After nearly a year's wait, Dragon Ball Super Chapter #104 last February. At the very least, it provided the signal fans had been hoping for: that the action-packed series would continue following the sudden and untimely death of its creator, Akira Toriyama.

On the surface, Chapter #104 neatly wraps up the quirky yet intriguing "High School - Super Hero" storyline. While the chapter fell short of expectations for many fans eagerly awaiting the return of the Dragon Ball franchise, their criticism often overlooks or misinterprets what appears to be the arc's primary purpose: to spotlight the future of the franchise —Goten and Trunks— while highlighting their growth. Specifically, it portrays their evolution from the bratty children of legendary warriors into teenagers striving to make the world a better place, with Trunks, in particular, showing significant maturation.

The Burden Of Secret Identities

The Mask Isn’t Meant To Only Safeguard Oneself

Chapter #104 serves as a prequel to Dragon Ball Super’s "High School Arc", exploring how Goten and Trunks — the privileged children of two of the universe’s greatest champions— decide to use their abilities to combat evil as masked superheroes in the name of the public good. Their fascination with superheroes stems from their love of comic books, cartoons, and video games. While it's not unusual for teenage boys to be interested in superheroes, what sets this situation apart is that both Goten and Trunks have the ability to actually become superheroes – they can turn their dreams into reality.

There are two High School Arcs in the Dragon Ball story. The first ran from Chapters #227- #235 in Dragon Ball Z. The second ran from Chapters #88 - #90 in Dragon Ball Super. This article refers to the Dragon Ball Super iteration.

Initially, Trunks dismisses the idea of masked superheroes. He finds the idea of masked superheroes unappealing and even suspicious. His experiences growing up in a world constantly threatened by powerful villains led him to believe that wearing a mask signifies hiding one's true identity, which could also mean concealing harmful intentions. As a result, Trunks felt that true heroes need to be transparent to be trustworthy. That is they should have nothing to hide and should openly earn the trust of the people they protect. However, during a class trip, his class encounters a real-life superhero, Clean God, who is actually Gohan in disguise.

Stopping Trunks from entering a fight with robbers in his school clothes, Clean God explains that superhero costumes serve a purpose beyond mere aesthetics: they provide vital protection. Through this experience, Trunks realizes that a costume not only safeguards the hero but also protects their friends and family from retribution or acts of revenge. As he knows, villains can target loved ones to inflict emotional pain on heroes. While Trunks initially dismisses the idea of hiding one's identity as foolish, he does warm up to the idea after his encounter with Clean God.

Trunks’ Legacy And Family Bonds

He’s Gained Insight From Many People to Shape Himself into a Hero

There are several reasons why Trunks would embrace the idea of masking his identity when using his special powers. First, he has firsthand experience witnessing the consequences of his father’s and Goku’s “open and notorious” use of their abilities. He has seen how their reckless approach to battle —often disregarding the safety of their loved ones— puts their families at risk. For example, in Dragon Ball Z Chapter #294, Trunks witnesses Majin Buu kill numerous people, including Goten’s mother, Chi-Chi and Piccolo, simply because Buu desires to fight Vegeta and Goku.

Second, while Trunks' privileged upbringing as Vegeta and Bulma's son shielded him from the hardships often necessary for superhero dedication, he gained insight from his future alternate self. Indeed, though still an infant during Future Trunks' initial appearance, he was old enough during the "Goku Black Arc" to have a meaningful conversation with his older self. In that exchange, he learned about Future Trunks' struggles and the sacrifices he made to protect his loved ones.

These tragic events underscore the dangers of openly flaunting one’s powers without considering the potential fallout for those closest to them. As Clean God suggests in Chapter #104, by concealing his identity, Trunks can protect his family and friends from becoming targets in the same way.

What It Means to Be A Hero In The Dragon Ball Universe

And How It’s Changed in Dragon Ball Super

These experiences profoundly shaped present-day Trunks' sense of responsibility, instilling in him a desire to utilize his powers to protect the vulnerable. However, they also sparked a determination to fight for good in a way that minimizes risk to his loved ones. Clean God's words resonated deeply with Trunks, crystallizing the notion that saving the world does not have to come at the cost of one's family – a painful lesson learned from his father's and Goku's experiences.

Ultimately, Trunks’ progression from a superhero denier to embracing the idea of a secret identity highlights a key difference between him and his father: their views on heroism. While Vegeta sees heroism as a byproduct of his quest to become the greatest warrior, Trunks views it as a balance between strength and responsibility — prioritizing the safety of others over personal glory while carrying on a legacy. This fresh perspective on heroism could redefine what it means to be a Saiyan in the Dragon Ball universe.