"Aren't you dead?"
Zaraki Isshin stared at Kurotsuki Renya across the room, springing up from the floor with genuine shock written across his face.
Renya smiled faintly. "Captain Isshin… I didn't die. I escaped to the Human World after surviving Aizen's assassination attempt."
Isshin blinked. "…Wait. You said Aizen?"
Just as Renya prepared to explain, Urahara Kisuke lifted a hand, interrupting gently.
"This is going to be a very long story. Let's all sit down first."
Over the following half-day, Renya retold everything: his suspicion of Aizen, how he was framed, the pursuit, and his escape to the Human World. In return, Urahara explained how Aizen framed him as well, including the Hollowfication experiments that targeted Hirako Shinji and the others.
Two hours later, the entire chain of events had finally been laid out clearly.
It became obvious: Aizen had orchestrated everything.
Isshin exhaled slowly, only now understanding the scope. "…Then why did he attack me?"
Renya explained, "The first time I crossed paths with Aizen was when the Hollow he created—Metastacia—attacked Kaien Shiba. The second time was when Ramírez attacked me. Both incidents were tests of Hollow capabilities. The Hollow that attacked you, Captain Isshin, the one so overwhelmingly strong you couldn't defeat it—even its structure resembled Aizen's experiments."
Urahara nodded.
"Ordinary Hollows don't infect humans with residual spiritual traits. Only a Hollow formed deliberately, or one interacting with a pregnant mother, can imprint that kind of energy. It resembles cases I've studied before."
Renya's eyes narrowed.
Fullbringers…?
Did Urahara already know about them?
He chose not to pursue the question.
"It seems Aizen has started new research… but we're nowhere near ready to confront him yet."
Isshin asked, "So what are you planning to do?"
Renya deadpanned, "Kill Aizen, of course."
Isshin scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Well… I can't really help you. I've lost my Shinigami powers. I probably won't be able to use spiritual power again for the rest of my life."
His Shinigami powers had been poured into Kurosaki Masaki's body during their battle with the Hollow. As long as Masaki lived, Isshin would remain powerless.
Renya remembered the timeline. The Quincy Purge would occur nine years later… and Masaki Kurosaki would be in grave danger.
Though Masaki didn't die directly from the Quincy Auswählen, she weakened and was killed by a Hollow due to losing her Quincy powers.
Renya reflected:
If he intervened early enough, Masaki might survive.
Even if Masaki survived, Ichigo's birth wouldn't change; Aizen's interest in Ichigo stemmed from his unique blend of Hollow, Shinigami, and Quincy heritage.
When Aizen discovered that Rukia carried the Hōgyoku, he would send her to the Human World, orchestrate Ichigo's loss of spiritual power, and trigger the entire sequence that would eventually lead to Rukia's arrest. Urahara suppressing Rukia's reiatsu would still delay her discovery by Central 46. Everything would still unfold.
Thus, Masaki's survival wouldn't block Ichigo's destiny.
Renya needed Ichigo to become a disruptive force―a bright distraction―so that he could move in the shadows, infiltrate, deceive, and kill Aizen when the moment was right.
A great plan.
Isshin's inability to help was, ironically, the best form of help.
Renya smiled.
"Captain Isshin, let's not worry about that now. I have some questions."
Isshin nodded.
"Ask away."
Renya looked directly at him.
"First, I want to know… what was the official cause of my 'death'?"
Isshin chuckled.
"I thought you'd go ask Captain Soi-Fon first."
Renya scratched his head.
"I will. But I want the whole picture first."
Isshin sighed.
"You were recorded as having been killed by Tōsen Kaname. He was labeled a traitor, although Captain Komamura refused to believe it. But given everything you've said… Tōsen might've been acting under Aizen's orders."
Tōsen…
Renya frowned.
"Was he captured?"
Isshin shook his head.
"No. Captain Soi-Fon killed him."
So the timeline had diverged.
Aizen originally intended for Soi-Fon to die or for Renya to kill her. But now Tōsen was dead, killed by Soi-Fon herself.
A change… but one that didn't significantly alter Aizen's larger plans.
Renya continued, "Aside from that, any other changes regarding Aizen?"
Isshin replied,
"No. He's still Captain of Squad 5. He even accused Ichimaru Gin of failing to intervene properly and asked Seireitei to punish him."
Renya snorted.
Aizen truly knew how to act innocent.
He asked a few more questions, confirming that Unohana had not acted suspiciously, meaning her knowledge remained hidden, just like canon.
Finally Renya moved on.
"Captain Isshin… how are Renji and Rukia?"
Isshin smiled warmly.
"Renji threw himself into training after your 'death.' He's now the Sixth Seat of Squad 11. Rukia is still in Squad 13."
Renya nodded.
These two were family to him—friends who saved his life and trained beside him.
Isshin added quietly,
"…They both took your death hard."
Renya lowered his gaze.
He knew.
Isshin then remembered something.
"By the way, Kaien Shiba is still honored as Third Seat of Squad 13. His death anniversary passed recently. Rukia visited his memorial."
Renya nodded solemnly.
This was canon. Kaien was dead. He must remain dead.
Renya straightened.
"Captain Isshin… how is Captain Soi-Fon?"
Isshin sighed deeply.
"After you disappeared, she was devastated. She didn't attend your memorial. She never accepted your death. She withdrew from everyone, barely spoke in captain meetings, and isolated herself from the 2nd Division."
Renya felt his chest tighten.
He could picture her stubborn denial, the silent grief.
They had promised to marry someday… to build a life together.
To her, he had vanished forever.
If she knew he lived, she would either hate him for abandoning her… or forgive him with tears he didn't deserve.
"I need to go back…"
Renya whispered to himself, vision blurring.
"…I need to go back as soon as possible."
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