Summary
The finale of Part 1 ofBleach: Thousand Year Blood Waradapted a massively important and beloved moment forBleachfans:The Blade is Me. After Ichigo understands and accepts his origins thanks to his father, Isshin, telling him everything about his mother, O-Etsu Nimaiya forges a new Zanpakutou for him. After Ichigo’s Asauchi is revealed to resemble his Hollow side, fans get the first step into Bleach’s biggest twist.Old Man Zangetsu, who Ichigo has considered the center of his power,was actually the manifestation of his Quincy heritage, taking the form of a younger Yhwach. And his real Zanpakutou was the Hollow, White, now accepted to be calledWhite Zangetsu.
The usual reaction to this revelation proves how wellTite Kubowrote this twist. Most fans accept it immediately, realizing the resemblance between Old Man Zangetsu andYhwach, thinking back to those moments when the Hollow saved Ichigo. The Blade is Me was hinted at much more than fans think.
Meeting the Old Man Zangetsu
An Impostor and yet, an ally
When Ichigo trains to awaken his real Soul Reaper powers, he enters his inner world for the first time. And there, he meets a shadowy, old man with shades. This man tells Ichigo his name, but when he does, it’s unintelligible. Ichigo later accepts this man as Zangetsu, the spirit manifestation of his Zanpakutou. Zangetsu’s name was covered up byIchibe Hyousube, who had smeared Yhwach’s name with his Zanpakutou, erasing it from existence. Zangetsu initially tried to tell Ichigo his real name, Yhwach, but it was erased by Ichibe.
Ichigo… I hate the rain
Later, every time Ichigo trained in his inner world, only once did he do so with the Old Man, but it was with the Hollow. White Zangetsu was always the one who trained Ichigo and let him attain higher power. The one time Old Man Zangetsu trained Ichigo was during his Bankai training in Soul Society. And as is revealed later, that iteration of Tensa Zangetsu as Bankai was a fake. Therefore, theOld Man only gave Ichigo a fake Bankai.
When Ichigo battled Zaraki Kenpachi for the first time, Old Man Zangetsu gave him a temporary power boost. In this form, Ichigo’s eyes glowed blue, similar toUryuu Ishida’swhen he usedLetzt Stil. However, when he was about to charge into Kenpachi, an aura manifested around him, in the shape of his Hollow mask.
Zangetsu, The Violent Protector
The Hollow was Always the Real One
During his battles in theSoul Society arc, Ichigo’s wounds healed quickly, and a Hollow mask appeared where he had received serious wounds. This was Zangetsu using his Hollow powers to protect Ichigo. High-level Hollows can useHigh-Speed Regenerationto quickly recover from most wounds, as Zangetsu originated from aVasto Lorde-like Hollow calledWhite, he had access to powerful techniques.
What’s the difference between a horse and the king?… Instinct!
When Ichigo first awoke his true Soul Reaper powers thanks toKisuke Urahara, he rose from the pit wearing his Hollow mask. This was much before he learned how to use it in theArrancar Arc.The moment Ichigo manifested his powers,they were already linked to his Hollow side.
During his Visored training, Ichigo battled Zangetsu in his inner world, and when he asked for the Old Man, the Hollow replied"I am Zangetsu". Back then, most fans assumed he was lying, considering Zangetsu’s usual antagonizing demeanor. But Zangetsu was telling him the truth right there, yet Ichigo refused to believe him. During that same training, Zangetsu used Bankai just like Ichigo. This was yet another hint at him being the real Zanpakutou, as the Old Man never used Zanpakutou’s abilities. Ichigo’s kimono changes shape completely when he enters Bankai. This is uncommon for a Soul Reaper, as their clothing isn’t related to their powers. An Espada’s clothes and body change when they enterResurreccion. When Ichigo battled Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez inLas Noches, Tier Harribel questioned whether Ichigo was truly a Soul Reaper. She commented that thebattle felt more like it was between two Espada.
When Ichigo was about to be defeated by Byakuya Kuchiki, Zangetsu took over Ichigo and beat Byakuya. When Hiyori had Ichigo against the ropes, Zangetsu took over. When Ichigo was getting beaten by Yammy, Zangetsu tried to take over. When Ichigo was killed by Ulquiorra Cifer, Zangetsu took over and defeated Ulquiorra. Every time Ichigo was in danger, it wasn’t the Old Man who saved Ichigo,it was the Hollow.
White Tensa Zangetsu, One and the Same
Ichigo’s Truth, Right in Front of Him
When Ichigo trained in the Dangai to battle Aizen, he was met by a new face, a younger man calling himself Tensa Zangetsu. This was the Bankai form of Old Man Zangetsu. He then ripped White Zangetsu from Ichigo’s body. And he manifested as the Vasto Lorde form he used against Ulquiorra. Tensa Zangetsu told Ichigo he and the Hollow were one and the same,they were both Ichigo’s power.The two spirits merged and became White Tensa Zangetsu, and it was this form that gaveIchigo the power to use Mugetsu. The fusion of both spirits was needed to help Ichigo attain his ultimate technique.
Just like White Zangetsu did before, White Tensa outright tells Ichigo the truth, both of them are his power, and they are both Zangetsu. And yet, once again, Ichigo didn’t listen to them. Zangetsu has been trying to make Ichigo understand them and understand his real power, but in his anxiety and confusion, Ichigo simply couldn’t grasp the truth.
What you want to protect is not the same thing I want to protect
Zangetsu’s true identity as the Hollow within Ichigo as the main power and the Old Man as his smaller Quincy side was constantly hinted at. Within the story itself to Ichigo, and the viewer. Keen-eyed audiences even began calling White by his real name, Zangetsu, even before The Blade is Me. And even those who didn’t immediately accept the twist as fact, since the truth was always in front of them. The puzzle was always almost complete,only missing one final piece: Ichigo himself.
Bleach
Cast
Based on Tite Kubo’s battle shonen manga, Bleach centers around Ichigo, a high school student who is dragged into the world of Soul Reapers. The original anime ended in 2012, but it was revived in 2022.
