User blog comment:Xilinoc/Ch. 668 - BIGGER,FASTER,STRONGER/@comment-957629-20160331154647/@comment-11446176-20160401033724

Just to throw some water on Sun (Sorry, don't hit me), couldn't Zaraki have picked up the asauchi in District 79, thus "saving her life"?

Can't remember exactly if they showed him picking up the asauchi from a dead Shinigami (might have), but even if it was some asauchi picked up by some common soul and left on the mantelpiece (which would lend even more credence to the theory), his picking her up to use her basically would be saving her. It never said she was wondering around I think, just her suddenly coming up, without fear, and touching his zanpakutou.

Again, don't kill me.