Who is ichigo zanpakuto

As Rukia leaves, Ichigo, complaining about Isshin not waking him up as usual, notices the date. Ichigo asks Rukia if he can take the day off from the Shinigami work, as it is the day Masaki was killed.

On the 17th of July, the Kurosaki family visits Masaki's grave. Annoyed that Rukia followed them, Ichigo, becoming angry when she asks if Masaki was killed by a Hollow, notices the same girl he saw the night Masaki died, and, running after her, tells Rukia he killed Masaki. Demanding to know why the girl he saw when Masaki died is there, he asks if she is controlled by the Hollow. Stopping Rukia from interfering, he, insisting on fighting alone, instructs her to mind his sisters.

Grand Fisher attempts to manipulate Ichigo. Transforming his lure into an image of Masaki, Grand Fisher explains about his ability.

As Rukia tries to convince Ichigo he cannot fight him any more, he, insisting he can and the Hollow is still not dead yet, soon collapses. When Ichigo awakens, in his Human body, in great pain, Rukia reminds him the wounds his soul receives will show up when he returns to his body. When Ichigo asks her if he lost, she tells him he won, since the Hollow fled and nobody died. Saying Grand Fisher is not dead, Ichigo walks off. Isshin gives Ichigo some advice. When Ichigo, at Masaki's grave, apologizes for not being able to avenge her, Isshin notes the time has gone by quickly, and it has already been ten years since Masaki died.

When Ichigo corrects his error, Isshin states he was "so close". When Ichigo loudly complains about this, Isshin says Masaki can rest easily if she sees him being so lively. When he starts smoking a cigarette, Ichigo says he thought he quit smoking when Karin and Yuzu were born.

Isshin explains he smokes on this one occasion, as the only time Masaki complimented his looks while they were dating is when she saw him smoking. Reminding Ichigo he is the one the woman he loved gave her life to protect, he, telling him to live his life well, leaves.

Asking Rukia if her powers are returning, Ichigo asks her to allow him to remain a Shinigami for a while longer regardless. He says he wants to become stronger so he can defeat Hollows, protect those who are targeted, and defeat Grand Fisher; otherwise, he will not be able to face Masaki. Orihime apologizes to Ichigo. She tells Ichigo she can see spirits about as clearly as he can, and is not interested in the ghost show.

Remembering she saw the Hollow who attacked the house when he first met Rukia, Ichigo realizes she might be able to see Shinigami too. The next morning at school, Orihime, performing Don Kanonji's pose as Ichigo arrives in class, asks him to do the pose with her.

As Ichigo's friends all do the pose, Ichigo tells Keigo he is not going to the live recording of Ghost Bust at the abandoned hospital in Karakura, despite his attempts to convince him to go.

When Orihime apologizes to him for trying to get him to do Don Kanonji's pose, he, telling her it is okay, reveals Keigo and Mizuiro know he despises it, but yet still do it anyway. When asked why he came, he, stating Isshin and Yuzu are huge fans of the show, says they would look pitiful if just the two of them went. When Orihime tells him he is so kind, Ichigo dismisses it as normal. Ichigo fends off the Hollow. Telling him he must be tired from his dual life, Rukia instructs him to use this chance to relax.

Surprised she is concerned about his health, Ichigo, asking if there really is a spirit in the hospital, says the Shinigami would have dealt with it already. Rukia says it is likely to be a Jibakurai , a soul on its way to becoming a Hollow.

She says to do it after the show to avoid trouble in case of a struggle, but Ichigo is unconvinced. Meanwhile, Don Kanonji jams his staff into the partially open hole in the Jibakurai's chest. Urahara frees Ichigo's Shinigami form from his body, allowing him to knock Kanonji away from the Jibakurai. As Ichigo realizes the medium can see him, the Jibakurai vanishes in an explosion.

As Ichigo and Kanonji bicker, the Hollow charges at them. Ichigo fends off its attack, and when the Hollow gets its head stuck in a wall, Ichigo drags Kanonji inside. The Demi-Hollow is defeated by Ichigo. Ichigo insists they stay inside to avoid the audience being caught up in the fighting. Ichigo realizes he never thought about the corridors being too confined to use his sword in. When the Hollow glues Ichigo's hands together, Kanonji, jamming its mouth open with his staff, frees Ichigo's blade.

