The Strong Ones

The final match of Fortuneteller Baba's tournament begins, and it quickly becomes clear this is unlike any fight that came before it. The masked warrior matches Goku in speed, power, and technique, trading blows at a level that leaves the onlookers in awe. Master Roshi watches with growing unease, recognizing the masked man's fighting style, his posture, and the way he moves.

Then the masked fighter fires a Kamehameha. The shockwave ripples through the arena and removes all doubt from Roshi's mind. Only a handful of people in the world know that technique, and the way this fighter executes it points to one man in particular. Goku answers with his own Kamehameha and manages to knock his opponent down, prompting his friends to celebrate prematurely.

When Goku asks the fighter to surrender, the masked man simply laughs and grabs Goku's tail, draining his energy instantly. Roshi observes that no one outside their circle should know about Goku's tail weakness. Yamcha notes that the fighter seems to know everything about Goku, fighting as though he has studied every detail of the boy's abilities. Roshi confirms: the two combatants are mirror images of one another. The masked fighter is Gohan, Goku's deceased grandfather, brought back from the afterlife by Baba. Meanwhile, Gohan exploits the tail hold ruthlessly, slamming Goku into the ground over and over as the group watches in anguish.

The moment the masked fighter unleashes a Kamehameha, the episode shifts from exciting action to emotional mystery. Roshi's dawning realization plays across his face as he connects the dots: the technique, the familiarity, the impossible skill level. It is a revelation built through observation rather than exposition, making it deeply satisfying.

Gohan grabbing Goku's tail is a brutal tactical move that weaponizes intimate knowledge against family. Only someone who raised Goku would know this weakness so instinctively. The contrast between grandfather and grandson locked in violent combat, one slamming the other into the ground repeatedly, creates a tension that is both physical and deeply emotional.

Roshi's refusal to intervene despite Bulma's pleas speaks volumes. He trusts Gohan and understands that there is purpose behind the pain, even if that purpose has not yet been revealed.

Grandpa Gohan's identity as the masked fighter is one of the saga's most emotional reveals. Brought back from the afterlife by Baba, he fights his grandson not out of malice but with clear purpose that will unfold in the following episode.

This is the first time Goku and Gohan have been in the same scene since Gohan's death, which occurred before the series began. Their physical similarity and shared techniques reinforce the bond between master and student, grandfather and grandson.