Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-1429792-20140920205950/@comment-11444045-20140922142000

I have another theory now we know that it's confirmed through sources that he can still sense reiatsu even if he had no powers to do anything about it. Perhaps what he said was a bit to vague. Maybe what he meant to say was he didn't have his Engetsu powers to help but he could still perform Kido based techniques or create kido based charms. You have to remember Kukaku Shiba, who Isshin is affiliated with as part of the shiba clan is a noble clan, that she herself, is not considered a shinigami but still can perform kido based techniques. One could say Kido isn't shinigami exclusive. Shinigami are mainly people within the 13 court guard squads who uses zanpakuto for combat. Since Yoruichi Shihōin was a former captain of squad 2, much like her student Suì-Fēng, one must figure she used to have some sort of Zanpakuto but never used it in combat and only relied of her hand to hand combat and Shunko to beat enemies.

Kaien Shiba was considered a Shinigami as he had a Zanpakuto that looked like a trident(i believe) that controlled water.

So yea i think Isshin can perform kido that's why he said on that link "being a shinigami without powers, i wouldn't have been much help. But i still was prepared to go if things got dicey for Masaki" That's my theory anyway. It would confirm who created the Charm for kon and further more why he told two different stories to Ichigo and Kon. He told Kon the charm was for him because he knew Ichigo has powers to protect himself as a soul reaper or whatever being he is(based off the manga) but still needed ichigo to hold onto the charm on his body if kon ever used it not just for kons sake but also Ichigo's body as well. At least for me this all makes sense. :)