Zanpakutō

From Bleach - Wiki on Neoseeker

Zanpakutō (lit. "soul-cutting sword") are the weapons that soul reapers and arrancar use to engage in combat against other spirits. Although zanpakutō serve the same function in the nature of their use for both soul reapers and arrancars, they still differentiate by their very being.

Contents 1 Overview 2 Arrancar 3 Zanpakutō Types 3.1 Melee 3.2 Projectile 3.3 Defense 3.4 Kidō 3.4.1 Fire 3.4.2 Water 3.4.3 Ice 3.4.4 Wind 3.4.5 Plant 3.4.6 Light 3.4.7 Electricity Types 3.4.8 Poison 3.4.9 Unknown 3.5 Sub-Types 3.5.1 Constant Release 3.5.2 Dual Bladed 4 Shinigami Zanpakutō 4.1 Kazeshini 4.2 Nejibana 4.3 Nijigasumi 4.4 Senbonzakura 4.5 Tenken 4.6 Tobiume 4.7 Zabimaru 4.8 Zangetsu

Overview

For shinigami, zanpakutō are the manifestations of their souls. Each soul reaper's zanpakutō can have up to three distinct forms. The first form of a zanpakutō is called its sealed state. In this form, a zanpakutō appears as a regular katana or wakizashi with no unique abilities, though minor details such as the hilt or guard vary from person to person. Nevertheless, a shinigami still use it to perform a soul burial (konsō), a ritual in which a shinigami sends a plus to Soul Society, by placing the butt of its hilt on a plus' forehead. When a shinigami discovers its zanpakutō's name, the zanpakutō will change its form and gain unique powers, which is referred to as shikai (lit. "initial release"). In this form, a zanpakutō is capable of things a regular sword wouldn't. Shinigami with exceptional spiritual pressure are able to unleash their zanpakutō's bankai (lit. "final release"), which is the second and final upgraded form. A soul reaper's power in bankai, according to Yoruichi Shihōin, is typically increased tenfold. To achieve it, a soul reaper must fully materialize his/her zanpakutō's spirit in the real world and subjugate it, thus granting complete access to its power. Since such a feat requires hundreds of years of combat experience, few soul reapers have attained it and is almost exclusively limited to the captains of the Gotei 13. Byakuya Kuchiki claims that among the four noble houses of Soul Society, only one person in several generations will be born with the spiritual pressure necessary to attain it.

Even so, it typically takes almost two more decades of special training for a shinigami to master his/her bankai. However, Kisuke Urahara devised a method that allows a shinigami to achieve and master bankai within a week--a method which only he himself and Ichigo Kurosaki have successfully used. Using a special device Kisuke invented which forcibly materializes a zanpakutō's spirit, Kisuke and Ichigo were able to bypass hundreds of years of training and achieve bankai in three days. After Urahara successfully tested this method, he concluded that using this method is dangerous, and training for more than three consecutive days using it can prove fatal (which is why Ichigo was forced to achieve bankai in three days). Other than Ichigo, Renji Abarai (though not by Kisuke's method) and Ikkaku Madarame are the only two non-captains who have attained bankai.

Unlike shikai, there is no command phrase to activate bankai, though a shinigami will typically say "bankai" beforehand. A zanpakutō's bankai is often the manifestation of the spirit itself, usually creating a massive creature or effect to aid the user (Ichigo's being the exception as his is compact). A zanpakutō's name will also change, gaining either an extension or becoming different altogether (Zangetsu becomes Tensa Zangetsu or Tenken becomes Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō). In bankai, most zanpakutō gain additional abilities, while others have enhanced versions of the original. The majority of these abilities also have names associated with them like in shikai. Maintaining bankai requires a tremendous amount of spirit force, thus making it difficult to use for extended periods of time for most soul reapers. However, since Ichigo's bankai is a compression of spirit particles, he is able to maintain it for long periods of time with relative ease.

