1985
Kenji dies suddenly from a cause he never understands, his life ending without warning or explanation. There is no dramatic buildup, no final words, no chance to grasp what went wrong. One moment he exists, and the next, everything vanishes. Yet instead of fading into nothingness, he opens his eyes again—aware, conscious, unmistakably alive. Within moments, he realizes the truth: he has been reborn as a baby, left inside a basket with a letter at the entrance of a small clinic on a quiet night.
Then the knowledge comes, pouring into his mind without warning. He has been granted a gift—perhaps a reincarnator's privilege, perhaps a blessing meant to set him apart from ordinary souls. It arrives without a voice, without a system, without explanation. It simply exists within him, subtle yet undeniable. Alongside it lies something far more extreme: a single-use ability that lasts only ten seconds. Those ten seconds contain overwhelming power—might so absolute it could overturn fate itself. Once activated, it will vanish forever, a trump card meant for dangerous or hopeless moment.
Kenji does not know who granted him these powers or why he was chosen. The flood of information leaves his newborn mind heavy and strained. There are no rules explained, no guidance offered. The abilities are simply there, waiting in silence.
But none of that matters right now.
His body is fragile and unresponsive, weakened further by the strain of awakening with too much awareness all at once. He cannot even move enough to reach the letter lying beside him. For a brief, desperate moment, he considers using the single-use power right now. But that ability requires a keyword spoken with his own mouth—and he cannot even form words.
Trapped inside a body that refuses to obey, he has only one option left. Relying purely on instinct, he screams and cries until he is completely exhausted, the sharp sound tearing through the stillness of the night.
Moments later, the clinic door opens, and a man and a woman step outside to investigate. Though completely drained, Kenji feels a small flicker of relief. Someone has finally found him. Fighting against his growing drowsiness, he forces his heavy eyes to focus on their faces, silently hoping they are not dangerous people.
Then recognition strikes.
The man standing over him is Isshin Kurosaki, and the woman beside him is Masaki Kurosaki—the parents of Ichigo Kurosaki. In that instant, the truth settles heavily in his mind. He has not been reborn into some random world; he has entered the world of Bleach, a reality shaped by Shinigami, Hollows, Quincy, and countless dangers hidden beneath the surface of ordinary life.
He did not consciously receive that information… or did he?
A faint memory surfaces—one of his abilities had mentioned the word Reiatsu, and now even the keyword tied to the single-use power begins to make sense. Earlier, he had been far too overwhelmed to think clearly about it. Now the pieces connect.
Before he can process the implications any further, exhaustion overtakes him completely. His thoughts fade, and he drifts into sleep.
Isshin and Masaki peer into the basket and find a baby wrapped carefully in cloth, a letter placed beside him. Masaki picks it up and reads it aloud. The message is simple: Please adopt him. His name is Kenji. There is no explanation, no signature—only a quiet plea.
They exchange confused glances, wondering who could have left a child at their doorstep and why. Isshin scans the empty street, but no one is there. Despite the mystery, neither of them senses danger—no hostility, no spiritual disturbance. Just a helpless baby abandoned in the cold night.
In the end, sympathy wins over suspicion.
They decide to take him in and give him a name—Kurosaki Kenji.
Masaki gently lifts him from the basket, cradling him close as Isshin shuts the door and before long, Kenji is laid beside Ichigo.
Isshin looks down at them with a faint, thoughtful smile, while Masaki's expression softens with quiet warmth. She cannot help but feel it is more than coincidence—perhaps even fate. Ichigo had only recently been born, and now another child appears at their doorstep, almost the same age. The timing feels too precise to be random.
In the end, neither of them questions it further. they hope this baby will grow up healthy and kind alongside Ichigo, not as a stranger taken in out of pity, but as a true brother.
And so, without ceremony, Kenji becomes part of the Kurosaki family.
Time begins to passed.
2001
By the time Kenji reached high school, he had already begun working part-time as a chef. The pay was unusually high—partly because the restaurant owner was generous, but mostly because Kenji's cooking kept customers coming back. After a short trial period filled with hands-on kitchen tests, the once-doubtful owner hired him almost immediately. A few new menu items had even been added thanks to Kenji's ideas.
