Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-11078256-20130620061327

I think we can all agree on one thing; Ichigo's new Zangetsu is not in Shikai, as he has been in Bankai this entire time (look closely at his clad-type detail on his shinigami robes).

Remember what the Zero-division guy said a few chapters back... 6, 5, 4, 3, and finally 2. Whatever lies beyond Bankai (as Shi in Shikai refers to 4 and Ban to San meaning 3) is probably something that will be dramatically different from the form seen here.

Futhermore, I'm not convinced Ichigo CAN fall back into Shikai anymore... I think his excess Reiatsu is far too high at this juncture. It will be interesting how these two blades will behave in combat, whether one will have certain unique characteristics while the other has the ones we all know about.

Perhaps this higher 2-kai will see these blades join forces in ways only Kubo could possibly imagine. (inb4 Trollkai) 