Bulat met Goku's gaze evenly, his playful demeanor vanishing as he assessed the Saiyan's power. "That depends on who's asking," he replied carefully, not lowering his guard.
Lubbock shifted his weight on the wires, keeping his Cross Tail ready but not yet activated. "We could ask you the same thing—what are two strangers with monkey tails doing at the scene of an assassination?"
Vegeta stepped forward, his arms crossed over his chest as he looked up at the three with disdain. "Assassination? More like cleaning up this corrupt empire's trash," he scoffed. "What kind of teenage boy band goes around carrying out assassinations?" he said mockingly, referring to Night Raid as a boy band.
Mine's face flushed with anger, and she leveled Pumpkin directly at Vegeta. "Boy band?! You have no idea who you're talking to, you tail-wagging freak!"
Bulat placed a steady hand on her shoulder again, though his own expression had grown serious. "Easy there, Mine. Let's not jump to conclusions." He looked back down at Goku and Vegeta. "We're Night Raid. We eliminate corrupt officials who prey on the weak—people like the ones who owned this mansion."
Goku's eyes widened slightly. "So you're the ones from the wanted posters. I've been wondering about you guys." He paused, glancing at the bodies scattered around them. "But why kill them like this? Couldn't you have found another way?"
"Another way?" Mine laughed bitterly. "These people tortured and killed dozens of innocent villagers who came here looking for help. They deserved far worse than what they got."
Vegeta chuckled. "I can see that. Nonetheless, we don't care about what these people were up to," he said in a sarcastic tone. "We're here looking for a kid we met earlier—Tatsumi. He came here with the mansion's owner."
Mine's eyes widened slightly at the name. "Tatsumi? The country boy who got scammed by Leone?" She glanced at Bulat and Lubbock, who shared a look of recognition.
"That's him," Goku confirmed, his expression earnest. "We sensed something wrong with the little girl who brought him here. We came to make sure he's safe."
Lubbock sweatdropped, knowing exactly where Tatsumi was—he was fighting Akame in a warehouse on Aria's family property. Tatsumi was trying to protect Aria against Akame, not knowing what Aria truly was. Lubbock wasn't sure whether to tell them or not.
The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a blade. Mine kept her finger hovering near Pumpkin's trigger, her pink eyes blazing with suspicion. Bulat's jaw was set as he studied Goku and Vegeta, trying to read their intentions through their body language alone.
"Lubbock," Bulat said quietly, his eyes never leaving the Saiyans below, "you know something. Spit it out."
Lubbock shifted uncomfortably on his wire perch, adjusting his goggles as he considered his options. He'd seen firsthand how powerful these two were—how Vegeta had dispatched those bandits without breaking a sweat, how Goku's mere presence radiated otherworldly strength. If they were enemies, Night Raid would be in serious trouble. But if they were allies…
"He's in the west warehouse," Lubbock finally admitted with a heavy sigh. "Fighting Akame right now. He thinks she's the bad guy—he doesn't know what Aria did to his friends."
Goku's eyes widened in alarm. "His friends? What happened to them?"
"One girl and one boy from his village—Sayo and Ieyasu," Mine said, her voice softening slightly despite her wariness. "They had set out with Tatsumi to earn money for their village in the Capital. On the way, they were attacked by bandits and got separated.
Sayo and Ieyasu were invited by Aria to her mansion, where she served them drugged food that made them lose consciousness. Aria tortured both of them to death. I'm guessing she planned to do the same to Tatsumi," she told the two Saiyans, though Pumpkin remained aimed at them.
Goku's face hardened with anger, his ki beginning to flare around him in a soft white aura. "Tortured them to death… that's why we felt such darkness coming from her." He clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. "Tatsumi doesn't know—he'll try to fight Akame to protect her, and he won't stand a chance."
Vegeta glanced at Goku, his expression serious. "Go find him, Kakarot—otherwise that brat might get himself killed," he said, looking back at the three Night Raid members.
Goku didn't need to be told twice. His ki flared brighter as he focused on Tatsumi's energy signature—faint, but sharp with the heat of battle. He unleashed his white base-form aura and flew into the sky at incredible speed. The three Night Raid members were shocked to see him fly without any equipment; they only caught a blur as he vanished into the night.
Vegeta crossed his arms, his gaze remaining fixed on the three above him. Mine kept Pumpkin trained on him, though her finger had relaxed slightly from the trigger.
Vegeta clicked his tongue, watching Goku's fading figure with a mix of annoyance and approval. "Hmph. Impatient fool," he muttered, though a small smirk touched his lips. "But at least he moves with purpose."
Lubbock's mouth fell open, his eyes wide with awe as he stared at the empty sky. "Did… did he just fly? He didn't even use a Teigu. How is that possible?"
Bulat's expression was equally stunned, though he quickly regained his composure. "Whatever they are, they're not from this world," he said quietly. "Mine, lower your weapon—if they wanted to hurt us, they could have done it already."
