Black & White

Standing before Ichigo with the true Zangetsu in his grip, the white double of his Hollow is told by the elderly sword spirit to make Ichigo prove himself by wresting the blade away. The double lunges, and Ichigo can only half-block with the borrowed Asauchi before a wave of crushing pressure drives him back. Beside the burning aura of the real weapon, his own plain sword feels like a twig.

The Hollow begins whirling Zangetsu by the cloth at its hilt, then flings it forward and reels it back, a throwing trick Ichigo admits he could never have devised. Between attacks the double mocks him: gripping a weapon this mighty, how did he end up so bloodied? He accuses Ichigo of believing a name alone makes a friend, of shouting Zangetsu's name while caring only about himself and never once trying to understand the spirit or draw out its true strength. Had Ichigo opened his heart, he is told, the blade would already be far stronger.

Dodging another hurled strike, Ichigo concedes the point, recognizing that a Zanpakuto is a living partner with a name rather than a lifeless tool, and recalling with shame how pleased he had been to learn Kenpachi's sword had none. Resolving to know his own weapon, he silently begs Zangetsu to reveal itself to him piece by piece so they can fight together again. As the Hollow charges in for what he swears is the final blow, the two blades trade owners in an instant, leaving Ichigo blocking with the genuine Zangetsu. Grateful for the second chance, he steadies himself. In the outside world, a sudden spike of energy makes Kenpachi turn to find Ichigo upright once more, the restored sword resting on his shoulder.

The Hollow demonstrates Deadly Darts, hurling and retrieving Zangetsu by its hilt cloth, and exposes how little Ichigo has ever understood his own Zanpakuto. Ichigo accepts the criticism, rejects his old view of the sword as a mere tool, and pleads for the spirit to open up to him. Zangetsu answers by swapping the weapons back into Ichigo's hands, and Ichigo returns to the real fight with his blade whole, stunning Kenpachi.

Collected in the thirteenth volume of the series, this installment was drawn into the anime as part of the episode The Immortal Man. Viz Media kept the same title, Black & White, for its English edition. The chapter continues the Soul Society arc and the central duel between Ichigo Kurosaki and the Eleventh Division captain.