After leaving the Fifth Division barracks, Unohana's emotions finally settled.

"It seems Aizen has allies in the Seireitei." She thought.

"Could he have been behind the mass captain defections and the Kid Corps Commander's exile?"

She recalled the incident that had nearly crippled Soul Society, costing the Gotei 13 nearly half its captain-level strength.

Captains hollowified, Shihoin Yoruichi and Urahara Kisuke defecting... it was a massive upheaval.

"I need to find them in the Human World." Unohana decided, her eyes shadowed with determination.

Aizen had hidden his true nature flawlessly, without a single crack in his facade.

Even she had seen him as a harmless nice guy.

But now, that nice guy had bared his fangs... a beast capable of devouring everything.

And no one was prepared for him.

"Aizen regularly demonstrates his Shikai at the Shin'o Academy." She mused.

"Could there be a plot behind that too?"

The thought sent chills through her.

His schemes ran deep.

At the First Division, Head Captain Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni frowned at his old comrade.

"You want to go to the Human World?"

"What's the reason?"

Even after a millennium together, Yamamoto couldn't fully read Unohana.

She'd inexplicably stepped down as the Kenpachi of the Eleventh Division, transforming into the healing captain of the Fourth.

Now, she suddenly wanted to visit the Human World... a place she'd shown no interest in for a thousand years.

And she was urgent about it.

"Yes, there's something I need to investigate." Unohana said, her head bowed, avoiding his gaze.

"I have some doubts."

Yamamoto sensed the heavy air around her.

"Go." He said after a moment's thought.

"We'll skip the formalities. I'll authorize it."

He knew Unohana wasn't reckless.

Her urgency meant something serious was afoot.

Normally, Shinigami needed formal approval to visit the Human World, and seated officers required special measures to suppress their spiritual pressure to avoid damaging the living realm.

But for Unohana, Yamamoto deemed it unnecessary.

Even with restricted spiritual pressure, her swordsmanship alone could wreak havoc.

"Thank you, Head Captain." Unohana said, bowing before leaving the First Division.

"Chojiro." Yamamoto said, turning to his lieutenant.

"Have you noticed anything off about Retsu?"

"Indeed, it's unusual." Chojiro Sasakibe replied.

"Captain Unohana rarely loses her composure like this."

He too was puzzled by her desire to visit the Human World.

"We'll know more when she returns." Yamamoto said, closing his eyes, saying no more.

He trusted his old comrade.

Though Unohana was the original Kenpachi, obsessed with battle, she always acted with restraint and wisdom.

In the Human World, Karakura Town...

Swish.

Unohana's figure appeared atop a tall building.

"The Human World has changed so much?"

"It's beyond my expectations."

Returning to the Human World after a millennium, everything felt unfamiliar to Unohana Retsu.

She could only rely on sparse intel to find her targets.

But time was short.

Aizen's brazen exposure meant he was confident, fearless.

Recalling Kaiser's terrifying power, Unohana suspected she understood the source of Aizen's boldness.

A being of such extraordinary strength, clearly aligned with Aizen, was untouchable.

With such an ally, Aizen had no need to hide.

In the face of absolute power, all resistance could be crushed.

"An ultimatum, then." Unohana thought, recalling Kaiser's words.

He'd offered amnesty for past wrongs, provided they aided Aizen.

Would those framed by Aizen, forced to hollowify and flee Soul Society, agree to help him?

Impossible.

But confronting Aizen head-on offered no chance of victory.

It was a deadlock.

"Hm?"

In a small shop, Urahara Kisuke looked skyward.

A black cat appeared beside him.

"This is…"

"Captain Unohana's spiritual pressure?"

"Why is she in the Human World?"

"And unrestrained, no less."

"Has she defected too?" Shihoin Yoruichi speculated, puzzled.

"Impossible. She's a millennium-long captain, Yamamoto's confidante." Urahara replied.

"She'd never defect."

"But she's never set foot in the Human World in all that time."

"Her coming here now... good or bad, I'm not sure."

Urahara frowned.

Unohana's combat prowess ranked among the Gotei's elite, though she rarely fought.

She had no ties to Aizen, making her a potential ally.

Her reclusiveness had kept her out of reach before.

Now, with this opportunity, Urahara wasn't about to let it slip.

