Five years have passed since the 23rd World Tournament. Goku, Chichi, and their son Gohan were living in peace in the mountains. Then one day, a suspicious spaceship arrives on Earth. The man inside it is seeking someone named "Kakarrot," and begins searching for those who have great power. The first person he heads toward is Piccolo, who had been continuing his training to defeat Goku.
Goku visits the Kame House, where the Turtle Hermit and Kuririn have been living, for the first time in five years. As all of them are enjoying their reunion, a warrior lands before them, and addresses Goku as "Kakarrot." The man, who has a tail, just as Goku did as a child, identifies himself as "Raditz," and declares that he is a Saiyan, the mightiest race of warriors in the universe, as well as Goku's older brother. He then orders Goku to join forces with him.
As Goku is about to retrieve Gohan, who had been taken away by Raditz, Piccolo shows up. Piccolo and Goku form a temporary alliance in order to defeat Raditz. The two of them use the Dragon Radar to pinpoint Raditz' location, and then challenge him to battle. However, they are helpless before his overwhelming power. The two of them are astounded by the difference in their levels.
Faced with such obviously mismatched power levels, Goku and Piccolo are powerless to do anything. As a last hope, Piccolo fires his new finishing technique, Makankosappo, but Raditz narrowly dodges it. However, at the moment that Raditz tries to finish off Piccolo, Goku turns the tables by grabbing his tail. But then, Goku falls for Raditz' lies, and they once again find themselves in a life-or-death predicament.
Gohan flies up out of Raditz' spaceship, demonstrating an astonishing level of power, and delivers a fierce body blow to Raditz. Taking advantage of that opening, Goku wraps Raditz up in a full nelson, preventing him from moving, while Piccolo pierces the both of them with his Makankosappo! In Raditz' dying moments, he declares that his two fellow Saiyans would be coming to attack the earth in one year. And then, Goku passes away as well.
Kami-sama brings Goku before the Great King Yama, where he obtains permission to train under Kaio-sama, who reigns over all the other Kami throughout the universe. Goku starts running down the Serpentine Road, which was said to be a million kilometers long, headed towards Kaio's World. Meanwhile, Piccolo leaves with Gohan, who is still unconscious, saying that he will test Gohan's latent abilities to prepare him as a warrior to face the Saiyan's in one year's time.
Gohan, having been left in a wasteland by Piccolo, is attacked by a dinosaur, and just in the nick of time, his latent abilities are awakened! He escapes to a high rock formation, but then is unable to get down again. Piccolo secretly watches over Gohan. Elsewhere, Goku slips on the Serpentine Road, and is nearly pulled down into Hell by the black hands that reach out for him.
Unable to bring himself to tell Chichi about Goku and Gohan, Kuririn returns to the Kame House. However, wondering as to why Kuririn suddenly left, Chichi visits the Kame House, together with Gyumao. There, she learns from the Turtle Hermit where the two of them are, and faints! Meanwhile, at his wit's end atop the rock formation, Gohan thinks of home, and looks up at that full moon. At that moment, a transformation comes over Gohan's body.
Gohan falls through a hole that opens up in the desert, where he discovers a robot among some ancient ruins that had been buried by the sand. The robot tells him not to interrupt his sleep, but despite his resistance, Gohan wakes him several times. As the robot looks after Gohan, it begins to open up to him. However, as soon as Gohan starts digging through the sand to allow both of them to escape the ruins, the fragile ceiling starts to crumble.
Kuririn pays a visit to Yamucha, in preparation for the crisis that would be coming in a year's time. Yamucha had left the martial arts, and was making a living as a professional baseball player, but when he learned of Goku's death and the upcoming Saiyan attack, he made up his mind to undergo training under Kami-sama. Meanwhile, as Gohan was carrying on the survivalist lifestyle in the wasteland, he begins to look after a herbivorous dinosaur. But then, a ferocious, carnivorous dinosaur appears.
