Goku goes back in time

It was late afternoon, the orange glow of the setting sun casting long shadows across the training field. The air was calm, the rustling of leaves the only sound as Videl, Sharpner, and Erasa stood before Chichi with solemn expressions and fire in their eyes.

They had just finished another intense session—turtle shells dialed to over five tons during mid-air katas, sweat dripping from their brows, limbs trembling from exertion. And yet, none of them wavered.

Gohan, towel draped over his shoulders, looked on silently with a mix of pride and concern. Goku, off to the side, munched on a rice ball but watched with piqued interest.

Chichi stood before them, arms crossed. "You three look like you've got something to say," she said, her tone sharp but not unkind.

Videl stepped forward first. Her fists were clenched, eyes burning with a mixture of nervousness and conviction.

"We want to join the World Youth Exhibition match," she said, voice steady despite her heart thudding in her chest. "I want to fight. Not just for the crowd, or my name… but to show everything you and Gohan have taught us."

Erasa took a step beside her, brushing back her sweat-stuck bangs. "I never thought I'd fall in love with training… but I've come too far to sit back now. I want to see how far I've come—really test it."

Sharpner, for once, wasn't cocky. He looked Chichi dead in the eye. "We're not doing this to show off. We're doing this because we've changed. I've changed. Thanks to all of this. I don't want to be just another school jock. I want to be a warrior."

Chichi looked at them for a long, quiet moment. Her gaze was unreadable. Then, she sighed deeply and walked over, stopping just in front of Videl.

"You're all still rough around the edges. You're strong—but you don't know real battles yet. The Tournament will be different from this backyard training."

They didn't flinch. That was all she needed to see.

"…Alright," she said finally. "I approve. But only because I see you're serious. If you're stepping into the ring, you'll represent our training. You'd better fight like it."

The trio beamed—relief, excitement, and adrenaline flooding their systems all at once.

"I'll make sure your entries are submitted to the committee," Gohan added with a small smile. "Just… don't get cocky. The Youth Division's going to be more intense than usual this year."

Erasa grinned and pumped a fist. "Let's make history then!"

Videl nodded silently, determination in every line of her face. She wasn't just the daughter of Mr. Satan anymore. She was a fighter—one of Chichi's students.

And soon, the world would know it.

The joy from Chichi's approval still lingered in the air when Gohan stepped forward, his expression calm and composed, though a small smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Well then," he said, cracking his knuckles lightly. "Let's see how far you've really come. All three of you… against me."

The trio's smiles faltered slightly.

"Wait, seriously?" Sharpner blinked. "All three of us… at once?"

"Yep," Gohan said with a nod. "Don't hold back."

The atmosphere shifted immediately. The sun had dipped low enough for the field to fall into twilight, casting long shadows over the training ground. Chichi stepped back with Goku, who watched with an eager glint in his eye.

"This is gonna be fun," Goku whispered, mouth full of food. "He's got your edge, Chi."

Videl, Erasa, and Sharpner formed a quick triangle, nodding at one another. Their training had bonded them deeply, and they knew each other's rhythms by heart now. If there was any chance of landing a hit, it was by overwhelming him together.

They charged.

Videl went low, aiming for Gohan's legs with a sweeping kick. Erasa came in from the side with a spinning backfist, while Sharpner dashed in high, fist cocked back in a textbook aerial haymaker.

Gohan didn't move much.

A single step, a twist of the waist, and all three attacks whiffed through the air. His form was fluid, dancing between their coordinated strikes like a leaf riding the breeze.

"Don't just rely on speed!" he said calmly. "Predict! Read! Think faster!"

The trio adjusted. Videl fired off rapid punches and kicks, Erasa used feints and speed boosts with her flying, and Sharpner attempted to grapple Gohan midair. For a moment, their teamwork pushed Gohan to block a few strikes. But he was still a level above.

Without raising his power, he moved through them like a storm in control of its own chaos.

Erasa was the first to fall. A well-placed tap to her side sent her skidding back into the grass, her breath knocked out.

Sharpner roared and went wild—rage turning to desperation. But Gohan ducked low, slipped under a cross, and lightly tapped Sharpner's neck. He slumped instantly, groaning.

Videl pushed herself harder than the others. Bruised and panting, she refused to go down. Her strikes were tighter, her instincts sharper.

But it still wasn't enough.

Gohan caught her final kick mid-air and gently spun, flipping her off balance and letting her land safely on her back with a soft thud.

He hovered above them, looking both proud and a little guilty. "You've all improved… a lot. But you're still not ready for real combatants. Not yet."

Chichi walked up with her arms crossed. "That was the difference between effort… and mastery," she said bluntly. "But don't be discouraged. That's exactly why you needed this."

Erasa groaned from the grass. "I thought we were gonna at least touch him…"

Sharpner sat up, rubbing his shoulder. "That was humbling."

Videl wiped a bead of sweat from her brow and looked at Gohan with fierce eyes. "We're not done. We'll keep training… and next time, you won't be able to shrug us off."

Gohan smiled warmly. "I look forward to it."

And with that, the sun fully dipped below the horizon, casting the field into darkness—but in their hearts, a spark had been lit. Failure wasn't the end.

It was fuel.