Reluctantly, Mine let Pumpkin fall to her side, though she kept her guard up. "I still don't trust them," she grumbled, her pink hair whipping in the wind as she glared at Vegeta. "That one still called us a boy band."
Vegeta scoffed, his gaze sharp. "And you still pointed a toy gun at me. We're even. How childish…"
Vegeta's words hung in the air as Mine's face flushed red with renewed anger. She clenched her fists around Pumpkin, her pink eyes narrowing to slits. "Toy gun?! This 'toy' could blow a hole through solid steel! You have no idea what you're talking about—Pumpkin is one of the Empire's most powerful Teigu!" Vegeta raised an eyebrow at her outburst, smirking dismissively.
Bulat placed a calming hand on her shoulder once more. "Easy, Mine. He clearly doesn't understand what Teigu are—and judging by how he and his friend move… I don't think they've ever seen anything like our weapons before." He turned his attention back to Vegeta, his expression now one of cautious curiosity rather than suspicion. "Tell me—what exactly are you and your friend?"
Vegeta raised an eyebrow, then closed his eyes as a smirk formed on his lips. "Sorry, but I don't have the patience to tell you our backstories… but I can tell you one thing," he said, his grin widening. "I'm the Prince of all Saiyans!" he declared proudly. Before any of the three could respond, Vegeta flew into the sky—rising to their level on the wires. He unleashed his white base-form aura, his arms still crossed, then shot toward Goku's location at supersonic speed, leaving the Night Raid members behind.
Lubbock finally let out a low whistle, adjusting his goggles as he stared at the horizon. "Prince of all Saiyans… what in the world does that even mean?"
Mine lowered Pumpkin completely now, though her cheeks were still flushed with irritation. "Who cares what he calls himself? No one insults my Teigu like that!" She paused, then added more quietly, "But… he could fly too. Just like his friend. No Teigu, no equipment… they just took off like it was nothing."
Bulat folded his arms across his chest, his expression thoughtful as he scanned the direction where Goku and Vegeta had disappeared. "Whatever they are, they're not human. That much is clear. And the power they radiate… it's unlike anything I've ever felt. Not even from General Esdeath or the other high-ranking Jaegers."
"Should we follow them?" Lubbock asked, already beginning to untangle himself from his wires. "Akame's still fighting Tatsumi in the warehouse. If those two show up there, things could get messy—especially if Tatsumi still thinks we're the bad guys."
Bulat nodded firmly. "We have to get there before things escalate further. Akame can handle herself, but we don't know how Tatsumi will react when he finds out the truth about Aria… or how these Saiyans will intervene."
As the three moved quickly through the mansion grounds toward the warehouse, Goku flew through the night sky at supersonic speed, his base-form aura blazing. He focused on sensing Tatsumi's ki—his life energy—cutting through the darkness. He had to hurry to save Tatsumi, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he'd met Akame before.
In the west warehouse, the clash between Tatsumi and Akame raged on. Tatsumi's sword clashed against Murasame again and again, each strike ringing out like thunder in the dusty space. He moved with a desperation born of loyalty—he'd promised to protect Aria, and he intended to keep that promise, even against this mysterious assassin in black.
(Flashback)
Minutes earlier—around the same time Sheele killed Aria's mother by slicing her with her Teigu (the female body Goku and Vegeta found in the hallway)—Leone broke Aria's father's neck inside the mansion (the scream Goku and Vegeta had heard before rushing toward the noise).
A guard led Aria through the forest to hide her from Night Raid. "My lady, come this way…" he said, holding Aria's hand as they ran toward the warehouse.
Aria, breathing heavily as she ran, spoke up. "What's going on?"
The guard brushed off her question. "Just head to the warehouse—it's safe there…" he said as they neared the door.
Then a voice called out: "Found you!" The two stopped and turned to see Tatsumi on his knees, out of breath from searching for Aria.
"Tatsumi…" Aria said, her eyes wide. Tatsumi looked at them both, sweat streaming down his face.
The guard looked at Tatsumi and said, "You came just in time… We'll hide in there and wait for reinforcements. In the meantime, hold off the enemy…"
This surprised Tatsumi. "This is ridiculous…" he muttered to himself.
Suddenly, Akame appeared a short distance behind Tatsumi, landing in a dramatic pose that made him spin around in shock. She slowly lifted her head, her gaze darkening as she gripped Murasame in her right hand. Tatsumi looked at her with a mix of fear and determination. "I have no choice…" he said, drawing his sword from his back.
(Akame is an attractive young woman of slim build and average height with red eyes. Her long black hair reaches down to her knees. She wears a dark sleeveless top with a white collar and red tie, a red belt with a side skirt cover over a black pleated skirt, long black socks, and black shoes. She also wears red gauntlets and black gloves, and sometimes a long dark coat in battle. She is often seen carrying her Teigu, Murasame. After activating Murasame's trump card, faded red scars cover her body.
