As Naruto made his way to the Leaf Village hospital while carrying Gohan he couldn't help but hear all the comments from the passerby villagers who were spared from injury following Gohan's rude introduction.
"Who the hell is that?"
"You think he's some kind of alien?"
"Where'd he come from?"
"How'd he fall from the sky?"
"Why's he covered in all that blood?"
"He looks like he was in a war!"
"I bet you Naruto had something to do with that."
"Totally, I bet this is one of his tricks!" Were some of the comments Naruto heard, making him narrow his eyes in annoyance.
"Seriously? What's their deal!?" Naruto groaned in annoyance. Honestly, how could Naruto have anything to do with the battered and beaten state of Gohan? It's like they were just looking for any excuse to hate on him. Thankfully, he reached the hospital after a somewhat long walk.
As Naruto and the other ninja entered the facility, Kakashi decided to take Gohan from Naruto's arms.
"I'll take care of it, Naruto. Thanks for carrying him." Kakashi thanked Naruto who smiled.
"Yeah of cou—Hey wait! You're the guy who helps me with grocery shopping sometimes! Haha, you help keep me from getting thrown out of shops!" Naruto smiled in recognition as Kakashi pet Naruto's head before rubbing it affectionly.
"It's no problem at all. That's what ninjas do, help each other out." Kakashi replied fondly as he felt it was nothing but an honor but to help out the son of his respected long dead master. While he wanted to take in the young boy and raise him as his own, Hiruzen refused as he was sure that he had Naruto all squared away with the essentially necessary for a child. Though this didn't stop Kakashi from helping out and watching the boy from afar to make sure he was accounted for whenever he could.
As Kakashi thought about this, a nurse was called to help carry the unconscious Gohan to a room.
"Okay, I'll handle it from here. You all can go." Kakashi said to the Anbu who nodded before vanishing away in a poof of smoke except for one select Anbu member with spiky brown hair. Behind his mask hid almond shaped eyes.
"Master Kakashi, are you sure it's okay to just take in this kid? I mean what if he's an enemy spy? Those wounds he received were definitely those dealt in a battle so this kid must obviously be some sort of warrior." The Anbu known as Tenzo whispered to Kakashi as he was wary of Gohan.
"I'm not one hundred percent trusting of the boy myself but we'll heal him and interrogate him as so. While he's unconscious, I'll have Inoichi scan his memories." Kakashi replied as Tenzo sighed.
"Okay." Was all Tenzo said before poofing away with his Body Flicker Technique.
After the cleaning up of Gohan was done, he was dressed in a standard hospital gown with his purple GI pants while his torn up GI was disposed of.
The nurse assigned with Gohan then finished her work before opening the door with a huff of annoyance as Naruto kept banging on it.
"Can I come in now!?" Naruto impatiently asked as a tick mark appeared on the nurse's skull.
"Yes! Now if you excuse me I have to tend to other patients who got injured as a result of your little buddy's entrance!" The nurse huffed as Naruto ran in excitedly. It was true, due to the lightning bolt storm, several buildings were destroyed and some people were caught in the falling debris, thus leading to several injured villagers who were being treated as the orange tracksuit wearing ninja argued with the medical expert.
As Naruto walked in, he noticed how Gohan's forehead was covered in bandages while his left arm was cast in a sling. However what stood out to the young blond the most was how there were tears in his eyes as they cascaded down his face.
"He's crying? What's wrong?" Naruto curiously inquired. Almost as if his question was heard, Gohan's voice slightly got higher.
"Father….I'm…so sorry…." Gohan muttered as Naruto's eyes widened before he looked at Gohan with pure sympathy.
"He must be away from his parents….Poor dude might be a little homesick." Naruto frowned before Kakashi walked in along with some other people, one of which had long blonde hair while the other had spiky, pineapple styled hair with several scars on his face.
"Who're these guys?" Naruto asked as Kakashi walked towards Naruto.
"Thanks for looking after him, Naruto, but we'll take over from here." Kakashi said to the Academy student who looked skeptical.
