Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-3423279-20160110184118/@comment-27565137-20160116014205

Kaestal wrote: Oetsu said that the Asauchi are formed from a multitude of Shinigami souls correct? But I have to wonder where the souls came from, does it sacrifice and kill Shinigami or what?

My only thought is that the "souls" is more the reiatsu of Oetsu, which he uses to make the blank swords that other Shinigami use to create their own unique Zanpakuto.

If Oetsu used "live" Shinigami it would be cutting down their forces so I don't really get what he meant when explaining it.

I believe the explanation is quite simple. Oetsu uses fragments of the souls of various shinigamis.

Just think about it for a second. A zanpakutou is a part of the shinigami, born from his or her soul, but it has its own soul. Its own personality.

Asauchi's as I see them they are created like this:

1. Oetsu gathers fragments from the souls of various shinigami's so that way he doesn't harm anyone.

2. He then purifies those fragments, after all we've seen the process by which he creates Asauchi's and one of the main elements is fire. And fire in mysticism is at the same time a destructive and purifying agent. Destroying any traits from the donors all the while creating a pure blade.

4. He also uses that hammer, so like any metalworker, he's taking away the impurities in the blade and molding it to his goals.

5. And then the water to cool down the blade and leave it ready to be used by a shinigami that will fill it part of his or her soul, and by doing so if it's within the shinigami to awaken his true zanpakutou.

After all the name Asauchi says it all. Asauchi literally means "hollow blade" or "shallow blade".