In Dragon Ball Z, Vegeta has undergone big shifts since his debut. Beginning his story as a villain, he has since become a hero with his own family. Dragon Ball Official has revisited the Saiyan prince’s debut and dynamic with his earliest companions, uncovering an important aspect to his growth that may not have happened had he stayed with them. Without Goku and his friends, Vegeta would have stagnated, failing to become as powerful as he is now. The former villain’s greatest strengths have arisen as a result of his surrounding himself with people who make him better by encouraging true, positive growth.

On Dragon Ball Official, the relationship dynamic between Vegeta and Nappa is evaluated by Toshiro Murase, an associate professor whose academic focus is on teamwork and leadership studies. Throughout his evaluation, Murase points out several key factors that not only frame but also showcase a lack of beneficial impact that Vegeta’s partnership with Nappa has on the Saiyan prince.

Debuting in Dragon Ball Z Chapter 10 alongside Raditz, Vegeta and Nappa make up a fearsome trio. Despite being a general for the Saiyan army and an aide to Vegeta, Nappa isn’t the kind of person that will actually make his leader any stronger.

Nappa’s Role is Simply to Assist, Not to Strengthen

Dragon Ball Z: Chapter 10-33; Akira Toriyama

In the early chapters of Dragon Ball Z, Vegeta and his two companions are seeking the Dragon Balls. They wish to gain eternal life, allowing them to carry on the combat aspect of Saiyan culture. They thrive on fighting and with the Dragon Balls, they could do this forever. As a result, Nappa and Vegeta have a common goal, but ultimately nothing more than that. Murase clarifies this point, “From my perspective, their relationship doesn’t seem to be much more than ‘having a shared goal and removing any obstacles in the path to achieving that goal.’ So, they only fought together against the warriors of Earth because they both considered them an obstacle.”

Despite coming from the same planet and having connected roles, Vegeta and Nappa do not have any sense of actual camaraderie. The Saiyan Prince’s power far surpasses his companion, which means he isn’t a rival or even a true friend. He is a weaker Saiyan who can help Vegeta find what he seeks by being extra manpower for the hunt. While Nappa is fearsome in many fights, Earth has stronger residents in Goku and his friends as a collective unit. Raditz wasn’t capable of handling Piccolo’s abilities and though Nappa can take Piccolo and Krillin, he wasn’t a match for Goku.

Vegeta & Nappa’s Relationship Needed to be Short

The Growth Potential Nappa Gives Vegeta Isn’t Enough

Though Nappa was defeated by Goku, Vegeta is the one who ended his life in Chapter 33, “The Last of Nappa,” using Galaxy Breaker. The Saiyan prince brushes Nappa off without a hint of affection, ignoring his cries for help and killing him without hesitation. While this is excessively brutal, it highlights not only Vegeta’s power, but his thirst for more and the way he views others early on. Nappa may have shared a goal with him, but once his usefulness wore out, he was no longer worth keeping around. The two were never equals, which is something Vegeta needs.

With Goku, Vegeta has a rival who is equal or more powerful than him at differing times. Neither is truly weaker or less determined, even though their personalities are so different. Nappa seemingly feared Vegeta – and he had good reason to. The two never would have been actual friends, and they didn’t have a mutual respect that helped either of them grow as people or warriors. Their dynamic reflects more of a Frieza/Ginyu Force relationship than a Vegeta/Goku one. Vegeta is superior to Nappa in basically every way, making their potential as partners incredibly limited when combined with their aggressive personalities and the general power imbalance.

Vegeta’s Greatest Strength Comes From Having a Community

Even though Vegeta has the strongest connection to Goku in terms of power potential and ability, Dragon Ball Official also noted that he also has a sense of respect for Krillin and Gohan’s skills early on. Instead of giving orders, he provides a tip and holds what would seem to be a normal conversation about a fight that lies ahead of them. As he continues living on Earth, Vegeta develops relationships with Goku’s friends, as well as a romantic relationship with Bulma. Despite her not being a traditional fighter, she is still a strong person with great skills that aid everyone around her. Murase says:

Actually, besides Goku, there were others with whom Vegeta was able to communicate in a much more human manner than he did with Nappa. By that, I mean with Krillin and Gohan when they all fought together on Planet Namek…I think Vegeta acknowledged Krillin and Gohan’s strength as warriors, and so he took the time to have a discussion to ensure that no one person was taking on too much.

By having a group of peers, rivals, and supporters in different arenas, Vegeta was able to grow in many ways. Beyond his shift from villain to hero, he also changed from being a loner with limited potential to being a team player with unlimited room for development and growth. His early jealousy and rivalry with Goku, plus the skill of Earth’s fighters, allowed Vegeta to cross a bridge he never would have if he’d been forced to stay partnered with Nappa long-term. This is even more true when he becomes a father, with readers being able to see the alternate paths he took from being a defeated legend to a present and engaged dad in alternate timelines.

Living on Earth was Best for Vegeta Overall

Regarding Vegeta’s growth, Murase adds, “He’s become able to consider his own role before acting, as well as able to call for cooperation in order to accomplish a goal…By living a life not solely focused on battle, he was able to recognize the relationships between himself and others, as well as the importance of individuals other than himself, and to learn what it means to live and interact with other people.” An ability to share more productive goals and develop important relationships with his later Dragon Ball allies is what makes Vegeta so strong and even more compelling as a character.

Source: Dragon Ball Official