The power that comes with bankai either augments the original abilities of a zanpakutō's shikai or follows the general theme. For example, the small blades of Byakuya Kuchiki's Senbonzakura will substantially increase in number when in bankai, while Renji's Zabimaru remains a whip however in the form of a skeleton with a baboon's head. In addition to a zanpakutō's appearance changing when in bankai, some shinigami will change their appearance as well, such as Ichigo gaining a overcoat similar to spirit form Zangetsu.

Arrancar

Zanpakutō, although they serve the same function as far as slaying other souls, differentiate for arrancars. As opposed to a shinigami, an arrancar's zanpakutō is the manifestation of his or her former hollow self. So a zanpakutō's release for arrancars will cause them to transform into their hollow form with all of their original abilities available to them. An arrancar's zanpakutō release is called resurrección (Spanish for "resurrection"), referring to an arrancar's return to its previous hollow self. Although arrancars are obviously not capable of bankai, there is one case in which an arrancar has performed a similar second release called resurrección segunda etapa (lit. "resurrection second stage"). This extraordinary feat is currently only available to Ulquiorra Cifer, the fourth Espada.

Zanpakutō Types

Zanpakutō are categorized into various types according to their abilities and appearance. The types listed here are only through how the zanpakutō have been displayed to be used. So this list is viable to change throughout the course of the animé/manga. These types include:

Melee

These are designed for direct melee combat rather than using kidō or magic based abilities.

• Ichigo Kurosaki
• Sajin Komamura
• Renji Abarai
• Ikkaku Madarame
• Shūhei Hisagi
• Makoto Kifune
• Kenpachi Zaraki
• Marechiyo Ōmaeda
• Tetsuzaemon Iba

Projectile

• Jirōbō Ikkanzaka
• Rangiku Matsumoto
• Rusaburō Enkōgawa

Defense

• Rusaburō Enkōgawa

Kidō

These zanpakutō are designed around their special abilities more than physical combat adaptability.

• Yumichika Ayasegawa
• Sōsuke Aizen (Originally claimed his zanpakutō was a "flowing water" type. This was later revealed as a lie)
• Hanatarō Yamada
• Retsu Unohana
• Kisuke Urahara
• Kaname Tōsen

Most zanpakutō are classified into their respective elements that they produce or an element a zanpakuto manifests itself in. All the below zanpakutō element types can be classified as kidō types as noted by Kenpachi with his battle with Maki Ichinose.

Fire

• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto
• Shūsuke Amagai

Water

• Kaien Shiba

Ice

• Tōshirō Hitsugaya (and Sōjirō Kusaka)
• Rukia Kuchiki

Wind

• Shunsui Kyōraku
• Senna
• Kensei Muguruma

Plant

• Ryūsei Kenzaki

Light

• Maki Ichinose

Electricity Types

• Seigen Suzunami

Poison

• Mayuri Kurotsuchi
• Soifon

Unknown

These are zanpakutō whose classification cannot be clearly verified.

• Gin Ichimaru
• Chōjirō Sasakibe
• Isane Kotetsu
• Jūshirō Ukitake
• Izuru Kira

Sub-Types

These are zanpakutō are types that do not classify a zanpakutō on their ability but their state of appearance.

Constant Release

These are Zanpakutō that are perpetually in their shikai state because of their wielder's immense spiritual power.

• Ichigo Kurosaki
• Kenpachi Zaraki

Dual Bladed

These are zanpakutō that become dual bladed upon their release. Having two blades is considered to be rare amongst zanpakutō and is speculated to be some kind of uniqueness in the wielder's spiritual power.

• Jūshirō Ukitake
• Shunsui Kyōraku
• Shūhei Hisagi

Shinigami Zanpakutō

Below is a list of all of the shinigami zanpakutō, including visoreds, and information about them. They are in alphabetical order by name of their zanpakutō.

Kazeshini

• Owner: Shūhei Hisagi
• Release Command: "Reap"
• Bankai: Unknown

Kazeshini (lit. "Death Wind"): In it's sealed form, Kazeshini looks like an ordinary katana with an octagonal tsuba. Shūhei has been known to carry his katana on both his waist and back.