As a child in the Elite Seven, she wore a sleeveless white jumpsuit with red stripes and a miniskirt tied to a red belt with a feather accessory. In Soukai, she wears a short black yukata with a white sash during peacetime, and her usual dark sleeveless dress during wartime.
Akame appears serious and cold-hearted due to the harsh training forced on her and her sister by the Empire, but this is eventually revealed to be social awkwardness. She deeply cares for her comrades and worries about their safety, having experienced the high mortality rate of war firsthand. When Tatsumi fought Ogre, she stripped him to check for wounds, and she rushed to Mt. Kageboshi to save Hinata from Yomihime.
She hides her emotions when comrades die—like Sheele—leading Tatsumi to mistakenly think she is unaffected. However, she later breaks down in tears, saying losing friends is the worst pain imaginable. Tatsumi comforts her and promises not to die, making her smile.
Against enemies, she shows no mercy, often shouting words like "eliminate" to strengthen her resolve. After accepting Murasame's curse, she rarely speaks such words.
Akame loves food and is a surprisingly large eater (she prefers meat from Danger Beasts and fish), much like her sister Kurome. She becomes visibly upset when meals are ruined—Sheele once noted how the "usually cool" Akame grew angry when meat was burned. She typically cooks for her team.
Akame refuses to take command or accept promotions unless mandated. She temporarily led the Elite Seven when Najasho was absent and took charge of Night Raid operations when Najenda visited the Revolutionary Army headquarters. During the Soukai campaign, she declined promotions to Captain and Ninja, preferring to move freely as a foot soldier under Hinata's command.)
Akame dashed at Tatsumi with inhuman speed, her expression stoic. Seeing her approach, Tatsumi readied himself.
"You're not the target…" she said mid-dash, making Tatsumi's eyes widen. Before he could react, she jumped off his head to launch herself into the air, causing him to stumble.
As Akame landed, the guard drew a rifle and began firing at her. "Damn it!" he shouted.
Akame dodged every bullet, weaving left and right as she closed in on him. "Target…" she said, moving so fast the bullets seemed to pass her in slow motion. She appeared before the guard, who stared in shock as she delivered a single slash with Murasame. The guard fell, crying out in pain.
Aria watched her guard die and stepped back in fear, tripping over a rock and falling to the ground. Akame walked slowly toward her, raising Murasame with a stoic expression. "Eliminate," she stated.
Suddenly, Tatsumi rushed forward. "Step away from her!" he yelled, swinging his blade at Akame. She dodged by jumping back, creating distance between herself, Tatsumi, and Aria. Tatsumi stood protectively beside Aria.
Akame looked surprised but kept her composure. "You're not the target… There's no reason to kill you…"
Tatsumi held his sword ready as Aria stood behind him, tears streaming down her face. "But you intend to kill this girl, don't you?"
Akame nodded plainly. "Yes."
Tatsumi stared in awkwardly. "Yes?!"
"I'll kill you if you get in my way," Akame warned.
Tatsumi pointed his sword at her with fierce determination. "Even so, I can't run away like that!"
Akame looked at him, raising her blade near her face. "If so…" her expression turned serious, "then I will eliminate you." Tatsumi twitched in surprise at her blunt response.
Meanwhile, at the edge of the forest near the mansion entrance, Leone had just killed Aria's father by breaking his neck. She walked toward the warehouse in her beast form, waving her right paw. "It's so dirty! It's so dirty!" she complained. When she reached the warehouse and saw Akame facing off with Tatsumi while Aria cowered behind him, she thought to herself, "That's unusual for Akame. Why hasn't she eliminated them yet?" She then clutched her head with her lion-like hands. "That's weird… Oh no—this young man is in for trouble…"
Tatsumi's expression hardened as he gripped his sword with both hands. Akame held Murasame firmly in her right hand. "I can barely stand as it is… but why am I even thinking about that? If I can't save one girl, how will I ever save my village?" He thought, looking at Akame. Then both fighters dashed toward each other.
(End of Flashback)
Then, not long after, Tatsumi and Akame charged at one another, their blades clashing, forming an "X." The sound of steel against steel echoed through the warehouse as Tatsumi and Akame exchanged blows. Tatsumi, fueled by his determination to protect Aria, fought with a ferocity that surprised even himself. However, Akame was a seasoned assassin, her movements precise and deadly.
Tatsumi swung his blade to his left side, which Akame effortlessly blocked. This made Tatsumi's hand bounce back. Then he swung his blade upwards, as Akame again deflected his attack effortlessly. Akame swung her sword toward Tatsumi's face; Tatsumi saw the attack and leaned forward just in time to dodge it, his eyes following the blade.
Akame pressed her advantage, her strikes becoming faster and more relentless. Tatsumi struggled to keep up, his movements growing increasingly frantic as he desperately tried to defend himself. He knew he was outmatched, but he refused to back down, his loyalty to Aria fueling his resolve.
