Goten's and Trunks's tails

[Jeff Styles]

A in-universe explanation of why Goten's and Trunks's tails are missing is their tails were cut off at birth. However, shouldn't their tails grow back until they're grow up like Vegeta was? After all, Goku's and Gohan's tails came back during their childhoods, but Vegeta's didn't in his adulthood.


Also, Piccolo destroy the moon when Gohan became a Oozaru, so there shouldn't be any danger in letting Goten and Trunks keep their tails.


Furthermore, according to Goku in the Saiyan Arc, Gohan go to sleep early. So during Gohan's first 4 years, he didn't transform. The same should apply to Goten. I get Bulma would cut off Trunks's tail since she does know about the Oozaru transformation, but I don't think the same can be said about Chichi knowing about the transformation.

 

[Six Trails]

According to Toriyama, tails in half-breeds are a recessive trait.

(9) Why don’t Goten and Trunks have tails? –Kakarotto, Via Internet
It seems that tails are a recessive genetic trait.

My guess is that Toriyama just forgot about their tails or didn't feel like giving either of them one at that point and his explanation just covers it up. It's not far-fetched or anything, though, so I don't mind it.

 

[Void]

They had long since outgrew the use of Oozaru. Super Saiyan rendered that state useless. I'd like to think children conceived by Super Saiyans are just born without, as they have no need for them.

 

[Flame]

Perhaps similar to Universe 6 saiyans they had evolved to a point where they didn't need them. If that makes any sense.

 

[ahill1]

Mikey covered the issue up. But while we are at it, is it mentioned that Saiyajins with no tail have more potential than the ones born with a tail?

 

[Let's Go Fearless!]

Vegeta probably advised Gohan to remove the tail since it will cause them trouble in the future.

 

[GreatSaiyaman123]

Mikey covered the issue up. But while we are at it, is it mentioned that Saiyajins with no tail have more potential than the ones born with a tail?

It is on their Daizenshuu 4 entry.

 

[The_Authority]

If you're looking for an in-universe reason, vanity could always be a good one. Bulma and Chi Chi, I'm sure, didn't want their kids looking like freaks, running around with tails. When Gohan was little and Goku had a say in it, he could have made Chi Chi keep Gohan's tail, but since Gohan ended up losing it anyway, Chi Chi might have just decided to nip it in the bud and get rid of it. Same with Trunks.

As far as the tails growing back, it's possible that if the tail is cut off as a baby while it's still developing, that the root from which it grows could have been damaged, never to spawn a tail?

Again, this is a fictional in-universe explanation, so it could really be anything. Even if you want to believe that Goten's and Trunks's genetic traits took more of their human mothers' traits and didn't give them a tail (kind of like how a kid could take blue eyes from one parent while the other has brown eyes and the sibling might get the reverse), it would be a reasonable explanation.

I doubt that they evolved past the need for a tail, as they're the same generation as Gohan.

 

[withheldforprivacy]

In the manga, when Bulma first shows up with baby Trunks, someone wonders whether his tail was removed.

 

[The_Authority]

In the manga, when Bulma first shows up with baby Trunks, someone wonders whether his tail was removed.

I don't recall this. Is there a manga panel or anime screenshot of the dialog?

 

[Six Trails]

 

[ahill1]

Yeah, I remembered this exchange in the manga. Wonder why I didn't mention it. Good recall, withheld. Bulma wasn't shown answering it though lol. This gives room to more answers, although I think Toriyama's answer kind of seals the deal.

 

[GreatSaiyaman123]

@Ahill here is the entry i talked about earlier, if you're interested:

 

[Captain Cadaver]

Answer's basically a mix of what Paladin, GSM and Yamcha said. Considering how easily Goten/Trunks achieved SSJ they were naturally gifted from birth and practically destined to have the form, thereby making Oozaru an unnecessary trait to be passed on. In other words, evolution at work. This works well with the U6 Saiyans having evolved to lose the trait, whilst being able to achieve SSJ from just a tingly back and one such prodigy achieving the first two forms in a day.

So, in other words, those hybrids and full Saiyans born without the tails must possess a tremendous amount of S-Shellos Cells.
Come to think about it, this retroactive explanation even explains why Vegeta's tail didn't grow back after his Zenkai despite him believing it to be possible, or Gohan's not growing back despite Vegeta not removing it as thoroughly as Piccolo did. Zenkais and battle power growth must increase the amount of S-Cells in the body, which would also explain why Galu and Vegeta are still able to make such huge GAINZ.

