The Dystopian Arc: What if Raditz Took Gohan with Him

Imagine the scenario where Raditz brings Gohan on his mission back to Earth, laden with the responsibility of breaking the young Saiyan's spirit to follow his orders. Given the absence of any knowledge about the Dragon Balls, Gohan’s situation becomes increasingly fraught, particularly as he must work under the command of Vegeta. Raditz shares news of Earth with Nappa and Vegeta, emphasizing the duo brought about the demise of Goku and Piccolo. The now desperate quest for the Dragon Balls would lead Gohan to blur his initial lack of knowledge, revealing their inoperability—a shadow over his hope for restoring his family.

A Decade under Frieza’s Shadow

By the time Gohan turns 14, his intelligence and strength have grown enough for him to seek his own space pod. His journey leads him to Namek, where he approaches the Grand Elder Guru, still alive. Mind reading and Guru's blessing pave the way for Gohan, who then teams up with Nail to gather the Dragon Balls and revive Goku and Piccolo. Unfortunately, Guru senses this act of defiance, prompting the other Saiyans to intervene. Gohan trains under Nail to defeat them, eventually succeeding. With his new strength, he tackles Zarbon and Dodoria, using the Dragon Balls to relocate all Namekians to Earth, ensuring they no longer suffer under Frieza's tyranny.

Family Reunion and Resilience

Back on Earth, Gohan reunites with his parents, Goku and Piccolo, as they have retained their bodies post-resurrection. With 10 years of intensive training at the Hyperbolic Time Chamber (HTC), Goku and Piccolo have become superior fighters, with Goku holding a Base Power Level (PL) that rivals his peak from the Cell Games, and Piccolo not far behind. Despite this, Gohan remains the weakest among the Z-Fighters but is not far behind in terms of age, being only 9 years younger than his parents. Goku dedicates a month to training Gohan for the upcoming battle with Frieza, an event they anticipate shortly.

The Final Showdown with Frieza

The challenge with Frieza requires Gohan to evolve through Super Saiyan transformations and even learning to control Great Ape form. Under Goku's guidance, he masters Kaioken, Spirit Bomb techniques, and even unlocks Super Saiyan. Even with these advancements, the fight is grueling. Gohan’s determination and newfound powers enable him to defeat Frieza, wishing for everyone to be sent to New Namek before racing to Frieza’s ship to head to Yardrat for further training.

Training and Further Adventures

Gohan continues his training under the Saiyans on Yardrat, learning advanced Spirit Control techniques like duplication, Forced Spirit Fission, and healing, yet with no need for Instant Transmission. After a year, Babidi and Dabura arrive, forcing Gohan to study to become useful. The Z-Fighters defeat Dabura and Babidi but Gohan stays back for individual training. Yamcha strives to deal with Buu, forming an unlikely friendship with the monster, leading to the formation of Super Buu. With Goku and Piccolo having fused to fight Buu, they manage to achieve a definitive victory, with Gohan playing a critical role.

The Next Frontier

Two years after Buu's defeat, Goku faces the Heart Virus, leading to Androids 17 and 18 being unleashed, though Gohan and Piccolo manage to defeat them. Goku, now dead, is revived by Beerus to perform the Super Saiyan God (SSJG) ritual, with Gohan chosen to take part. Training under both Goku and Beerus, Gohan's progression is rapid. Frieza once again challenges Earth, leading to an intense battle where Goku and Broly return to save the day.

The Ultimate Challenge

In the final battles, Gohan uses his God Ki, Ultimate, and Super Saiyan God 4 with Broly, mastering Wrathful and achieving Ultra Instinct reliability. The fight against Moro on Earth and Granolah's arc see Gohan and Broly reaching new heights, with Gohan eventually defeating both foes. The androids remain weaker despite 17's limited training, and the true potential of the Saiyans is finally realized. This scenario showcases how Gohan's resilience and the unified strength of the Z-Fighters could drastically alter the course of the Dragon Ball universe.