Freeing himself, Ichigo takes advantage of the open space to defeat the Hollow. When Kanonji praises him, Ichigo, telling him to stop his antics, explains it is the same spirit Kanonji thought he had sent to heaven. Stating regretting it is pointless, as he did not know, Ichigo directs Kanonji to the crowd. Kanonji thanks him, complimenting his courage, quick wits, and strength, and asks that they work together in the future.

When Ichigo agrees to help him once in a while, Kanonji forces him to take a Don Kanonji fan club card, signed "to my 1 pupil". The following day, Rukia helps Ichigo and his friends get out of trouble for their actions at the abandoned hospital when they are brought before the principal and Kagine , who states their escapades were broadcast live nationwide.

Closing and locking the door, he demands to know how he found out about his house. When Kanonji reveals he invited Rukia along, Ichigo realizes it was her who told him where he lived. Seeing Kanonji, Yuzu knocks Ichigo over while opening the door. When Rukia's Denreishinki alerts her to a Hollow, they rush off to fight it. After numerous incidents of arriving at the supposed site of a Hollow attack, only to find there is no Hollow, Ichigo and Rukia bicker. When Ichigo asks if there is another Shinigami defeating the Hollows before him, Rukia tells him Shinigami are strictly sorted, and it should not be the case.

While discussing his high grades with Keigo and Mizuiro, Ichigo notes his orange hair causes him a lot of trouble, as older students pick on him and teachers watch him closely, so he studies so the school does not complain about him.

Rukia drags Ichigo off, prompting him to complain about the rumors regarding them. When she tells him to complain later, as there is a Hollow, Ichigo tells her he will not forgive her if it is not there this time, but they find nothing.

Realizing he cannot remember his full name, Ichigo lists off possible names out loud. Pointing out his sensei's wish was to work together, Ichigo, asking if he will do that now, says fighting back to back is the best way to deal with the situation. Ichigo attacks the Menos Grande.

As the two begrudgingly work together, Ichigo, telling him his approach to their fight is endangering the people he wants to protect, says he will not forgive him for that. They agree to beat each other up after the Hollows have been dealt with, but as they prepare to attack a horde of Hollows, a Menos Grande appears.

Saying there is no way they can figure out how to fight such a monster and they will have to simply cut it repeatedly until it succumbs to its injuries, Ichigo, charging towards the Menos, attacks its leg, but is knocked back by the unfazed Menos.

Stating he never controls his energy output, Ichigo says it must be at maximum all the time. His power increasing as he resists the Cero, Ichigo repels the attack, injuring the Menos in the process. That night, Ichigo, taking the leftovers from dinner to give to Rukia, finds she is gone. Hearing a muffled noise, Ichigo finds Kon gagged and tied to the back of the toilet bowl. When Ichigo asks why he was tied up, Kon, saying Rukia is in big trouble, shows Ichigo a note she left on his desk.

Confused by the message, which tells them she has to leave and they should go into hiding instead of looking for her, Ichigo decides to change into his Shinigami form and find her. Realizing he cannot change form without Rukia, Ichigo demands a reluctant Kon change him into a Shinigami. Appearing at the window, Urahara changes him into his Shinigami form. Renji Abarai unleashes his Shikai against Ichigo.

Leaping into the air, he slashes Ichigo's shoulder. As Ichigo attempts to end the fight, Byakuya severs his sword's tip, leaving Ichigo stunned. As he prepares for Byakuya's subsequent attack, Byakuya, appearing behind him, stabs him.

As Byakuya tells him to let go, Ichigo instructs the captain to look at him when he is talking so he can hear him. Kicking Ichigo's hand away from her brother, Rukia, telling him he should know his place, tells Byakuya she is ready to leave.

As Ichigo protests, Renji tells him to stop making things worse. When Rukia tells Byakuya there is no point in deliberately killing Ichigo, as he will soon stop breathing on his own, Ichigo asks if this is a joke, prompting Rukia to state if he tries to follow her, she will never forgive him.

As she tells him to conserve what energy he has left so he may live a moment longer, Byakuya, acquiescing to Rukia's request, states Ichigo should die shortly due to his injuries, but if he does survive, he will no longer possess any Shinigami powers. As they leave, Ichigo, noting he cannot move or speak, reflects upon how he came to protect Rukia, but instead she protected him again. Ichigo awakens with an unexpected bedfellow. When Ichigo awakens in Urahara's shop, Urahara tells him his wounds are not yet fully healed, and if he moves too much, he may die.

