Putting aside other aspects, just in terms of perception ability, the gap between Aizen and Kyoya was simply incomparable.
Taking a few steps forward, Kyoya reached out his hand.
Knock, knock, knock…
"Hello, is anyone there?"
"Please wait a moment, guests!"
A deep voice reached the ears of Kyoya's trio.
Just from this voice, Kyoya could picture that aloof male from the Captain's Meeting over eighty years ago.
As for Rangiku and Gin, although they now held the positions of Captain and Lieutenant, they had never met Tessai before.
So, upon hearing Tessai's voice, they didn't show any particular expression.
Whoosh-
When Tessai opened the door and saw Kyoya, he froze completely.
"C-Captain Kyoya?"
Then, with a quick glance, Tessai took in the Captain's Haori on Gin and the Lieutenant's badge on Rangiku's right arm.
'Is Captain Kyoya here to arrest us and take us back to the Seireitei?'
Such a thought flashed through Tessai's mind.
But immediately, Tessai dismissed this thought.
Over the years, Tessai had come to greatly admire Kisuke's abilities.
Without Kisuke's skills, they would have been discovered by the Seireitei long ago.
Moreover, if the Seireitei truly came to capture them, it wouldn't be just two Captains and one Lieutenant.
After all, their group had three Captain-level powerhouses.
Yoruichi and Kisuke went without saying… one was the former 2nd Division's Captain, the other the former 12th Division's Captain.
And he, Tessai, though not as famous as the Gotei 13 Captains, held the position of Grand Kido Chief, his strength no less than any Captain-level.
To capture them, they would need at least five powerful Captains… success would be impossible otherwise.
Here now were only two Captains. Even if one of them was Kyoya, who bore the title [Kenpachi], defeating them was impossible.
"It's been almost a hundred years, Tessai-dono."
"Indeed, Captain Kyoya."
"Might I ask the purpose of your visit this time?"
The black sunglasses made it impossible to see the wariness in Tessai's eyes.
Behind Kyoya, both Gin and Rangiku showed surprised expressions upon hearing the conversation between Kyoya and Tessai.
"Kyoya, you know this uncle?"
Rangiku couldn't help but scrutinize Tessai closely, yet she couldn't see any possible connection between Kyoya and this uncle.
"Rangiku, don't be rude!"
Kyoya flicked Rangiku's forehead with his finger and said to her, "This is the former Grand Kido Chief, Tsukabishi Tessai-dono."
"The former Grand Kido Chief?"
Rangiku thought for a moment, finally remembering who Tessai was, and immediately clapped her hands: "I remember now! He's the one who escaped the Seireitei with Captain Urahara and Captain Shihoin..."
"Uh..."
At this point, Rangiku, looking at the expressionless Tessai before her, gave an awkward laugh and hid behind Kyoya.
"My apologies, Tessai-dono. My family member was rude."
"Not at all."
Tessai shook his head: "We are indeed wanted criminals of the Seireitei."
"Captain Kyoya, have you come to capture us?"
"Hahaha, you must be joking."
"I am no longer the Captain of the 11th Division, so why would I carry out Seireitei missions now?"
"Besides, it seems I am now, like Tessai-dono and the others, a criminal wanted by the Seireitei."
Kyoya explained this to Tessai.
At the same time, some doubts arose in Kyoya's heart.
Although Yoruichi and Kisuke left the Soul Society, Kyoya didn't believe they lacked means to contact the Seireitei.
Yoruichi was the head of the Shihoin Clan. Even if she was no longer the 2nd Division's Captain, her status as one of the Four Great Noble Families remained genuine.
Moreover, the previous head of the Shihoin Clan, Shihoin Chika, wasn't dead yet.
He hadn't expelled Yoruichi from the Shihoin Clan.
With the power of the Shihoin Clan in the Seireitei, Yoruichi could fully mobilize the Shihoin Clan's intelligence forces to obtain information about the Seireitei.