 

[Ultimate Cell]

S-Cells are pretty much the Dragonball Version of Midichlorians

 

[Captain Cadaver]

S-Cells are pretty much the Dragonball Version of Midichlorians

DB Chapter 6969, page who cares
Context: Toriyama is talking to Toyotaro about Son Galu the Wise.
Toriyama: "Son Galu, the dark lord of the plot devices, so powerful and so plot armoured. He could use the plot to influence the S-Cells to create...power ups."

 

[The_Authority]

S-cells are what the rest of Toriyama's explanations are: made up, on-the-spot answers to shut up whoever asked him the question in the moment.

"How do they transform into Super Saiyans, you ask? Why, with S-cells, of course!" That's so vague and dumb, that it really doesn't explain anything. "Why do I have brown hair, you ask? Because of my DNA, of course!" That's the equivalent of Toriyama's S-cell answer.

I love it when he gives some sort of off-the-wall bizarre explanation for things, as if he's trolling whoever's asking and wants to see how far it would go. My favorite is the super long explanation of what happens to Lunch where she runs off, then gets with Tenshinhan, then their relationship falls apart, then she leaves somewhere else. That and Mr. Satan's name being "Mark" is hilarious. "Mr. Satan has become such a great character! But if he's called Mr. Satan, then surely that's a stage-name! Oh Great Toriyama-sama, what is his real name?" "Mark." [Silence]

That's like if James Cameron was at a fan convention and someone asked him, "What's the name of the guy that Arnold's character is modeled after?" "Billy." "What...?" "For God's sake, who gives a crap?! Do you really care? Next question."

 

[Future Warrior]

Answer's basically a mix of what Paladin, GSM and Yamcha said. Considering how easily Goten/Trunks achieved SSJ they were naturally gifted from birth and practically destined to have the form, thereby making Oozaru an unnecessary trait to be passed on. In other words, evolution at work. This works well with the U6 Saiyans having evolved to lose the trait, whilst being able to achieve SSJ from just a tingly back and one such prodigy achieving the first two forms in a day.

So, in other words, those hybrids and full Saiyans born without the tails must possess a tremendous amount of S-Shellos Cells.
Come to think about it, this retroactive explanation even explains why Vegeta's tail didn't grow back after his Zenkai despite him believing it to be possible, or Gohan's not growing back despite Vegeta not removing it as thoroughly as Piccolo did. Zenkais and battle power growth must increase the amount of S-Cells in the body, which would also explain why Galu and Vegeta are still able to make such huge GAINZ.

So a couple of questions.

1. Would this mean that U7 Saiyans are slowly following the same evolutionary path as the U6 Saiyans?
2. Why wouldn't Gohan have as much S-Cells as Goten and Trunks do?
3. Could this possibly mean that Future Trunks was actually born with a tail (Would explain why he doesn't seem as gifted as Kid Trunks) and Cell visiting the main timeline had an effect on the time continuem which was why the present androids were stronger than the future ones?

 

[Captain Cadaver]

So a couple of questions.

1. Would this mean that U7 Saiyans are slowly following the same evolutionary path as the U6 Saiyans?
2. Why wouldn't Gohan have as much S-Cells as Goten and Trunks do?
3. Could this possibly mean that Future Trunks was actually born with a tail (Would explain why he doesn't seem as gifted as Kid Trunks) and Cell visiting the main timeline had an effect on the time continuem which was why the present androids were stronger than the future ones?

1. Most likely, given despite the pushing of the U6 trio as prodigious, the narrative does it even moreso with the asspulled power ups U7's own Saiyan trio gained.
2. Not being concieved by a version of his dad that would've increased or enhanced his S-Cells/evolution due to his low battle power.
3. Could be possible, as anything is with DBZ's poor logic behind alternating timelines, though Future Trunks' power progression not being as astounding as his present self doesn't require that much overthinking when considering the gains he made in Super.

 

[ahill1]

@Ahill here is the entry i talked about earlier, if you're interested:

Thank you, man. Sorry for not giving you thumbs up earlier, have only noticed it now.