• Shikai: The release command for Kazeshini is "reap" (kare). In it's 'Released' state it resembles the form of two kusarigama blades, each having two sickle blades at the end, one of which is inverted. Shūhei has remarked that he doesn't like the appearance of his zanpakutō because "it looks like it's meant to reap life itself." The two kusarigama are linked via a long black chain, which enables Shūhei employ a long range fighting style as well as entangle his opponents and their weapons. Although Shūhei dislikes his shikai, he is very pro-efficient in wielding it. He mainly uses Kazeshini's blades as a projectile by throwing the blades, which rapidly spin them like fans, and using the chain to direct their paths. Tossing the fast moving blades from different directions at varying intervals make their movements almost unpredictable and thus difficult to avoid.
• Bankai: Not yet achieved.

Nejibana

• Owner: Kaien Shiba
• Release Command: "Rankle the Seas and the Skies"
• Bankai: Unknown

Nejibana (lit. Twisted Flower ^{In the English Manga}): Resembles that of an ordinary Katana was a rectangular cross-guard with rounded edges, and a dark blue hilt.

• Shikai: The release command for Kaien's Zanpakutō is "Rankle the Seas and the Skies" (suiten sakamake). To begin with Kaien holds the Katana upside down and begins to spin it, it starts to glow and when the spinning stops, the Zanpakutō resembles a cross between a Trident and a 'Ji', with a crystal like glow and appearance to it. Much like the 'Ji' it holds a horsehair tassel even though it's blue compared to the traditionally coloured red. Both sides of the blades are straight with concave blades, again which is a differentiation from the traditional crescent blades. The end of Nejibana appears are a drill/corkscrew shape. Because Nejibana is a Water Type Zanpakutō water freely moves around and from the trident located at the end of the katana.
  • Shikai Special Ability: Nejibana's power lies within it's ability to manipulate water (Due to being a Water-Type Zanpakutō). It's said when hit with it makes the foe feel as if they are being hit by the force of crashing waves, as water is constantly flowing through and around the Trident. Nejibana's tip is always flowing with water and being slashed by it, with every arc and blow creates large waves

Nijigasumi

• Owner: Maki Ichinose
• Release Command: "Shine Brightly"
• Bankai: Unknown

Nijigasumi (lit. Rainbow Mist): Much like most katana in it's sealed state resembles the look of an average katana with a rectangular cross-guard with a circle encompassing the blade with two inward curving gray lines to each corner the long way and the steel blue hilt.

• • Shikai Special Ability: When Nijigasumi is drenched in Spiritual energy it is able to create an infinite mass of light. When the zanpakutō emits light, it merges all light and can then use the light to control the shadows and attack his opponant with them. Nijigasuma also has light manipulation abilities, such as;
    • Invisibility: This is the ability to make Maki invisible to the naked eye by surrounding him with light.
    • Blinding Light: The ability to create a vast explosion of light to disturb their visual perceptions, in turn causing confusion and a reduced chance of them fighting back.
    • Illusions: The ability to use light to alter the foes vision, allowing him to make his opponent see whatever he wants them to.
    • Blade of Light: Caused the actual blade is dissolved and replaced with one of light. If the blade it broken is can cover itself in light again so the battle can continue.
  • Saigyoku Nijigasumi (lit. Swallowing Orb of Rainbow Mist): Causes a mass of twinkling lights with then form around the opponent which creates a huge sphere and encompasses the foe within a specified radius. Anyone within that radius will also be effected by the sphere. After the sphere reaches the limit of the radius it collapses in on itself and crushes anything with in it.

Senbonzakura

• Owner: Byakuya Kuchiki
• Release Command: "Scatter"
• Bankai: Senbonzakura Kageyoshi

Senbonzakura (lit. 1000 Cherry Blossoms) has proven to be a very well rounded zanpakutō suited for both close and long range combat. Upon its release, triggered by the command "scatter" (chire), the blade scatters into 1000 smaller, petal shaped blades that appear as cherry blossoms when illuminated in light. These blades can strike an opponent from any direction, and are almost invisible to the naked eye when not directly exposed to light. Senbonzakura can easily be dissipated or reformed into a single blade.

