's my boy!"
"Great?"
Krillin rolled his eyes.
"Look at him now. Chi-Chi has raised him to be timid and afraid of everything. Whenever something happens, he just cries."
"If this continues, all that incredible talent will be wasted on math homework and piano lessons."
Goku scratched his head, confused.
"But Chi-Chi only wants what's best for him. Becoming a scholar means he doesn't have to fight all the time. Isn't that a good thing?"
Krillin could not help blurting out,
"Good thing my foot."
"Goku, don't you understand? Peace is fought for, not wished for. Who can guarantee that stronger enemies will not appear in the future?"
"When that day comes, they won't be children playing around like today. Can you really handle everything by yourself?"
"And what if something happens to you? Who will protect Chi-Chi and Gohan?"
Krillin's words hit Goku like cold water.
Goku was optimistic by nature, but he was not foolish.
He remembered the sudden appearance of King Piccolo in the past. The smile slowly faded from his face.
Krillin softened his tone slightly.
"I'm not blaming Chi-Chi. I understand her."
"As a wife and a mother, she is afraid."
"She wants her husband and her son to live peaceful lives. There is nothing wrong with that."
"What woman wants her husband and child constantly risking their lives in battle?"
Those words made Goku fall silent.
He remembered the worried expression Chi-Chi always had when he left for training. The way she always wanted to say something but stopped herself.
He used to think she simply disliked martial arts.
Now he understood that behind that worry was deep love and fear.
"So what should I do?" Goku asked.
"For now, do nothing," Krillin said firmly.
"If you directly oppose Chi-Chi, she will only resist more. It might even hurt your marriage."
"Leave this to me."
Inside Krillin's mind, a large plan had already begun forming.
The Godfather Training Plan.
He would not forcibly take Gohan away from Chi-Chi.
Instead, he would influence things slowly, like gentle rain nourishing the soil.
Krillin returned to the living room and said to Bulma, who was busy showing Dr. Brief the company's newest financial report,
"Honey, we need to upgrade the gravity chamber."
"Upgrade? Doesn't it already reach fifty times gravity?" Bulma asked in surprise.
"Not enough."
Krillin shook his head.
"I want one that starts at one hundred times gravity. And the upper limit should be unlimited."
"The interior space should be ten times larger too. It needs to simulate extreme environments like high temperatures, freezing cold, acid rain and more."
"Are you crazy? Are you trying to build a miniature planet inside it?"
Bulma stared at him.
But soon her curiosity and competitive spirit as a scientist ignited.
"Interesting! I accept this project!"
"Money is not a problem."
Krillin smiled.
Step one. Completed.
Then he walked over to Chi-Chi with a warm smile.
"Chi-Chi, it looks like Gohan gets along well with Tarin."
"If you have time, bring him over to visit more often. Our house is big enough for the kids to play."
Chi-Chi looked over.
Gohan and Tarin were now carefully examining a robot model together. Gohan still seemed shy, but he was clearly less frightened than before.
She nodded.
"Sure. As long as it doesn't interfere with Gohan's studies."
"Of course," Krillin replied immediately.
He knew the time was not right yet.
The real training would begin after Goku died.
When Raditz arrived.
When Goku sacrificed himself to protect Earth and his son.
When Chi-Chi witnessed her husband die and saw Gohan taken away by Piccolo, powerless to stop it.
Only then would she truly understand that in this cruel universe, without power, you cannot even choose peace.
At that time, Krillin could step in as Gohan's godfather.
Under the banner of protecting Gohan and inheriting Goku's will, he would take over Gohan's training.
Chi-Chi would not oppose it.
She might even support it with all her heart.
Krillin looked at Gohan, who was now arguing with Tarin over a piece of cake.
His eyes were full of warmth and expectation.
He opened the system panel and looked at the glaring countdown timer.
Distance until Saiyan Raditz arrives on Earth: 352 days remaining.
There was still plenty of time.
And he himself needed to make final preparations for the coming battle.
"System. Update my status."
Host: Krillin
Current Stats
Strength: 4900 (MAX, limit exceeded)
Speed: 4900 (MAX, limit exceeded)
Durability: 4900 (MAX, limit exceeded)
Spirit: 4900 (MAX, limit exceeded)
Stamina: Infinite (Saitama Template ability)
Charisma: 199 (locked at peak human level)
Saitama Template Fusion: 35%
Krillin clenched his fist as he looked at the panel.
Raditz's power level was only about 1500.
With his current strength, Krillin could crush him with one hand.