"Yoruichi, this is our chance to recruit Captain Unohana." He said.

"If she's our inside contact in Soul Society, it'll make things much easier."

"Do we go to her?" Yoruichi asked, weighing the idea.

The Visored were unreliable, wallowing in self-pity after Aizen's betrayal.

Despite their talk of revenge, they hadn't grown stronger... possibly even regressed.

They were useless.

"I think we should." Urahara said.

"Captain Unohana is steady and exceptional. Recruiting her would be all gain, no loss."

Hachigen Ushoda nodded.

"Back when I was Kid Corps Commander, I worked with her briefly when she trained in healing kido. I know her strength."

"You two go together." Urahara decided.

"Watch each other's backs."

"Got it." Yoruichi and Hachigen agreed, trusting Urahara's judgment.

His intellect was beyond question.

Elsewhere, Unohana followed her intel to the site of Shiba Isshin's disappearance.

"As expected, after so long, there's no trace left." She said, scanning the area with no useful findings.

"Fine, then…"

Determination flashed in her eyes.

A massive wave of spiritual pressure surged into the sky.

If she couldn't find them, she'd make them come to her.

"What's that?"

"Such immense spiritual pressure!"

Hidden figures in Karakura Town looked up.

It was unmistakably captain-level, among the strongest even by that standard.

"Is Captain Unohana looking for someone?" Yoruichi's voice came from nearby.

"That was fast." Unohana said, surprised, retracting her spiritual pressure.

Then she understood.

They were likely monitoring Soul Society.

Her arrival had exposed her instantly.

They were looking for her too.

"Very cautious." Unohana noted, seeing Yoruichi and Hachigen.

Relief eased her mind at their familiar faces.

"I need to see Urahara Kisuke." She said.

"I want the truth about Aizen."

Yoruichi and Hachigen exchanged a glance, surprised.

They hadn't expected Unohana to come to the Human World because of Aizen.

The trio moved swiftly, reaching Urahara's shop in no time.

"Urahara Kisuke, did you know Aizen's true nature all along?" Unohana asked directly upon meeting him.

"Yes." Urahara admitted.

"But even if we'd spoken out, no one would've believed us."

"Aizen's zanpakuto, Kyoka Suigetsu, wields Complete Hypnosis."

"Anyone who's seen its Shikai release is under his control, their five senses manipulated."

"His Bankai remains a mystery."

"He's too powerful, too cunning. We couldn't risk exposing ourselves."

"To defeat Aizen, I get one shot."

Urahara didn't hide his wariness of Aizen.

The man was a rare genius in Soul Society... strong, brilliant, adept at exploiting human nature.

With his zanpakuto, he was near perfection.

"As I thought…" Unohana murmured, momentarily lost in thought.

"Captain Unohana, has something happened in Soul Society?" Yoruichi asked.

"Has Aizen done something new?"

"No need to hide anymore." Unohana said.

"Aizen's position is secure."

"No matter how you conceal yourselves, you can't defeat him now."

Urahara's pupils constricted, instinctively retorting, "That's impossible."

"Aizen hasn't gotten the other half of the Hogyoku in my possession."

"His Hogyoku research is imperfect." Urahara said.

"The hollowification experiments are incomplete."

"Though we've been in the Human World, we haven't been completely blind to Soul Society's affairs."

"Captain Unohana, what's happened?"

No one expected Unohana to bring such shocking news upon arriving in the Human World.

To be fair, Aizen was powerful and deeply cunning, but they weren't entirely without a chance.

"Aizen has been chosen by a god." Unohana said.

"He's to be the savior who liberates this world."

"The god's power is beyond our reach."

"I came to deliver his ultimatum: let go of past grudges and fully support Aizen in breaking the world's limits."

Unohana's lips twisted bitterly.

She had no clue why Kaiser chose Aizen.

"A god? Chosen? Savior?"

"Captain Unohana, do you realize what you're saying?"

Urahara seized on the key points, questioning her sharply.

But his sharp mind already half-believed her.

She wouldn't cross a millennium to the Human World just to jest.

His remaining doubt stemmed from the possibility that Unohana was under Aizen's hypnosis, mistaking him for a god.

"I know exactly what I'm saying." Unohana replied.

"I've seen that being with my own eyes."

