Zanpakutō are inherently linked to Shinigami:
* Spirit Energy (Reiatsu) and Soul: Zanpakutō are born from the soul and Reiatsu of a Shinigami. They represent the inner self, desires, and potential of the Shinigami.
* Spiritual Pressure (Reiatsu): The Shinigami's Reiatsu is concentrated into a blade, manifesting the Zanpakutō's unique form and powers.
* Spiritual Connection: There's a deep spiritual bond between a Shinigami and their Zanpakutō. They can communicate telepathically, and the Zanpakutō can even act independently, like a partner.
Arrancar and Hollow Powers:
* Hollowfication and Reiatsu: When a Hollow becomes an Arrancar, their Reiatsu is refined, but the process doesn't fundamentally change its nature.
* Hollow Powers: Arrancar powers come from their Hollow essence, manifested through their Resurrección. These are not the same as Zanpakutō.
* No Soul-Based Manifestation: Unlike Shinigami, Arrancar lack the same spiritual connection to their Resurrección as Shinigami do to their Zanpakutō. They are more like tools, not living beings.
Why it wouldn't work:
* Different Reiatsu Type: The Reiatsu of Shinigami and Hollows is different. Even if an Arrancar were to try and form a blade with their Reiatsu, it wouldn't be the same type of energy needed to create a Zanpakutō.
* Lack of Spiritual Connection: Without the inherent spiritual connection to a soul, an Arrancar couldn't forge the same kind of relationship with a blade.
Conclusion:
While Arrancar can use their Reiatsu to form weapons, these are not Zanpakutō. Their powers are inherently tied to their Hollow origins and manifest through Resurrección, not through the soul-based process of Zanpakutō creation.
However, there are a few interesting exceptions:
* The Visored: These characters were once Shinigami who partially Hollowfied. They retained their Zanpakutō and even gained Hollow powers, demonstrating a potential bridge between these two concepts.
* Unique Cases: The anime has introduced a few characters with unique Reiatsu that seem to defy typical categories, potentially implying alternative ways to create powerful weapons.
The concept of Arrancar wielding Zanpakutō is fascinating, though it might not fit into the established rules of the Bleach universe!