In the after-life, Kami arranges for Goku to be allowed to travel to King Kai's planet via the snake road. Piccolo takes Gohan into his custody and flies off, intending to train the boy in martial-arts. Bulma takes Raditz's scouter in order to repair it and find Yamcha and Tien. Kami takes Goku along with his body to the afterlife. "Run in the Afterlife, Goku! The One Million Mile Snake Way" Before dying, Raditz reveals that two more Saiyans, Vegeta and Nappa, will be arriving on Earth in a year. With Goku holding Raditz in place, Piccolo hits both of them with his new attack. After seeing his father injured in battle, Gohan breaks out of Raditz’s space pod and attacks his “uncle,” severely injuring him. Piccolo reveals to Goku that he has developed a new technique that can help them defeat the Saiyan, the Makankōsappō, but he needs Goku to distract Raditz while he charges the attack. The battle against Raditz continues with Raditz effortlessly beating both Goku and Piccolo. "A Life or Death Battle! Goku and Piccolo's Desperate Attack!" After hitting Goku and Piccolo with a quick attack, he then informs them that there are two more Saiyans that are much stronger than him. With the help of the Dragon Radar, they arrive at the location Raditz is holding Gohan hostage and begin their fight with Raditz. Piccolo visits Goku and the two form an uneasy alliance in order to defeat Raditz. Noticing Gohan is also a Saiyan, Raditz kidnaps him in hopes of Goku joining him. The mystery warrior reveals himself as Goku's older brother Raditz and tells Goku of his Saiyan history. "The Enemy is Goku's Brother?! The Secret of the Mighty Saiyan Warriors" Who is this mystery warrior and why does he have a tail?
While at a reunion at Master Roshi’s with his friends, Goku is visited by a warrior from space who refers to Goku as Kakarot.
With no new battles to fight, Goku has been living a quiet life in the countryside with his wife Chi-Chi and their 4-year-old son Gohan.
The series begins with a flashback of the destruction of Planet Vegeta at Frieza's hands, and Goku's growing up on Earth, as depicted in the original Dragon Ball.
"Prologue to Battle! The Return of Goku!"