When Ichigo says he cannot do anything, as Rukia has been taken to Soul Society and he cannot follow, Urahara reveals he can send Ichigo there if he trains with Urahara for the next ten days, revealing Soul Society typically allows a grace period of one month before executions.

Saying Ichigo will die if he goes there in his current condition, he reveals he purposely allowed Ichigo to fight Renji and Byakuya so he would realize this after having fought them himself. He states it will take seven days to open the gate to Soul Society, leaving Ichigo with thirteen days in Soul Society to rescue Rukia. Though unsure if he can become strong enough in ten days, Ichigo agrees to Urahara's deal. Giving Ichigo some pills to take every hour, Urahara, saying he will recover from his injuries by dinnertime, sends him to school for the final day of the term.

At school, Ichigo notes how nobody appears to remember Rukia. As he walks home after dismissing Keigo's invitation to spend the holiday with him, he meets Orihime, who, asking him where Rukia is, notes everyone has forgotten about her, but she believed Ichigo would know. Explaining the situation to her, Ichigo is surprised she can see his Shinigami form.

Noting Ichigo has already made up his mind to rescue Rukia, Orihime, telling him to go save her, insists she does not want her friend to die either. Thanking her, Ichigo, going to the Urahara Shop , shows Urahara his healed wounds. Telling Urahara he told Isshin he would be sleeping over at a friend's house, he asks Urahara to teach him well. Ururu Tsumugiya attacks Ichigo. In Urahara's training area , Ichigo's soul form is freed from his body, and he finds it difficult to move.

Urahara reveals Byakuya destroyed the source of his power, leaving him without any Shinigami powers, and he must restore these in order to fight the Shinigami. Explaining about Reiryoku , stating the more one's Reiryoku rises, the sharper the movements of their spiritual body become, he says if Ichigo can manage to move even better with his spiritual body than he can with his mortal body, they will have completely recovered his Reiryoku.

Urahara has Ururu Tsumugiya attack Ichigo, and she lunges at him, creating a large cloud of dust and debris. Realizing he is able to run away from her, Ichigo attempts to dodge her attacks directly.

Successfully dodging, Ichigo attacks Ururu by trying to hit her headgear lightly, believing the weight difference will do the rest. When he hits and cuts her face, Ururu kicks him into a rocky outcropping. Catching Ichigo before he hits it, Tessai cushions him from the impact.

Tessai severs Ichigo's Chain of Fate. Congratulating him on clearing the lesson, Urahara asks if Ichigo is still having trouble breathing or moving, which he is not. As Urahara says he has successfully recovered his spirit energy, and the soul tends to gain the Reiryoku faster when it is in danger of being destroyed, Tessai, cutting Ichigo's Chain of Fate , pins him to the ground. The point of this lesson, which Urahara calls " Shattered Shaft ," is to restore Ichigo's Shinigami powers. Dropped to the bottom of a shaft, he is bound with a Kin spell, and Urahara tells him to scale the vertical sides of the deep shaft.

After the corrosion of the chain's fifth link, Ichigo notes the process alternates between a few minutes of painful corrosion and a few hours of dormancy. Only able to attempt to escape during the dormant phases, Ichigo unsuccessfully tries to run up the wall.

Asking him if he is hungry, Jinta Hanakari explains a soul feeling hungry is a sign they will soon become a Hollow. Later, as Ichigo wonders how long he has been in the hole for and how he can get out of it, Jinta runs down the shaft's wall with a platter of fruit for him. When Ichigo, denying he is hungry, says the chain is still long, Jinta reveals it has been seventy hours since he entered the shaft, and the final corrosion phase is stronger than the earlier ones. As the remaining length of the chain begins to corrode, a hole opens in Ichigo's chest, and a mask begins to form over his face.

Awakening inside his consciousness, Ichigo sees a man standing on a building. Surprised that Ichigo does not recognize him, the man says his name, but Ichigo cannot hear it.

Stating it is sad, the man asks how many times he has to tell him his name before he is able to hear it, as he thought nobody in this world knew him better than Ichigo. When Ichigo falls from the building, the man, following him, states he should not worry, as Shinigami control death. As Ichigo tells him he is not currently a Shinigami, the man, telling him to focus the Reishi around him underneath his feet to stand on, urges Ichigo to remember a time when he stopped in mid-air as a Shinigami.