Kyoya had left the Seireitei for over twenty years now, so Yoruichi couldn't possibly be unaware of this news.
'So why did it seem that Tessai didn't know?'
Shaking his head, Kyoya dismissed the doubts in his mind.
"Tessai-dono, this time we are here to find Captain Shiba."
"Please call Captain Shiba out."
"Sorry, Kyoya-sama."
When Tessai heard Kyoya say he was no longer a Captain and was also a Seireitei criminal, he frowned slightly.
Although judged as criminals by the Seireitei, Tessai still felt a strong sense of belonging to the Seireitei.
Since Kyoya was considered a 'criminal' by the Seireitei, he must have violated some Seireitei 'ban' or committed some crime…
Like Kisuke.
Tessai didn't deny Kisuke's talent.
But Kisuke researched and created the [Hogyoku], inevitably using the souls of Rukongai's residents or Shinigami for experiments.
This was a 'necessary sacrifice'!
This was a 'crime'!
Precisely because of this, although Tessai was impressed by Kisuke's talent, he still considered Kisuke a 'criminal'.
"I need to ask Captain Shiba's opinion, to see if he is willing to meet you."
"Huh?"
Rangiku asked puzzledly, "Why would Captain Shiba possibly not want to see us?"
And Kyoya, upon hearing Tessai say this, instantly understood.
The current Isshin had probably already used his Shinigami's powers to seal the Reiatsu of White inside Masaki.
In other words, the current Isshin had completely lost his Shinigami's powers and become an ordinary person.
At least, until his Reiatsu returned, Isshin wouldn't be able to regain his Shinigami's powers.
They didn't have to wait long. In less than three minutes, Tessai returned.
"Kyoya-sama, Captain Gin, Lieutenant Matsumoto, Captain Shiba is downstairs. Please follow me."
Hearing Tessai's address, Kyoya understood.
Just moments ago, Tessai didn't recognize Gin or Rangiku, but after going in once, he now knew Gin and Rangiku.
Clearly, unless Isshin told him, it was either Kisuke or Yoruichi who informed him.
"Okay, thank you, Tessai-dono."
The three followed Tessai, entering Kisuke's underground space directly from an underground passage in the house.
"Hiss..."
Upon entering the underground space, Rangiku gasped in surprise.
Gin also narrowed his eyes.
Only Kyoya, who already knew what this place looked like, showed no surprise.
"If I hadn't walked down here myself, I'd never believe this was underground no matter who told me."
Rangiku curiously examined everything in the underground space.
Barren and empty, the ground resembled hills, flat with earthen or stone pillars or small mounds at intervals.
Looking up, the ceiling of this space wasn't dirt or stone either, but as blue as the outside sky, complete with sunlight and white clouds.
"Indeed, Captain Urahara truly lives up to being the former 12th Division's Captain. This sky is almost indistinguishable from the real one."
"Probably few can rival Captain Urahara in these technical skills."
Gin also nodded in agreement with Rangiku.
This wasn't Gin flattering Kisuke, but what he genuinely believed.
Aizen's research abilities were also considered top-notch.
Otherwise, he couldn't have created the [Hogyoku].
After Aizen conquered Hueco Mundo, he also created the [Canopy] simulating the living world's sky above Las Noches.
But in Gin's view, the [Canopy] above Las Noches was inferior in realism to this 'sky' Kisuke arranged in this underground training ground.
After entering the underground training ground, the three followed Tessai to a small room.
Inside, the three quickly saw a young girl with long orange hair lying on an operating table.
By the bedside stood Kisuke, wearing white and green checkered clothes with a scruffy beard, and Isshin.
Perched on Kisuke's shoulder was a black cat.
"Captain Shiba!"
Upon seeing Isshin, Rangiku immediately stepped forward to greet him. After checking that Isshin wasn't injured, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Captain Shiba, it's great that you're okay."
"What happened to that Vasto Lorde Menos Grande later? Did you encounter any other attacks?"