• Bankai: Senbonzakura Kageyoshi (lit. Vibrant Display of 1000 Cherry Blossoms) basically produces a greater effect of Senbonzakura's shikai by increasing the number of blades exponentially. Upon activation, Byakuya drops his sword which sinks into the ground, followed by two rows of giant blades emerging from the ground. These giant blades scatter into millions of tiny blades, which once again, resemble cherry blossoms when exposed to light. Unlike other bankai, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi has four distinct forms, or scenes, which maximize either its defensive or offensive capabilities by rearranging the blades and changing their patterns. Its initial form, which is unnamed, focuses primarily on defense by having the millions of blades automatically repel incoming attacks. Nevertheless, they can still be effectively used as a means of attack by enshrouding the enemy in them which can produce fatal results.
  • Massacre Scene: (senkei; Viz: "annihilate"} This form of Senbonzakura Kageyoshi forgoes its defensive capabilities and focuses primarily on executing the enemy. The millions of tiny blades are collected and condensed into 1000 swords that surround Byakuya and the enemy in several rows. Though these swords don't attack the enemy simultaneously, Byakuya can call upon any one of them at any time. Since the swords are the condensed form of millions of tiny blades, their prowess to inflict fatal wounds is several times greater than that of a regular weapon. Byakuya, in his duel with Ichigo Kurosaki, states that senkei is Senbonzakura's true form which he only unleashes on opponents he personally wanted to slay; Ichigo being the second person who has ever witnessed it. In the Bleach feature length film The Diamond Dust Rebellion, it is demonstrated that this form protects those inside it, as Byakuya used it to successfully block a barrage of cero from a group of gillians.
  • Pivotal Scene: (gōkei) This form is a newer variation of Senbonzakura's bankai that Byakuya revealed only in the latter part of Bleach in his bout with the seventh Espada Zommari Leroux. The millions of blades are amassed into an enclosed spherical formation around the enemy, which then implodes onto the enemy for an omnidirectional barrage leaving no room for escape. This arrangement is designed to overpower an opponent's defense.
  • Final Scene: (shūkei; Viz: "last sight") For the finishing move, Byakuya compresses all of Senbonzakura's blades into a single sword, substantially increasing its cutting power. The blade shines bright white and emits a pure white aura of spiritual power that forms a bird with giant wings and a halo-like ring around Byakuya, hence its name "White Imperial Sword" (Hakuteiken; Viz: "White Emperor Sword").

Tenken

• Owner: Sajin Komamura
• Release Command:
• Bankai: Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō

Tobiume

• Owner: Momo Hinamori
• Release Command: "Snap"
• Bankai: n/a

Tobiume (lit. Flying Plum Tree) is a kidō type zanpakutō, which suits Momo well given her mastery of kidō. In its sealed form, Tobiume resembles a regular katana, the only difference being the five-petal design stamped onto the rectangular cross guard with a red handle.

• Shikai: The release command for her shikai is "snap" (hajike). When Tobiume's shikai is activated, the blade straightens and three "jutte" like appendages appear along the length of the blade at various intervals.
  • Shikai Special Ability: While in its shikai, Tobiume is able to focus Momo's spritual power, compressing that energy into a spherical energy blasts that are capable of cratering floors and collapsing walls. Momo is also able to compress her energy into a fireball and throw them as projectiles from the tip of her blade.

Zabimaru

• Owner: Renji Abarai
• Release Command: "Howl"
• Bankai: Hihiō Zabimaru

Zabimaru (loosely "snake tail") is the first zanpakutō in Bleach that had its shikai unveiled. In its sealed state, it appears as a normal katana with a dark red hilt and a rectangular guard. In shikai, Zabimaru changes into longer, segmented sword; each segment is progressively longer from the hilt and contains a pick-like protrusion at its end. The segments are attached to each other by extendable threads, which allows the blade to stretch to incredible lengths. Though it is designed to be used as a whip, Zabimaru also functions very well as a regular sword.

