Piccolo could clearly sense it—Raditz's Ki was stronger than his own. That realization alone made him extremely cautious.
He didn't want to rashly clash with this man. Without hesitation, he replied,
"I don't know anyone named Kakarot. I've never even heard that name."
Raditz raised an eyebrow.
"You haven't heard of him? That doesn't make sense…"
"There aren't any other strong energy signatures on this planet. Even if he was only a low-class Saiyan, his strength shouldn't have grown this slowly."
"More importantly, this planet has a moon."
"By all logic, Kakarot shouldn't have been killed."
Piccolo stared at Raditz.
Then—suddenly—his gaze locked onto the tail coiled around Raditz's waist.
His pupils shrank violently.
"A tail…!"
"The same tail as Son Goku's—don't tell me…"
Seeing Piccolo's reaction, and hearing him mutter about the tail, Raditz's lips curved upward.
"Oh? Remember something now?"
"There is someone like you here—someone with a tail," Piccolo said coldly. "But his name isn't Kakarot. His name is Son Goku."
Raditz froze.
"Son… Goku?"
At that moment, Raditz's scouter began to beep rapidly.
"Another powerful energy signal—stronger than before!"
"It has to be Kakarot!"
Without sparing Piccolo another glance, Raditz shot off in the direction of the signal.
As he flew, Raditz frowned.
That green-skinned warrior from earlier—his battle power had reached 1300, and he could control it freely.
On a remote planet like this, that was already incredible.
If Kakarot was still alive, he should have killed him long ago… or at least subdued him.
To Raditz, the idea that a single planet could harbor two powerful warriors was hard to comprehend—especially if they weren't Saiyans.
Soon, Raditz arrived at Bulma's vacation villa.
He spotted Son Goku immediately.
Not just because of the crowd—but because Goku was walking straight toward him.
All around them were people who clearly looked like they had known Goku for many years.
And judging by the decorations and atmosphere, they seemed to be celebrating something.
Raditz and Son Goku stopped face to face.
Raditz smiled faintly.
"Heh. Little brother… you've grown up."
"I recognized you instantly."
"You look exactly like Father."
Son Goku looked back at him and spoke his name without hesitation.
"Raditz."
The moment Goku said his name—after Raditz had called him brother—everyone around them was stunned.
"Goku… you never said you had an older brother!"
"Yeah! You never mentioned it!"
Chi-Chi examined Raditz with curiosity, then turned to compare him with Son Goku again and again.
Bulma stepped up beside Goku, shock written across her face, Son Bra cradled in her arms.
"Goku… you really have a brother? Why didn't you ever talk about him?"
Goku nodded.
"I was really young back then. I only remember bits and pieces."
Bulma already knew Raditz was Goku's brother.
What she hadn't expected—was that Goku remembered him.
In her previous life, after Goku hit his head, his entire personality changed… and all memories of his past vanished.
Then—
Like a bolt of lightning, everything clicked.
The butterfly effect again.
Goku never hit his head as a child.
He never lost his memories.
Raditz scowled impatiently.
"Kakarot, what's going on with this planet?"
"Did you forget your mission—to wipe out all humans here?"
"Have you actually blended in with them?"
Everyone froze.
In their eyes, Son Goku was peaceful, kind, righteous—
A man pure enough to ride the Flying Nimbus.
A mission that brutal had nothing to do with him.
"I've never had any mission," Goku said calmly. "I only remember my parents sending me here… and telling me to survive."
Raditz's gaze sharpened.
"Is that why you didn't kill all the Earthlings?"
Goku pulled Bulma close, then wrapped an arm around Chi-Chi.
"I got married on this planet. I built a family."
"This is my home now."
He gently took Son Bra from Bulma's arms.
"Today is my daughter's second birthday. We're holding a celebration for her."
"If you want to join us, you're welcome."
"But if you came here to cause trouble… I won't hesitate to fight you."
Raditz laughed.
"Oh wow. I really didn't expect this."
"You actually blended in with such a weak, backward race."
"And you think you can fight me?"
"You've truly disappointed me."
Just then, Krillin stepped forward.
"Hey! You've said enough!"
"Cut the crap about wiping out humanity."
"Goku isn't that kind of person."
"We're all brothers here."
"And if you dare threaten Earth—"
"I don't care if you're Goku's brother or not. I won't forgive you."
Raditz looked down at the short, bald man with open contempt.
Without a word, his tail whipped out violently.
He expected to send the little Earthling flying.
But—he hit nothing.
Before Raditz could react, Krillin vanished—
And reappeared right in front of him.
Krillin grinned.
Then drove his knee brutally into Raditz's abdomen.
"Gah—!"
Raditz staggered back several steps, his body convulsing from the impact.
At the same time, his scouter shrieked wildly.
The battle power reading exploded—jumping from single digits to over 2000 in an instant.
Raditz's mind reeled.
This bald Earthling had over 2000 battle power.
Stronger than him.
Stronger than the green-skinned warrior from earlier.
At the same time, Raditz sensed Kakarot—and his wife—raising their Ki.
Not by much.
But battle power fluctuations never lied.
They were truly prepared to attack him.
Krillin didn't press the assault. He simply stepped back.
His battle power dropped back to single digits.
Raditz finally understood.
Everyone on this planet knew how to control their battle power.
Cold sweat soaked his back.
According to all intel, Earth was weak.
Humans were supposed to be trash.
Yet he had just been dropped in a single blow—by a mere Earthling.
If he pushed even a little further—
Even as Kakarot's brother—
He might die here.
Raditz's eyes flickered as calculations raced through his mind.
Then—
His expression brightened.
Right. His objective.
Time to change tactics.
Raditz straightened and spoke again.
"Kakarot. Since you've already married and settled down here…"
"I'll spare this planet's humans—for your sake."
"Earth is just a remote backwater. Vegeta won't care."
"You and I are Saiyans—the greatest warrior race in the universe."
"You shouldn't waste your life on a tiny planet like this."
"I came here to recruit you."
"I work under the universe's strongest power—Lord Frieza."
"Come with me."
"Join the Vegeta Elite Squad. Conquer planets."
"If we do well, the two of us brothers can build something great together."
Son Goku imagined countless scenarios—
But this wasn't one of them.
Why did this feel… strangely familiar?
Like an older brother who left home to work in the city—
Traveling thousands of miles back to the countryside—
To drag his uneducated little brother out to "make a living."
Yeah.
That exact feeling.
Seeing Goku hesitate, Raditz pressed on.
"What's wrong, Kakarot?"
"You're a Saiyan!"
"Don't tell me you've gotten soft in this gentle paradise?"
Goku shook his head.
"You should go."
"I don't like working for others."
Raditz blinked.
"Working…?"
Bulma spoke up.
"Hey. You said this Vegeta Elite Squad works for the universe's strongest force—the Frieza Force, right?"
Raditz nodded proudly.
"That's right. We're all elites."
Bulma and Goku nearly laughed—but managed to hold it in.
A squad of three.
Very elite.
Bulma continued,
"You also said Saiyans are the strongest warrior race in the universe, right?"
Raditz nodded again.
"That's correct."
"Then why are you working for someone else?"
Raditz froze.
"Uh… well…"
Bulma smiled sweetly.
"In that case, why don't you call your captain over?"
"Let's discuss it together."
"We'll kill Frieza, let the Saiyans rule the universe."
"Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Raditz instantly broke out in a cold sweat—his scalp tingling in terror.
He suddenly remembered his scouter was still active.
Panicking, he shut it off immediately.
Then snapped,
"Don't talk nonsense, woman!"
"Frieza is terrifying!"
"If he hears this, we're all dead!"