As their blades clashed once more, Akame saw an opening. With a swift, precise movement, she disarmed Tatsumi, sending his sword clattering to the ground. Then Akame spun her whole body and back-kicked Tatsumi in the stomach, making him cough blood and sending him flying across the ground. He lay defenseless as Akame started walking slowly toward him, gripping Murasame. Tatsumi's eyes widened with shock and fear as Akame pointed Murasame towards his face, her expression stoic.
"It's over," Akame said, her voice cold and emotionless. "Prepare to be eliminated." She raised Murasame, the cursed blade glinting in the dim light.
Tatsumi closed his eyes and covered his face with his arms, bracing for the inevitable. He thought of his village, of Sayo and Ieyasu, and of his unfulfilled promise to protect them. He had failed.
But then something happened: his jaw dropped in astonishment as he saw a figure standing between him and Akame. It was Goku, who had caught the tip of Murasame with his bare right hand, just in time to stop Akame from killing Tatsumi. This surprised Akame.
Goku turned his head to look down at Tatsumi with a smile. "Are you alright, Tatsumi?" Goku asked.
Tatsumi's eyes widened seeing Goku there. "Mr. Goku, where did you come from? And how did you do that!?"
Goku's smile didn't disappear. "Hehe, I'll explain it later, friend." He turned toward Akame, who looked at him with a surprised expression. "Who are you?" She asked, her voice cold and emotionless. "And why did you interfere?"
Goku smirked and held Murasame tightly in his right hand. "First off, you're about to harm an innocent boy who doesn't know the real danger around here. And secondly, I can tell you aren't a bad person, Miss." He said as he let go of Murasame.
As Goku let go of Murasame, Akame jumped backward, creating distance between them. She looked closely at Goku, thinking, "Strange, this man looks so familiar, like I know him before." She tried to remember where she had seen him. Then she noticed his outfit: an orange and blue martial arts outfit with blue wristbands and blue boots with yellow stripes. She also noticed a monkey tail wiggling freely behind him.
Akame's eyes widened for a moment as she remembered someone: a twelve-year-old boy who wore the same outfit as this man when she was still in the academy alongside her sister. But that was long ago, and it couldn't be that this was the same boy she knew back then.
Akame's expression turned serious as she held Murasame with both hands and said, "Just who exactly are you...?"
Goku smiled and said, "My name is Son Goku, but you can call me Goku." He said with a big smile.
Suddenly it hit Akame. By the time Goku said his name, she remembered someone named Son Goku from her early years in the academy alongside her sister.
(Flashback)
Somewhere at the Imperial Training Academy—located on a remote island where children sold by their parents to the Empire were trained to become elite assassins—they endured a hellish and traumatic upbringing.
Deep within the jungle, six-year-old Akame and her younger sister Kurome (around five years old) were running for their lives as a giant three-headed Venus flytrap monster chased them.
The monster's snapping jaws crashed shut just inches from Kurome's heels as the little girl stumbled over a twisted root. "Akame-nee!" she cried out, her small hands scraping against rough dirt as she tried to push herself up.
Akame spun around, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Even at six years old, she'd already learned that showing fear meant death in the academy—but seeing her sister in danger made her chest tighten with a feeling stronger than any lesson. She grabbed a thick branch from the ground and swung it at the creature's nearest head, striking it hard across its fleshy stem.
The monster hissed, releasing a cloud of acrid green mist that made both girls cough and tear up. It lurched forward, its three mouths opening wide to reveal rows of needle-sharp teeth. Akame pulled Kurome behind her, shielding her with her own small body as the creature loomed over them. "Stay back!" Akame shouted, her voice trembling but fierce, bracing for the worst.
But the monster paid no attention and lunged at the sisters, ready to devour them. Then something struck one of its heads—a staff. A boy around twelve years old named Son Goku hit the creature's center head mid-air. He had wild spiky black hair, large dark eyes, light skin, and a monkey tail at his back. He wore a sleeveless orange gi (Turtle Hermit School) with a blue belt, blue boots, and wristbands, plus a big pink crystal as a necklace. (That crystal had brought Kid Goku to the Akame ga Kill! world without him knowing it could teleport him to this unknown place.) He embodied childlike innocence and immense hidden strength—a stark contrast to his later warrior persona. He often appeared younger and more naive due to his sheltered upbringing by Grandpa Gohan, and was a cheerful, simple-minded kid focused on adventure, food, and his beloved Four-Star Dragon Ball.
Goku landed firmly on both feet in front of the girls. "Whoa, that thing looks pretty strong!" he said cheerfully, spinning his Power Pole in his hands before striking a stance, holding the staff with both hands. He hit the creature's center head so hard it crashed to the ground with a loud thud. (This is Kid Goku from the Red Ribbon Army arc.)
The three-headed monster roared in fury, shaking its damaged head and spraying green sap across the jungle floor. Goku grinned, twirling his Power Pole again as he sized up the creature. "Looks like I made it mad now!" he laughed, leaping aside as one of the heads snapped at him. He flipped through the air and brought his staff down hard on another of the monster's stems, shattering it with a crack like thunder.