He tells Ichigo Byakuya destroyed the powers given to him by Rukia, but Ichigo has his own Shinigami powers, which were hidden deep in his soul and awakened by Rukia's power.

As the world crumbles around him, he instructs Ichigo to find it. With the buildings of his inner world dissolving into countless boxes, Ichigo, falling through a fissure into water, wonders how he can find his own powers. Telling him this time he ought to hear his name, the man urges him to take the hilt. Congratulating him on his success, Urahara says he is now a complete Shinigami.

Having sworn to kill Urahara when he got out of the shaft, Ichigo hits him in the eye with the sword's hilt. Urahara starts the third lesson, which is simply to knock the hat off of Urahara's head. As Ichigo proposes a five minute time limit, Urahara draws a blade from within his cane. Ichigo and Kisuke Urahara clash. As Ichigo, thinking he is going to die, runs away, Urahara continues to attack him.

Ichigo sees the man from his inner world again, who, asking why Ichigo ran when he has not yet called him, reveals his name is Zangetsu.

As the dust settles, a hat-less Urahara, stating he would have lost an arm if it were not for Chikasumi no Tate , says he did not expect so much from one swing. After completing Urahara's training, Ichigo has a relatively normal summer holiday while waiting for the gate to Soul Society to be opened. On the first of August, Ichigo and his friends gather for a fireworks festival, where they catch up. Isshin and the twins, running up to Ichigo, knock him down a bank.

When Ichigo asks if they are drunk, Isshin reveals a juice seller used wine to dilute their juice instead of water. Telling the group they saved a seat on the opposite bank of the river that morning, Isshin heads off with the girls and several of Ichigo's friends. Seven days after completing his training, Ichigo is summoned to the Urahara Shop. As he leaves, Ichigo says goodbye to his sisters. Isshin lends him an amulet, which he claims Masaki gave to him, stating it will bring him good fortune.

On his way to Urahara's, Ichigo meets up with Orihime. Revealing he did not know she was going until Urahara mentioned it, Ichigo asks her if she is sure about it.

Interrupting them, Urahara invites the group inside. In the underground training area, Urahara, revealing the Senkaimon they will be using to enter Soul Society, removes Ichigo's Shinigami form from his body. As the others examine his body, Ichigo complains about them touching it freely. Explaining how the Senkaimon works, Urahara says it will only stay open for four minutes.

If they do not reach Soul Society in that time, they will become trapped in the Dangai. When Yoruichi tells them only those who are truly ready for the task can go, Ichigo says everyone gathered there has already made their decision and will go to Soul Society. When Yoruichi tells him they will never return if they lose, Ichigo states they simply have to win. When the Senkaimon opens, Ichigo tells Kon to take care of his family. Upon gaining access to Seireitei, he is repelled outside the gate by Captain Gin Ichimaru.

Beating Ikkaku, Ichigo, sparing his life, learns that as the strongest of the intruders, he will be hunted down by Captain Kenpachi Zaraki. Accidentally attracting the attention of more Shinigami, Ichigo meets up with Ganju again. Renji begs him to rescue Rukia. After Zangetsu helps Ichigo find his resolve, Ichigo manages to injure Kenpachi.

Viewing Ichigo as his equal, Kenpachi decides to unleash his full power, prompting Ichigo and Zangetsu to work together to summon his full power. After the fight ends, with both of them incapacitated, Ichigo is rescued by Yoruichi.

After stopping three lieutenants from pursuing them, he is confronted by Byakuya once more. Coercing Byakuya into using his Bankai, Ichigo, unable to keep up just using his Shikai, reveals his own Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu , and uses his increased speed to outmaneuver Byakuya's Bankai.

After Byakuya counters with his Senkei technique, after a while, Ichigo begins to slow and weaken, giving Byakuya the chance to immobilize him. As he is about to be struck down, Ichigo's inner Hollow , surfacing, injures Byakuya. After regaining control of himself, Ichigo and Byakuya prepare for one final clash. When Ichigo demands to know why Byakuya will not save his sister, Byakuya promises to answer if Ichigo wins. After they clash, while Ichigo struggles to stand, Byakuya explains himself.

