Bleach: Unleashing the Power Within - Renji's Epic Bankai Revealed!

Highlights

Renji unlocks his true Bankai, Sō'ō Zabimaru, in "Rages at Ringside," which is a vastly improved version of his previous Bankai, Hihiō Zabimaru.

Renji can tap into the immense power of techniques like Hihiō and Orochiō through Sō'ō Zabimaru, boosting his range and physical strength. While the name Zabimaru, meaning "Snake Tail," is a translation, it fails to encompass the true meaning behind the "-maru" suffix in Japanese naming conventions, which represents a sense of unity and entirety. Therefore, without the suffix, the Snake Tail is not perceived as a fully encompassing entity by Renji.

The content fragment contains spoilers for BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 2, Episode 5, "Rages at Ringside," which can be streamed on Hulu and Disney+. In this episode, three Bankai were unleashed against a single opponent, Sternritter S - The Superstar, Mask De Masculine. Captains Rojūrō Otoribashi and Kensei Muguruma from the 3rd and 9th Squads were overwhelmed by Mask De Masculine's vitality and enthusiasm, making it seem effortless for him to defeat them. However, 6th Squad Lieutenant Renji Abarai entered the ring, displaying an unusual level of composure despite witnessing the defeat of his superiors and fellow officers. Renji revealed his new Bankai, which allowed him to easily overpower the enemy. The question remains: what are the capabilities of this upgraded Zabimaru and how does it compare to Renji's previous Bankai?

No Shaking Throne

BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Episode 10 – Zanpakuto Origins

To attain Bankai, a Shinigami must undergo rigorous training for many years to awaken the spirit of their Zanpakutō. This process is time-consuming, and even after achieving Bankai, the Shinigami must continue refining their skills. Throughout the series, we see various Captains improving their Bankai for different reasons, considering the unique relationship between their Zanpakutō and themselves.

During the early stages of the Hueco Mundo arc, Ichigo faced the challenge of his inner Hollow and trained with Shinji Hirako and the Visored. This training allowed him to confront "White Ichigo," a manifestation of a supposed malignant aspect of his soul claiming to be his Zanpakutō. White Ichigo posed a question to Ichigo, asking about the difference between a king and a horse.

Notably, Ichigo and Renji's friendship is built upon shared parallels, including the enigmatic nature of their own powers. Like Ichigo, Renji also experienced his Zanpakutō making decisions about how he should utilize its power. After his defeat against the Substitute Shinigami and his discovery of Yoruichi's underground training area, Renji was able to achieve Hihiō Zabimaru and come closer to reaching his full potential. However, he could only accomplish this by acknowledging the dual nature of Zabimaru – the composed baboon and the fiery snake.

Baboon King

Renji's Zanpakutō is called Zabimaru, which means "Snake Tail" in Japanese (written as 蛇尾丸). When Renji utters the activation phrase "Roar," the appearance of Zabimaru changes from a standard katana to a segmented cleaver with several saw-like blades, featuring tooth-like protrusions on the sharp side. This unique design allows Zabimaru to inflict substantial damage on opponents by retracting and striking with each blade. The name of this form aptly describes its appearance.

Initially, Renji's Bankai was revealed as Hihiō Zabimaru, which translates to "Baboon King Zabimaru" (狒々王蛇尾丸). It is an enlarged version of the Shikai concept. Instead of interconnected saws, the segments of Hihiō Zabimaru consist of the vertebrae of a colossal snake, held together by Renji's reiatsu. The tip of the sword transforms into a giant snake skull, and Renji's shoulders are adorned with a green fur cowl.

The tooth-like protrusions from Zabimaru's Shikai form are retained in the vertebrae of the Bankai. The main advantage of Hihiō Zabimaru is its greatly extended range and overwhelming physical power due to its immense size. Renji controls the Bankai using threads of reiatsu, manipulating it like an intricate puppet. Despite its vulnerability to being dismantled, it can be easily reconstructed, making Hihiō Zabimaru a resilient Bankai that is less likely to be permanently destroyed. However, it lacks the necessary power for Renji to effectively engage in combat.

The Two Thrones

So'o Zabimaru – BLEACH Thousand-Year Blood War Part 2 Episode 5

In the episode "Rages at Ringside," Renji learns his Bankai's true name, Sō'ō Zabimaru (also known as "Twin Kings" Zabimaru), from Hyōsube. With this newfound knowledge, Renji proves himself and gains access to his Zanpakutō's authentic Bankai. This upgraded Bankai differs significantly from the incomplete version. Renji now wears a green ape fur cowl on his shoulders, which hangs underneath an armored collar. His left shoulder carries the same fur, creating a distinctive appearance.

Renji's right arm features a red fur gauntlet that extends to the forearm, topped with a snake skull. The gauntlet includes a cleaver-like blade protruding from the snake's "mouth." Additionally, a vertebrae sash connected to the gauntlet hangs around Renji's waist. This Bankai grants Renji access to potent techniques, such as Hihiō. During this attack, a skeletal ape arm manifests from the fur cowl, allowing Renji to strike down his opponent. Orochiō, another powerful technique, involves the unfolding of the vertebrae sash, transforming it into a tail. As this happens, Renji's blade lengthens, and the teeth resemble those of his Shikai.

The pinnacle move of Renji's Bankai is called Zaga Teppō, an attack reminiscent of Super Dragon Fist. Renji activates this technique by impaling his enemy with the sword gauntlet and twisting it like a key. As a result, a colossal pair of snake jaws made from reiatsu materializes and clamps down on the enemy, reducing them to ashes. The name Sō'ō illustrates the two main themes of the Bankai: the baboon and the snake. Despite the conceptual disparity between these elements, Zabimaru's physical form resembles a large white baboon with tattoo-like markings on its arms and a snake-like tail. This form is reminiscent of a mythical creature called a Nue. An intriguing aspect of Zabimaru lies in its name, which translates to "Snake Tail" in English; however, the "-maru" component holds significance that may not translate effectively.

Completion

Renji Learns About Zabimaru – BLEACH Thousand-Year Blood War Part 2 Episode 5

The Japanese nomenclature often incorporates the prefix "-maru" (丸), particularly when it comes to naming boy children. This term denotes a circular or rounded shape, and due to the symbolism associated with such shapes, "-maru" carries the implication of "wholeness" or "completion". Its usage dates back centuries, with Japanese merchant ships in the 12th century commonly being given names ending in "-maru". It is believed to have evolved from the archaic utilization of "-maro" to add respect, auspiciousness, and more significantly, affection to the names of various objects. Notably, during the Meiji era, the suffix was officially mandated for commercial vessel names.

However, "-maru" defies straightforward translation. Hence, the English rendering of "Zabimaru" simply becomes "Snake Tail", which seems fitting. Nevertheless, it almost feels as if without the suffix, the remaining "Zabi" is actually pronounced as "Dabi" – denoting "snake tail" as a singular object, or quite literally, a baboon's tail – rather than the complete entity known as "Snake Tail". If we were to take Hyōsube's statement at face value, implying that "Zabimaru has told only half of its name", then Renji would only have true access to the first half – "Dabi", representing snake tail. This could explain the whip-like characteristics of Renji's Shikai and his former Bankai. Considering the previous Bankai, "Hihiō" (Baboon King), it is worth noting that the aggressive nature of the snake aspect of Zabimaru during the Soul Society arc aligns with this concept of a "half-name". Without "-maru", the Snake Tail is not only incomplete but also perceived as a mere tool by its wielder – leading it to respond to this perceived disrespect in a corresponding manner.