While Gabriel was living the good life and starting his little project, the Soul Society had seen better days. The vast majority of their captains were dead. They lacked manpower. Let's see... Soifon was alive but severely injured. Ukitake had been killed. Isshin was still there, though severely injured. Captain Aizen had been killed.
Captain Gin and Tōsen had also been murdered in this war—like, more than half of the Gotei 13 had been wiped out.
Well, on the good side, the two Kenpachi survived, and Zaraki was stronger than he ever was before. Though now, one of his eyes was slightly damaged, so the eyepatch was kind of required.
The noble districts were in ruins. Ginrei had been killed.
Koga Kuchiki even got out of jail early, hm. And Byakuya was still recovering from his injuries. He would be the future captain of Squad 6—he needed to achieve Bankai first, however.
His wife was currently tending to him. {Hisane should still be alive since she died 50 years before canon; she should still have a good 2 years left}.
Well, at least he had his wife... that was all that mattered now.
Having witnessed one of his loved ones dying in front of him, he resolved himself to care for her. He would protect and cherish this woman.
POV Change
A dark room lit by cascading teal light.
Aizen Sōsuke, seated on a high-backed obsidian chair, held a steaming cup of tea. Calm. Composed. Unreadable, as always.
Yes, the dead man was alive. As for his so-called death? He had faked it.
For a big reason— the second he had witnessed Soul Society's destruction and Captain Yamamoto dying, he knew Shunsui would appeal Urahara's ban, alongside the Vizards, and he would rather not play that dangerous game.
Sure, he could play a game of stroking each other's egos, but with a being like Gabriel existing, a battle of ego didn't matter much. What did though, was gaining strength.
A lot of it.
His Kyōka Suigetsu didn't work on the Horsemen. However, it did work on the Sin—only for a moment. Apparently, that girl had a power that allowed her to fight while she herself was being controlled.
Beside him stood Kaname Tōsen, his tone firm as he spoke.
"He must be brought to justice, Lord Aizen. This Hollow has destroyed what Soul Society stood for. So many lives lost. This cannot go unanswered."
Aizen didn't interrupt. He waited until Tōsen's words died in the room like an echo with no reply.
Then he spoke—smooth as flowing ink.
"Yes... he did kill many. He tore apart Soul Society. Laid it bare. But... was that truly such a terrible thing?"
Tōsen stiffened, lips parting in shock. "...What are you saying?"
Aizen didn't even look at him. His eyes gazed out at the fractured skyline.
"Think, Kaname. If Gabriel hadn't come... if war had never erupted, would the nobles still sit on their thrones untouched?
Would the Tsunayashiro or the Shihōin be answering for their sins?
Would the Rukongai remain voiceless, expendable, forgotten?"
Tōsen faltered. The silence that followed was not just uncertainty—it was recognition.
"He spared the Rukongai," Aizen continued, voice now cold. Very cold, as if he was trying to guess what was going through Gabriel's head. "He burned everything else. Now, with the balance of souls in danger, the civilians are no longer pawns... they are essential."
Tōsen stared downward.
He hated violence. Hated death. But...
Had Gabriel's cruelty become a scalpel?
Had it carved a cleaner Soul Society?
Aizen sipped his tea.
"Justice is not always kind, Kaname. Sometimes it's monstrous. Unforgiving. But perhaps... it is still justice."
Tōsen said nothing more. He turned and left, mind clouded in doubt.
Alone now, Aizen exhaled.
His smile dimmed. His gaze darkened.
"But those eyes... that aura..."
His thoughts drifted to the battlefield. To Gabriel's transformation. To the unmistakable, ancient weight that had bled through his presence.
"That wasn't just power. That was... a Truth Demon."
He placed his tea down.
"Hueco Mundo... will have to wait."
He stood, walking toward a map pinned across the wall—scattered with notes, threads, and scribbled questions.
"The Tsunayashiro are in ruins. Their archives... exposed. Their resources, ripe for harvesting. While the nobles scramble to salvage what's left of their name, I'll take their truths."
A slow, calculating smile formed across his face.
"And with the Vizard and Urahara back, I'll have less room to maneuver... at least in plain sight."
He pressed two fingers to the paper pinned over the First District of the Rukongai.
"Time for a little strategic chaos."
His eyes gleamed behind the curtain of his hair.
"After all... Soul Society isn't the only one rebuilding."
He would look through the Tsunayashiro family records, find any info that was worth something... anything, before doing what had to be done.
Gabriel didn't realize it yet, but by doing this, he had made a road for someone to become stronger. Even if he did know, he probably wouldn't give a singular fuck. After all, he was busy doing some stuff.
A/N..Hisane might survive in this world.