Akame and Kurome watched wide-eyed as Kid Goku danced around the Venus flytrap monster like it was some sort of joke to him. They'd never seen anyone move so fast—or fight with such ease against a Danger Beast that had already killed half the children their age in these forests. They wondered if he was also one of them.
The remaining two heads lunged at Goku from either side, but he was already moving. He vaulted over one head, spun in mid-air, and slammed his staff into the base of the other. With a final gurgling cry, the monster collapsed to the ground, its massive body dissolving into black sludge that seeped into the earth.
Goku wiped sweat from his forehead as he spun his Power Pole and returned it to his back, then turned to the girls with his usual bright smile. "Phew, that was a tough one! You two okay?"
Kurome hid behind her sister's shoulder, but Akame stepped forward, her small hands clenched at her sides. "Who… who are you? How did you get here? The academy is supposed to be impossible to reach from the mainland."
Goku scratched the back of his head, his tail swishing happily behind him. "Oh, I was just exploring! I flew here on my Nimbus Cloud—though it couldn't come all the way into the jungle, so I had to walk the rest. Found you guys when I heard you screaming."
"Flew?" Akame's eyes widened even more. "No one can fly unless they're using a Teigu…"
"Tei-what?" Goku tilted his head in confusion. "What is that? I just use my ki to fly! It's pretty easy once you learn how." He paused, noticing the thin rags the girls were wearing and the bruises on their arms.
The sisters observed Goku closely. They noticed that he was very short—about the same height as Kurome, and shorter than Akame—which made them believe he was around Kurome's age, or a little younger than Akame. They didn't know he was older than both of them. His outfit was strange too, different from all the other children sent to the forest: a sleeveless orange gi (Turtle Hermit School) with a blue belt, blue boots, and wristbands—not to mention the tail.
Akame stared at the tail swaying behind his legs, her young mind struggling to make sense of what she was seeing. In all her time at the academy, she'd never encountered anyone with such a feature—or anyone who could fly without a Teigu.
Kurome peeked out from behind her sister, her big eyes fixed on Goku's tail. "Why… why do you have a tail?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Goku looked down at his tail and grinned, giving it a playful wiggle. "Oh this? I've always had it! My Grandpa Gohan said it's just part of who I am." He paused, then tilted his head again. "You two look like you've been through a lot. Are you supposed to be out here all alone?"
Akame's expression hardened as she stepped forward a little more, keeping Kurome shielded behind her. "We're training to be assassins for the Empire. We have to pass these tests if we want to live."
Goku's cheerful face fell for just a moment, replaced by a look of genuine confusion. "Assassins? But you're just kids!" He shook his head firmly. "That doesn't sound right at all. No one should make little kids do something like that."
Before Akame could respond, his stomach rumbled loudly—so loud it echoed through the quiet jungle and made both girls jump. Goku laughed sheepishly, rubbing his belly with one hand. "Whoops! Guess all that fighting worked up an appetite!"
Kurome's own stomach gave a soft growl in response, and she ducked her head in embarrassment. They hadn't eaten in nearly two days—part of the academy's harsh training to build endurance.
Goku's eyes lit up when he heard it. "You guys are hungry too?! That's perfect—I know just where to find food around here!" He spun on his heel and gestured deeper into the jungle with his thumb. "There's a river bend just a little ways from here with lots of fish, and I saw some fruit trees earlier too!"
"We can't leave the training grounds," Akame said quickly, though the thought of food made her mouth water. "If we're not back by sunset, the instructors will…" She stopped short, not wanting to say what would happen to children who failed their tasks.
Goku tilted his head, his tail swishing thoughtfully behind him. "Instructors who make kids go hungry and fight monsters all alone? That doesn't seem very nice. Tell you what—I'll find us something to eat and get you back before the sun goes down! How's that sound?"
Before either girl could answer, he'd already leaped into the air, moving with incredible speed through the treetops. "Stay put—I'll be back before you know it!" his voice called down from above.
Akame and Kurome stood frozen for a moment, watching as he disappeared into the canopy. Then Kurome tugged gently at her sister's sleeve. "Akame-nee… do you think he'll really come back?"
"I don't know," Akame admitted quietly, though a tiny spark of hope had begun to warm her chest. Everything about this strange boy defied what she'd been taught—he was strong enough to defeat a Danger Beast that had killed older children, yet he spoke with the kindness of someone who'd never known cruelty.
It didn't take long before Goku returned, carrying a large bundle of fruit in one arm and a string of plump fish slung over his shoulder. He landed gracefully in front of them, setting his catch down with a bright grin. "Ta-da! I also found some wild potatoes by the river—we can roast everything over a fire!"
As Goku set to work clearing a small space for a fire pit, Akame and Kurome watched in wonder. He moved with such ease and joy, completely unaware of the harsh rules that governed their lives. When he pulled out a small pouch of spices from his gi, Kurome's eyes went wide—she'd never tasted anything more than plain, boiled grain and tough scraps of meat.
