User blog comment:Xilinoc/Ch. 542 - THE BLADE IS ME/@comment-5847836-20130619182602/@comment-11051098-20130620135505

I too think the dual Zanpakutô is his new Shikai, the Asauchi was forged into a Zanpakutô, so it has to be the Shikai form.

As for Uryû's uniform - it was stated that the Stern Ritter each wears a customized version of the standard uniform. Features like this signature hooded-cloak with the emblem on the back are still common to all of them. I guess that Uryû just went along with the standard uniform.

But, does anyone think he might be strong enough to already have been made a Stern Ritter? Or is he just an "un-ranked" or normal member like Quilge?