"But—"Naruto tried to argue as Kakashi put a hand on Naruto's head.
"It'll be okay. Plus you've done all you can do so just leave the rest to us. We'll come out and get you when we're done." Kakashi reassured the blonde who huffed.
"Fine." Naruto grumbled before reluctantly leaving the room as the men chuckled at his reaction.
"Just like Kushina…" Kakashi laughed to himself before donning a serious expression.
"Now Inoichi, if it's no problem, we'd like for you to scan this boy's mind and see who he actually is." Kakashi said to the blonde who nodded in understanding.
"Right." Inoichi said before making a couple of handsigns.
"Psycho Mind Transmission!" Inoichi yelled before his hand touched the base of Gohan's forehead. In a flash he was suddenly within Gohan's mindscape.
"Alright… now to find out who this kid really is!" Inoichi said before floating around Gohan's mindscape before coming to where his brain was. As he touched Gohan's cranium he was suddenly exposed to one memory.
It was a bright and sunny day when Goku was happily flying in the air on top of his favorite mode of transportation, the Flying Nimbus. Inoichi was puzzled at the display.
"A man on top of a flying cumulus cloud? And he wears an outfit similar to Naruto's…. O…kay?" Inoichi stammered before noticing a boy of around four years of age. When the veteran Shinobi got a good look at his facial features, he was definitely the boy whose mind he was observing.
"This must have been the boy when he was younger. And this man must be his father. The resemblance is uncanny." Inoichi observed.
Goku laughed as he picked up Gohan and put him on top of his shoulder and spun both of them in the air several times as both were definitely enjoying the cloudy ride. As this went on for several more minutes, the cloud then came to a stop as two touched the forest floor.
"Haha, wasn't that fun Gohan!?" Goku laughed with his son who grinned excitedly.
"Yeah it really was, daddy!" Gohan giggled as his hands went to his head. On top was a red hat with a peculiar looking ball on top of it, a Dragon Ball, a magical orb that could gather any wish one desired upon gathering all seven.
" I really love this hat and how you gave me this Dragon Ball!" Gohan smiled as Goku patted his son's back.
"… Dragon… Ball?" Inoichi asked, amazed at the peculiar name of the item as the scene continued.
"Of course I did! This belonged to my grandpa and I entrusted it to you as a gift for your birthday because I know you'll take good care of it, right?" Goku grinned as Gohan returned the grin.
"Yes daddy!" Gohan laughed as Goku patted his head in pride.
"Good boy! Now, let's get home before your mom worries!" Goku said as Gohan jumped on Goku's back in excitement.
"Okay so from what I could gather, this boy's name is Gohan. Now if I could only find out how he just fell from the sky…." Inoichi thought before deciding to observe another memory in order to ascertain the answers he desired.
The scene changed to the middle of a field where Goku was lying bruised and beaten as a man with long, spiky black hair was standing over the injured Saiyan. Close by stood the Namekian Piccolo. All three men stared in shock as their gaze was turned to an open crater in the ground.
"And just who is this mysterious man standing over Gohan's dad? What type of armor is that he's wearing? And is that a slug man? Just what the hell is going on here? And where is Gohan?" Inoichi nearly demanded. And as if his question was being heard, he turned to see Gohan, still the same age as he was in the first memory. Although unlike last time, his hat was nowhere in sight and he looked extremely angry.
"Is this some sort of battle?" Inoichi pondered as he noticed the state of all three men, Piccolo was covered in dirt and scratches along with Goku while the mysterious man's armor was broken on the side as blood leaked from his injured shoulder. As these thoughts swarmed in Inoichi's head he remembered how Gohan was there and instantly he was slightly frozen in fear for Gohan's concern. He couldn't have been any older than four years old.
"What on earth is Gohan doing there? This obviously isn't a place meant for children!" Inoichi thought as Raditz decided to speak up.
"I-it's you! I don't believe it!" Raditz stammered at shock with how such a small child could break through Raditz's space pod with ease.
