Ready to Fuse?

Before departing, Goku watches a demonstration of the Potara's power. At the Old Kai's suggestion, Shin and Kibito each put on an earring. The fusion is instantaneous, producing Kibito Kai, a being with combined strength who is eager to join the fight. The Old Kai dismisses him, noting he would still be far too weak against Buu. He also warns Goku that the Potara fusion is permanent, a detail Goku accepts without hesitation.

On Earth, Dende manages to heal Gohan, which infuriates Super Buu. He fires an energy blast at the young Namekian, but Tien Shinhan appears from nowhere and deflects the attack with his Tri-Beam. Though Tien is vastly outclassed, his timely arrival keeps Dende alive, preserving the Earth's link to the Dragon Balls.

Buu charges a Destructive Grenade powerful enough to obliterate the planet. Mr. Satan empties his gun at the energy sphere in a futile display of courage. At the last possible second, Goku materializes via Instant Transmission and cleaves Buu in half with a Destructo Disc. Mr. Satan naturally assumes his own shooting was responsible.

Even bisected, Buu is far from finished. He knocks Tien unconscious with a single kick and regenerates seamlessly. Goku tosses one Potara earring to Gohan, but the throw goes wide and Gohan fumbles the catch. While Goku transforms into Super Saiyan 3 to buy time, Gohan desperately searches the rocky terrain for the tiny earring.

Just as Gohan locates the earring, Gotenks defuses inside Buu's body, slashing the villain's power to a fraction of what it was. Goku tells Gohan to forget the Potara; he is now strong enough to handle Buu alone. It is a fatal miscalculation. Without anyone realizing it, the severed head tentacle from Goku's earlier Destructo Disc still lies on the ground behind Gohan.

The tentacle springs to life and engulfs Gohan before anyone can react. Buu absorbs the most powerful unfused warrior on Earth, gaining even greater strength than when he possessed Gotenks. Goku is left standing with the earring in hand and almost no one to fuse with. Tien is unconscious, Dende is essential for the Dragon Balls, and Mr. Satan is the only conscious person remaining. Episode 267 closes on a moment of near-total despair.