Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-27458826-20180127131846/@comment-26912075-20180217032039

He doesn't have an Asauchi, that doesn't mean that he doesn't have a Zanpakuto. In fact, depending on what version you are reading, Nimaiya actually says that Ichigo has a zanpakuto despite not having an asauchi. He also referred to Ichigo's sword as a zanpakuto before it got reforged several times. You also didn't explain as to why a zanpakuto spirit had the same power that Ichigo had despite the fact that you claim he didn't have a zanpakuto. Ichigo is practically the exception to all rules. Old Man Zangetsu even said when Ichigo confronted him that his shinigami power was slowly slipping out to him, hence the Shikai and Bankai. You keep referring to White Ichigo as Zangetsu, which isn't wrong, but Ichigo directly stated that he believes both Old Man and White to be Zangetsu and his dual shikai in the end of the series is popularly believed to be a representation of both his hollow/shinigami and quincy power. Also, he forced Old Man Zangetsu out and forced him to submit and he also confronted white in the visored hangout and forced him to submit as well, meaning both his spirits have submitted to him before. Nimaiya didn't state he knew the location of every zanpakuto, only every asauchi. It was never directly stated that Ichigo does not have a zanpakuto because he didn't use an asauchi. So essentially what you are saying is that his sword is practically IDENTICAL to a zanpakuto, yet isn't? Your claim that characters don't need to say Bankai in order to activate it is head cannon at best, there is no proof of it other than your own conjecture.