Boom!
A figure spun through the doorway and slammed against the far wall with enough force to shake the entire Shiba residence.
"…Is that Shiba Ganju?"
Kurotsuki Renya blinked beneath his black, reiatsu-suppressing cloak, baffled. "What is happening now?"
At the doorway stood Kurosaki Ichigo, orange hair bristling, fist still raised.
Ganju staggered to his feet again, pointing at him.
"I'm not done! Get back here—you're not beating me that easily!"
Renya stared.
Why are they even fighting?
In the original timeline, Ganju only fought Ichigo because of misunderstandings surrounding Kaien. But in this altered continuity, their meeting didn't happen the same way.
Before Renya could process it, Ganju whipped out a flash bomb from his robes.
"Let's see you handle THIS!"
Renya immediately retreated deeper into the shadows of the corridor to avoid being exposed.
A piercing shriek ripped through the room as the flash bomb detonated. Ichigo clamped his hands over his ears while Ganju used the opening to tackle him to the floor again. The two rolled, punching wildly.
"ENOUGH!"
The voice shook the entire building.
Kukaku Shiba stormed into the hall, spiritual pressure flaring, arms crossed and expression stone-cold.
Instantly—
"SORRY!"
"SORRY!"
Both idiots froze and bowed.
Renya slipped quietly back to his room.
The next day, Ichigo and the others began training to condense the Reishi-Strengthened Spirit Shield, needed to survive passing through the Jūrinan Wall—the massive spiritual barrier surrounding Seireitei. The enormous outer walls were built with Sekkiseki (Spirit-Sealing Stone), which nullified and repelled spiritual energy. To pierce the barrier, they needed a concentrated Reishi shell unique to each user.
Chad, Ishida, Orihime, and Ganju each managed to form theirs after long practice.
Only Ichigo struggled.
But with Ganju's frustrated guidance—and a full day of stubborn determination—Ichigo finally formed a stable sphere by nightfall.
That night, they gathered at Kukaku's launch platform.
Aside from Yoruichi, Ganju insisted on going as well.
When the massive Kōkaishi Cannon fired, launching them toward Seireitei in a blazing streak of light, Kukaku turned and walked back inside.
She stretched, cracked her knuckles, and said softly:
"Alright—come out. They've gone."
Renya unveiled himself, reiatsu hidden beneath the cloak, and sat cross-legged. Kukaku studied his face with a mixture of disbelief and relief.
"I still keep wondering if I'm dreaming…"
She leaned down and pinched his cheek. "But no—you're really alive."
Renya winced.
"Kukaku-san, this is the fourth time you've pinched me. I'm definitely real."
She exhaled slowly, wiping her eyes before they could tear again.
"And you're sure you don't want my help directly?"
Renya smiled gently.
"You're already helping. More than enough."
Kukaku nodded.
"Then at least promise me—be careful."
"I will."
The next morning—
"KUKAKU!"
Kaien Shiba burst into the room, his spiritual pressure flaring. Renya instantly concealed himself.
"You used the Shiba cannon to launch a group of ryoka into Seireitei?!"
Kukaku grinned.
"Come on, you know who Kuchiki Rukia is. Don't you want her safe?"
Kaien growled, his jaw tight.
"I can save her myself. You didn't need to involve the entire clan."
"More people means more chances," Kukaku said calmly.
Kaien shook his head.
"Seireitei is on full alert. If the Onmitsukidō traces those ryoka back to you, you will be punished."
Kukaku shrugged.
"It's my responsibility. It has nothing to do with you."
"That's the problem!" Kaien snapped. "I don't want you dragged into their mess."
To Kaien, Ichigo's group were little more than reckless intruders.
To challenge Seireitei for Rukia—
To challenge the Gotei 13—
It felt suicidal.
Kaien sighed.
"I've said my piece. I need to rejoin the search team."
He left.
When his footsteps faded, Kukaku asked quietly:
"You're not going to see Kaien? Even from a distance?"
Renya revealed himself again.
"Not yet. After everything is over… then I'll face everyone."
Kukaku nodded.
"Then get ready. The Onmitsukidō delivery convoy leaves tomorrow."
Renya inhaled deeply.
"Understood."
On the fourth day, thanks to the time distortion between the Human World and Soul Society, ten days remained before Rukia's scheduled execution.
The Onmitsukidō delivery cart moved through the districts of Rukongai, pushed manually. Every checkpoint was guarded by residents and several Stealth Force operatives.
Renya hid inside the supply compartment, reiatsu fully masked.
Even the Onmitsukidō's sensory specialists would only perceive a passing disturbance—nothing more.
The convoy rolled through the great Sekkiseki gates and into Seireitei proper, heading toward Sōkyoku Hill where the Onmitsukidō headquarters were located.
Renya quietly slipped out halfway, vanishing in a flicker of black.
Only a faint breeze stirred—the only evidence he had ever been there.
Walking the familiar white corridors of Seireitei, he overheard two Shinigami whispering:
"Did you hear? One of the ryoka defeated the 11th Squad's 3rd Seat."
"And Renji Abarai of the 6th Division lost too. It's unbelievable."
Renya passed them, listening silently as he continued forward.
Then—
A massive explosion of reiatsu ripped across Seireitei.
Renya froze.
"…Kenpachi Zaraki."
Only his spiritual pressure could radiate such overwhelming berserk force.
And two more captain-class signatures—
Ichigo.
And… Kyōraku Shunsui.
"It's begun."
Renya immediately changed direction, slipping across rooftops until he reached the 4th Division barracks.
Inside, chaos reigned as Squad 4 scrambled to heal the flood of injured Shinigami—especially from Squad 11, whose members had been devastated by the ryoka invasion.
Renya moved unseen through the hallways until he found Madarame Ikkaku, unconscious and bandaged, lying on a cot.
He didn't linger.
He continued deeper, approaching a treatment chamber where Isane Kotetsu reported:
"Captain Unohana, all external injuries have been stabilized. Also…the 8th Division has sent in a wounded ryoka for confinement and treatment."
Unohana nodded.
"Place him in the underground medical cell."
The underground cell was a secure holding area for injured enemies—still healed, but under guard.
When Isane left and the door shut, Unohana's calm voice floated out:
"You can come out now."
Renya exhaled quietly. His cloak hid reiatsu and appearance but not sound—someone of Unohana's caliber could never be deceived.
He pulled back his hood.
"Captain Unohana."
Her eyes widened slightly in genuine surprise.
"…Renya. So it really is you."