'Bleach' Databook Reveals New Details About Ichigo's Powers

Bleach fans are not afraid to admit Ichigo Kurosaki is confusing. The character is undoubtably overpowered, but it is hard to keep up with his power-ups. A new book has only made is that much more confusing, but fans are okay with the update.

After all, it does confirm an interesting tidbit about Ichigo’s Bankai.

Thanks to fan translators, netizens learned new information about Ichigo from the Unmasked databook. According to online summaries, the novel confirms that Ichigo is connected to the “severed chain of Tensa Zangetsu” through his spiritual pressure. The connection is what allowed Ichigo’s inner-Hollow to summon the blade, and the power is just one the hero was born with.

Of course, fans are not too surprised to learn Ichigo was just born with the ability. After all, the protagonist shares both Hollow and Soul Reaper heritage. In fact, Ichigo has the powers of a Soul Reaper, Quincy, and Hollow within him -- and that is not counting his Fullbringer stint.

The new tidbit of information has fans looking back at Ichigo’s Tensa Zangetsu to see how it works. The name, which translates to Heaven Chain Slaying Moon, fits an attack that is rather different. When Ichigo debuted his Bankai, it was very different from any other one as it actually made Ichigo’s Zanpakuto shrink. A broken chain dangled from the slender sword once it had transformed, and it seems that tether is what connected Ichigo’s spiritual energy to the blade.

Of course, fans learned the Bankai which Ichigo learned was not his true one. Zangetsu was actually a manifestation of his Quincy powers, and Ichigo displayed an entirely new Bankai when he was stripped of that strength. The manga gave Ichigo a duel-bladed Bankai when he fought Yhwach at its end, and Ichigo learns to use his true Zanpakuto without any Hollow or Quincy interference.