When Renji, refusing to hand over Rukia, is wounded by Aizen, Ichigo arrives to fight against the treacherous captain. After being healed by Orihime, Ichigo and the others spend a week in Soul Society, where he, sparring with the 11th Division , learns from Rukia she has decided to stay in Soul Society.

Note: Events occurring in this arc are only in the anime and do not constitute canon material. Ichigo, unaware he is unable to perform Bankai outside of Soul Society, faces three Modified Souls in a series of games, set by Urahara, which involve kidnapping Ichigo's friends, all unbeknownst to Ichigo.

Ichigo fights them , but they prove to be tough to beat. He discovers when the twins are separated, their ability to control their Dolls is greatly reduced. With some assistance from Ganju Shiba, the group kills the weakened Dolls with fireworks. There, Ichigo engages Utagawa in battle , during which he obliterates a large portion of the house, surprising both Utagawa and Maki Ichinose.

When Ichinose confronts Ichigo , the two fight until Kariya, taking over, overpowers Ichigo. As Ichigo is on the brink of defeat, Urahara and his assistants arrive to rescue them. When Ichigo is beaten, his inner Hollow takes over.

Managing to repel his inner Hollow, Ichigo succumbs to his previous injuries. When Izuru Kira , appearing, disables the Doll, Koga retreats. When Renji and Ichigo, continuing into the depths of the cave, find Ugaki, Renji decides to take on Gesell with his Bankai so Ichigo will have the strength to take on the remaining Bount.

As the cave begins to crumble, Yumichika Ayasegawa convinces Ichigo to leave them behind and go further into the cave. Ichigo starts a battle with Kariya, who, defeating Ichigo, threatens to kill him with Zangetsu , convincing Ichigo to recover his will to fight and regain his ability to use his Bankai. When Ichigo asks Byakuya for assistance, he, declining the request, says Ichigo's job is in the Human World.

Later, Ichigo, coming across Byakuya and Kariya fighting in a forest , joins in, but they are unable to beat the Bount leader. Arriving, Kenpachi challenges Ichinose , allowing the others to pursue the Bount. Absorbing the energy, Kariya, using its destructive potential as a threat to keep Ichigo at bay, gives the whole of Soul Society a day to think about their impending destruction. With permission from Matsumoto, Ichigo uses the 10th Division as a base of operations during this time.

As Kariya attacks Ichigo, whose inner Hollow momentarily takes over, Ichigo, regaining control of his body, tells Kariya he cannot absorb spirit particles to heal himself because Ran'Tao sealed his absorption ability.

Afterwards, they return to the Human World. After Ichigo returns from Soul Society, Isshin attacks him in bed. Ichigo blocks the attack, earning praise from Isshin. At school, he realizes Tatsuki can see his Substitute Shinigami badge, which alerts him to a nearby Hollow, which he rushes to defeat.

That night, he is confronted by Shinji Hirako , who reveals both he and Ichigo are Visored. Ichigo blocks an attack from Yammy Llargo. Interrupting his thoughts, Karin reveals she knows he is a Shinigami. Ichigo's inner Hollow, interfering, paralyzes Ichigo, allowing Yammy to injure both him and Orihime.

Yoruichi and Urahara arrive to protect them, prompting the Arrancar to withdraw. After his failure against Yammy, Ichigo becomes depressed that he cannot protect his friends. Rukia forces Ichigo to defeat a Hollow, all the while chastising him, and forces him to apologize to Orihime.

When Renji tells him they cannot return to Soul Society until after the Arrancar threat is dealt with, Ichigo insists they cannot all stay at his house, and they eventually leave, except for Rukia, who convinces Isshin and Yuzu to allow her to stay in the girls' room using a cover story. Ichigo stops Di Roy Rinker from killing Sado.

During the night, six Arrancar, lead by Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez invade Karakura Town, seeking targets with spiritual power. Telling Ichigo to step aside, as he already exceeded his strength when he fought Yammy, Rukia transforms into her Shinigami form, which surprises Ichigo.

As Rukia yells to Ichigo to retreat, Grimmjow impales her. Charging at Grimmjow, Ichigo, unable to harm him with his Shikai, activates his Bankai, but Grimmjow, blocking Ichigo's strikes unarmed, outmaneuvers him. Blocking it with his arms, the Arrancar takes minimal damage, and Ichigo realizes he is in danger of his inner Hollow taking over.