After finishing his shift, Kenji ate the meal he had prepared for himself earlier, enjoying the food he had made during work before finally heading home. The air outside was cool and quiet, the streets nearly empty.
When he arrive he quickly opened the door, he found Karin, Yuzu, and Isshin just finishing dinner at the table.
Kenji: I'm home.
Isshin: You're late, as always. We just finished dinner. You and Ichigo are almost the same—though you're usually five or ten minutes later than him.
Kenji casually lifted the envelope in his hand, the faint sound of bills shifting inside.
Kenji: I was earning money.
Isshin's eyes immediately locked onto the envelope. He raised an eyebrow and dramatically placed a hand over his chest.
Isshin: Oi, oi! Don't wave money around in front of your father! Are you trying to declare financial independence already? And why didn't you just help out at your father's place like Karin and Yuzu did? I would've paid you too, you know.
Kenji (thought): Because the job isn't really suited for me.
Kenji didn't respond. He ignored the remark entirely.
Kenji: I'm going to my room.
Before Isshin could continue his dramatic protest, Kenji slipped past the table and headed toward the stairs.
Yuzu: Brother, there's still some dinner left if you want.
Kenji paused briefly but didn't turn around.
Kenji: I already ate. I'm tired. I want to sleep.
He continued upstairs.
Karin didn't say anything. She simply watched him go. Isshin let out a quiet sigh.
Isshin (thought): Why does he always act like this?
The reason Isshin never tried to punch or "discipline" him the way he did with Ichigo whenever he came home late was simple—Kenji never fought back. No reactions. No shouting. No dramatic retaliation. Every time Isshin tried something, Kenji would just stand there calmly and take it—or step aside without making a scene. There was no spark, no argument, no chaos to bounce off of. And without resistance… It just wasn't fun.
Upstairs, Kenji entered the room he still shared with Ichigo.
Ichigo: Oh, Kenji. How's work?
Kenji: Fine. I'm tired. I want to sleep.
Ichigo: …Oh. Okay.
They slept in a bunk bed—Kenji climbing up to the top bunk while Ichigo lay on the bottom.
Ichigo remained silent for a moment, clearly lost in thought, before eventually closing his eyes as well.
The room fell quiet.
And before long, morning came.
Kenji was the first to wake up—earlier than anyone else, as usual. Without wasting time, he washed up and headed straight to the kitchen. The quiet house was still wrapped in early morning silence as he moved efficiently, preparing breakfast not only for himself but for everyone.
The sound of chopping vegetables and the soft sizzle from the pan filled the kitchen.
By the time the others began to wake, the food was already neatly arranged on the table.
Yuzu and karin hurried downstairs, only to stop in surprise.
Yuzu: Wow, brother, I didn't even get to do anything. You're so fast!
Kenji: Don't worry. Dinner is your job.
Yuzu: Still… you're much more skilled than me i only preapered simple food even i maybe i am not suited for this after all.
Kenji: No, I'm just built different. You're already doing well for your age.
Karin: Are you bragging about yourself?
Kenji: No, it's the truth.
Just then, Isshin came in.
Isshin: Good morning, my children. I'm sorry, but I'm in a hurry—I've got a meeting. I might be back tonight.
He quickly ate a bit and left.
Kenji: Well, I'm going to school too.
Yuzu: Aren't you waiting for Ichigo?
Kenji: No.
Kenji grabbed his things and left without another word.
As he walked, he checked his watch—it was still 7:00. He wasn't late. On the way to school, he heard a loud crash, but he ignored it and continued walking. When he arrived, Ichigo's friends who name Kenji didn't remember greeted him.
Ichigo Friend: Hey, where's Ichigo?
Kenji: He'll be late.
Without another word, Kenji quickly went to his seat.
Sometime later, Ichigo arrived at school, a confused look on his face.
Kenji (thought): He's probably thinking about the first time he encountered a Hollow… and a Shinigami. So… has the day finally arrived?
When his friends noticed, one asked if he was okay.
Ichigo: It's nothing.
The rest of the school day continued as usual. After classes, Kenji went home and prepared for his part-time job. After finishing his shift, he returned home, greeted everyone, and quickly went to his room. Ichigo didn't say anything to him; he was lost in thought.
Kenji climbed into bed and not sleeping because he know someone would arrive soon.