Is Zaraki Kenpachi permanently in Shikai or not?

[Neuroff]

To my observation, I came up with a thought about this (this is just a personal opinion, nothing officially stated anywhere about this).

The sword that Ichigo got after Rukia struck her sword through Ichigo is indeed Zangetsu. It couldn't be Rukia's sword since it's no where similar to Rukia's Zanpakutou. I see it as Zangetsu's unreleased state. It has the shape of a normal unreleased Zanpakutou, only bigger in size, as stated many times (the latest was Grand Fisher 2.0 vs Isshin) that the size can vary (if uncontrolled) due to how large a Shinigami's spiritual force is.

This is completely true. I can't understand why so many people think Ichigo was using Rukia's zanpakutou.

Ichigo was still using the unreleased Zangetsu when Urahara first trained him, until he learned Zangetsu's name. We might wonder why Zangetsu moved to Shikai this time, even without a command. There are 3 things that might happened here:

1. Ichigo did say the command, just perhaps hidden from us, for future plot.

2. Perhaps all a Shinigami needs is the name of his/her Zanpakutou, not necessarily a command like "Howl, Zabimaru" (although not likely since everyone keeping to say the command words)

3. Perhaps there's a way around it by supplying a large spiritual force into it (since he already know Zangetsu's name, Zangetsu said there's a different between not knowing and knowing the name, perhaps it applies in this case too), a Zanpakutou might be forced to "evolve". This is not weird concerning it is Urahara, since Urahara also played his hand for that instant Bankai training by creating it, he might know one or two tricks about it.

Either way, since Zangetsu can't be sealed anymore, we won't see Ichigo saying the command again (if it exists) in real time, only in flashbacks.

But yup, that's just my personal observation. You might agree or disagree about it.

Renji actually released Zabimaru without saying the command in his fight with Byakuya. Byakuya even comments on it in chapter 140 on page 19. He says, "You released your soul cutter without calling it's name..." So there is at least one way to force release without saying a name or command.

[KyleUchiha]

Renji actually released Zabimaru without saying the command in his fight with Byakuya. Byakuya even comments on it in chapter 140 on page 19. He says, "You released your soul cutter without calling it's name..." So there is at least one way to force release without saying a name or command.

I thought once you achieved BanKai, you didn't have to say a command anymore?

But I do agree with you that Zaraki's sword is already in its initial release state.

[Ripht]

I thought once you achieved BanKai, you didn't have to say a command anymore?

But I do agree with you that Zaraki's sword is already in its initial release state.

I think that you can release your sword without calling its name when you've just achieved bankai, because you've just unlocked the full release and the power output is alot difference so it takes time to settle back down into its normal mode again so you can't fully seal it for a certain time peroid and releases can be used without the names.

If you know what i mean, like when you turn a tap on full and then quickly turn it off water will still come out for a couple of seconds, its kinda like that but the water takes longer for the water to stop.

[dreamzsai]

The Databook says Kenpachi's sword is a fulltime release, but how can that happen when he doesnt even know it's sword's name?
The Databook certainly needs something to backup what it has said, especially when we have some many other stuff pointing towards Zaraki not even having a Shikai.

1. When Ichigo mentions about that Zaraki is taking him lightly, stating that it's the reason he doesnt release, Zaraki states that his sword doesnt have a name, it doesnt have a sealed form, and that it is it's true form.
HOWEVER, what Zaraki said may not be the truth, and that can be interpreted in a few ways.

Doesnt Have a Name
> Zaraki doesnt knows it's name(It can have a form of release)
> It REALLY has no name(no ability to release?) but very unlikely or even impossible

Doesnt Have a Sealed Form
> Really doesnt have a Sealed Form(Full Time Release)
> Zaraki doesnt know that his sword is actually Sealed(has possible form(s) of release(s))

It is it's True Form
> Really is it's true form(full time release with no Bankai?)
> Zaraki doesnt know...again...about what his sword can do

2. After the fight with Ichigo, Zaraki tries to communicate with his sword, asking for it's name.
>This shows that Zaraki was just assuming what he has stated in his fight with Ichigo
>He believes that his sword actually has a hidden strength and a name(though we do not know whether it really does)

3.Ichigo states, Full Time Release sounds like Zaraki Kenpachi
> Ichigo is only saying so because of what he heard from Kenpachi
> It may thus be true or false depending whether Kenpachi was correct or wrong

4. Yoruichi states that Kenpachi is the only Captain to become one without having Bankai or even knowing it's sword's name
> The not knowing it's sword's name can mean that he doesnt know even Shikai
>Could also mean the sword is release without Kenpachi knowing the name(though i feel is unlikely)


Personally, i feel Kenpachi probably doesnt even have Shikai yet, even though the databook states that he is fulltime release, there are too much evidence or occurences in the anime/manga leading to the fact that he doesnt have one.
And i believe it would be nicer for Kenpachi to not even have Shikai and just using his sword in a sealed form
> cause it shows how much combat power he has
> Shikais give only a slight boost in power/ability and would be easier to be "given" to Kenpachi by Kubo
> If Kenpachi is fulltime release, the next stage would be Bankai, and if he really gains it, it might be pretty sick since Bankai gives huge powerups most of the time

Again, if Kubo wants to make the Databook statement a fact, he better have a good explanation to it.

