He knew something was wrong when he was coming here, something eerily wrong. He felt it right after stepping in. After coming to Nibelheim with Zack and Cloud to explore due to Shinra informing there to investigate about monsters appearing at Mako Reactor on Mt. Nibel. When they went to investigate with their tour guide Tifa, he felt the dread of familiarity. It must've been the mako exposure, right? Wrong.

This was his hometown, where the Jenova Project started. He went to the rundown Shinra Manor to bury himself in books to research about his past, Jenova's past. After finding out that he found out about his childhood, his Mother.. He was succumbed to madness and burned down Nibelheim, planning for godhood with Jenova by his side. He was now at the Northern Crater to coalesce, sleeping within crystals waiting for the reunion with Jenova's cells and the Black Materia to enact his plans in becoming god.