The Saiyans headed for Earth, Vegeta and Nappa, stop along the way at the planet Arlia, with an eye on plundering it. However, the once-bountiful Arlia had become a desolate world, thanks to the rule of the despot Moai. The two of them quietly allowed themselves to be taken to the castle, where Nappa eliminated the soldiers. They also easily defeat the monster kept as their final weapon. Vegeta kills Moai, and the people thank him. However...
Tenshinhan continues his training, together with Chaozu, under a waterfall, deep in the mountains, while Lunch tenaciously hangs around. After they are located by Kuririn and Bulma, via a Scouter, they find out what has happened, and decide to accept Kami-sama's training.
Tenshinhan and the others begin to climb Karin Tower, in order to receive their training from Kami-sama. Meanwhile, Goku slips off of the Serpentine Road while asleep, and drops down into Hell. Unable to return, he is challenged when spotted by the two Ogres Gozu and Mezu as he tries to eat some of the Enseiju fruit. However, when the two of them are told the situation, they agree to tell Goku about a way out, on the condition that he take them on at sumo wrestling and tag.
Kuririn and the others begin their special training at Kami-sama's temple. Elsewhere, Goku, having returned to the Serpentine Road, discovers a palace along the way, and is drawn in by a mysterious power. What's worse, the palace's master, the Snake Princess, falls in love with Goku at first sight. She tries all sorts of measures to keep him there, but Goku rejects each temptation, in an attempt to hurry on ahead. And then, the Snake Princess learns that Goku is married!
As Goku at last reaches the midway point along the Serpentine Road, Gohan gets a case of homesickness during his wasteland training, and decides to return to his house. However, after getting out of the desert, he reaches a shoreline, and no matter how far he runs, he ends up back in the same place. Thinking this strange, Gohan climbs a mountain, and learns that he is actually on an island. Still, he does not give up, and attempts to escape on a raft.
Gohan, having been caught in a whirlwind and thrown into the sea, washes ashore on a beach, where he is saved by some unfamiliar children. They are orphans, who, having lost their parents, live in an abandoned building, led by the oldest boy, Piegero. They repeatedly reject being institutionalized in an orphanage, but the day after they meet Gohan, everyone except for him and Piegero are caught.
After returning to the wasteland, Gohan and Piccolo finally begin their full-fledged training. Meanwhile, Kuririn and the others are growing annoyed that Kami-sama is not giving them very much training. They are shown into a room where all time is said to mix together, and are sent on a journey through time. There, the four of them are attacked by a mysterious pair, and resist them with all their might, but are powerless against them, and one by one...
Six months had passed since Gohan's tail was clipped, and after it grows back, he again transforms into a Great Ape! Piccolo immediately tries to destroy the moon, but no matter how much he attacks it, he can't blow it up! Piccolo then realizes the source of this suspicious moon on which his attacks have no effect. Meanwhile, Goku finally arrives at the end of the Serpentine Road, where he looks around for Kaio's World, which is supposed to be there.
Goku finally arrives at Kaio's World, where he meets Kaio-sama! He somehow manages to pass the super pun-loving Kaio's gag test, and at last begins his training on Kaio's World. For three weeks, he attempts to catch Kaio's pet monkey, Bubbles, because of the gravity there, which is ten times greater than Earth's. Having finally conquered the gravity, Goku catches Bubbles, and Kaio begins to place a certain hope in him.
The next training exercise that Kaio-sama gives to Goku is to hit his valet, Gregory, with a hammer. Goku frantically persues Gregory, who is even faster than Bubbles at running away! Then one day, Kaio tells Goku of the barbarous history of the Saiyans, and how all but four of them had become extinct. Upon hearing the tale, Goku's fighting spirit is fully released, and he devotes himself to his training to defeat the Saiyans!
Goku ends his training on Kaio's World, and tries out the force of an ultimate technique taught to him by Kaio, the Genki Dama. However, the Saiyans were approaching Earth sooner than expected. Even worse, Kaio discovers he made another miscalculation, and upon being brought back to life with the Dragon Balls, Goku has to return to the lower realm at breakneck speed. He dashes down the Serpentine Road at full power. And then, the ultimate nightmare descends from the heavens!
