Goku goes back in time

Morning sunlight streamed through the clouds above Satan City, golden rays painting the buildings with warmth and casting long shadows across the streets. Birds chirped. Civilians moved about in early-day bustle. Everything felt peaceful… at least for a few moments.

Then came the sound of screeching tires.

A delivery van barreled through an intersection, smashing through a row of newspaper stands and swerving dangerously through traffic. Inside were three masked robbers armed with blasters, their cargo: bags of stolen money from Satan City Bank's downtown branch.

From the skies, a hover-bike streaked toward the van. Its rider leaned forward—focused, calm, and determined. It was Videl, wearing her standard crime-fighting outfit: black shorts, a white cropped tee, gloves, and a utility belt. Her black hair tied tightly into pigtails behind her helmet.

"I've got you now," Videl muttered, pressing a button on her communicator.

Police drones buzzed behind her. Videl accelerated.

Below, the van zigzagged between vehicles, leaving destruction in its wake. One robber leaned out the window and fired a blast at the police drones—two exploded instantly, another narrowly avoided.

Videl's eyes narrowed. "They're using alien-grade tech again…"

She reached into her belt and hurled a flash bomb in front of the van. The explosion forced it to veer, giving her a chance to drop down from her hover-bike and kick the side door.

"Don't move!" she barked as the door swung open.

One robber lunged at her. She ducked, elbowed him in the ribs, and kicked him clean out of the van. Another grabbed her from behind—only to be flipped over her shoulder and slammed onto the pavement.

But as Videl landed, the last robber aimed his blaster at her back.

"Say goodbye, little miss Satan!"

Before he could pull the trigger—

A green and black blur descended from the sky like a comet. The air cracked with a sonic boom as the figure landed, cape fluttering dramatically. A mechanical voice echoed through the street:

"Evil-doers beware… The Great Saiyaman has arrived!"

The robber paused. "Wha—who the hell is—?"

THWACK!

A spinning back kick sent the weapon flying and the robber into the side of the van, unconscious before he hit the ground.

Videl stood with wide eyes. "What the…?"

Gohan—disguised in his updated Saiyaman suit—turned toward her. His visor shimmered in the sunlight.

"You okay?" he asked with a heroic pose.

Videl crossed her arms, skeptical. "I had it handled."

"Of course. I only stepped in to… ensure your safety," he said in a deliberately over-the-top heroic tone.

Videl tilted her head, stepping closer. "Wait a second… that goofiness' feels familiar."

Gohan cleared his throat nervously. "Nope. Not familiar at all. Definitely not someone you'd see at school or anything…"

She squinted. "Are you one of those weird new-age heroes with the voice distorters and unnecessary poses?"

"These poses," Gohan said, suddenly serious, "are sacred symbols of truth and justice."

Then he struck another exaggerated pose. "Now behold—the Pirouette of Purity!"

Videl blinked. "...You're an idiot."

Still, she couldn't deny the effectiveness. The crowd of civilians who had gathered clapped and cheered.

"That's the 4th time this week!"

"He saved Videl Satan!"

"Did you see that entrance?!"

Police drones flew by, scanning the wreckage. "Suspects apprehended. Civilians safe. Thank you, Great Saiyaman."

Gohan saluted, then turned to Videl.

"You know, your skills are impressive. But you really shouldn't go after armed robbers alone."

Videl rolled her eyes. "Says the guy wearing spandex and a voice modulator."

"It's not spandex… it's high-density protective fiber weave!"

Videl smirked in spite of herself. "Right. Whatever you say, Saiya-guy."

Before Gohan could respond, her hover-bike beeped.

"Duty calls," Videl said, hopping on. "But we'll talk later, hero."

"Looking forward to it," he said with a bow.

She zoomed off into traffic, leaving Gohan standing amid the wreckage.

"Whew," he muttered, powering down his mic. "That… could've gone worse."

Later – Orange Star High School

Gohan arrived moments before the bell rang, removing his visor and stuffing his helmet into his backpack just outside the gates. As he entered the classroom, Trunks looked up from his desk with a smirk.

"Late again, Saiya-dude?"

"Don't call me that," Gohan whispered urgently.

Erasa leaned over her desk. "You're always just barely making it, Gohan. What were you doing? Secret hero work?"

"Y-yeah, right," Gohan laughed nervously. "Just helping… uh, my dad fish."

Sharpner scoffed. "That string bean? Do hero work? He probably uses a fishing rod like a lightsaber."

Videl, meanwhile, sat silently for a moment. Her eyes flicked from Gohan to his backpack… then to his hands, which had faint bruises from training.

He's hiding something.

She narrowed her eyes, but then thought back to the dorky hero he encountered earlier that day.

I'll find out who you are, Saiyaman. You can't hide from me forever.

Next Day

It was another peaceful morning at Orange Star High School. The skies were clear, birds chirped across the campus, and students whispered curiously about a surprise announcement that had the entire gym class buzzing.

"Did you hear the news?" Erasa leaned across her desk toward Gohan. "We're having a special guest today! A martial arts champion!"

"Yeah," Sharpner added with a cocky grin. "They probably brought in some washed-up old guy to show us basic punches and call it self-defense."

Gohan chuckled nervously. Washed-up, huh? I wonder who it is?

