Rest of story written below.
(The comic is a mixture of my own drawings and traced from the comics and show so it’s not 100% my original work but I used it simply to tell a story.)
I made this beacuse I had a small argument with my guy friends how I thought raditz should’ve been kept and he said “no I don’t think so” so in spite I decided to make this just to prove to him that there’s so much potential if raditz lived 😭
Also I am by no means a nerd for dragon ball z. I know enough beacuse I’d watch my brother play it in the background so idk if anything I wrote in the bottom is actually like correct but yet again this is an alternate universe so whatever. Anyways I wrote more in the bottom.
“We’ll see,” Goku said, forcing a small, disheveled smile.
Raditz’s smirk faded into a hard frown as he let out a gravelly hum of thought. Every bone and muscle in his body ached. He was supposed to be the strongest, damn it. and yet his brother had fought him to the ground. Not alone, of course, but still. That Namekian had been dangerous too. The thought of it gnawed at him.
If he could, he’d have taken Goku by force and flown far away, just to avoid the humiliation. Deep down, though, a darker truth lingered: he didn’t want to keep fighting. For so long, he thought every family member he had was dead. At least with Kakarot alive, he wouldn’t be stuck forever with that arrogant prince Vegeta and the idiotic brute Nappa.
But his brother was being difficult. Human? Ha! Brainwashed was more like it. What could Kakarot possibly see in this pathetic green planet? Half its “warriors” couldn’t even survive against a handful of Saibamen.
Grunting, Raditz pushed himself upright, towering despite his battered body. “Fine. For now. I’ll let you lead. I’ll stay. I need to rest up anyway.”
Goku’s tired smile returned. Somehow, it made Raditz’s blood boil.
With ease, Goku bent down and scooped his frightened son into his arms. The boy had been hiding behind his father’s legs, trembling. Gohan buried himself in Goku’s chest the second he was lifted.
“Great! Although…” Goku’s smile faltered. His brows knit into a rare look of sharpness. “Before we leave, promise me you won’t hurt any of my friends. If you do… I won’t hesitate to kill you. For real this time. And neither will Piccolo.”
Raditz scoffed. “Yes, yes, whatever. I won’t touch your pathetic friends.”
Satisfied, Goku’s grin snapped back in place. He levitated upwards, still clutching Gohan tightly. “Great! Follow me.”
With another grunt, Raditz rose into the air, Piccolo right on his tail, glare sharp enough to pierce stone.
When they arrived back at Kame House, Bulma spotted them from afar. She darted outside, waving frantically.
“GOKU! GOKU’S BACK, GUYS!” she yelled. Then her eyes landed on the tall figure floating behind him. She froze mid-step, pointing wildly.
“WAIT—WHAT IS HE DOING HERE?!”
The others spilled out of the house, jaws slack, weapons raised.
Goku landed gently on the sand, smiling like it was just another day. “Don’t worry, everyone—we resolved everything! I’m giving my brother one more chance. From now on, he’s gonna act good.” He planted his hands on his hips proudly, as if the problem was solved.
Bulma’s voice cracked into a shriek. “ARE YOU CRAZY?!”
She marched forward, rattling off at lightning speed: “This is Raditz! The guy who kidnapped your son! The guy who tried to blow us all up! What if he calls his alien buddies?! What if he blows up the planet tomorrow?! What if he—what if he eats us in our sleep?!”
Raditz growled low, his patience snapping. “This loud-mouthed female is one of your… ‘friends’?”
“That’s Bulma,” Goku said quickly, sweat running down his temple. “She’s just worried.”
“Worried?! I’m furious!” Bulma snapped, but Yamcha grabbed her shoulder before she launched herself at Raditz. Krillin and Master Roshi were already half hiding behind the doorway.
“Listen, everyone,” Goku said firmly now. His smile dimmed into something steady and serious. “I know what he’s done. And I know how dangerous he is. That’s why, if he betrays us even once, I’ll stop him. Piccolo will too. Right?”
Piccolo’s glare hadn’t shifted once. His arms crossed, cape whipping in the wind. “Don’t think for a second I’m letting you out of my sight. Step out of line, and I’ll finish what we started.”