The two Saiyans who had landed on Earth, Vegeta and Nappa, search for the highest battle power readings, and fly off to where Piccolo and Gohan are. Kuririn also hastens there, and they face off against Vegeta and Nappa. As Piccolo and the others make ready to do battle, Vegeta gives Nappa an order. Nappa plants some seeds in the ground, which moments later grow into something unearthly!
The six Saibaimen that appear out of the soil charge against Piccolo and company, who numbered three! As the sparks fly on the battlefield, Tenshinhan and Chaozu, and Yamucha come dashing in. Vegeta proposes a man-to-man game between the six gathered warriors and the Saibaimen. Tenshinhan is the first to step forward, and obliterates one of the Saibaimen in an instant! Yamucha is the next one to take the offensive. However...
An enraged Kuririn launches a ferocious attack against Vegeta and the others! Three of the Saibaimen are wiped out, and Piccolo defeats the one that barely manages to escape. However, even after having taken the attack directly, Vegeta and Nappa are utterly unharmed. After obtaining Vegeta's permission, Nappa at length begins to do battle. He severs Tenshinhan's arm with his sheer strength, and demonstrates his overwhelming power against all five of them!
Not even Chaozu's suicide self-destructing attack against Nappa works. Tenshinhan becomes furious over his death, but his brave struggle is in vain, and he is seriously wounded. Piccolo, Kuririn and Gohan manage to catch Nappa off guard and launch a sneak attack, but it ends in failure when Gohan is too scared to act. In the midst of Nappa's billowing rage, Tenshinhan releases the last of his remaining power in order to avenge Chaozu's death!
Vegeta, who decided to wait for Goku's arrival, granted Piccolo and the others three hours. Unable to sit still, Nappa runs rampage against the earth's armed forces. In addition to destroying the armed forces, Nappa also wipes out a city. The three hours passes without Kuririn's wish for Goku's arrival being granted. What fate lies in store for Piccolo and the others as they once again face Nappa?
With a final, secret plan to beat the Saiyans in mind, Piccolo and the others launch an attack against Nappa. However, after finally grabbing his tail, a Saiyan's weak spot, they find that through training, he has overcome that liability. He also dodges Kuririn's finishing Kienzan attack, and right at the last moment before falling into an abyss of despair, Goku's presence is felt approaching the battlefield! Vegeta, upset at Goku's unexpectedly high battle power, orders Nappa to kill the three of them!
After protecting Gohan from Nappa's energy blast, Piccolo falls in the wasteland. Filled with grief and anger, Gohan's Masenko blast is still not enough to stop Nappa. The footsteps of death approach Gohan, who has spent all of this energy. Unable to move, Nappa's finishing blow comes down on Gohan, but in the next moment, Gohan witnesses Goku, who had finally arrived!
Goku overwhelms Nappa on offense, defense, and every other way, giving him utterly no opening to attack. After Nappa gives himself over to a fit of rage, Vegeta admonishes him, but even after regaining his composure, Nappa's greatest technique is beaten back by Goku's Kamehame-Ha. An irritated Vegeta orders Nappa to trade off with him, and in his fury, Nappa lashes out toward Gohan and Kuririn!
Eager to avenge everyone's deaths, Goku sends Gohan and Kuririn back to the Kame House, and heads off to a new battlefield with Vegeta. The decisive, ultimate battle between Goku and Vegeta finally gets underway! After being overwhelmed by Vegeta's far-superior abilities, Goku counters by using the Kaio-ken technique. However, even at a times-two Kaio-ken level, Goku is unable to keep up with Vegeta!
Exceeding his limits, Goku uses a times-three Kaio-ken to launch a ferocious attack against Vegeta. Although this power surpasses Vegeta's, it lays an excessive burden on Goku's body. His pride injured, Vegeta flies into a wild rage, decides to destroy the earth along with Goku, and launches a Gyallic Ho blast with all his might. In order to counter it, Goku puts his whole fate on the line, launching a Kamehame-Ha at Vegeta!
