For example, Hisagi Shuuhei's Zanpakuto Kazeshini.
In Shikai state, it was a chain connecting two life-reaping dual-bladed sickles.
In Bankai State, it became a chain sphere formed by countless chains that could connect his own and his enemy's Reiatsu and life force.
Then there was Otoribashi Rojuro.
His Zanpakuto, Kinshara, had a Shikai that transformed into a golden whip.
But its Bankai was an exceptionally rare illusion-type Zanpakuto, possessing the ability to convert illusion damage into substantive harm.
Just from this point, Kinshara's post-Bankai illusion ability essence surpassed Kyoka Suigetsu's Shikai state.
But Kinshara wasn't the strongest illusion-type Zanpakuto.
Meaning Kyoka Suigetsu's Bankai's Ability must surpass Kinshara's Bankai in essence.
Without understanding Kyoka Suigetsu's Bankai's Ability, Gin didn't want to expose Kyoya's immunity to Kyoka Suigetsu.
After all, often, intelligence advantages could achieve 'first encounter kills' in battle!
Clearly, Kyoya was someone who could deliver a 'first encounter kill' to Aizen.
Precisely because of this, although Gin knew mastering a 'sixth sense' beyond the five senses would qualify him to fight Aizen, he never specifically trained for it.
Kyoya remained unaware of this.
Actually, for Kyoya, what Kyoka Suigetsu's Bankai's Ability might be didn't interest him.
Sometimes Kyoya suspected Kyoka Suigetsu's Bankai might also materialize illusions into reality.
But for Aizen, such ability to materialize illusions offered no substantive change.
Against those who underwent his hypnosis ceremony, he could easily manipulate them without Bankai.
And facing powerhouses like Yamamoto or Yhwach, such Bankai would be useless to Aizen anyway.
Even if Aizen knew Kyoya was immune to Kyoka Suigetsu's control, he could do nothing against Kyoya.
For instance, Zaraki could ignore Kyoka Suigetsu's Ability.
So during Zaraki's tenure as 11th Division's Captain, Aizen never provoked him.
Bang, bang, bang, bang...
Familiar sounds reached his ears. Kyoya looked toward the 1st Division's direction and smiled slightly.
"Captain's meeting?"
"Such distant memories..."
Compared to other Captains hundreds or thousands of years old, Kyoya was barely over a hundred.
One could say he'd spent most of this life in Seireitei.
Hearing these familiar sounds now made him somewhat nostalgic.
"Am I getting old?"
Shaking his head, Kyoya's body turned into light, vanishing from Seireitei.
Undoubtedly, 10th Division's Captain, Isshin's disappearance would put Seireitei on edge for a while.
Kyoya had no interest in this.
Now he wanted to find someone with deep Zanpakuto research to understand their essence, enabling him to transform the Devil Fruits in his possession into Zanpakuto others could use.
In Kyoya's view, Mayuri was the best candidate.
After all, Mayuri was the only researcher in Bleach who modified his Zanpakuto into various modes.
In studying Zanpakuto's Abilities, probably even the God of the Sword, Nimaiya couldn't match Mayuri.
However, Mayuri's mood likely wouldn't be good recently. Even if Kyoya approached him, he wouldn't properly teach Zanpakuto creation or modification.
Fortunately, Kyoya wasn't in a hurry.
He could approach Mayuri after Seireitei stabilized again.
...
"Kyoya-sama!"
"Koga, you look quite happy."
"Something good happen?"
Returning to Baltigo, Kyoya saw the smile on Koga's face and asked curiously.
"Yes."
Koga said: "Recently, because of work, Rukia often visited our home."
"Then Haruko felt quite compatible with Rukia and asked her opinion about becoming our adopted daughter."
"After discussing with Rukia's elder sister, Hisana-san, she had no objections."
"Now Rukia is our daughter, Kyoya-sama."
"She's now Kuchiki Rukia!"
"Oh?"
Kyoya raised an eyebrow.
He hadn't expected that, even with Hisana and Rukia's fates largely changed, Rukia still received the 'Kuchiki' name, transforming from a commoner into a noble bearing the 'Kuchiki' name.
As for Koga and Haruko wanting to adopt children, this news didn't surprise Kyoya.
People in Soul Society had two origins-
One, souls of deceased people from the living world, guided to Soul Society by Shinigami, randomly appearing somewhere in Soul Society.
These purified souls retained life knowledge but had living world's memories erased, forgetting their past lives.
The other belonged to Soul Society's Reishi Cycle, born normally from couples.
However, in Soul Society, pregnancy probability was extremely low.
Perhaps only one or two in a hundred were naturally conceived and born.
So for millions of years, besides Seireitei nobles ensuring descendants with their bloodline each generation, most families' children mutually chose to become 'family'.
Clearly, over decades, Koga and Haruko, who had no children of their own, abandoned hopes for biological offspring like other Soul Society's families, choosing their 'children' as 'parents'.
Rukia, graduating from Baltigo Academy with excellent results and assigned to Kyoya's staff, caught Kuchiki couple's attention.
"No objections from the Kuchiki Clan?"
This wasn't an idle question.
Although Byakuya was now Kuchiki Clan's head, supporting his aunt and uncle's child receiving the 'Kuchiki' name was natural.
But as head of Seireitei's Four Great Noble Families and [Noble Exemplar], the Kuchiki Clan's head, had little room for willfulness.