Raditz scoffed. “Tch. Empty threats.” But the pulse of Piccolo’s aura at his fingertips told him otherwise.
Satisfied, Goku nodded. “Then it’s settled. Thanks for worrying, everyone. But trust me. I want to see if my brother can change.”
“Brother or not, you’re insane,” Bulma muttered, arms crossed tight.
Goku gave her a sheepish grin, then shifted Gohan in his arms. The boy was still trembling, clutching desperately at Goku’s gi. His wide eyes peeked fearfully over his father’s shoulder, locked on Raditz.
Goku bent his head a little. “It’s alright, Gohan. Daddy’s here. He won’t hurt you, I promise.”
Raditz sneered faintly. “The brat is soft. Just like you.” But the words rattled in his own chest, stirring memories he didn’t want to admit.
“Alright then,” Goku said, shaking it off. His voice picked back up into cheer. “We’re heading home.”
“Home?” Raditz muttered, brow creasing as he followed reluctantly into the sky. “Where do you even live, Kakarot? In a palace? A fortress?”
Goku laughed, clutching Gohan closer as they ascended. “Nah, nothing like that. I live out in the woods with my wife, Chi-Chi. Nice and peaceful. You’ll see.”
Raditz’s eyes widened. “…Wife?”
“Yup!” Goku said, grinning. “And she’s probably gonna be mad I’m late for dinner.”
Raditz grunted, unsettled. A Saiyan with a wife? A family? Living among weaklings in the wilderness? His scowl returned quickly, but curiosity itched deep in his chest.
The small house came into view, tucked between trees and hills. To outsiders, it might look poor, quaint, even fragile. But to Raditz, something about it struck a chord. The simplicity reminded him faintly of his old home on Planet Vegeta, just enough to unsettle him. Small. Simple. And yet, it had been all his parents had needed for them, back when life was quieter.
Landing on the ground with a heavy thud, Raditz followed Goku up the wooden steps. Before the door even opened, the smell hit him. rich, hot food wafting through the walls. He blinked once, surprised. A Saiyan’s instincts flared. For the first time since landing on this miserable planet, he felt… hunger instead of battle rage.
Goku pushed open the door casually, calling out:
“Chi-Chi! I’m home! I brought a guest!”
From the kitchen to the right came the clatter of pots, a pan dropping with a clang. A frazzled voice called back, “Goku, you’re late for—” She stepped out, wiping her hands on her apron. Her hair was loose, her face flushed from cooking. Then her eyes landed on the towering figure ducking under the doorframe.
Raditz hunched through the doorway, scanning the small home. His sharp eyes flicked over every corner, but his mind was oddly blank. He had expected to scoff, to laugh at how pitiful it all was. But instead, he thought nothing. Just silence.
“Mom!” Gohan squeaked. Wriggling out of Goku’s arms, he bolted across the room and buried himself against Chi-Chi’s legs. She knelt immediately, hugging him tight, brushing back his messy hair.
“Oh, Gohan! You look like a mess, your poor face, your clothes! What happened?” She frowned hard, eyes darting back to Goku.
Her voice sharpened. “Goku… you—” She stopped dead, finally noticing how battered he looked, the torn gi, the bruises. Her expression collapsed into shock. “What on earth happened to you?!”
Still smiling like it was nothing, Goku gestured toward Raditz with a cheerful flourish.
“This is my brother! Radish.”
“What??” Chi-Chi blurted, utterly confused.
“It’s Raditz,” the older Saiyan corrected flatly, annoyance flashing in his eyes.
Gohan peeked up from his mother’s embrace, tears spilling down his face. “He tried to kidnap me! He hurt Daddy!” His voice cracked as the floodgates opened again, sobbing into Chi-Chi’s apron.
Chi-Chi’s arms tightened around him, her glare snapping back to her husband. Her voice dropped, low and dangerous. “Goku…”
That tone alone made even Raditz tilt his head, curious.
Goku rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, still smiling, though sweat dripped down his temple. “I know, I know. But it’s okay now. He’s not gonna do that anymore. He’s staying with us for a bit!”
“You what?!” Chi-Chi’s shriek rattled the dishes in the kitchen.