"He's not from our dimension."

"According to him, the Soul King made a deal with him."

"The Soul King offered everything, and in return, he'll help liberate the world, breaking its ceiling."

"To free the three realms from the shackles of the Soul King."

"Aizen is his chosen instrument for this."

Unohana shared all she knew.

Silence followed, heavy and unending.

"Does the old man know?" Yoruichi asked.

"I haven't told him." Unohana said.

"You know Head Captain Yamamoto's temperament better than I do."

"If I told him rashly, he'd confront Aizen immediately."

"But he's no match for that god."

"As his comrade, I know his strength well."

Unohana shook her head.

Yoruichi looked to Urahara.

The situation had spiraled beyond her grasp.

"Is the world's will truly on Aizen's side?"

If Unohana spoke the truth, Urahara knew they had no hope of resistance.

"What do we do now?" Yoruichi asked.

"Go back to Soul Society to face Aizen?"

"But Central 46's warrants against us still stand."

"We'd be criminals returning."

"The old man might strike us down."

Unohana's news had thrown her into disarray.

"We go back." Urahara said.

"We have no choice."

"Captain Unohana, you need to inform Head Captain Yamamoto."

"And ideally, the Zero Division."

Urahara gritted his teeth.

They were cornered.

Returning to Soul Society to confront Aizen was their only path.

If Unohana was right, they'd lose.

But if she was deceived, with her backing and the Zero Division's strength, they might stand a chance.

And they wouldn't be incinerated by Yamamoto's flames.

"I understand. I'll return to Soul Society and inform the Head Captain." Unohana said, nodding.

Her purpose in the Human World fulfilled, she wouldn't linger.

After she left, Hachigen looked at Urahara. "Are we really going back?"

"What if this is Aizen's trap?"

As a survivor of Aizen's schemes, Hachigen knew his terror well.

"We have no choice. It's a rare opportunity." Urahara said.

"If the Soul King is involved, the Zero Division won't sit idly by."

Urahara knew the Zero Division rarely intervened, but anything concerning the Soul King would stir them.

With this god claiming the Soul King's commission, they'd act.

"Let's prepare." Urahara said, rising to organize his shop.

Unohana's round trip to the Human World in a single day drew attention.

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni received the report immediately.

"Back so soon?"

He couldn't fathom what Unohana was doing.

Tap… tap…

Footsteps echoed as Unohana entered the First Division barracks.

"Retsu, what are you up to?" Yamamoto demanded, his tone stern.

"I need an explanation."

He was struggling to understand his old comrade.

Unohana recounted everything she knew.

Bang!

The cane forged from Ryujin Jakka struck the ground.

"Absurd!"

"You believe such nonsense?"

Yamamoto's haori fluttered without wind, his immense spiritual pressure flooding out.

***

Hi guys, I just wanted to let you know that I'm currently working on a new fanfic, so if you like this one, you should definitely check that one out too:

[Saint Seiya: The Lord of the Underworld (Multi-Cross)]

Hades.

The Lord of the Underworld and one of the Three Sovereign Gods of the Greek pantheon is among the most powerful deities to ever exist.

It is said that He was the strongest of the Three Sovereign Gods, and that Zeus holds the throne of the heavens only because He allowed it to happen, because He lacking of ambition and valuing the balance of the world above all else.

But what if this time, the title of Lord of the Underworld had changed hands, and inherited by someone whose ambition is as vast as the waters of the sea?

Chaos!

This is the story of an ordinary human who through both luck and misfortune inherits the title and responsibility of the Lord of the Underworld.

Yet there is a fundamental difference between the Lords of the past and the present.

Ambition!

It is in human nature to possess ambitions that can reach the stars, and because of this once-in-a-lifetime chance, he will not let the opportunity slip away to expand his dark and somber dominion, making it as bright as the sky and as deep as the ocean.

---

This is a multiverse fanfic that focuses on journeys to worlds other than Saint Seiya.

Saint Seiya, Nasuverse, Dragon Ball, Campione, Re:Zero, Date A Live, Genshin Impact, Akame ga Kill, Kimetsu no Yaiba, Overlord, No Game No Life, Marvel, DC, Naruto, One Piece, Bleach, Pokemon, Fate, Danmachi, and etc.