When an angry Ichigo demands Grimmjow finish their fight, Grimmjow counters by saying the only reason Ichigo is still alive is because he is leaving before their fight is finished. As the Garganta closes, Ichigo is left to ponder the events which have occurred. When Renji, arriving, asks Ichigo if he won, Ichigo states he lost, but Renji says since he is alive, it means he won.

Telling him not to patronize him, as he would not be saying this if he were in Ichigo's position, Ichigo states he cannot protect anyone or even help the wounded. Feeling unable to control his inner Hollow, Ichigo seeks out the Visored in order to gain control. The other Visored stop Ichigo, who is told he must force the Hollow into the very core of his soul.

While the Visored fight his out of control body, in his inner world, Ichigo, unable to damage the Hollow, is instead stabbed. After a brief discourse with his Hollow and another with a manifestation of Kenpachi, Ichigo learns he lacks pure fighting spirit, instead needing reasons to fight his opponents. His spirit rekindled by this revelation, Ichigo, subduing his inner Hollow, regains consciousness.

Ichigo challenges Grimmjow, donning his Hollow mask in battle for the first time. A month later, Ichigo once again fights Grimmjow , though he can only remain in his masked form for eleven seconds. As he overwhelms the 6th Espada, his mask crumbles when the time limit expires, and Grimmjow counterattacks.

Pinning his hands to the ground, the Espada tries to kill him with a Cero , but Rukia freezes his arm.

As Grimmjow tries to kill her, Shinji, stepping in, fights him until the Arrancar retreat. When Ichigo awakens, he realizes his wrist has been healed by Orihime.

Quincy Zangetsu hates Shinigami, and knew that the path of a Shinigami would lead to a confrontation with Yhwach and ultimately Ichigo's death. As Ichigo's opponents grew stronger, and Quincy Zangetsu became more attached to the boy, he would eventually relinquish control over Ichigo's powers. In doing so, Quincy Zangetsu introduces Ichigo to Hollow Zangetsu, who is again, a manifestation of Ichigo's true Shinigami powers, and thus the real Zangetsu.

As Ichigo grows stronger and accesses more of the power of the real Zangetsu, he unknowingly accesses and releases more of his Hollow powers as well, evidenced by his Vizard and Vasto Lorde transformations. Ichigo at first thinks of these events as his inner-Hollow attempting to take over his soul, but it is actually just the effect of Ichigo drawing on the power of the real Zangetsu.

It is impossible for Ichigo to draw on the full potential of his Shinigami powers without also drawing out the potential of his Hollow powers, as they are one and the same. Hollow Zangetsu never wanted to take over Ichigo's soul, but simply wanted to help him grow stronger. When Zangetsu throws the detached arm at him, Ulquiorra slashes it away and thrusts the spear.

Catching it with a single hand, Zangetsu crushes it. Ulquiorra is left dumbfounded, allowing Zangetsu to slice him down the torso and slam him to the ground. As Ulquiorra states he cannot believe he was defeated by a Human turned Hollow, Zangetsu steps on Ulquiorra's head and begins charging a Cero.

Commenting on how Zangetsu shows no mercy, something very Hollow-like, Ulquiorra states because Zangetsu has beaten him, he has no reason to live, and tells him to do it. Zangetsu releases the Cero, creating a vast and powerful explosion on the dome of Las Noches. Ulquiorra survives, but his left arm, both legs, and lower torso are blown away in the blast.

Tossing his tattered body aside, Zangetsu prepares to impale his throat with his sword. The explosion shatters Ichigo's mask, and he falls to the ground. As his body and leg begins to regenerate, Ulquiorra thinks to himself it is merely a front, for his internal organs were decimated from Zangetsu's Cero and cannot regenerate. Though he believes Ichigo is finally dead, the hole in Ichigo's chest completely repairs itself, and Ichigo gets up, shocking Ulquiorra with his ability to use High-Speed Regeneration.

Later, when Ichigo is fighting the manifestation in his inner world, the manifestation makes his way to Ichigo and rips Zangetsu out of Ichigo's body. When Ichigo sees Zangetsu, he is in his Bankai state as well, but he is now wearing a black mask with horns and white lines stretching vertically across the eyes.

Greeting Ichigo, who is shocked by his sudden appearance, Zangetsu removes his mask and asks if he recognizes him. Wondering how Zangetsu is standing before him, Ichigo states he should have disappeared when Ichigo defeated him while training with the Visored.

