In Chapter 103 of the manga of Dragon Ball Super, Son-Goku tests the powers of Son-Gohan. He believes that Gohan is a worthy successor to protect the Earth. However, the end of the chapter may have hinted at another successor who takes on Son-Goku’s legacy.
Which character is it about? At the end of the chapter, Son-Goku, Son-Gohan, and Piccolo pick up little Pan from kindergarten. Although Son-Goku didn’t even know who she is, she is by no means angry with her grandfather. In the end, the two even have a flying race.
There are several reasons why Pan would be a good successor:
- Son-Goku and Pan both enjoy fighting. When she sees Son-Goku for the first time, she attacks him without hesitation.
- At the end of Dragon Ball Z, Pan reveals that she admires her grandfather and wants to be a hero just like him.
- In the Peaceful World Saga, Son-Goku even trains his granddaughter.
Accordingly, it could be that Pan becomes a worthy protector of the Earth. So far, her full potential has not been seen in the anime and manga. But she has the best prerequisites to become a powerful fighter.
In Dragon Ball Daima, Son-Goku and friends shrink back to a similar age as Pan:
Son-Gohan and Son-Goten are less suitable
Why shouldn’t it be Gohan or Goten? Son-Goku’s own children could easily take on the legacy. After all, Son-Gohan with his Beast Mode is a powerful opponent who can even match his father.
However, Son-Gohan made it clear early on that he would prefer to pursue an academic path rather than train with his father. He follows the wishes of his mother Chi-Chi, who has always hoped that Gohan would invest his time in education.
Son-Goten would also be a possible candidate. However, in Dragon Ball Super he has not yet shown that he would be a worthy successor. And at the end of Dragon Ball Z, there is even a scene where Pan defeats her uncle in battle.
Are there any other worthy successors? If Pan is not to be the one, Oob could also take on Son-Goku’s legacy. He is the human incarnation of Boo, one of the most powerful opponents in Dragon Ball Z.
Son-Goku wants to take the young man under his wing quickly so that he can use his powers for good. With his potential and training from Goku, it could be that he becomes the future protector of the Earth. Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball, has already drawn how Son-Goku would look then: Akira Toriyama draws Son-Goku as an old man: This is how he would have looked by the end of Dragon Ball