While the food cooked, Goku told them about his life with Grandpa Gohan, his Nimbus Cloud that only good people could ride, and his quest to find all seven Dragon Balls. He spoke of the World Martial Arts Tournament, the friends he'd made, and how he'd taken on the entire Red Ribbon Army by himself.
"And when I find all the Dragon Balls," he said with a bright smile as he turned the roasting fish, "I'm going to wish for my Grandpa Gohan to come back to life. Then I can tell him all about everything I've done!"
Kurome had crept closer, drawn by the delicious smell and his warm stories. "Can… can wishes really come true?" she asked in a small voice.
"Of course they can!" Goku assured her. "Grandpa always said that if you work hard and believe in something, anything is possible."
When the food was ready, Goku tore off generous portions for both girls. Their first bites made their eyes widen—juicy, seasoned perfectly, and more filling than anything they'd ever eaten. For the first time since arriving at the academy, Akame felt her shoulders relax, the constant tension of survival beginning to fade.
"We should head back soon," she said after they'd eaten, though she found herself wishing they could stay longer.
"Right!" Goku said, jumping to his feet. "I'll get you guys back fast—want to ride Nimbus with me? It's way quicker than walking!"
He held up his hand and called out, "Nimbus, come here!" A flash of golden light filled the clearing as a fluffy white cloud descended from the sky, settling gently at their feet. Kurome gasped, reaching out tentatively before pulling her hand back.
"Go on—it won't hurt you!" Goku said, leaping onto the cloud with ease. "Only good people can ride it, so you two will be just fine!"
With Akame's hand guiding her, Kurome climbed on first, her eyes wide with wonder as she realized she wasn't falling through. Akame followed, and the cloud rose smoothly into the air. The jungle below shrank away, and for the first time, they could see the entire academy complex nestled in the clearing ahead.
"This is… amazing," Akame whispered, feeling the warm breeze on her face.
"Told ya!" Goku laughed, steering the cloud with casual ease. "Nimbus is the best travel buddy ever!"
They landed softly just outside the academy walls as the sun began to dip toward the horizon. As the girls climbed off, Akame turned to Goku with a look she'd never worn before—gratitude mixed with something like hope.
"Thank you," she said quietly. "For the food… and for showing us there's more to the world than what we know."
Goku scratched his head, his tail swishing happily. "Hey, that's what friends are for! I'll come back to visit you guys soon, okay? Maybe next time we can train together—proper training where we get to eat lots of good food too!"
Before he could fly off, Akame stepped forward, her face slightly flushed. "W-wait! My name is Akame, and this is my sister Kurome. We never got your name… and how old are you?"
Goku beamed, his eyes lighting up as he gave his tail a playful wiggle. "Oh! Nice meeting you, Akame and Kurome. My name's Son Goku—though most people just call me Goku!" He paused, then looked down at his hands and started counting slowly on his fingers, muttering under his breath. "One… two… three… four…"
Akame and Kurome exchanged curious glances as he carefully moved each finger, his brow furrowed in concentration. Kurome leaned closer to her sister and whispered, "Is he… counting his age?"
"Looks like it," Akame whispered back, a small smile touching her lips despite herself. She'd never seen anyone take something so simple with such earnest focus.
"…Eleven… twelve!" Goku finished with a triumphant grin, holding up both hands to show all his fingers spread wide twice over. "I'm twelve years old! Launch taught me how to count up to a hundred—though sometimes I still mix up big numbers!"
"Twelve?!" Both girls exclaimed at once, their voices echoing in the quiet evening air. "But you look very small!"
Goku scratched his head in confusion, looking down at his own body then back at the girls. "Oh! I guess I'm just not very tall yet," he said with a casual shrug. "Grandpa Gohan said that I'm a late bloomer, and Master Roshi says I'll grow more when I get older—plus I eat enough for three grown men, so I don't know why I'm still so small!" He chuckled and patted his stomach, which gave a soft rumble even after their meal.
Akame shook her head slowly, still trying to process it all. A twelve-year-old who fought like a seasoned warrior, could fly without a Teigu, and looked no older than five? It was more than her young mind could fully grasp—but after everything she'd seen him do, she found herself believing every word. The age gap was six to seven years: six years between her and Goku since she was six, and seven years between Kurome and him since she was five. "We… we're sorry we thought you were younger," she said quietly, her cheeks still faintly pink. "I'm six, and Kurome is five."
Goku's eyes widened in amazement. "Whoa! So I'm way older than you two! But you're taller than me—how does that work?" He tilted his head, genuinely puzzled as he compared their heights side by side.
Kurome giggled softly—the first real laugh Akame had heard from her in months. "Maybe we're early bloomers?" she said, peeking out from behind her sister's arm with a small smile.
Akame felt a warmth in her chest she hadn't felt in a long time. Even in this harsh place, this strange boy had managed to make her sister smile. She took a deep breath, then said, "Thank you again, Goku. For everything."
