Chapter 170 - Yoruichi, I Told You, Just Have His Child and It'll Be Fine!
"As long as the Hogyoku exists, Aizen will covet it."
Regarding Aizen, Soul Society would likely never believe them now.
After all, Aizen had framed them, forcing their exile. Returning to Soul Society was impossible now, at least while Aizen remained there.
The Hogyoku.
Ever since its creation, he understood it was a disaster that couldn't be destroyed.
"Has Aizen approached you yet?"
"No."
After hiding for so many years, of course he couldn't find him. Besides, Renji had never directly participated in the Hogyoku's development; he had only offered suggestions.
Back then, Renji felt the Hogyoku resembled the Shikon Jewel—both granted the holder's deepest desires and continuously evolved.
Coupled with his interest in experiments, Renji frequently exchanged ideas with Kisuke Urahara but never participated in the research itself.
Perhaps Aizen suspected something, but Renji remained hidden in the Fourth Division, either cultivating or having his schedule fully booked with treating female Shinigami. Aizen simply couldn't reach him.
"Renji, you trust me, don't you?"
Many things Kisuke Urahara hadn't had the chance to tell Renji back then.
Partly because Renji's strength was unknown, and Urahara didn't want to drag him into the mess.
Partly because he hadn't identified the culprit. By the time he did, he'd been framed and exiled from Soul Society, leaving no time to warn Renji.
And all these years, Renji stayed hidden in Soul Society, giving Urahara no chance to find him. Only now, with Renji in the World of the Living, did the opportunity arise.
"Though I'd love to kill you, I suppose I can勉强 trust you."
"Then regarding dealing with Aizen—"
"Wait!"
Renji cut Kisuke Urahara off.
He had something to ask him.
"What?"
Kisuke Urahara paused.
"Who are you fighting for?"
"..."
What kind of question was that?
Kisuke Urahara didn't understand at first, but quickly realized—this Renji wasn't the same one he knew before.
Who was he fighting for?
"Renji, who are you fighting for?"
Kisuke Urahara knew Renji seemed to understand many things, perhaps even more than he did.
"Myself."
"So you know the whole truth?"
A bitter smile crossed Kisuke Urahara's face after hearing Renji's answer.
It seemed he wasn't as easily deceived as before.
Though Urahara had been somewhat manipulative, he felt his actions against Aizen were justified.
Besides, he would let Renji make his own choice.
"The Soul King... or the Five Great Noble Families?"
From Aizen's perspective, after learning the truth about the so-called "god," how would he feel?
Wasn't Soul Society fundamentally a world ruled by nobility?
The Five Great Noble Families ambushed the Soul King, turning him into a living corpse. The Zero Division's only purpose was to guard him.
In the end, neither Aizen nor Yhwach was truly wrong.
"Seems you haven't been just cooped up all these years. I underestimated you!"
Kisuke Urahara took a deep breath. Even Yoruichi beside him was stunned; she hadn't expected Renji to truly know these things.
This meant they could no longer approach him with their previous mindset.
"So you share Aizen's mindset now?"
"No! I fight only for myself. I won't fight for anyone else. I follow my heart."
Renji looked seriously at Kisuke Urahara. The earlier banter was over.
Now that the truth was out, Renji held nothing back.
Back then, even if he had joined the Research and Development Institute, it was part of his design.
He wouldn't fight for anyone. His sole purpose in hiding was to avoid attention—being too conspicuous without sufficient strength could be fatal.
He refused to be the nobles' weapon, nor did he want to be discarded by them and cast into Muken.
"What a hassle. If I'd known your thinking had changed, I shouldn't have said anything!"
Kisuke Urahara rubbed his forehead in frustration. He hadn't expected Renji to have changed so much.
Had he known, he wouldn't have said so much earlier!
"Aren't you the same?"
Shihoin Yoruichi scoffed. Though he claimed Aizen threatened Soul Society, wasn't Urahara also fighting for himself now?
"Tch, those Central 46 bastards were already rotten to the core. Frankly, those nobles are trash!"
Kisuke Urahara dropped all pretense.
But the moment he said it, he remembered Yoruichi was also one of them.
"I'm not anymore."
Ever since betraying Soul Society, she no longer belonged among the nobility.
In truth, while Soul Society still had Four Great Noble Families, all decisions were dominated by the Tsunayashiro family. The others, including hers, had declined.
As one of the Four Great Noble Families, Shihoin Yoruichi knew firsthand how dark the nobility truly was.
Perhaps there were virtuous individuals among them, but most would sacrifice other Shinigami without hesitation for their own gain.
"Urahara, I've always wondered—is Soul Society meant to maintain peace or protect noble interests?"
"You shouldn't say such things!"
Hey!
Aren't your statements getting more dangerous?
Keep talking like that, and you might start plotting something like Aizen!
"I'm just speaking hypothetically. At least for now, there are people I cherish in Soul Society."
At least he currently had no conflicts of interest with the nobility.
He also felt his strength was insufficient; he needed to become stronger. He only spoke freely because he knew Kisuke Urahara and the others wouldn't gossip. These years had been too suffocating.
Daily cultivation, treating patients, maintaining his facade—it was exhausting.
"Fine, you have your own views. I won't persuade you. But you'd better keep those thoughts to yourself in Soul Society."
Kisuke Urahara disliked the nobility too, but there was nothing they could do against such a system.
He could speak freely here, but once Renji returned, he must remain silent.
"Anyway, so why did you call him here?"
Renji shrugged, pointing at Isshin Kurosaki as he asked.
"Ichigo, but since you have your own ideas, I won't tell you this plan!"
Kisuke Urahara had originally intended to cooperate with Renji, but unexpectedly Renji had his own thoughts. He felt there was no need to share his plan with him anymore.
