Thread:Omega64/@comment-4503935-20190703001710/@comment-10330822-20191207025049

No, because Kenpachi wasn't aware Ichigo was going to fight Renji until they were about to fight. Rather, what is more likely is that Senzaikyu, otherwise known as the Shin'o Repentance Cell in the dubbed, the castle-like prison where Rukia was being kept was understaffed. After all, only Ikakku was aware that was where Ichigo was heading and that rescuing Rukia was Ichigo and the others' goal because Ichigo asked him. Once Ikkaku relayed this to Kenpachi and Yachiru, they knew. If it was unknown by most others, there was no reason to staff it heavily when the large area of the Seireitai was being clearly invaded by Ichigo's group. Also, there was a response team to the fight, they just didn't happen to arrive until after Renji was already beaten.

However, Renji probably figured it out once he confirmed Ichigo's presence, hence why he was lying in wait at the steps to Sokyoku Hill. I suspect, that once Byakuya got the report that Renji and Kenpachi were both defeated near the steps of the Sokyoku Hill that goal was clearly Rukia, hence why he was outside her cell room when Rukia was being rescued by Ganju and Hanataro.

Ironically, if it was planned it would have been pretty clever on Kenpachi's part, because Ichigo most likely wouldn't have been defeated if Kenpachi let others interfere, and if Renji hadn't been defeated then the war-time exemption wouldn't have been set for the Captains. After all, its only with that was Kenpachi actually allowed "full release" within the Seireitai. Under normally conditions, even an invasion, Captains aren't supposed to fully release their Zanpakuto in the Seireitai.