"Aw, it's nothing!" Goku waved a hand dismissively, his tail swishing happily behind him. "I'm just glad I found you guys before that monster did anything bad!" He glanced up at the sky, where the sun was now just touching the horizon. "Hey, I should probably let you get back now—don't want those instructors to get mad at you!" He looked at the girls. "I'll make sure to remember you when I come back to visit!"
Kurome's eyes lit up at the thought. "You really mean it? You'll come see us again?"
"Of course!" Goku nodded firmly, then hopped back onto the Nimbus Cloud. "I'll bring more food next time too—maybe I can even catch a Danger Beast that's extra tasty!" He paused, then pulled something small and round from his pocket—a polished brown stone he'd found by the river. "Here! You can have this so you'll remember me."
Goku tossed it gently to Akame, who caught it in her palm. The stone was smooth and warm from being in his pocket, and she held it tightly as she looked up at him. "Thank you," she said quietly, her voice thick with emotion she couldn't quite name. "We'll keep it safe."
Goku beamed, then waved as the Nimbus Cloud began to rise into the sky. "See you soon, Akame! Kurome! Take care of yourselves!"
The sisters stood at the academy gates, watching as the fluffy white cloud and the strange boy with the tail disappeared into the orange glow of sunset. Kurome leaned against her sister's side, and Akame wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Akame-nee," Kurome said softly, "do you think he'll really come back?"
Akame looked down at the smooth stone in her hand, then up at the empty sky where Goku had vanished. For the first time since they'd arrived at the academy, she felt a flicker of hope in her heart. "I know he will," she said, and for once, she truly believed it.
As they turned to walk back into the academy grounds, Akame tucked the stone safely into the pocket of her tattered clothes. No matter what harsh tests or cruel lessons awaited them inside those walls, she now had something to hold onto—a memory of kindness, and a promise that there was more to the world beyond the island's borders.
And far above the jungle, Goku soared through the sky on his Nimbus Cloud, humming happily to himself as he planned his next visit. He'd made new friends today, and that was more important to him than any treasure or adventure. Besides, he still wanted to show them how to use ki to jump really high—and maybe even teach them a few moves he'd learned from Master Roshi! But little did the young Saiyan know, he wouldn't be able to find his way back to them, because he was in an unfamiliar world brought to him by the crystal. The sun set completely over the remote island, but in two small hearts, a warm light had been kindled that no amount of training or cruelty could ever extinguish.
The next day, Goku returned to the academy as promised, bringing the food he'd told them about. As he kept visiting the sisters, the other slave children—and especially the instructors—noticed he came regularly to play with Akame and Kurome, even helping them with their academy training. The instructors tried to capture Goku, but he was too fast and too strong for them to handle. Even as a twelve-year-old boy, he could overpower grown adults with his skill and power; with a power level of 100, he was far stronger than anyone in this world.
As Goku continued to visit day after day, their bond grew stronger. So strong that the sisters no longer saw him just as an older brother—they came to care for him in a deeper way, more than just friends, but with feelings of love. Their bond only deepened as the years passed and the sisters grew up, approaching their graduation from the academy. But as the day of their graduation drew near—when they would finally become elite assassins—Goku did not return. They wondered why he hadn't come, not knowing it would be the last time they would ever see him.
Little did the sisters know, the crystal had teleported Goku back to his original world. When he woke up, he was no longer in the Akame ga Kill! world, but back in his own Dragon Ball world. Goku had served as a guardian angel to the sisters, watching over them until they were ready to graduate from the academy.
(End of Flashback)
Akame stood frozen for a long moment, her grip on Murasame loosening slightly as memories flooded back in a rush. The little boy with the monkey tail and endless smile—she'd thought she'd imagined him, that he'd been just a fleeting ray of light in the darkness of her academy days. A boy who made her and her sister smile and laugh during their dark and twisted training. But here he was, grown tall and strong, standing before her in the same orange gi she remembered so clearly. And not just that—he was much taller than her now.
"Goku… Son Goku…" she whispered, the words feeling foreign on her tongue after so many years. "You're really… you're here?"
Goku's smile only widened as he nodded warmly. "Yes, I am, Akame. It's been a long time, hasn't it?" he said, meeting her eyes with his familiar warm gaze.
Tatsumi watched from the ground, completely bewildered as he looked between the two. "You… you two know each other?" he asked, his voice laced with confusion. Aria had crept forward a little, peeking out from behind a stack of crates, her eyes wide with uncertainty.
Leone had moved closer too, her beast form's ears swiveling as she listened intently. She'd known Akame for years, but she'd never heard her mention anything about a boy from her academy days—let alone this man in an orange and blue martial arts outfit, whom she and Lubbock had seen earlier in the capital. He'd even stopped Murasame with his bare hands. She wondered where his companion was—the one in the blue jumpsuit with the serious expression.