• Bankai: Renji's bankai is called Hihiō Zabimaru ("Baboon King Snake Tail"). Its form is an enlarged version of Zabimaru's shikai, however resembling the skeletal structure of a snake with crimson hair on the skull. Renji also gains a fur coating which completely covers his right arm along with a baboon's skull on the left shoulder. Unlike shikai, the joints of the blade are connected by Renji's spiritual power, thus making it easy for Renji to separate and reattach them at will, which is also the basis for one of Zabimaru's signature techniques. Nevertheless, Zabimaru in this state doesn't necessarily cut, but it is rather used for smashing objects and catching opponents in its fangs and crushing them. Because of its size and nature, Hihiō Zabimaru is a more difficult bankai to master compared to others.
• Special Abilities: Zabimaru's signature technique is called higa zekkō (lit. "bite of the baboon's broken fang"). In the attack, Renji disjoints Zabimaru's segments and surrounds his opponent with them using his spiritual power, allowing him to execute an omnidirectional assault on a target. Though this technique can be easily executed in bankai, it can only be used in shikai when Zabimaru's segments are forcefully ripped apart since they are linked by threads rather than spiritual power. Subsequently, the technique also causes damage to Zabimaru itmself. With experience, Renji managed to refine the technique by using his spiritual power to sharpen the segments and thus increase the attack's power. After Renji became more proficient at using bankai, Zabimaru gained a second technique called hikōtsu taihō (lit. "baboon bone cannon"), in which a powerful concentrated blast of spiritual energy is fired from its mouth. The technique is taxing on Renji, as it drains a significant portion of his spiritual power.

Zangetsu

• Owner: Ichigo Kurosaki
• Release Command: n/a
• Bankai: Tensa Zangetsu

Zangetsu (lit. "Moon Cutter") is the name of Ichigo's zanpakutō and one of two unique zanpakutō that will stay in its shikai perpetually due to the user's immense spiritual power. In its sealed form, it appears as an oversized katana with a red hilt and bronze, rectangular guard. In its shikai, Zangetsu's form resembles a giant cleaver with no hilt or guard. It has a white cloth wrapped around the handle, which will extend to wrap itself around the entire sword or retract depending on if its in use.

• Bankai: Ichigo's bankai is called Tensa Zangetsu (lit. "Heavenly Chains Moon Cutter"). Tensa Zangetsu represents an oddity among zanpakutō with bankai as its size is conversely small to the immense amount of spiritual power that goes into forming and using it. Its form resembles a nodachi, which is completely black with a long blade, a guard in the shape of the kanji ban, and a short chain attached to the end of the hilt. Ichigo's outfit also changes, gaining a black, ragged coat similar to spirit form Zangetsu's. Tensa Zangetsu's compression of spiritual power (rather than the vast expansion common of bankai) allows Ichigo to employ ultra high speed movement, though it puts a strain on his body. Also, unlike other shinigami with bankai, Ichigo is able to maintain his for a seemingly indefinite period of time as long as he remains conscious (with the exception of when his hollow takes over, in which case his bankai remains in tact even after losing consciousness) due to his bankai's compression.
• Special Ability: Zangetsu's special ability is called Getsuga Tenshō (lit. "Moon Fangs Pierce Heaven"), in which a blue, crescent shaped wave of concentrated spirit particles is released from the tip of the blade in a slash attack. In bankai, the technique becomes pitch black and its path can be somewhat controlled. Getsuga Tenshō in bankai, shortened Kuroi Getsuga (lit. "Black Moon Fangs"), was initially used by Ichigo's inner hollow when he assumed control of Ichigo's soul during his fight with Byakuya Kuchiki. Therefore, it has been recognized to be his original technique. Ulquiorra Cifer, one of Sōsuke Aizen's arrancars, also interestingly noted that the black Getsuga bears similarities to his cero oscuras. Although it is usually fired from the blade, Ichigo can hold the technique's power in his bankai, thus adding to the strength of his regular attacks.