Hearing this, Kisuke's expression shifted slightly.
'Did Matsumoto Rangiku know something?'
'Or did Kyoya know something?'
'Otherwise, why would she say that?'
'It seemed as if she was certain Shiba Isshin would be attacked upon coming to the living world.'
'However, judging from her expression, she didn't seem to be one of Aizen's people.'
'Otherwise, she wouldn't be so worried.'
'But where did she get the information?'
'Did Kyoya tell her?'
'Or...'
"Oh? Tessai-dono, you're back."
Isshin, seeing Tessai, greeted him with a smile, then looked past Rangiku towards behind Tessai.
"Sorry about this, Rangiku, letting you see me in such a sorry state..."
"Ahahahaha..."
After saying this, Isshin even scratched the back of his head and laughed foolishly.
But as he laughed, Isshin felt the atmosphere seemed somewhat off.
"What's wrong?"
"Why are you all looking at me like that?"
Curious, Isshin asked this.
"Sigh..."
Kisuke sighed: "Captain Shiba, you've been exposed."
"Lieutenant Matsumoto isn't behind Mr. Tessai, she's right here."
When Isshin saw where Kisuke was pointing, his face immediately turned bright red with embarrassment.
"Captain Urahara, what exactly is going on?"
By now, both Gin and Rangiku understood that the current Isshin had lost his Reiatsu and become an ordinary person.
Rangiku directly placed her hand on the Zanpakuto at her waist and questioned Kisuke: "Captain Urahara, please give us an explanation."
"Why has Captain Shiba lost his Reiatsu? And why is he in a Gigai?"
"Otherwise, I will subdue you on charges of attacking the 10th Division's Captain!"
"Yare yare..."
Kisuke adjusted his hat, "How terrifying, Lieutenant Matsumoto."
"This question should be explained to you by Captain Shiba himself."
After saying this, Urahara Kisuke raised the cane in his hand, pointed it at the back of Isshin's head, then suddenly tapped-
With a 'thump', Shiba Isshin's body fell to the ground, while his soul, wearing a white robe, appeared before everyone.
"Ah?"
"Hahahaha..."
"Rangiku, Captain Gin, Kyoya-dono."
Isshin, inside the Gigai and without Reiatsu, couldn't see Kyoya and the others.
The reason he could see Kisuke and Tessai was that both Kisuke and Tessai were using Gigai.
Moreover, their Gigai had been specially modified by Kisuke to block Reiatsu.
This was precisely how Kisuke and the others managed to hide in the living world for decades without being detected by the 12th Division.
"Captain Shiba, Lieutenant Matsumoto has many questions about what happened to you. Please explain your situation to Lieutenant Matsumoto, Captain Ichimaru Gin, and Captain Kyoya."
"Sigh..."
Isshin smiled wryly, shook his head, and ultimately didn't hide anything, recounting everything that happened to him after arriving in the living world.
"This girl is a Quincy?"
"And you used all your Reiatsu to seal the Hollow's Reiatsu that invaded this girl's body?"
After hearing Isshin's story, not only Rangiku, but even Gin widened their eyes looking at Isshin.
"Yes."
"Hiss..."
Rangiku felt her teeth ache a little.
"Captain Shiba, do you have any idea that transferring Shinigami power to a human without authorization is a major crime in the Seireitei?"
Transferring Shinigami's power to humans was strictly forbidden by the Seireitei.
It was said that those who violated this ban would receive extremely severe punishment.
It was said that centuries ago, a Shinigami transferred his Shinigami power to a human, creating the first [Substitute Shinigami].
Later, for some reason, problems arose between this Substitute Shinigami and the Seireitei, leading to the first Substitute Shinigami killing many Shinigami, causing a very negative impact on the Seireitei.
"Haha, this girl got hurt by that Vasto Lorde Menos Grande because she saved me."
"If I just stood by and did nothing, I would regret it for the rest of my life!"