After all, his ideas would only influence Renji.
"This guy feels like he'll be an unexpected variable!"
Yoruichi rolled her eyes, surprised Kisuke Urahara gave up so easily.
But she didn't say more. Though she could use the favor Renji owed her to make him help, she didn't want to.
Unwilling help was pointless.
"Urahara, you all follow your own path. I have my own plans too. I'm leaving."
Renji waved his hand and walked out of Urahara Shop.
He knew Kisuke Urahara's plan might have some merit, but Renji wasn't willing to participate. He wanted to stay under the radar.
After complaining so much earlier, he had considered changing, but only after his strength increased significantly more.
"What a hassle. Another external factor."
Kisuke Urahara rubbed his forehead, watching Renji's departing figure with some helplessness.
"His strength..."
"Very strong! Earlier I said his vital signs were perfectly healthy. He must have been pretending!"
At first, Kisuke Urahara might not have thought much about it.
But given the current situation, he was certain Renji had been pretending.
He didn't know the purpose, but Renji definitely had other intentions.
"Did he need to pretend even about this?"
"Caution, I suppose. After hiding in the Fourth Division for so many years, I know his personality. He's not the type to stay idle. If he weren't truly cautious, who would willingly hide for so long?"
They were partners in mischief back in Soul Society.
How could Kisuke Urahara not understand Renji?
"Too bad. If you'd used your charms, it might have worked!"
"Get lost!"
Shihoin Yoruichi punched Kisuke Urahara squarely on the head. What a joke! She had some standards, you know!
"That hurts!" Kisuke Urahara took the punch solidly, shaking his head to ease the pain. After a long moment, he looked seriously in the direction Renji left and murmured: "Renji's plans won't conflict with ours. He values his comrades!"
Even if Renji wasn't willing to cooperate with his plan, it didn't matter. Renji didn't owe him anything. It was normal for him to have his own plans.
Besides...
He also knew the truth about Soul Society.
"He seems rather unfriendly toward the nobles..."
"I told you to seduce him, then have his child, and he—"
Bam!
Before Kisuke Urahara could finish, Yoruichi sent him flying.
Would this never end?
Soul Society.
Renji timed his return, sneaking back at night.
Just as he was about to head to the Fourth Division barracks, a figure blocked his path.
"Renji, what a coincidence."
"Quite a coincidence, Captain Aizen."
A faint, friendly smile crossed Renji's face. Aizen wore the same expression.
But both schemers knew perfectly well it was no coincidence.
"Heard you nearly died in the World of the Living? Is it that dangerous there now?"
Starting the tests, are we?
"It is quite dangerous. If Sister Unohana hadn't been there, I probably would have died."
Renji sighed, his face showing relief at having survived.
This performance—Renji wanted to give himself full marks.
"Bankai. Achieving Bankai grants the qualifications to become a captain. Truly worthy of your genius reputation."
"Bankai? But it's a Bankai that could kill me!"
Renji said with a bitter smile. Hadn't Aizen seen it? His Bankai had left him covered in blood!
"At least it boosts combat power. Unlike my Kyoka Suigetsu, which only provides support—it feels somewhat lacking."
Listen!
Is that even a thing to say?
What do you mean your Kyoka Suigetsu only provides support and feels lacking?
Your Kyoka Suigetsu is arguably the most troublesome ability for others!
It even affected Yhwach's Almighty!
"Sigh, I guess Captain Aizen and I are birds of a feather. One with a support-type Zanpakuto, the other with a Zanpakuto that injures the enemy a thousand but harms oneself eight hundred."
Renji sighed, shaking his head with a frustrated expression. Glancing at the Fourth Division barracks just ahead, he felt relieved inwardly: "Captain Aizen, I've arrived. I'm heading back to rest."
"Alright."
Watching Renji's back, Aizen felt uncertain. Was this guy really pretending?
He felt this guy was very similar to himself.
"Seems like nothing's off!"
Ichimaru Gin smiled, glancing toward the Fourth Division barracks.
"It was just an initial contact."
Aizen shook his head, his wariness of Renji deepening.
This guy must be pretending, right?
Up close, his body showed no signs of serious injury. It was possible Unohana Retsu's Kido was so powerful that she healed him completely.
But Aizen was more inclined to believe Renji was pretending. He was just too cautious!
The more cautious he was, the more Aizen believed Renji was putting on an act!
Before his plan began, he would definitely tear away Renji's disguise!
Shinigami Renji: [Sigh, I don't know why. I feel my acting is superb, but why does everyone seem to be targeting me!?]
Back in his barracks, recalling recent events, Renji felt utterly miserable.
He clearly wanted to stay hidden, but now Unohana Retsu had noticed his strength, Kisuke Urahara had sensed his change, and Aizen had realized he might be pretending!
What the hell was this?
He'd been hiding all along! He felt that if this continued, the entire Gotei 13 would know!
No!
He decided he had to stay hidden during this time!
Naruto Renji: [Could it be backfiring? Why not learn from Sasuke? Every time you show off, you get beaten up, and then everyone will think you're an idiot!]
Sometimes, the more you hide, the more others imagine. Better to learn from Sasuke—the bigger the act, the harder the beating.
Daily Life Renji: [Didn't he just get beaten up earlier?]
Naruto Renji: [That counts as a beating?]
Hardly, right?
One Piece Renji: [True. Why not be more high-profile? Like me. I'm planning to make a move during the clash of the three legendary pirate emperors. You've transmigrated, you have a cheat system, yet you're still hiding? Isn't that a bit excessive? Don't you want to live freely and seek vengeance?]
Shinigami Renji: [Let me think...]
(End of Chapter)
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