Raditz folded his arms, unimpressed, though his stomach growled quietly at the smell of food. He muttered, “This is absurd…” but his eyes betrayed a flicker of interest, darting toward the kitchen door.
Chi-Chi’s glare was volcanic. “You show up late, beat to pieces, with our son traumatized, and you bring this into my home?!” She jabbed a finger at Raditz. “Are you out of your mind, Goku?!”
Raditz sneered back instinctively. “Hn. I’ve fought demons and tyrants, and you think you scare me, woman?”
Chi-Chi’s eyes narrowed into daggers. The air went cold. Even Raditz, battle-hardened warrior, felt something unfamiliar crawl up his spine.
Goku laughed nervously, waving his hands. “Eheh, Chi-Chi, don’t worry! It’s only temporary! You’ll see, he’s not so bad once you—”
“Not so bad?!” she barked.
Gohan sniffled louder, clinging tighter to her legs.
Raditz looked between them, his naive brother, his fierce wife, the sniveling child. His chest twisted uncomfortably again. Family. A word he had nearly forgotten.
The tension thickened in the small home, every second dragging like a blade being sharpened. Goku laughed weakly, rubbing the back of his neck, but it did little to ease the storm brewing in Chi-Chi’s glare.
Raditz finally exhaled through his nose, arms crossing tight over his chest. His tail flicked once in irritation.
“I smell dinner,” he said flatly, his deep voice cutting through the room. “And I’m hungry. Let’s stop this pointless bickering and eat already. I’m not going to hurt your son or your husband.”
The words weren’t gentle. they were rough, almost dismissive, but the conviction in them was sharp. He wasn’t joking.
Chi-Chi blinked once, thrown off for half a heartbeat, then her fists clenched. “You—you think you can just walk into my house, make demands, and insult me in my own kitchen?!”
Raditz tilted his chin down slightly, glaring at her with those fierce, wild eyes. “I’m saying if you’re going to feed someone, then get on with it. Saiyans don’t waste time arguing over the obvious.”
Chi-Chi’s cheeks puffed red with fury. “Why you—!”
“Chi-Chi, please,” Goku said quickly, stepping in, still holding Gohan. “He’s just… direct. That’s how Saiyans talk.”
“Direct?! He’s rude!” she snapped. “And he’s about to learn some manners!”
Raditz smirked faintly, eyes narrowing. “I’d like to see you try.”
The air bristled with electricity, the two of them locked in a silent duel of glares.
Finally, Chi-Chi huffed, turning on her heel so sharply her hair whipped. “Fine! But you’re all washing up before you even touch a grain of rice! And thanks to you, Goku, I’ll have to cook extra just to keep this… this barbarian from emptying my kitchen!”
She stormed back into the kitchen, muttering furiously about “idiot husbands” and “bottomless stomachs” as the sound of pots and pans clattered again.
Raditz snorted, lips twitching with what almost resembled amusement. “Hn. Fierce woman.”
Goku laughed nervously, shifting Gohan in his arms. “Heh… yeah. That’s Chi-Chi.”
Gohan peeked out, sniffling still, but his wide eyes studied Raditz differently now, less fear, more wary curiosity.
Raditz caught the boy’s gaze. For a moment, the room was quiet again. He grunted, looking away.
The kitchen smelled rich with steamed rice, sizzling meats, and bowls of stir-fried vegetables. Chi-Chi set the dishes down, still side-eyeing Raditz while thinking, Please, Kami, don’t let him have Goku’s appetite. Or worse, Gohan’s too.
“Alright,” she said, brushing her hands on her apron. “Dinner’s ready. Wash your hands and sit down—”
But before she could finish, Goku and Raditz were already seated, bowls in hand like wolves about to pounce. Gohan hesitated, glancing between them nervously.
The moment Chi-Chi gave the smallest nod, it was chaos. Rice vanished in heaping scoops, chicken bones piled on plates, and the sound of slurping broth filled the room. Goku and Raditz were practically competing, shoveling food at a breakneck pace. Even Gohan, encouraged by the madness, dug in eagerly.
Chi-Chi froze at the edge of the table, chopsticks still in hand, her own plate untouched. She blinked once. Then twice. She’d barely sat down when Goku called out, “More rice, Chi-Chi!” Raditz, arms already reaching, grunted, “And the meat too! Don’t hold back!”