Zangetsu reminds Ichigo how he said that if he wanted to control his power, he should not die before his return. When Ichigo states he was trying to crush him out back during his training, Zangetsu says it is unfortunate, since he is still around. When Ichigo asks him why his appearance changed, the manifestation informs him he took this form when he killed Ulquiorra and states Ichigo fears this form, for the destructive power overwhelms his heart to the point where he cannot even Hollowfy properly.

When Ichigo concludes he has to fight Zangetsu and win, the manifestation tells him this is incorrect, for Ichigo is going to fight both of them in a one-on-one fight. They begin to fuse together, much to Ichigo's confusion, and take on a new form. Upon fusing, they take on a hybrid appearance: Zangetsu's white Bankai coat, black horn mask remnant, white-colored hair, and left Hollowfied eye, alongside Tensa Zangetsu's appearance and black Bankai sword. Stating they are two parts of a single being, the source of Ichigo's power, they begin fighting him.

Cutting Ichigo's own Tensa Zangetsu in half, the merged spirit throws Ichigo into a building and notes Ichigo still will not fall. Much to the merged spirit's surprise, Ichigo lets go of his blade and allows himself to be stabbed. Beginning to shed tears, he asks Ichigo if he remembers earlier in the battle when he said what Ichigo wanted to protect was not what he wanted to protect. Urahara manages to restore Ichigo's powers, but his Reiatsu is unstable, for the Modified Soul was incomplete.

As a result, Zangetsu attempts to take over Ichigo's body, but is suppressed. Kin , Urahara leaves with Kon to find a way to stabilize Ichigo's Reiatsu. While they are absent, Ichigo has difficulties in suppressing Zangetsu. In a blast of black-red Reiatsu, Ichigo's body is transformed into his first full Hollow form, and the Hollow began wandering through the Seireitei.

Kin and state Ichigo cannot return to a Shinigami nor become a complete Hollow. Before he can be struck down, Zangetsu is saved by Rukia Kuchiki. As she joins her allies in facing Yushima, the latter overwhelms them in an explosive demonstration of his powers, which frees Zangetsu.

Before Yushima can slay Rukia, Zangetsu unexpectedly intervenes and shields Rukia with his body. Master Swordsman : Zangetsu's skill in swordsmanship has developed alongside Ichigo Kurosaki 's. While Ichigo fights in a deductive and logical manner, Zangetsu fights in a style more akin to a berserker, relying on instinct with little to no regard towards his own well-being. He also claims to have more experience with Bankai than Ichigo even when they both awakened it only hours before utilizing it against Byakuya.

Highly Perceptive Combatant : Despite his arrogant and insane demeanor, Zangetsu is a very insightful and crafty fighter. While regularly mocking Ichigo, his mocking also has deep rational knowledge behind it which ultimately helps Ichigo come to better understand himself and his powers. Zangetsu's intellect has also been useful in battle.

He quickly realizes mistakes in Ichigo's battle tactics and corrects them, and almost instantly adapts to his opponent's battle tactics to perfectly counter them. Immense Spiritual Power : Zangetsu can emit a large amount of uncontrollable red-colored Reiatsu , which can pulverize the area around him. Enhanced Strength : Zangetsu's physical strength is much greater than Ichigo's, despite them inhabiting the same body. Enhanced Speed : In addition to having greater raw strength, Zangetsu is noticeably craftier and more agile in his movements than Ichigo.

He can catch his blade in midair and perform a salto before landing. He gains any power Ichigo does, evidenced by his use of Bankai.

The mask used as a shield in the fight against Kenpachi Zaraki. Mask Shielding : Because Ichigo's body is necessary for his very existence, Zangetsu protects it with his mask. During the conversation, the old man admits he bears the appearance of Yhwach, a Quincy leader whom Ichigo disdains. Still using the name Zangetsu, the man then tells Ichigo he hid his true identity to sabotage the boy on purpose; The Quincy race was nearly destroyed by Soul Reapers, and Zangetsu felt he would have to kill Ichigo if he took up such a title.

However, Zangetsu realized Ichigo could never be like the Soul Reaper who tested the Quincy, and the old man let himself fade away from existence so Ichigo could meet his true Zanpakuto.

The crazed creature is a mixed of Ichigo's Soul Reaper powers and a Hollow which his mother passed down to him at his brith.