"Hey Goku, look over by the crater. It's your son!" Piccolo exclaimed as Goku's eyes nearly bulged out in horror at the sight of his son. He couldn't be here. There was no way he could defend himself if Raditz came after him.
" It… can't be…" Raditz muttered softly as he got his foot off of Goku's chest as Goku tried bringing his head up with what little strength he had.
" G-Gohan… Daddy can't get up right now. Run away from here… Run away! Run now!" Goku tried commanding his son. If he, the earth's strongest warrior, couldn't defeat the evil Raditz, what hope did his son with no training could ever hope to succeed?
All men in the memory stared with baited eyes as Gohan kept sniffling while the scouter on Raditz's eyes kept blinking and blinking.
" Power level 370!? Impossible for a kid! And… it's still going up!" Raditz choked in horror as a peculiar aura surrounded the toddler.
"What on earth is this!?" Inoichi could barely speak as the aura around Gohan got bigger and bigger until it surrounded him completely and covered him.
" Leave… my… dad… ALONE!" Gohan yelled before he jumped off and flew through the air hitting Raditz straight in his chest. Everyone, Inoichi included, could only watch with mouths open agape. If it were anyone else, such an attack would've killed the other person instantly.
"T-to… have such power at a young age! It's unprecedented! Even greater than the Three Legendary Sannin when they were in the Academy..." Inoichi gasped out as he could barely believe what he saw. It was such a surprise that he could barely steel himself to observe the next memory.
The scene changed to a different field where Gohan was seen sobbing.
"Gohan's crying? But over what?" Inoichi asked before the answer was given to him in the form of Piccolo who was lying next to him with his GI ripped with the green man covered in purple blood.
"It looks as if he's about to die…." Inoichi observed as Gohan was pushing and holding a tight grip on Piccolo.
"You're like… the son… I never… had…." Piccolo rasped out as tears protruded from his eyes in happiness. He was a demon who cared for no one and no one cared for him. But in Gohan's young naïve eyes, he was a person who deserved a second chance. He was just like his father.
" No… please! Mr. Piccolo…" Gohan cried as he was literally begging for Piccolo to cling onto life.
" G-goodbye my friend… Thank you…" Piccolo smiled as he left the world of the living, happy to know at least one person cared for him.
"P-Piccolo… Mister Piccolo… No… NO!" Gohan yelled as he screamed to the heavens, almost as if begging for the gods above to give back the life of his precious master.
"That poor child… He looks to be no older than five years old here… Already having to bury his master…" Inoichi said in sympathy as he saw children even younger than Gohan lose their friends and family members. Sometimes they were slaughtered right in front of them.
Gohan then glared straight at the man above him who was laughing at Gohan's misery and sadness. He fixed him with a glare even fiercer than one Inoichi saw against Raditz.
" Huh? Alright, let's go!" Nappa exclaimed amusingly as that damn Namekian got in his way of killing the little snot. This time he wouldn't miss!
"Masenko!" Gohan yelled as he brought his hands to his forehead. What got Inoichi's attention were the lightning bolts emitting from his attack.
"What is that? It looks to be a variant of Chidori? But how?" Inoichi contemplated before a voice cut him off.
"Nappa watch out! This one is much more powerful than he appears!" Vegeta exclaimed to get his comrade's attention as Nappa ignored him.
"Here I come boy!" Nappa roared as Gohan fired his attack. The blast fired towards Nappa who flung it away with what looked to be like with relative difficulty as Inoichi was left speechless at a display.
"H-how could a mere child form anything that powerful?" Inoichi could barely say as he continued searching for another memory before he scanned another memory.
In this memory, the sky above was green as Inoichi realized that he was in the air this time.
"How on earth?" Inoichi didn't even have time to consider as he noticed how Gohan, clad in a different hairstyle with armor the same as he saw two memories ago, glared at a peculiar purple and white lizard-like creature with horns resembling those of an Ox.
"How is Gohan even flying?" Inoichi asked as Gohan could barely get the words out of his mouth as he was extremely angry.
