The year 1999, in the Human World, in a hospital in Karakura Town.
At this moment, three people and one cat arrived.
It had to be said, such a group, three people and a cat, drew plenty of attention.
Unfortunately, not one of them cared about that, and they went straight to a ward and knocked on the door.
"Please come in."
Inside, Isshin's voice rang out.
By now, both Isshin and his wife, along with their newborn child, were in good condition. They had been planning to notify Kisuke Urahara once they were fully recovered.
"So soon?" Isshin blinked in surprise when he saw Natsuro, then grinned broadly, unfazed.
"Of course. A captain of the Gotei 13 taking a wife and having a child in the Human World, that's a first in history. We couldn't resist a look." Kisuke chuckled.
"Ha! I'm not a Shinigami anymore, just a normal guy." Isshin scratched his head and laughed.
Kisuke only smiled back, saying nothing. Losing one's Shinigami powers didn't change the essence of being a Shinigami.
On the bed, Masaki also looked at them. Knowing they were her and Isshin's saviors, she greeted them with a bright, warm smile.
The three visitors couldn't help but feel a little moved. Isshin truly had good fortune, he might have lost his Shinigami powers, but he had gained a perfect wife.
"So this is your child?" Kisuke's gaze fell on the crib nearby, where a quiet baby with a tuft of orange hair lay.
"Yes. His name is Ichigo Kurosaki," Isshin replied. He knew their real interest was in Ichigo, but he didn't mind. As long as they bore no malice, it was fine.
At that moment Yoruichi, in her black cat form, hopped onto the crib, peering down at Ichigo.
Then, suddenly, another figure appeared beside the infant.
Yoruichi's eyes narrowed, but she quickly realized it was Natsuro's zanpakutō manifested.
Still, how had it appeared here? There hadn't even been a hint of movement. So this is the power of spatial abilities? she wondered.
Umbreon stared at Ichigo. After a moment, she wrinkled her nose in a wrinkly, monkey-like manner and then leapt back onto Natsuro's shoulder.
Natsuro chuckled, stroking her.
Aren't all babies like this? Once he grows, he'll become cute.
Now his eyes too turned to Ichigo. He gathered his full perception upon the child.
And the newborn, faced with the black cat, Umbreon, and several strangers peering into his crib, showed no fear at all, he smiled instead.
"Not bad, little one." Natsuro nodded. Even without any special powers, he liked the boy's spirit.
"Of course." Isshin beamed proudly. That was his son, after all.
Natsuro's eyes flashed with surprise. His senses had barely been able to detect Ichigo's Shinigami and Hollow powers. That only meant they were perfectly fused, indistinguishable, each within the other.
But beyond Shinigami and Hollow, he sensed no trace of Quincy power.
He wasn't surprised. The Hollow's power was external, the Shinigami power came from Isshin. It was natural for Ichigo to be born carrying both.
But Quincy power was different. That was Ichigo's own inheritance, his personal talent. It simply hadn't awakened yet. (If it had manifested from birth, Masaki might have been "sanctioned" alongside him…)
And Natsuro's main purpose today was to observe Ichigo's Hollow–Shinigami fusion. Quincy powers were something he could never acquire anyway.
Feeling the fusion and balance of forces within Ichigo's tiny body, he was satisfied.
Kisuke's eyes shone with excitement. To him, this baby was a masterpiece of fate, a creation bordering on perfection.
Even as the one who had engineered the circumstances, he hadn't expected Ichigo's birth to go so smoothly, nor for the opposing powers within him to combine and cancel each other so seamlessly, achieving a miraculous equilibrium.
"Natsuro, interested in becoming his teacher?" Kisuke suddenly asked.
Isshin and Masaki froze. Masaki opened her mouth to object, but Isshin stopped her.
"A teacher? That's your role, not mine. I live too freely, and I'm not fit to be a mentor." Natsuro thought for a moment, then shook his head. He was planning to head to Hueco Mundo soon, there would be no time to train Ichigo.
"I see…" Kisuke looked disappointed. If someone as powerful as Natsuro could train Ichigo, then with his perfect innate conditions, Ichigo would have been truly flawless inside and out.
But Natsuro couldn't be forced.
"Kisuke, honestly, Masaki and I just want Ichigo to grow up quietly. We don't want him getting involved with Hollows or Shinigami," Isshin said, scratching his head.
Kisuke blinked. He hadn't expected Isshin to take that stance.
After a pause, he only smiled. "In that case, I was presumptuous."
"Haha, no worries. I get why you're interested in him," Isshin laughed heartily.
"Well then, we won't bother you further. Your wife should still be resting," Kisuke said as they made to leave.
"Alright." Isshin nodded, and he and Masaki saw them off.
Outside, Kisuke sighed. "Maybe becoming parents really does change how people think."
"Too bad. Some things won't go their way no matter what," Natsuro said, glancing back at the hospital.
"True. Same for us." Kisuke nodded. "But at least they should have ten quiet years or so."
"Perhaps." Natsuro thought back to Ichigo in the original story. Yes, he was a high schooler then. More than ten years away.
Inside the ward, after their visitors had left, Isshin sat beside Masaki.
"Dear… do you think we can really live peacefully?" Masaki asked softly. She wanted that life, but…
She knew some things happened whether you wished them or not.
