Untapped Potential
Chapter 2 - Training Begins
Gohan sat cross-legged on the floor of his room, a book open in front of him. Sunlight streamed through the small window, falling across the pages and making the black ink shimmer faintly. He'd been staring at the same line for a while now, reading it over and over again, trying to remember it the way his mother had told him to. Something about how animals changed their fur when the seasons changed. He liked the pictures more than the words. There was a rabbit with a big white coat, and next to it, another one that looked brown and fluffy.
He tilted his head. "I wonder if they get cold too…" he murmured, tracing the drawing with his finger.
Outside, the wind blew softly through the trees. He could hear birds chirping somewhere near the house, their calls bouncing back and forth. The sound made him smile. He liked studying, but he liked listening to the birds more.
Then his mother's voice carried through the house. "Gohan! Lunch is ready!"
He blinked and looked up. "Oh!" He closed the book quickly, careful not to bend the corners. Mum didn't like it when he did that. He placed the book neatly on the table beside him, then got up and brushed the dust off his knees.
"Coming, Mum!" he called, and hurried to the door.
The smell hit him before he even reached the kitchen — rice, vegetables, and something warm and rich that made his stomach rumble. He turned the corner to see his mother setting out bowls while his father was already sitting down, chopsticks in hand, eyes bright as always.
Goku grinned the moment he saw him. "Hey, there's my boy! You hungry?"
Gohan smiled shyly. "A little."
"Come on, sit down!" Goku said, patting the space beside him.
Chi-Chi gave Goku a look. "He can sit down after he washes his hands."
"Oh, right," Goku said, sheepishly. "Forgot about that part."
Gohan giggled softly, running to the sink to wash up before taking his seat beside his father. Chi-Chi sat across from them, adjusting Gohan's bowl so it was just right.
"Thank you for the food," Gohan said quickly, bowing his head the way his mother had taught him.
Chi-Chi smiled. "Good boy."
They began eating. Or rather, Gohan began eating — Goku was already halfway through his first bowl before anyone else had finished a bite. He ate with the same energy he did everything, like it was another kind of training.
Gohan tried to copy him once, but Chi-Chi caught him right away. "Small bites, sweetheart. You'll choke like your father."
Goku looked up, mid-bite. "Hey, I don't choke!"
"You almost did last week."
"That was one time!"
Gohan giggled again. Their bickering never really sounded angry. It was funny, like a dance they both knew by heart.
It was quiet for a little while, the only sounds being the clinking of chopsticks and the rustling of food. Then, as if unable to hold it in anymore, Goku looked up from his bowl, eyes shining.
"So, Gohan," he said, "guess what we're doing today?"
Gohan blinked, a bit of rice still in his mouth. "Um… studying?"
Goku grinned wider. "Nope! We're gonna train together."
The boy froze, chopsticks in hand. "T-Train?"
Chi-Chi looked up from her bowl, calm but not surprised. "That's right. After you finish lunch, you can go with your father."
Gohan looked between them, confused. "But… mum said I had to finish my studying."
"I did," Chi-Chi said gently. "You can finish it afterwards."
He stared at her, trying to make sure he'd heard right. "Really?"
She smiled, the kind that reached her eyes. "Really. You've been working hard all morning. A little break won't hurt."
Gohan's confusion melted into surprise, then excitement. "I get to train? With dad?"
Goku laughed, his voice full of pride. "You bet! Just a little, though. We'll start easy. You'll see, it's fun!"
Gohan's grin spread across his whole face. He looked down at his food and began eating faster, cheeks puffed out as he chewed.
"Hey, slow down, buddy," Goku said with a chuckle. "You'll make yourself sick."
"I-I just wanna finish so we can start!" Gohan said through a mouthful, swallowing quickly.
Chi-Chi shook her head but couldn't help laughing softly. "Like father, like son."
"See? He's got my energy already," Goku said proudly, finishing his own bowl with a grin.
Gohan finished soon after, his bowl nearly spotless. "All done!" he said, turning to his mother eagerly. "Can I go now?"
Chi-Chi leaned forward, wiping a bit of rice from his cheek with her thumb. "You can. But you listen to your father, okay? No running off, no trying anything too hard."
"I promise!" Gohan said quickly. "I'll be careful!"
She smiled and ruffled his hair. "That's my boy."
Goku stood, stretching. "Alright, let's go! We'll start in the clearing near the trees. Good spot for a warm-up."
"Warm-up?" Gohan echoed, already hurrying after him. "What's a warm-up?"
"You'll see!" Goku called, laughing as they headed toward the door.
Chi-Chi watched them go, her expression soft but thoughtful. For a moment, she saw the boy's small hand reaching up for his father's, and the man who'd once saved the world from monsters now grinning like a child himself. Her heart ached a little, not from fear this time, but from love.
She whispered quietly, mostly to herself, "Take care of him, Goku."
From outside came the sound of laughter, Gohan's high and bright, Goku's deep and warm. It echoed through the trees like a promise.
-X-
The afternoon sun poured golden light across the clearing behind the Son family home. The mountains framed the sky like quiet sentinels, and the air was warm, soft with the smell of grass and pine. Gohan followed his dad through the yard, his small feet brushing against the blades as they reached the open field.
"Alright," Goku said, planting his hands on his hips. "This spot's perfect. Nice and flat, no rocks to trip on." He looked around, nodding to himself before glancing down at his son. "You ready?"
Gohan looked up, blinking in the sunlight. "Um… I think so."
