Board Thread:Questions and Answers/@comment-2197197-20160911070805/@comment-28044177-20160913215124

If the Tenshintai is the only other way a Spirit was shown to manifest from, then you can't use it to back up your claim that Spirits can be seen by anyone. We're talking about if Spirits manifested the normal way can be seen by others. But the Tenshintai is a rare alternative way. You get what i'm saying? Also, since the Tenshintai itself can be seen by anyone and the Spirit uses that as a catalyst to manifest in the real world, then it would make sense that the Spirit would be seen by others too. Hell, I can even say that only Yoruichi could see Zangetsu other than Ichigo because it's her Reiatsu that's keeping the Tenshintai stable. Renji could have only been looking at Ichigo for all we know.

Renji making a point that he could manifest Zabimaru was just so that Ichigo knows he's close to obtaining Bankai. Zabimaru being shown was just for the readers.

One, the Quincy did steal the spirits. Hence why Toshirou and the others couldn't communicate with their Zanpakutou Spirits. The Shinigami were still able to use their Shikai because it's just the initial power. They just can't use the complete final power without the Spirit. Two, I was referring to Toshirou manifesting Hyourinmaru after he got his Bankai back, and Cang didn't see it. Same with Shunsui manifesting Katen after using Bankai, yet Lille didn't know who he was talking too.

What do you mean about the Zangetsu/Zaraki thing? He manifested and helped out Ichigo. Nothing is different there. That was the moment where Ichigo started to develop potential to achieve Bankai.

It's not inventing more rules... Shinigami can see their own Zanpakutou Spirits because it's their own Spirit. Kyoukotsu has Nanao's Zanpakutou, so Nanao should be able to see her too while she has her sword. That's why Shunsui originally said that Kyoukotsu was Nanao's Zanpakutou, only to correct himself by stated that it was just hiding her sword within herself.