How does the Tuffle Parasite work exactly?

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Sensiblesaiyans
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How does the Tuffle Parasite work exactly?

Post by Sensiblesaiyans » Mon Jan 12, 2026 12:27 pm

So when Baby infects someone, he is able to leave behind a parasite that's considered a weaker/clone version of him. This parasite can remain dormant in a host and be activated by Baby at will. This was shown when Baby activated the parasite inside Trunks turning him into a slave. Now, it's said that those infected by the parasite become "tuffles". I am curious whether these parasites change people on a molecular level or just hijack their brains and turn them into a slave of baby. I am also curious as to where Baby likely would place these parasites in a person's body in order to have full control of them. Lastly, do people under the control of the parasites have any free will of their own? Are their free will only removed from them when baby wants control of them? I ask this because Krillin was pretty much acting like his normal self and being friendly with Majin Buu despite being a "tuffle" and having a parasite inside of him.

Video showing Krillin (while infected) being friendly and his normal self when conversing with Majin Buu

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/SW8f4FMSFPk

Baby Vegeta takes control of Trunks

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/e3r1LxOSlmo

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Kenji
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Re: How does the Tuffle Parasite work exactly?

Post by Kenji » Mon Jan 12, 2026 2:06 pm

My understanding of it is that becoming a "Tsufurujin" is more symbolic than biological, much like Vegeta and Goku claim they're "Earthlings" and not "Saiyans" in the Japanese version. The worst thing Baby does to their bodies is implanting an egg into their stomach, and it takes control of their brain from there.

As for how the parasite works, the series shows us a few things:
1) They are programmed to be mostly unconditionally loyal to Baby (Bulma and the other Z warriors still wanting to defend him even after his actions nearly end up killing them multiple times)
2) They become incredibly violent upon recognizing Baby's enemies (the raid at Satan's mansion, Pan distributing laxatives)
3) Despite that, they have a degree of free will and autonomy (Kuririn being friendly, Bulma and Goku's family being scared of Baby's actions as an Oozaru, Gohan and Videl asking Pan to be willingly infected and join them before Baby orders them to kill her)
4) Baby can summon them at will (calling Goten and the others to help fight against Vegeta and Goku, calling on his followers for the Revenge Death Ball)

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