By creating his own moon, Vegeta transforms himself into a Great Ape. With Vegeta attacking him at ten times the battle power of his normal form, the only way for Goku to face him is with the Genki Dama. But in order to form a Genki Dama, he has to buy enough time to channel his concentration. By releasing a spur-of-the-moment Taiyo-ken flare, Goku blinds Vegeta's eyes. He then begins to gather Genki energy from all over the earth.
After dashing back to the battlefield, Gohan and Kuririn are met with the sight of Goku being squeezed to death in the hands of a Great Ape. In order to save Goku, Gohan and Kuririn go after the Ape's tail, but their desperate feint strategy ends in failure. Just as everything is looking hopeless, Yajirobe cleanly severs the tail using his katana! Vegeta reverts to his humanoid form, but even so, Gohan and the others are still no match for him.
Kuririn, who has been entrusted by Goku with the Genki Dama, desperately tries to find an opening to attack as Gohan fights Vegeta. After receiving counsel from Kaio-sama, Kuririn finally is able to lock on to the evil in Vegeta. However, an uncalled-for outburst by Yajirobe alerts Vegeta to his presence. Vegeta is able to narrowly dodge their attack of hope. The Genki Dama unsympathetically continues its path toward Gohan.
Barely alive after taking the force of Vegeta's shockwave, Gohan regrows his tail! Gohan transforms into a Great Ape as Yajirobe and Vegeta fight each other. Having lost all reason, the Great Ape rampages, but perhaps as a result of Goku and the others' desperate call, he at length starts attacking Vegeta! Vegeta manages to cut off the Great Ape's tail, but is unable to avoid the falling Gohan, and with his energy spent, he is crushed beneath him.
After a drawn-out, deadly struggle, Goku and the others finally drive off Vegeta. Wounded and fallen, they are rescued by Bulma and company. Because of Piccolo's death, Kami-sama and the Dragon Balls are also gone. The lives that were lost cannot be returned. Bulma and the others are in low spirits, but Kuririn has come up with one possibility. What about the Dragon Balls on Planet Namek, which Vegeta mentioned?
Although they survived their battle against Vegeta, Goku and the others sustained injuries, and are admitted into a hospital. Bulma, who was still looking for a means to get to Planet Namek, attempts to start up one of the Saiyans' spaceships, but blows it up instead. They are at their wits' end when Mister Popo extends a hand. Bulma travels together with Popo to the ends of the earth, where she spies something...
Kami-sama's spaceship, which was in Yunzabit Heights, was undergoing a rebuild at Bulma's home. All that remained was deciding who would go. However, Mister Popo, upon whom they were counting, says that he cannot leave Kami-sama's temple vacated. Bulma, who was familiar with the mechanics, and Kuririn, who would serve as a bodyguard, ended up going instead, and Gohan, who wanted to restore Piccolo to life after saving his, also came forward.
The month-long space journey had finally started. Despite things being anxious during their departure, the first week goes by without any trouble. Kuririn and Gohan apply themselves to image training, while Bulma found herself overly bored. But then, all of a sudden, Gohan and the others were attacked by a mysterious enemy, and found themselves trapped in the enemy spaceship, surrounded by traps. They try to escape, but Bulma is captured by the enemy.
The only ones aboard the mysterious spaceship were children. After their home was destroyed by Freeza, they find it difficult to place trust in Gohan and the others. Just then, the spaceship gets into trouble! Gohan and the others team up with the children to protect the ship against a meteor swarm. As a result, their misunderstanding is allayed, and they are once again on their way to Planet Namek, when they plunge into a space tidal current!
Gohan and the others are caught in a space current. Once clear of the current, they at last discover a planet that appears to be Namek! Gohan and the others set about to start searching for the Dragon Balls right away, when they are saved by the Namekians Lychee and Zarkuro after a landslide. Lychee continues to offer them assistance, and things proceed much smoother than they expected.
Before long, Gohan and the others have already found three Dragon Balls. Meanwhile, on Earth, Goku ignores his injuries and begins intensive training. Moreover, Vegeta arrives at one of Freeza's bases, and undergoes medical treatment. With his ambitions in sight, he completes his recovery. Elsewhere, Gohan and company's Dragon Ball hunting steadily continues, and they successfully obtain two more of them!