Chi-Chi’s eye twitched. “Seconds already?! I just put the food down! This is ridiculous. why does this have to be my life?”
By the time she refilled the rice pot, Raditz was already piling up thirds. Goku was grinning like an idiot, his mouth full, and Gohan had sauce all over his cheeks.
Chi-Chi finally sat, trying to take a bite. But her chopsticks hadn’t even touched the bowl before Goku and Raditz reached across, swiping the last dumplings. She slammed her chopsticks down. “Unbelievable!”
Dinner ended with groaning stomachs and a bare table. Raditz leaned back, satisfied. “Heh. Not bad, woman. You can cook.”
Chi-Chi folded her arms. “Glad you approve,” she muttered through gritted teeth.
Later, as the crickets chirped outside and the stars shimmered, Goku scratched the back of his head, avoiding Raditz’s expectant look. “So uh… listen, Raditz. We don’t exactly… have a guest room.”
Raditz raised a brow. “…So?”
“You’ll have to, uh… y’know. Sleep outside.”
The silence was heavy. Raditz stared at him, then at the humble little house, then back. His scowl deepened.
Chi-Chi, from the doorway with her arms crossed, called out sweetly, “Don’t like it? Too bad.”
Raditz growled low in his throat, but finally turned, stomping toward the door. “Fine. But I expect breakfast.”
The door slammed behind him.
Goku rubbed the back of his neck, chuckling awkwardly. “Heh. Guess he’s settling in?”
Chi-Chi’s glare said otherwise.
Raditz stepped out into the night, the cool grass crunching beneath his boots. He leaned against a tree just beyond the house, arms folded, eyes fixed on the scattered stars above. For a moment, he let the chatter of crickets replace the madness of dinner. His hand slipped into his armor, pulling free the scouter tucked in his inner pocket. With a press of a button, the familiar beep-beep sounded, and the static cleared.
“This is Raditz,” he muttered. “I’ve found something. Seven orbs , ‘Dragon Balls,’ they’re called. They can grant any wish. With them… we could rule worlds.”
On the other end, Vegeta’s voice cut through with a smirk hidden in every word. “Hmph. So the runt’s finally done something useful. Good work, Raditz. We’ll head your way. But it’ll take a year.”
Nappa’s laughter followed, gruff and booming. “Better not screw it up before we get there.”
The transmission ended, leaving only the hush of the night. Raditz slipped the scouter back, staring up at the stars again. knowing Vegeta and Nappa were out there
Character Growth- why they fumbled the bag with Raditz
Instead of being a random character written only to further the plot, Raditz can have much more depth to him and to the story itself. By letting him live, we suddenly gain the chance to explore the Saiyan race through someone who has lived it, rather than just hearing pieces from Vegeta later. Raditz, as Goku’s actual brother, also opens the door for richer family dynamics. how Chi-Chi, Gohan, and even Goku himself respond to having a long-lost relative in their lives.
In this version, Raditz is no longer a disposable villain. By calling Vegeta and Nappa himself about the Dragon Balls, he becomes an active player, not just a pawn. His initial reasoning is still selfish. he plans to bide his time, pretend to be an ally, and eventually use the Dragon Balls for conquest. But as he spends time around Goku and his family, the walls he built up begin to crack.
Raditz’s personality growth becomes the heart of the twist. At first, he hides behind arrogance and cruelty, echoing the way Vegeta and Nappa always treated him. as the “low-class runt” and punching bag of their trio. But Earth exposes him to something different: family dinners, human kindness, and the absurdity of Goku’s carefree spirit. Slowly, he develops his own quirks and soft edges. Beneath the armor, Raditz has the potential to be just as silly, clueless, and warmhearted as his brother. something Vegeta’s leadership never allowed him to be.
This change makes Raditz far more compelling than in canon. He becomes a character who bridges worlds: the harsh, pride-driven Saiyan culture and the human world of connection and growth. His arc isn’t just about surviving. it’s about redefining himself, stepping out of Vegeta’s shadow, and realizing he doesn’t have to be the runt forever.
