User blog comment:God of nothing/Shiba clan logic/@comment-5551986-20130428132643

I wouldn't assume the Shiba clan lost it status because Kaien just died. I would guess it was The Shiba's family hatred of the shinigami and Gotei who finished off his brother at the time. It has never been explained in absolute detail I don't think. I do believe Kūkaku was referring to Isshin, who else would be sad by Ichigo's departure?

By the by. Kaien was not captain level. He was a strong lieutenant, one of the strongest I would have guessed, he was a young prodigy who had potential. The only reason he "lost" was due to the fact he couldn't use his Zanpakuto. He fought a difficult hollow to defeat.

We still don't know the full ramifications of Isshin's desertion of the Gotei. It has not been elaborated upon by anyone, the chapter finished before anyone could discuss it, within the Gotei.