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Since the beginning, we see Yoroichi does not wield a Zanpakuto, but isn't it strange? Isn't she a Shinigami and the Zanpakuto is so important for them?

It's true that she has her own fighting style, but like Soi Fon, she has the same fighting style, but uses a Zanpakuto.

There was some flashback moments when we saw younger Yoroichi wielding a Zanpakuto:

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I imagine she had Shikai/Bankai to become a Captain, so she should be stronger if she uses it in a fight. Maybe she has lost it or something?

Rikkin
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  • They never explicitly said anything about her Zanpakuto in the Manga or Anime. Though I doubt she got rid of it – JoeyD473 Sep 11 '13 at 13:36
  • Can I daresay that Tite Kubo forgot about it? Maybe he had some ideas in his head but eventually forgot to flesh it out. One can point to many other inconsistencies in Bleach – Sazid Ahmad Apr 03 '19 at 18:51

6 Answers6

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There are many THEORIES as to what happened to her Zanpakuto. I'm not sure if I can ANSWER your question as definitely as you'd like, but I can list some possible answers. It's up to you to find the one that you believe most plausible. Or we can wait til old Tite Kubo gives us the answer.

  1. She gave it up when she left the Soul Society.

    • Yoruichi is a part of a very honorable family, so it's almost possible that she would leave her Zanpakuto to symbolize the fact that she's leaving the Seireitei.
    • However, a Zanpakuto is a partnership. It's doubtful that somebody could just leave their partner, especially if their Zanpakuto is an animate object. Also, why would she have to give up something that important?

  2. It was stolen.

    • It's not impossible to believe that after a particularly long bout with some Hollow, or another Soul Reaper, it was taken as a trophy. Or even destroyed?
    • However, Yoruichi is an extremely amazing fighter. She couldn't have lost unless she fought something on the level of the Espada.

  3. She keeps it with her, but sees no point in using it.

    • This is what I believe. That she just has it set aside and is waiting for an opportune moment to use it.
    • However, why wouldn't she have used it by now??? You would think, with all the amazing enemies that have been introduced, she would've pulled it out by now.

    • Also, the only reasons she wouldn't use it is if

      • It is too weak to make a difference in battle and she sees no point in using it
      • Or, it is too STRONG and she cannot properly control it
      • Or, she had a falling out with it, and she's not allowed to use it.

Those are just some theories. I believe she wouldn't have gotten rid of it. I think she would've done what Kisuke did. Personally, I think we'll see it one day, along with her Bankai. Sorry that I couldn't answer your question.

nhahtdh
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Hopeless_Noob
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    She might not use it because of some restriction placed on her when she left, i'm sure Kisuke has restrictions on himself but this is only based off from how he was rejected by the gate he created earlier when first sending Ichigo and friends to save Rukia – Memor-X Oct 30 '13 at 00:03
  • possibly she is in a permanent shikai state and her Zanpakuto's released form isn't clearly visible – IG_42 Aug 31 '14 at 18:10
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While there is no definitive answer at this point many of the theories out there are plausible. I however, personally think that one of the most overlooked and underestimated answers is that she simply doesn't like/want to use it. Much to the same affect as to why Sui Feng does not like using her Bankai. (Said reason being that it does not conform to the style of combat the leader of the Stealth Force conforms to.) One may also note that most of the unnamed members of the Stealth Force are typically shown with no Zanpakuto. One must also take into account that Yoruichi is well regarded as one of the finest hand to hand combatants in Soul Society as well as one of the fastest and most proficient users of Shunpo. Keeping these things in mind, perhaps her Zanpakuto would provide no benefit or even hinder her fighting style.

Indra Otsutsuki
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The story of Yoruichi's departure from Soul Society and her back story and Soifon's initiation state that Suzumebachi is the Zanpakuto given to all the reigning leader of the Onmitsukidō or Stealth Force. Yoruichi doesn't have her Zanpakuto because it is inherent to the current leader of the Stealth Force, which she is not.

nhahtdh
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julius
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    any sources to go with this statement? – Dimitri mx Feb 11 '15 at 18:52
  • When they are showing soifon and youroichi's relationship and youroichi's departure from ss can't remember exactly which anime episode, or which manga chapter it was in, but it was definitely during the end of the arc where they are saving rukia – julius Feb 12 '15 at 02:30
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    @Dimitrimx A year later now, but there are more recent developments which show that a Zanpakuto can be passed on to others. Even early on we know that Tosen's Zanpakuto was actually someone else's. More recently we have seen Zanpakutos passed down as ritual implements for certain organizations or households. So it is plausible that the Stealth Squad has a similar tradition. – zibadawa timmy Jan 03 '16 at 04:58
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  1. In her fight with soi fon she throws a kunai.
  2. She merged with it.
  3. She is really the physical manifestation of urahara's zanpakto which is why he doesnt use it past shikai.
Memor-X
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user11249
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    I believe this is incorrect (as far as the third point is concerened) as as far as i know, Kisuke Urahara's Zanpakutō is Benihime and he wilds her when training Ichigo at the same time Yoroichi is training Orihime and Chad early in the series (before mounting the rescue operation for Rukia) – Memor-X Jan 19 '15 at 00:52
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I believe it's more like Ise Nanao's case. It's probable that it's a family something and so she had to give it up for the next in her family to wield it

David Omari-Mensah
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    Can you elaborate on your answer? Provide sources (chapters, episodes, etc) to back up your speculations, at least. – W. Are Mar 02 '19 at 03:05
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In the Zanpaktou Rebellion Arc, it is told by Suzumebachi or Soifon's zanpaktou that she used to belong to Yorouichi. I just saw this recently, but if you see around the 4:30 minute mark of this video, Suzumebachi states this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DgCe9wM_0k.

Anonymouse
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  • Suzumebachi mentions the line "After all, I was your Zanpakuto" - She's referring that she was Soifon's Zanpakuto before the events in this arc. – Thebluefish Oct 15 '14 at 18:54