[Neuroff]

I thought once you achieved BanKai, you didn't have to say a command anymore?

But I do agree with you that Zaraki's sword is already in its initial release state.

He never specifically says that, but that's probably it. I'm saying that if you can do it after getting bankai, there could be other ways too.

Personally, i feel Kenpachi probably doesnt even have Shikai yet, even though the databook states that he is fulltime release, there are too much evidence or occurences in the anime/manga leading to the fact that he doesnt have one.
And i believe it would be nicer for Kenpachi to not even have Shikai and just using his sword in a sealed form
> cause it shows how much combat power he has
> Shikais give only a slight boost in power/ability and would be easier to be "given" to Kenpachi by Kubo
> If Kenpachi is fulltime release, the next stage would be Bankai, and if he really gains it, it might be pretty sick since Bankai gives huge powerups most of the time

Again, if Kubo wants to make the Databook statement a fact, he better have a good explanation to it.

People keep saying name this, name that. I haven't actually seen a quote that says you need to know the name yet.

[kaitendragon]

Zaraki's Zanpaktou is in Shikai(initial release). just look at the color patter in the manga its black on white just like the Shikais of Ichigo,Renji,Urahara, and most of the other shikai stages. One characteristic of shikai in MOST cases is the black on white coloring and Zaraki's is black on white in the bank. Bye bye to all the theories of it not being in shikai =)

[_ATMA]

Ok guys here you go this is the page pertaining to Zaraki and his zanpaktu atm ive got my GF translating the page and ill let u know when she gets it to me




erm it seems that image shack has lowered the original quality of the photo so here is a higher res version:

[ttxdragon]

that is not the page containing the info on the zanpakutou.
the zanpakutou info is on page 258.

[_ATMA]

ah ic i was browsing through forums and happend across what and ppl saying that page about zaraki sadly i cant read japanese so i wouldnt know what the page says :P lol

also i am more then happy to host some pages and uploading what ever pics from the soul book as necessary just ask i would like to resolve this dispute lol

---

here is page 258-259 in a lower res:



high res:

[kazuma_uzumaki]

I wonder..
remember in the soul society that one tool that allowed the physical manifestation of a zanpakuto?

I wonder if it would do anything for kenpachi if he were to try it

[_ATMA]

I wonder..
remember in the soul society that one tool that allowed the physical manifestation of a zanpakuto?

I wonder if it would do anything for kenpachi if he were to try it

to use it didnt u need at least some what of a synchronization with your zanpaktu to use it?

[matrice]

Renji actually released Zabimaru without saying the command in his fight with Byakuya. Byakuya even comments on it in chapter 140 on page 19. He says, "You released your soul cutter without calling it's name..." So there is at least one way to force release without saying a name or command.

Yes, but as it was already well explained in the manga, you must have acheved Bankai in order to do this. Byakuya recognized this fact exactly when he saw Renji do this.

[Dantrag]

Zaraki's Zanpaktou is in Shikai(initial release). just look at the color patter in the manga its black on white just like the Shikais of Ichigo,Renji,Urahara, and most of the other shikai stages. One characteristic of shikai in MOST cases is the black on white coloring and Zaraki's is black on white in the bank. Bye bye to all the theories of it not being in shikai =)

I think you need to read the manga again. After few of the very the first chapters of bleach the black and white-colouring (White for cutting edge, black for blunt edge) of the blade became a standard for both sealed and initial release zanpakutous. The colouring is nowhere near a valid proof of a sword being in shikai-state.

[Neuroff]

Yes, but as it was already well explained in the manga, you must have acheved Bankai in order to do this. Byakuya recognized this fact exactly when he saw Renji do this.

It actually isn't well explained at all, it's only implied that you can do this when you have obtained bankai. And I wasn't saying that Kenpachi was using the same method as Renji at all. I said that if there's one way to do it, there can be others.

I think you need to read the manga again. After few of the very the first chapters of bleach the black and white-colouring (White for cutting edge, black for blunt edge) of the blade became a standard for both sealed and initial release zanpakutous. The colouring is nowhere near a valid proof of a sword being in shikai-state.

Yeah, but the databook is.

[akatsuki27]

what bax said about ichigo's sword having always been zangetsu is the same thing i thought which is absolutely right, i mean, look at the hilt of his first sword, it's the same hilt or very similar to the one that isshin has on his sword which means ichigo, as far as the sword was concerned, was using his spiritual powers he got from his bloodline....shinketsu or something like that i think is what he is

and about zaraki, his sword is indeed in its released state simply because he has no seal on it....zaraki is either too stupid or too powerful or both to seal his sword....so, the fact that there's nothing to release, you can classify it as being in it's released state.....in actuality, his sword is already released because he can't seal it, but since he doesnt know its name then he cant use any sword attacks or communicate enough with it for the sword to be able to materialize (have it appear like zangetsu and zabimaru have)

it's sort of like he doesn't acknowledge the spirit inside his sword, at least not until he fought with ichigo