Gohan clenched his fists in frustration at how yet another of his friends was hurt because he was too defenseless to help. How long would he remain a liability to his friends!? How much longer!?
"Y-You…ANIMAL!" Gohan yelled with pure, unadulterated rage in his voice before kicking Frieza straight in the head with a speed no one around could've ever seen coming.
"Not even Lord Fourth could've been that fast!" Inoichi stared even more in shock as Gohan followed up with several punches to Frieza's guts before dealing several kicks straight into the Frost demon's ribs and sternum before Gohan dealt a final kick straight to Frieza's chest as he blasted Frieza deep into the ground below. Before the tyrannical overlord could catch a breath he was suddenly bombarded with blast after blast from the angry five year old.
"Such strength! No child from my recollection has been said to have had as much strength at such a young age other than Itachi Uchiha!" Inoichi could barely breathe out as Gohan continued roaring in anger as he shot blast after blast at Frieza. Gohan then raised his hands up to his air before leveling it with one hand.
"Masenko-Ha!" Gohan roared as he slammed the energy beam straight down at the evil bastard. He nearly killed Krillin and he would make sure the bastard got his just desserts.
"No… not even Itachi could be that powerful at such a young age… To be a prodigy even higher than Itachi was…." Inoichi barely said as he scanned another memory.
The memory changed to where an older Gohan was shown with the other Z-Warriors around him but what shocked Inoichi the most was the sight of the revived Piccolo who he thought he saw died.
"He's back? But… how? Reanimation Jutsu somehow?" Inoichi raised an eyebrow before he was nearly struck with an electric bolt. Before he could say a word, he noticed how Gohan's hair was blonde instead of black and all of it except for a single bang stood up.
"How is his hair different? What's going on?" Inoichi asked with a feeling that told him that he'd get the answers he desired in this select memory.
"You don't scare me, Cell!" Gohan glared at Cell before a smirk played on his features, making Cell return the facial gesture.
"Hmph, really?" Cell asked bemused. With the powers he obtained from his near death experience, this little pain in his ass would only be a former one.
"That's right! One thing I learned from my father was to never give up even when the odds are stacked against you! If you're as powerful as you say you are then bring it on!" Gohan raised a fist as Cell lost his smile while he stared blankly at the half-breed.
"Well, what're you waiting for!?" Gohan demanded as Cell's expression changed to blank to one of anger at being challenged.
"You have a lot to learn boy. I'll make sure you end up just like Goku!" Cell declared and before Inoichi could say anything the memory changed by itself.
This time Inoichi beared witness to a beam struggle between Gohan and Cell as the two walked towards each other, determined to end this final battle.
"J-just how could two people have this much power? This power is…!" Inoichi nearly fell back in awe of the power as it nearly knocked him off his feet.
"It's over Cell! Your reign ends here! Goodbye!" Gohan yelled as the beam slowly enveloped Cell who struggled in vain.
"No! I refuse to let it end here! I am Cell! Dr. Gero's ultimate creation! I won't lose to some snot-nosed toddler!" Cell yelled before his second wind suddenly ignited as the beam began to grow again before the two beams were equal.
"Say hi to your daddy for me!" Cell yelled.
"Not a chance! Good always triumphs over evil!" Gohan spat as the two beams continued their power collision before they slowly got bigger and bigger.
The two warriors glared at each other as they intended on finishing this fight.
"Your terror will end today!" "I'll see you in hell!" Gohan and Cell yelled simultaneously before their Kamehamehas got bigger and bigger before they slowly erupted as a dome of energy surrounded the two. Both fighters could say nothing before their beams were disintegrating as the two were suddenly whisked away along with their beams.
"W-what the!?" Cell gasped in horror as Gohan was equally horrified.
"How could such a battle cause this?" Inoichi asked before the light died down around the two warriors, ending the memory, leaving Inoichi in pure awe at the memories he saw.
"To think… a mere kid around the same age as Ino ... being so strong…" Inoichi shook his head in disbelief before ending the jutsu and coming back into the real world.