"We will," Isshin said firmly, though his heart wasn't certain.
Because even now, he didn't know who had ambushed him that day in the Human World, leaving him unable to use bankai, which had led to Masaki's Hollow possession.
Kisuke? Natsuro? Or someone else?
After all this time, Isshin doubted it had been either of them. Neither were the type.
And Isshin, with Masaki's help, had been monitoring Karakura Town carefully.
Hollow incidents here were far fewer than in other places, even though Karakura was a heavy spirit zone.
In such places, Hollows should spawn more frequently, drawn like moths to a flame. Yet here, Hollow activity was minimal.
That proved Natsuro's watch over the town was effective.
And Isshin realized, the few Hollow incidents that did occur may even have been deliberately allowed by Natsuro.
Not out of malice. Because even if Natsuro had the power to completely prevent all Hollow activity, that wasn't truly the Shinigami's role.
Was a Shinigami's duty simply to slay Hollows?
No, their ultimate responsibility was to maintain the balance between Human World, Soul Society, and Hueco Mundo. So even if Natsuro could stop all Hollow activity, he wouldn't.
And besides, Isshin's battle with that Hollow hadn't even happened in Karakura itself, so Natsuro couldn't have noticed anyway.
Eliminating both Kisuke and Natsuro as suspects left only the possibility of some other hidden hand.
Isshin sighed. The most terrifying enemies were those in the shadows, against whom no defense could be prepared.
He put a cigarette in his mouth, though he didn't light it. With his newborn son and his wife recovering, he didn't dare smoke.
Really, it was just for show, Masaki had once told him he looked handsome smoking.
Sure enough, Masaki smiled at him, though her eyes carried a trace of worry.
Isshin no longer had his Shinigami powers, couldn't even see Hollows anymore.
And Ichigo, barely born, already radiated strong spiritual pressure. That would inevitably attract Hollows.
Which meant… she would have to protect this family.
Masaki looked down at Ichigo. She wanted him to grow safely, marry, have children, and live a peaceful life.
But she knew it might not be so simple. So she decided she would prepare him maybe through kendo training or something similar to give him the means to face whatever uncertain future lay ahead.
Natsuro didn't follow Kisuke back to the Urahara Shop. After all, there was nothing waiting for him there, and fighting Tessai wasn't really necessary either.
As for kidō training, he could handle it alone. Still, rather than training in isolation, he preferred grasping techniques in the midst of real combat.
Thinking this over, he glanced at the console and TV nearby, then shook his head.
The timing was a little awkward. Sure, there were some decent games available, but compared to what he remembered, both the graphics and smoothness fell far short.
On top of that, maybe because his reflexes and dexterity had been enhanced so greatly, even the hardest difficulty settings posed no challenge. He could clear them easily.
Over time, that had drained the fun out of it.
Natsuro remembered that in his previous life, he hadn't been particularly gifted at games. In Honor of Kings, he had barely managed low-star King rank. And with shooters, his hands were so clumsy he could barely play.
But in this life, everything had changed. From every angle, he had become stronger.
Just then, a Senkaimon opened up right inside his home.
From it stepped a gentle woman, none other than the captain of the 4th Division, Unohana.
"Yo, Captain. Long time no see," Natsuro greeted her casually. This wasn't the first time she had come.
"Mhm. You seem to be living quite comfortably in the Human World," Unohana remarked, her gaze drifting toward the gaming console, a hint of amusement in her voice.
"It is comfortable, not having anyone watching over me," Natsuro replied, nodding as if it were only natural.
Unohana gave a small sigh and said, "The Head Captain wants you back. Your watch here has ended."
"Aren't the Central 46 worried I'll make trouble for them once I return?" Natsuro raised a brow.
"Can't you just not make trouble for them?" Unohana said, a little exasperated.
"That depends on whether they come looking for trouble first." Natsuro answered carelessly, then asked, "How's Zaraki Kenpachi doing?"
At the mention of Kenpachi, Unohana fell silent for a moment before answering, "There's been some improvement… but not much."
"In that case, you don't need to keep holding back. Beat him down once in a while. With his physique, he won't die. And he won't hold a grudge either." Natsuro said offhandedly.
"Perhaps." Unohana nodded slightly. In her own mind, when the time came for Kenpachi to regain his full strength, she wouldn't hesitate to help push him.
Natsuro gave her a curious look. With her personality, having someone like Kenpachi as an opponent should be cause for joy. Even if Kenpachi never fully recovered, he would still be a fine opponent. So why was she hesitating?
Was there something here he didn't know?
"…Why are you staring at me like that?" Unohana asked, puzzled.
"It's nothing," Natsuro replied. "I'll return to Soul Society with you."
"Hm?" Unohana was surprised. She had only brought up the idea, she hadn't expected Natsuro to agree so readily.
"Don't want me back? Don't tell me my lieutenant's seat has already been filled?" Natsuro asked with a wry smile.
"Your position has been kept. But at the moment, Isane Kotetsu is handling the lieutenant's duties," Unohana explained.
"That girl, huh? She's fine. I never cared much for the position anyway. If she wants it, I'd be happy to hand it over completely." Natsuro nodded.
"Then… shall we head back now?" Unohana asked, curious.
"Alright."
Since he had agreed, he wouldn't refuse. Besides, he had some things in Soul Society to investigate himself.
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