Goku grinned. "Good answer." He stretched his arms out, rolling his shoulders. "Okay. First lesson, how to throw a punch."
Gohan blinked. "A punch?"
"Yep. Simple stuff. Here, watch me."
He stepped into a loose stance, one foot forward, knees bent. His right arm moved smoothly through the air, slow, easy, so Gohan could follow every part. "See? Not wild like this—" Goku swung his arm carelessly, making Gohan giggle "—just straight and steady. Like pushing a door open."
He turned back and held out his palm. "Alright, your turn. Punch right here."
Gohan hesitated, staring at the open hand. "You want me to hit you?"
"Not hard," Goku said quickly, chuckling. "Just enough to feel it."
"But Mum says I shouldn't hit people."
Goku nodded, serious for a second. "She's right. You shouldn't. But this is different, it's just practice. You're not trying to hurt anyone, just learning control."
That seemed to make sense to Gohan. He frowned a little, concentrating, then drew his arm back and gave a small, uncertain swing. His fist brushed Goku's palm like a breeze.
"Hey!" Goku said brightly. "Nice start!"
"Really?"
"Sure! But you can put a little more into it. Try again."
Encouraged, Gohan adjusted his stance. He punched again, harder, but still soft. Goku barely felt it, though he smiled anyway. "That's it! You're getting the hang of it."
They kept at it for a while, Gohan punching and Goku offering pointers. "Straighten your arm, good! Don't lean too far, yeah, that's better!" Gohan's movements were clumsy, his balance wobbly, but he was trying with everything he had.
And Goku was having the time of his life.
It wasn't like sparring with Krillin or Piccolo. There was no tension here, no push to go harder or faster. Just laughter, soft corrections, and the sound of his son's small fists moving through the air. Every time Gohan landed a punch, his face lit up with pride, and Goku couldn't help but laugh with him.
Still, somewhere behind the warmth and the fun, Goku felt that quiet question stirring. He remembered the power that had burst out of Gohan back in Garlic Jr.'s fortress, the kind of raw energy that could've levelled mountains. But now? Nothing. Not even a tremor.
He caught himself wondering,Where'd it go?
The thought flickered only for a second before fading beneath the joy of the moment. He didn't need answers now. There'd be time for that later. For now, this was enough, just being here, teaching, laughing, watching his boy try again and again.
"Nice one!" Goku said, catching Gohan's latest punch with a slap of his palm. "You've got good focus already."
Gohan beamed. "Did I do it right?"
"You did great."
The boy grinned wider, sweat glistening on his forehead. "Can I learn to kick too?"
"Course you can!" Goku said. "But you gotta promise not to fall over."
Gohan giggled. "I won't!"
"Alright, let's see then."
Goku showed him a few light kicks, slow, balanced, nothing fancy, then gestured for Gohan to try. The boy lifted his leg, wobbling a little, his arms flailing for balance before setting his foot back down.
Goku laughed. "See? That's part of it too, balance! Try keeping your arms out. Like this."
Gohan copied him, holding his arms wide. He lifted his leg again, steadier this time. "Like this?"
"Yeah, that's perfect!" Goku said proudly.
The boy kicked again. It was clumsy, short, and completely without power, but the look on his face was pure joy. Goku chuckled and crouched down beside him. "You're a natural, Gohan."
Gohan smiled shyly. "I'm not strong like you, Dad."
Goku ruffled his hair. "Hey, you're plenty strong. And strength comes with time. You just gotta keep trying, that's all."
Gohan nodded seriously. "Okay."
For a while, they kept going, Goku calling out little corrections, Gohan copying every movement with earnest effort. The air filled with laughter and the soft rhythm of their training. Gohan's punches grew sharper, his stance steadier, his kicks a little less wobbly. Goku watched, equal parts amused and proud.
He could see it, not the raw, terrifying power from before, but something gentler. A steady determination. The will to try. To learn. That same quiet fire he'd always felt when he was younger, trying to master things that seemed impossible.
And somehow, that made him even prouder.
"You're doing great, Gohan," Goku said, grinning. "Better every punch."
Gohan puffed out his chest, eyes bright. "Do you think I'll be as strong as you someday?"
Goku laughed. "Someday? Maybe even stronger."
Gohan's jaw dropped. "Stronger than you?"
"Could happen," Goku said, teasing. "Guess I'll just have to keep training so you don't catch me too fast."
Gohan giggled and threw another punch. "I'm gonna try really hard, Dad!"
"That's the spirit!" Goku said.
The sun lowered behind the trees, turning the clearing gold. The light caught in Gohan's hair as he punched and kicked, each movement full of energy and excitement. Goku guided him with gentle hands, adjusting his shoulders, steadying his feet, laughing when Gohan's enthusiasm sent him spinning too far.
Time seemed to slow into something simple and good, the rhythm of breath and laughter, the sound of wind through grass, the thump of small feet finding balance.
Goku's thoughts drifted briefly as he watched. He still didn't understand what had happened during that battle, how his son could unleash such incredible strength one moment and seem so ordinary the next. But looking at Gohan now, with that big smile and wide eyes, he realised it didn't matter.
Power would come later. This was what mattered now.
"Alright," he said, grinning as Gohan threw another eager punch. "One more set, and then we'll show your mum how much you've learned."
"Okay!" Gohan said happily, bouncing on his toes.
Goku raised his hands again. "Let's go!"
And the clearing filled once more with the sound of laughter, soft impacts, and the endless rhythm of a father and son learning together under the fading light.