Run in the Afterlife, Goku! The One Million Mile Snake Way!

Goku's death does not mark the end of his journey. Thanks to Kami's intervention, Goku is permitted to keep his physical body in the Other World, a rare honor granted because of the critical role he must play in the coming battle. His mission is to travel Snake Way, a winding path stretching one million miles across the afterlife, to reach King Kai's planet and train under the legendary martial arts master.

On Earth, the remaining fighters begin their own preparations. Piccolo seizes custody of young Gohan, recognizing that the boy's explosive hidden power could prove decisive against the incoming Saiyan threat. The decision is far from gentle. Piccolo demonstrates Gohan's latent abilities by hurling him at a massive rock formation, which the terrified child destroys on pure instinct. It is a rough introduction to the training that lies ahead.

Meanwhile, Bulma salvages Raditz's scouter and begins repairing it, hoping to use the alien technology to locate their scattered allies. Krillin faces the unenviable task of breaking the news to Chi-Chi that her husband is dead and her son has been taken by Piccolo for training.

Snake Way proves to be exactly as daunting as its reputation suggests. The path is narrow, winding, and seemingly endless, stretching across a void that promises oblivion for anyone who falls. Goku sets off at a run, his determination fueled by the knowledge that he has less than a year to reach King Kai, complete his training, and return to Earth before the Saiyans arrive.

The journey is both a physical and narrative bridge. While Goku runs, the episode takes time to check in on the various threads now in motion: Piccolo beginning his harsh mentorship of Gohan, Krillin dreading the conversation with Chi-Chi, and the distant threat of two Saiyan warriors already heading toward Earth. The clock is ticking for everyone.

This episode marks the transition from the Raditz Saga to the Vegeta Saga, shifting the story from a single desperate battle to a broader tale of preparation and growth. It aired in Japan on the 20th anniversary of the first episode of Dragon Ball Z, a fitting milestone for an installment that mirrors the original's themes of training, loss, and the promise of battles to come.

Piccolo's regeneration of his severed arm in the episode's opening moments serves as a quick visual reminder of Namekian biology, a detail that will become increasingly important as the series progresses.