Trunks, seated near the window, raised a brow and asked Erasa. "Do you know who it is?"

"Nope," Erasa replied. "But the principal said he's a legend or something."

Before anyone could respond, the classroom intercom buzzed.

"All physical education students report to the outdoor field. Special guest instructor Tien Shinhan will be leading today's martial arts demonstration."

Gohan sat upright, a glint of surprise in his eye.

"Tien?" Trunks whispered. "What's he doing here?"

"Guess we'll find out," Gohan smiled.

School Courtyard

The school had gathered outside. Mats were rolled out on the main field, and the PE teachers had already arranged cones and training dummies. The excitement was palpable.

As Tien walked down the row of students, his gaze stopped on Gohan.

"It's been a while," Tien said softly.

Gohan nodded. "Yeah. Good to see you again, Tien."

Then his eyes shifted to Trunks, lingering a little longer. "You… I haven't seen in quite some time."

Trunks grinned, brushing back his hair. "Good to see you, Tien. Sorry for the surprise visit."

"Good to see the both of you too. Let's talk later." Tien replied simply before moving on. 

Students chattered in anticipation. A small platform had been set up in front of the class, and standing atop it—calm, composed, and unmistakably stoic—was none other than Tien Shinhan.

Wearing his traditional green gi with a red sash, Tien stood with his arms crossed, surveying the students. His third eye, always watchful, scanned the crowd. No one really caught his attention, except for the 2 Saiyans.

Standing next to him was PE teacher Coach Mako, holding a clipboard.

"Alright, students! As promised, we have a special guest today!" Coach Mako bellowed. "You're standing in the presence of the 22nd World Martial Arts Champion! A living legend—Tien Shinhan!"

The students clapped, some confused, others curious. A few who knew their martial arts history cheered louder.

Tien stepped forward and bowed politely. "It's a pleasure to be here. Today, I'll be giving you a glimpse into real martial arts—what it means to move with discipline, focus, and respect."

"COOL!" someone shouted.

Another student leaned toward Sharpner. "Did he just say he's the 22nd champ? Isn't Mr. Satan the current one?"

Sharpner grumbled. "Must've been before cameras existed."

The sun glared overhead, casting long shadows across the Orange Star High School courtyard. The martial arts demonstration had just ended, but the tension in the air hadn't.

Tien Shinhan stood at the center of the field, his arms calmly folded, watching the students disperse into clusters. Most were still murmuring excitedly about the performance, buzzing over the fluid motions and discipline of the legendary martial artist.

Yet, amidst the admiration, a simmering tension brewed—centered entirely on one student: Sharpner.

Sharpner dusted his hands off and scoffed loudly. "I don't see what the big deal is. That was just some Tai Chi and breathing exercises."

Some students laughed nervously, unsure whether to agree or steer clear.

Erasa gave him a disapproving look. "Sharpner, you couldn't even finish the warm-ups without losing your balance."

"I let him lead. That's all," Sharpner replied, puffing out his chest. "He didn't even show any real strength. I bet he wouldn't last ten seconds in the ring against Mr. Satan's disciples!"

He turned toward Tien, who stood a few feet away quietly speaking with Coach Mako. Sharpner raised his voice dramatically. "Hey, old man! How about a real demonstration? One-on-one. You and me!"

The courtyard fell silent. Even the birds seemed to pause.

Tien stopped mid-sentence and turned slowly, his expression unreadable. "Is that supposed to be a challenge?"

"Unless you're too scared of a real fighter," Sharpner smirked.

"Oh no," Trunks muttered from the side, arms crossed, glancing at Gohan.

"He's gonna regret that," Gohan whispered with a wry smile.

Videl crossed her arms nearby, watching with an eyebrow raised. "This is going to be a train wreck…"

Coach Mako was about to intervene, but Tien raised a hand gently. "It's fine."

He walked calmly to the center of the mat once again. "Come then."

Students formed a circle, phones out, some even recording the scene. Erasa looked nervous, chewing her lip as she stood near Gohan.

"Please don't let him break something…"

Sharpner rolled his shoulders, bouncing on the balls of his feet, imitating boxing stances. "Alright, let's see what you got."

Tien didn't respond. He simply stood with one hand behind his back, legs slightly apart, perfectly balanced. His third eye stared calmly ahead.

Sharpner charged in, throwing a fast jab, then a roundhouse kick.

Tien sidestepped.

That was it.

Not a counter, not a block—just a gentle, ghostlike movement. Sharpner stumbled past him, confused.

"O-Okay, lucky dodge."

He spun around and came in again, launching a flurry of strikes.

Tien leaned back, stepped to the side again, and flicked a single finger forward—tapping Sharpner on the forehead.

THUD!

The entire courtyard echoed as Sharpner collapsed backward, stunned and dazed, eyes spinning.

Gasps erupted across the student body.

"Oh wow…" Erasa covered her mouth.

"Is he… okay?" one of the teachers asked.

"Emotionally? No," Trunks smirked.

Coach Mako jogged over to check on the fallen student as Tien returned to his composed stance.

"He'll be fine," Tien said simply. "But I hope he learned something important today."

Gohan chuckled quietly. "Tien never changes."

Videl, arms crossed, nodded in approval, though her eyes lingered on Gohan. He barely reacted. Like he expected all of it.