After all, the Kuchiki Clan's most important aspect was their 'exemplary' significance.
As 'exemplars', they couldn't make mistakes, be willful, or act against noble decorum.
Although Koga, because of Kyoya, never actually damaged Seireitei, his escape from prison remained undeniable fact.
To some extent, Koga was a Seireitei's 'fugitive'.
As a 'criminal', even as former Kuchiki Clan's heir candidate, he'd be rejected.
Allowing Koga to leave Seireitei with Haruko was Ginrei's final 'willfulness' as the clan's head.
Though not disowned, since they left Seireitei, their child continuing the 'Kuchiki' name required the clan's approval.
Otherwise, Seireitei's nobles wouldn't recognize a Rukongai 'Kuchiki'.
"Yes."
"Byakuya exerted effort, so the old folks didn't say much."
"Also, Hisana has entered Seireitei with Byakuya now."
"Really now..."
Hearing this, Kyoya paused, then smiled and shook his head.
These two sisters, though processes differed, endings seemed similar.
Hisana still married Byakuya, despite knowing entering Seireitei might shorten her lifespan.
Rukia became Kuchiki Rukia, still Byakuya's little sister.
But she wasn't adopted by Byakuya, but by his aunt and uncle.
"Kyoya-sama!"
As Kyoya and Koga discussed Revolutionary Army's matters, a female officer rushed in urgently.
"Kyoya-sama, I heard 10th Division's Captain, Shiba Isshin disappeared! Is it true?"
"Kukaku, calm down first."
Kyoya raised a hand slightly, stopping Koga from scolding the officer.
"Captain Shiba did disappear, but only for Seireitei and Gotei 13."
"I went to the living world recently and saw Captain Shiba there."
"He chose not to return to Seireitei himself."
"Really?"
The woman Kyoya called 'Kukaku' frowned, questioning Kyoya.
"Absolutely true."
Kyoya nodded.
Other Revolutionary Army's members might not know who 4th Division's Commander, Kukaku was, but how could Kyoya not know?
Just from her familiar appearance and name, adding 'Shiba' before it would make any Bleach Fan recognize this officer instantly.
She was current Shiba Caln's main family's head, Shiba Kaien's sister, Shiba Kukaku!
Honestly, Kyoya understood Kukaku joining the Revolutionary Army.
The Shiba Clan, after all, was one of Seireitei's Five Great Noble Families.
Even after hundreds of thousands of years of persecution by Seireitei's nobles, they deeply desired to return.
After Yamamoto forcefully entered Seireitei and established Gotei 13, the Shiba Clan felt the Gotei 13 might be their hope for return.
First, branch family's head, Isshin entered Seireitei, successfully becoming 10th Division's Captain, letting the Shiba Clan know that under Yamamoto's leadership, Gotei 13 would be their new harbor.
So after Isshin established himself, main family's head, Shiba Kaien also entered Seireitei.
Barring accidents, Kukaku and Shiba Ganju would also enter Seireitei as Shinigami eventually.
But then, Kyoya and his Revolutionary Army rapidly rose in Rukongai.
Whether genuinely joining the Revolutionary Army or just investigating it for her brother's future merits, Kukaku joined under the name 'Kukaku', quickly becoming 4th Division's Commander, a top figure second only to Kyoya and Koga.
Over years, perhaps influenced by Revolutionary Army's ideals, Kukaku even had her brother, Ganju join as her deputy.
But this didn't mean Kukaku stopped caring about her brother and uncle in Seireitei.
Suddenly hearing her uncle disappeared, Kukaku could only seek Kyoya's help.
But she never expected to learn from Kyoya that her uncle chose not to return.
What did this mean?
"If you want to see him, I can take you to the living world."
To reassure Kukaku, Kyoya didn't mind revealing his Senkaimon knowledge.
But currently, Kyoya didn't want his Senkaimon acquisition exposed, so if Kukaku wanted to go, he must accompany her, using his light ability to hide their bodies and Reiatsu from 12th Division's surveillance.
"Then I'll trouble you, Kyoya-sama."
Kukaku nodded.
Although she knew Kyoya deceiving her was unlikely, and if Kyoya said Isshin was fine, he must be fine… confirming her uncle's safety would reassure her, her brother, and her younger brother more.
Snap-
Kyoya snapped his fingers, and a ring of light appeared before them.
Approaching Kukaku, Kyoya grabbed the back of her collar, golden Reiatsu enveloping her body!
"Yata no Kagami!"
Whoosh-
Kyoya and Kukaku turned into golden light, projecting into the Senkaimon.
Above Karakura Town in the living world, white light expanded, revealing a white spatial passage.
Golden light gathered before the passage, forming a mirror of light.
Next instant, a golden beam shot from the passage, projected onto the mirror, materializing into two figures… one tall, one short.
"We're here."
Releasing his grip, Kyoya and Kukaku stood in mid-air.
"Where's Captain Shiba?"
Kukaku focused, but her Reikaku couldn't detect her uncle's Reiatsu.
"Captain Shiba had an incident in the living world, temporarily losing his Reiatsu."
"He's using a Gigai now, choosing to live as an ordinary person here."
"If you look down, you should spot Captain Shiba below us."
"Lost his Reiatsu?"
Shiba Kukaku froze.
"Did Captain Shiba's Hakusui get injured?"