User blog comment:Xilinoc/Ch. 609 - "A"/@comment-4822693-20141211203350

So when Ichibei released his bankai, it was actually a shinuchi? Based on what he said about bankai vs. shinuchi, it seems that he has a different kind of release that is the original form of bankai. I feel like this is set up for Ichigo's next power up --> evolving his bankai into a shinuchi where he can use mugetsu with out losing his powers (or something).