If Goku died again, would he still want to stay in the afterlife?

[LoganForkHands73]

Goku had his reasons for staying in Other World after sacrificing himself against Cell. His main justification, inspired by a remark made by Bulma, was that he realised his presence on Earth attracted powerful bad guys, putting everyone in danger. His other, perhaps more earnest excuse was that he had a great opportunity to train alongside long-dead fighting experts. As a bonus, he felt that Gohan was already more reliable at world saving and wanted him to blossom into his own warrior, though his faith in Gohan specifically proved to be somewhat misguided. Of course, the Doylist explanation for Goku's departure was more tied to the latter category, as Gohan was taking the role of main protagonist and Goku needed to pass the torch without encroaching on his son.

Since returning to the Living World in the Buu arc, Goku has recemented himself as the hero and doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. But the question is, if Goku were to die again, what would be his in-character decision? Would he still want to stay dead or would he be okay with being wished back with Dragon Balls?

If we take his main reasoning listed first at face value, Bulma has only been vindicated further. In the Super era, Goku's presence has indeed drawn more powerful enemies out of the woodwork and he's often made precarious situations worse. Beerus and Whis come to Earth (and Kaio's world) in search of the Super Saiyan God, though Vegeta was also treated as a suspect in this case. Freeza returns to Earth to exact revenge on Goku, training to become stronger than a Super Saiyan God in order to match him. Goku inspires Zamasu to begin his ningen-killing spree and to steal his body. Goku inspires Zeno to hold the Tournament of Power, putting whole universes at risk of erasure. Freeza once again puts everyone in danger by bringing along Broly for a day trip to meet Goku and Vegeta, knowingly unleashing the mutant Saiyan's uncontrollable power on Earth.

On the flipside of the coin, however, Goku usually saves the day and makes amends. He manages to become a Super Saiyan God, thereby satisfying Beerus and ensuring that the Dragon Team have a pair of mighty godlike beings as permanent allies. He manages to send Freeza back to Hell (though not before making a critical error in underestimating Freeza yet again). His eagerness to fight the multiverse's strongest mortals ultimately proves beneficial as it turns out that Zeno planned on cutting down on universes anyway, so the Tournament of Power gave them all a fighting chance to survive. Gogeta resoundingly defeats Broly and Goku's kindness once again creates another powerful ally.

The only situation I can think of that Goku didn't really improve in any way was the Goku Black conflict. He was basically a liability throughout that arc. So is Goku's presence ultimately a net positive?

If we go back through the less-canon entries in the franchise, a frankly stupid number of powerful alien and demonic foes arrive on Earth, most with little motivation to speak of beyond looking for a good fight or for revenge against the Saiyans. Accounting for movies, games and OVAs, here's a probably incomplete list of the ones who arrive in the week leading up to the Cell Games alone:

• Broly and Paragus

• Dr. Lychee and Hatchiyack

• Majin Ozotto

But the number of Earth-threatening enemies decreases after Goku's death. We have Bojack's Galaxy Soldiers, who Goku is partly responsible for unleashing, then a few returns of Broly either looking for KAKAROTTO or getting cloned by mad scientists, then finally Janemba whom Goku fights in the afterlife.

Next, let's consider Goku's time in the afterlife. By all accounts, Goku had a productive stay as he shot up to Super Saiyan 3 and learned of the Fusion technique (though didn't master it). However, at least by the Buu arc, Goku had already surpassed everyone he could find. He explains that he couldn't master Fusion because nobody in Other World was at his level. In the anime, only Paikuhan comes close to being a worthy match for Goku in raw power. It seems that the fruits of training in the afterlife have dried up, and Goku has learned everything he can there. The living world, on the other hand, has proven to still have a great deal to offer Goku. Beerus, Hit, Jiren, Zamasu, Moro, Broly, Granola... The universe of Dragon Ball is always expanding so there's no productivity in staying dead and hanging out with a bunch of old fossils. Goku seems more than happy to stay alive now.

The only thing left is if Goku finds another successor. Uub is always on the cards. Either that, or Goku surpasses everyone again and becomes depressed. If Dragon Ball Online is to be believed, Goku and Vegeta eventually agree to a mutual suicide by going off to space and having one final bout so that they can both go out swinging. What do you think?

[Koitsukai]

I think not, not only because the world of the living has been re-filled with more appealing creatures, but from a quiet, retired, training point of view, there's nothing much for Goku to do in the Other World. How much could he improve? and against who could he put that in practice?
There's no mentor, no teacher at his level, even since the Buu arc, and even if he were to refrain himself from fighting other people and just kept it to only improving his own power, he is much better off training with Beerus, Whis or even Vegeta, and perhaps Broly. The four people that could present a challenge are alive.

He'd be bored out of his mind in the afterlife after the events of BoG, and probably hit a plateau. Even if he died next month and went to Kaio's planet with UI under his belt, ready to keep moving up it's ladder. I doubt he could improve much on his own, and for what? to fight Paikuhan with it? going from fighting Vegeta, or Whis now, to the below-SS3 (probably below-SS2 even) otherworld fighters sounds like a bad deal.

[Hellspawn28]

I don't think so unless he has a good reason for it. Goku only agree to be brought back to life because they needed someone to stop Majin Buu when Gohan was fighting him. If he is dead again, I doubt he can train with Whis or fight with Beerus again.

[BootyCheeksJohnson]

No. Goku stayed dead for the thrill of getting stronger, and the Boo arc proved that there currently are more powerful beings in the world of the living than the dead to challenge him. His battle with Majin Vegeta and Boo being the best examples.

[Lionel]

If Goku was afforded special privileges in being allowed to train with angels or Hakaishin while simultaneously engaging with the strongest living mortals then the decision may not be so clear cut. I feel that his neccessitation for the planet's survival during the Buu and Moro arcs coupled with dialogue he had with Merus about the purposes of fighting sensitised him to the greater objective of preserving the galaxy for itself and not just for his own satiation as a fighter.

Goku at this point likely doesn't feel confident in Gohan's ability to protect the world without him. It's difficult to say coming from a Gohan fan who would have actually liked to see the mantle get permanently passed down but I believe Goku would choose to remain alive -- if for nothing else but for the sake of Earth's survival.

[Koitsukai]

Also, how's the food in the afterlife?? didn't he used to complain about it? or was it about Kaio's cooking ability?

[LoganForkHands73]

Also, how's the food in the afterlife?? didn't he used to complain about it? or was it about Kaio's cooking ability?

Haha, good point, that's probably the main reason Goku wouldn't want to go back. Maybe everything just tastes "off" when you're dead, though Goku still wolfs down the grub at the Tenkaichi Budokai, so it's probably just that Earth's food truly is the greatest in the whole multiverse.

Gonna verge slightly off my own topic, but I love how Earth's most major contribution to the Dragon World isn't the martial artists it's produced but instead the culinary arts.