Akame lowered her sword completely now, her stoic facade crumbling for just a moment. The red in her eyes seemed to soften as she studied Goku's face, taking in how much he'd changed yet how familiar he still was. "You… you were twelve back then," she said quietly. "But you looked younger than us—we thought you were just a little kid who'd wandered into the academy by mistake."
Goku laughed—a bright, genuine sound that cut through the tense air of the warehouse. "Yeah, I get that a lot! Well, it's been a long time since we last saw each other, so it makes sense that I would grow up too," he said with a big smile—the same smile that used to make her and Kurome blush back then. "And I must say the same to you—you're a grown woman now," he added, his expression warm and unchanged.
Akame's gaze stayed locked on Goku's face for several heartbeats, as if she was still trying to convince herself he wasn't just a mirage. The memories came faster now—of shared meals by jungle fires, of him teaching her and Kurome how to skip stones across streams, of the way he'd always find a way to make them laugh even on their hardest days at the academy. She'd carried those moments with her through every mission, every loss, every difficult choice she'd had to make. Murasame fell from her hands as tears streamed down her face. She ran straight toward Goku and hugged him tightly, catching him by surprise.
"I… I never thought I'd see you again," she said, her voice barely above a whisper as she buried her face in his muscular chest. It was a vulnerability she hadn't allowed herself in years—not even when she'd lost Elite Seven, and when she'd had to face Kurome on the battlefield.
Goku stood still for a moment, then slowly wrapped his arms around Akame's shoulders, giving her a gentle squeeze. He'd seen her as a scared little girl all those years ago—now holding her like this, feeling her shoulders shake with quiet sobs, he knew just how heavy the weight on her heart must be.
"I missed you too, Akame," he said softly, his tail giving a gentle, reassuring wag. "I tried to come back… but the crystal that brought me to your world sent me home before I could find my way back here. I thought about you and Kurome every single day. I'm sorry I didn't make it back before you graduated. I wanted to show you both how much I'd grown too—and maybe help you find a way out of there."
Akame shook her head, a faint smile touching her lips for the first time since the fight had begun. "You already helped us more than you know. Those days with you… they were the only good parts of our time at the academy. You showed us that there was kindness in the world, even when everything else told us there wasn't." She glanced over at Tatsumi, who was still watching them with wide eyes, then back at Goku. "That's why I couldn't bring myself to hurt him—not completely. He reminds me of how you were back then—so determined to do the right thing, even when you don't know what that is yet."
Akame pulled back just enough to look up at him, her red eyes glistening with tears but holding a warmth he hadn't seen in the flashback memories. "Kurome… she's still with the Empire," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "She's part of the Jaegers now."
Goku's expression grew serious, but not sad. "I see. But I know she still remembers you—and I bet she hasn't forgotten me either." He gave her a small smile. "Family always finds their way back to each other, no matter how far apart they are."
Tatsumi finally found his voice, pushing himself to his feet and gripping his sword a little tighter. "Wait a minute—so this isn't some kind of trick? You two really do know each other?" He looked from Goku to Akame and back again, his confusion mixing with a growing sense of unease. If Goku—who'd been so kind to him earlier—knew this assassin, then maybe he'd been wrong about everything.
Goku turned to Tatsumi with his usual warm smile, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, kiddo. Akame's not the bad guy here—I promise you that. But there's something you need to know about Aria."
As if on cue, Aria let out a small gasp and tried to shrink back further behind the crates. But Leone was already moving, shifting back into her human form and stepping forward with a serious expression. "Looks like the cat's out of the bag now," she said, her voice carrying across the warehouse.
Akame looked at Tatsumi and said, "Young man, we didn't want to tell you this way—but the girl you've been protecting? She's the one who killed your friends."
Tatsumi's face went pale, his grip on his sword loosening until it nearly fell from his hand. "That… that can't be true. She's just a girl—she wouldn't hurt anyone."
But even as he said it, doubt crept into his voice. He thought back to the way Aria had looked at him when he'd first arrived at the mansion, the way she'd been so quick to offer him shelter. He thought about how she'd avoided his questions about other guests who'd stayed there, how the mansion had felt so cold despite its grandeur.
Akame stepped forward now, Murasame held loosely at her side. "We found Sayo and Ieyasu's bodies in the mansion's basement. Aria drugged them, then tortured them slowly over the course of three days. She kept detailed records of everything she did to them—she even called it her 'hobby'."
Tatsumi staggered back, his eyes filling with tears as he looked toward where Aria was hiding. "No… no, you're lying. Why would you say something like that?"
Then, a sudden crash echoed through the warehouse a short distance away, sending up a cloud of smoke. Everyone was surprised—except Goku, who already knew who it was. As the dust settled, Vegeta landed heavily on the ground, his entrance commanding attention. He slowly looked up at them with a serious expression, scanning the area with his usual sharp gaze.
Goku smiled and said, "Oh, hi Vegeta—I didn't know you'd get here so fast!" He waved his hand cheerfully.
To be continued.