Kurotsuki Renya, after parting from Kurosaki Isshin, felt his determination harden. The path ahead would require strength, and if he planned to return to Seireitei and confront Aizen's future schemes, he had no choice but to push harder than ever.
He resumed training immediately.
His primary focus remained Kidō and magnetic-field based reiatsu compression, a method he developed to refine his physical body. Kidō improved his versatility and combat adaptability, while his magnetic-field conditioning forcibly compressed his spirit particles to raise his reiatsu density.
As for Shunpo and Hakuda, Renya's current proficiency was already enough to handle the overwhelming majority of threats he might encounter in the Human World. His priority was to layer combat power, heighten his reiatsu output, and extend his maximum battle duration.
Time continued moving, and with Urahara Kisuke's support, Isshin formally opened the Kurosaki Clinic. Having fully taken his Human World identity, Isshin Shiba became Kurosaki Isshin, and after Masaki Kurosaki graduated, they married. A few years later, their first child—Kurosaki Ichigo—was born.
Ichigo grew normally for a spiritually gifted child. He saw ghosts, but instead of being afraid, he often tried to speak to them or help them. His innocence shielded him from any fear.
Now… the moment was approaching. Renya could feel it.
"It's time. This should be the day Ichigo encounters Grand Fisher."
Wearing a black hooded cloak, Renya stepped out of the warehouse.
It was already 4:30 PM—Ichigo's school dismissal time. Ichigo was now nine years old. According to the correct timeline, today was the day Masaki Kurosaki encountered the Hollow known as Grand Fisher, during the Quincy Auswählen—the Holy Selection—stripping her of her Quincy powers and leaving her vulnerable.
Renya had shadowed Masaki multiple times, always trying to intervene before the fateful moment. Yet on each previous day, Grand Fisher did not appear, and Masaki returned home safely.
But today… something felt different. The sky was too still. The air too heavy.
Renya located Ichigo and Masaki walking home from school. He followed silently under cloak, staying just outside their perception. Each step he waited for the Hollow to manifest, but nothing happened—not yet.
Then—
BOOM.
Thunder cracked violently across the sky, and clouds thickened until the world dimmed into near-night. Rain poured down in sheets.
Renya exhaled sharply.
"This is it… Memories in the Rain."
It was happening exactly as it had in the canon timeline.
Masaki suddenly staggered. Ichigo rushed to support her.
"Mom! Are you okay?"
Masaki blinked, confused and breathless.
"I… just felt dizzy… all of a sudden…"
Her body was weakening.
Renya recognized the signs immediately. Yhwach's Auswählen had begun, reclaiming Quincy powers from impure bloodlines. Masaki's strength was draining rapidly. Her Quincy abilities were vanishing, leaving her defenseless.
Still, Masaki straightened and took Ichigo's hand.
"Let's keep going."
Renya watched, every sense sharpened.
This would be the moment.
A passing truck sped through a puddle, splashing Ichigo.
"Geh! That truck was so rude!"
Masaki laughed softly and teased,
"Then I'll switch places with you."
Ichigo shook his head quickly.
"No way! I've got my raincoat on. I'm supposed to protect you."
Masaki smiled warmly.
"You're a good boy. But when you can beat Tatsuki, then you can stand outside."
Ichigo puffed up.
"I already beat her once!"
Masaki giggled and wiped rain from his cheek.
"Sure, sure. Now come on."
But everything changed in the next heartbeat.
Ichigo spotted a young girl—small, pale, soaked in the rain—standing alone near the river embankment.
Renya's eyes widened.
"There…!"
Ichigo ran toward her.
"Hey! It's dangerous over here—"
Masaki shouted,
"Ichigo! Come back!"
Too late.
The little girl distorted—her form splitting apart like paper tearing—revealing the true monster beneath. A massive Hollow, jaws wide, mask jagged and grotesque.
Grand Fisher.
A Hollow notorious for decades—enemy of countless spiritually aware humans and even Shinigami.
Ichigo froze in terror.
Masaki, powerless and weakened, still leapt forward to shield her son.
But she could not defend him.
Yet before Grand Fisher's claws reached them—
SCHING.
A streak of sword-light cut cleanly through the Hollow—from mask down its spine. The creature shrieked, its body splitting apart before collapsing into a steaming heap.
Masaki and Ichigo stared around wildly, but saw no one.
Renya had already vanished into the heavy rainfall before they could glimpse his silhouette.
"Mom… what is that thing?" Ichigo trembled.
Masaki forced a shaky smile.
"Don't look at it. Ichigo—we need to go home. Now."
The two hurried away.
Only when they were safely gone did Kurotsuki Renya step from the shadows, retract his blade, and return silently to the warehouse.
Twenty-four years had passed since Renya first arrived in this world. Only six years remained before the official start of the main storyline.
Despite all his training, Renya still lacked one final threshold: reaching Eighth-Tier Captain-Class Reiatsu.
Entering the warehouse, he was greeted by Yadomaru Lisa, who raised a brow.
"You're back already? That fast? You normally wander longer."
Renya removed his cloak.
"The rain came down too hard."
Lisa nodded, and Renya made his way to the underground training chamber. There he summoned Tenraimaru, compressing his magnetic field and continuing his brutal body-tempering regimen.
His body density increased gradually over fourteen years; at last, his Hierro-like armor—his steel skin—had fully formed. His Kidō, Hohō, and Hakuda had likewise reached remarkable refinement.
Renya could now cast Kurohitsugi—Black Coffin, Hadō #90—without incantation, though its power was still only roughly a quarter of its full potency. Still far from Aizen's overwhelming capabilities, but each step closed that gap.
Then—
BOOM.
His reiatsu surged. The compressed spiritual field around him snapped outward, flooding the chamber with pressure.
Renya opened his eyes.
He had achieved Eighth-Tier Reiatsu.
A super-captain-class level—something only a few in the Gotei 13 had ever reached. His Hollow-enhanced Twin Thunder Wings would now last far longer and strike far harder.
He exhaled, steam rising from his skin.
"Even with this… I still can't defeat Aizen. Not yet."
Only one thing remained.
Bankai.
Renya stared at his Zanpakutō, jaw tight.
Six years left.
Can I truly achieve Bankai in time…?"