Highlights
- Kenpachi Zaraki, captain of Squad 11, lives for battle, only recently hearing his Zanpakutou’s voice and unlocking its true power.
- Nozarashi, Zaraki’s Zanpakutou, transforms into a gigantic cleaver that can cut through anything, even space, after he named her.
- Yachiru, who disappeared after Zaraki’s battle, is the manifestation of Nozarashi’s Bankai form, an adult woman with a mysterious connection.
Kenpachi Zaraki is the captain of Squad 11. One of the most popular characters in Bleach. A ferocious, mighty swordsman who lives for one thing and one thing only: battle. Fighting and killing powerful opponents is what gives Zaraki life, it’s his life’s purpose. However, unlike all the other Soul Reapers, Zaraki had no communication with his Zanpakutou for the longest time, as he didn’t even know her name. Soul Reapers depend on their bond with their Zanpakutou, their weapon, and the extension of their soul, to use their unique powers in battle. But Zaraki, for most of his life, has felled countless rivals merely through brute force and skill with the sword.
In his epic battle against Sternritter V – Gremmy Thoumeaux, Zaraki finally unleashed his Shikai. After fulfilling his Kenpachi tradition battle, he finally heard his Zanpakutou’s voice, and she told him her name. But right after Zaraki defeated Gremmy, his lieutenant, Yachiru Kusajishi, mysteriously disappeared. Who exactly is Yachiru?
Nozarashi, A Sword Soaked in Blood
A Sword Used for the Fiercest Battles
Kenpachi Zaraki’s Zanpakutou is named Nozarashi, Japanese for “Weather-Beaten One”. Nozarashi’s true form, her Shikai, is a gigantic cleaver who can cut through anything, even the fabric of space. Nozarashi’s Shikai form has only been seen once, as Zaraki has only unlocked her Shikai after knowing her name very recently. For most of Zaraki’s life, Nozarashi was merely a regular katana with a very chipped blade. Zaraki took Nozarashi when she was first a blank asauchi from a dead Soul Reaper he had killed as a child. Eventually, like any other Zanpakutou, Nozarashi gained a name, abilities, and spirit form. However, Zaraki remained ignorant of this.
One day, after yet another killing spree in the Rukongai district, Zaraki found a baby girl with pink hair. When Zaraki asked her her name, she simply touched the sword in his hand. That baby was Nozarashi, physically manifesting herself in front of Zaraki, signaling to him who she was by touching the sword. Zaraki gave her a name and took her with him, as a sort of foster daughter. He called her Yachiru, naming her after the only person Zaraki ever admired, the fearsome Yachiru Unohana, the first Kenpachi.
In time, Yachiru stayed with Zaraki, growing up with him and developing a cheerful and childish personality, although showing much greater intelligence for her age. When Zaraki gained the title of Kenpachi and joined the Gotei 13 as captain of Squad 11, Yachiru became his lieutenant. However, Yachiru never fought a single enemy or even showed her Zanpakutou powers. When Zaraki finally heard her voice and knew her name, Yachiru witnessed him battling Gremmy, and as he unleashed her Shikai form, she remembered when they first met, and disappeared, leaving her lieutenant badge behind. Yachiru simply returned to Zaraki’s soul, as they were finally in tune with each other, she no longer needed to manifest externally.
I who have been by your side longer than anyone, closer than any other, always watching over you. It is a pleasure to meet you, Kenpachi Zaraki. My name is…
In Tite Kubo’s Klub Outside, the author of Bleach explained that Yachiru is merely the manifestation of Nozarashi’s Bankai form, and her real form is that of an adult woman. He said that Nozarashi is similar to Zangetsu and Tensa Zangetsu in that regard, as Zangetsu is manifested as an adult Yhwach and Hollow Ichigo, while Tensa Zangetsu manifests as a teen Yhwach and a Vasto Lorde Hollow Ichigo.
When Ichigo first fought Zaraki in the Soul Society arc, Yachiru jumped on his shoulder, and Ichigo says he didn’t sense her presence, and that she’s no ordinary being. Old Man Zangetsu also told Ichigo he could hear Nozarashi scream her name to Zaraki, but he never listened to her.
It may seem strange that Nozarashi is a female spirit while her master is a man. However, Zanpakutou spirits can take any form, whether it is a different gender than their masters, or even as animals, as is the case for Renji Abarai’s Zabimaru, who takes the form of a baboon with a serpent tail. Ichigo’s Zangetsu is manifested as two separate beings; Old Man Zangetsu and White Zangetsu.
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