In episode #13 of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, be prepared for SPOILERS. Ichigo Kurosaki experiences the destruction of his Bankai, only to reforge his sword and unleash its true power in the season finale of the first half of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War. Throughout his journey as a Shinigami, Ichigo has relied on his Zanpakuto, or Soul Sword, named Zangetsu. However, in order to unlock its full potential, Ichigo must first uncover the hidden origins behind his formidable abilities. It is during the two-part mid-season finale of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War that the true depth of Ichigo's ignorance regarding the nature of his sword is revealed.
Ichigo's New Zangetsu Perfectly Represents His Evolution
In episode 13 of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, titled "The Blade Is Me," Ichigo returns to Ho-ohden, Zero Division's palace, where he meets Nimaiya Oetsu, the creator of all Zanpakuto. After failing to acquire a new sword due to the destruction of his Bankai by Yhwach, Ichigo is sent back to Earth by Nimaiya. He discovers that his mother was a Quincy, which gives him a new understanding of his own nature. In the process of reforging Zangetsu, Ichigo confronts the spirit he believed to be his sword, only to learn that it was actually a vestige of his Quincy powers. The true spirit of Zangetsu is his "inner Hollow", White. Ichigo decides to reconcile the two parts of his soul and wield them both in battle, resulting in the creation of a new Zangetsu with two separate black blades.
In Bleach, the larger blade symbolizes Ichigo's inner Hollow, which represents his Shinigami/Hollow powers. The smaller blade represents what Ichigo referred to as "the old man," now revealed to be the embodiment of his Quincy powers. Although the power of this new Zangetsu remains a mystery, its reforged blade instantly evaporates the sea that Nimaiya uses to quench his blades. It is evident that Ichigo's new Zanpakuto embodies the balance he has worked so hard to achieve between his different sides. This duality in his sword reflects his unique nature and provides his only chance to defeat the formidable Quincy Emperor, Yhwach.
The first part of the season finale of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War not only unveiled the astonishing truth about Ichigo's origins, but it also provided a tantalizing glimpse of his formidable power, which will be fully unleashed in the second half of the anime. Throughout the countless battles in Bleach, Ichigo has been accompanied by his trusty sword, Zangetsu, which symbolizes his transformation as a person and his embracing of his authentic identity. Don't miss out on streaming Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War now on Hulu and Disney+.
