Chapter 23: Preparations

After Ichigo finished telling Kisuke his story, not leaving out any detail, the soul reaper turned Visored looked at the captain in a new light. For years he had assumed that Ichigo's reasoning for wanting to destroy the soul society was unjust and borderline genocidal, but after hearing everything from his mouth, Kisuke understood despite how insane time travel sounded right now. Ichigo wasn't just doing this out of spite, he wanted justice for what was done to him in his own timeline.

At first, he couldn't believe what he had just heard. The original way the Visored's were created, his exile along with Tessai and Yoruichi as a result. Isshin leaving the soul society and having a family in the world of the living with a Quincy woman, everything that Aizen had done and planned up to that point. The creation of the Hogyoku and how Aizen obtained Kisuke's half, even manipulating Ichigo's life in the process. All of that paled in comparison to the Winter War and hearing that most of the Espada that he has befriended and even come to enjoy being in the company of were under Aizen's orders to help destroy the Thirteen Court guards. It was even more of a shock once Ichigo told him what Aizen was planning in destroying the Soul King by creating the King's Key and how he needed the souls of a human city to created it. The horror continued once Ichigo explained his betrayal by the very people he had fought alongside for such a long time at that point.

When Ichigo finished, all Kisuke could do was stare in disbelief at everything he had heard. Ichigo crossed his arms over his chest as he waited for Kisuke to respond. He could tell his former mentor turned ally was processing everything he had just heard. It would be difficult for anyone to believe, but once you hear how intimate of detail Ichigo provided on events, it became hard to discredit.

"So." Ichigo started as he leaned back in his chair.

Kisuke looked towards him, still in deep thought.

"Does that answer any of your theories on me over the years Kisuke?" Ichigo couldn't help but smirk at once again having Kisuke completely caught off guard like this where his mind couldn't keep up with the hard or flat out odd truths he was giving him. Call it pay back for all the times Kisuke would tease and poke fun at the former substitute soul reaper or just a genuine entertainment value, Ichigo didn't really care as it brings a smile to his face every time.

Kisuke let out a long, tired sigh as he could do nothing but lean back in his chair, staring up at the ceiling in thought. After a few seconds, he answered the time traveler. "No. Actually, it only raises more questions than answers." Sitting back up to look to the man, Kisuke asked. "So what happens now?"

Ichigo smirked before standing up and making his way towards the door. Kisuke stood up as well and followed him. "Now," Ichigo spoke up, stopping the man in his tracks. "we prepare for war."

Ichigo left the room after dropping the seal and left Kisuke wondering just how badly everything was going to turn out now. Essentially, they were going to launch a sneak attack onto the Seireitei when every soul reaper least expects anything. In all honesty, it was a very solid plan, especially since the idea of arrancar's and Espada's aren't well known too well if not at all. It would be bad once the smoke clears, but all Kisuke hoped for was that he and Yoruichi would be able to walk away from this alive.

Ichigo's room, Seireitei

Ichigo was laying in his bed as he stared up towards the ceiling, contemplating. Things had been going smoothly for years now and it was nearly time to strike. His students would be hard pressed to trust him straight out the gate once the invasions starts, but he knew for a fact that they would listen to his words more predominantly than others.

Gin was already in the loop and would simply want Rangiku to be safe. That was one down.

Soi-Fon was loyal to him one-hundred percent, especially since he was still here unlike Yoruichi in the old time line. Convincing her may be simpler than he thinks.

Byakuya would be tricky as Ichigo knew that the captain was also eternally loyal and grateful for saving his wife, but then there was Ginrei. The old man was still stuck in the old ways of the law and tried to drill some of those views onto his grandson. Fortunately, Ichigo spoke to the young captain and explained to him that doing what was right some times means going against the laws set before you.

Rukia and Toshiro would be interesting. Both were very young and easily influenced despite both being fairly intelligent. While he still held animosity towards the Rukia of his time, the one here was easily influenced by him. From saving those two kids that she still takes care of inside the Kuchiki residence, to training her and helping her reach her potential right out of the academy, to saving her sister Hisana. She may very well follow her brother easily. Toshiro would be difficult, but would eventually come around as he was still very young and experienced the injustice of the Seireitei's laws first hand with his friend Kusaka. Hopefully that wound was still fresh. It was low to use a trauma as an advantage, but Ichigo didn't care as he would very much like all of his students by his side instead crushed under his heel.

All that was really left was the Shiba clan. Ichigo had grown close with his extended family within the afterlife, especially with Kukaku, Ganju, Kaien, and of course his father. Who knew that the absolute goof ball of a father was practically always this way even more than a century ago when Ichigo arrived back here. It was odd. He knew that right about around this time frame Isshin would leave his family to be with Ichigo's mother, and afterwards the central forty six would ultimately disband the clan entirely. All Ichigo needed to do was ensure that Isshin was out of the soul society and with Masaki. After that, Ichigo would have to ensure that the Shiba clan listened to someone to himself moreso than the central forty six.

"I guess We'll have to wait and see what happens." Ichigo spoke to himself as he began to drift off to sleep. In a few more days, war would be upon them, and it will be he who leads his army to victory.

I think some people thought I was dead because I got a few PM's asking so. Won't name who, but yes, I'm still alive. This year has been very hectic on me personally so I had to take a break from a few things and writing was one of them. Sorry about that. Like I said in my latest Exodus chapter, I will be updating for my stories that I haven't in way too long. So after I post this chapter, I will be working on the next Chibi Hollow chapter as well as Born of Two and What If 2. After those three, I'll be updating Ichigo's New Zanpakuto's and Return of the Strawberry. That's the plan and I hop to get to all of them in the next week or so. I'll also be posting in two's this time around, meaning that two stories will be updated each time I do so.

The next chapter will have some action as I start the invasion angle. I've decided to go with a similar structure to Ichigo Vs. Soul Society in terms of fights, so each chapter coming up will be a battle of sorts.

All you stay safe out there, and as always...

PEACE!