Why ichigo is a hollow

It covers Ichigo's entire head, and its markings are different, for it has four spike-shaped marks, two of them stopping by the forehead and the other two stretching past the eyes and teeth, going past his chin and joining with the marks on his chest.

There are small marks resembling a heart, but with the top and bottom open, extending from the inner corners of his eyes. The mask features two long forward-pointing horns, with black strips extending from their center towards the tips. Hollow Ichigo has his own version of this form, with the opposite colors alternating black with white and vice versa. Hollow Ichigo's crimson Cero has become exceedingly more powerful, completely overwhelming Ulquiorra's Cero Oscuras and causing large-scale destruction to a large portion of the surroundings.

It is fired from between the tips of his horns. However, if one of the horns is cut off, he is unable to form the Cero properly, and any energy already gathered will implode. In this form, Hollow Ichigo can destroy a large portion of Las Noches' roof with the wake of a single slash of his sword.

He easily tore off Ulquiorra's left arm without much resistance from his Hierro. He easily slashed Ulquiorra from his left shoulder to his lower right hip through his Hierro. He can effortlessly throw a large portion of rock with a single hand.

Hollow Ichigo's durability has greatly increased, allowing him to withstand several large explosions in his battle with Ulquiorra at close range with no visible damage. Hollow Ichigo moves at exceedingly fast speeds, appearing behind Ulquiorra and throwing hissevered arm at him before the former could even turn to face him.

After Ulquiorra shatters Ichigo's mask, the energy from his Hollow transformation went above him and came down as some sort of energy, which regrew the lost flesh which made his Hollow hole as a result of Ulquiorra's Cero Oscuras and fully healed him of his injuries from Ulquiorra, who commented on it to this effect.

Since the inner Hollow Ichigo inherited from his mother fused with his original Shinigami powers, Ichigo's inner Hollow is also his Zanpakuto spirit. Hollow Ichigo and the manifestation of Ichigo's Quincy powers are both the source of Ichigo's power and share the same spiritual body in Ichigo's inner world, the stronger presence retaining more control and overall appearance of their body.

Hollow Ichigo takes the form of an all-white clothes and being , somewhat deranged version of Ichigo's Shinigami form with a strong desire to take control of Ichigo's body and power for himself. Zangetsu originally used a black Zangetsu obtained from the manifestation. However, after he becomes the dominant spirit inside Ichigo's mind, Hollow Ichigo carries his own white version of Ichigo's Zanpakuto.

The Shikai form of Hollow Ichigo resembles an oversized khyber knife. It has no tsuba and no proper hilt; what Hollow Ichigo holds is the cloth-wrapped tang. The sword is as long as Hollow Ichigo is tall 1. The cloth wrapping on the tang seems to react to Hollow Ichigo's will, changing length at a thought or twining about the blade in an impromptu sheath. When in combat, the cloth falls away when necessary, shrinking back to a manageable size. The cloth can be used to swing the weapon like a flail and toss it at opponents for mid-range combat, and can wrap up wounds.

The wide blade can be used as a shield from incoming attacks. Unlike most Zanpakuto, in which can be sealed into their original form, the blade is always in its Shikai form. Yoruichi Shihoin states this Zanpakuto is a full-time released form type because of Ichigo's vast but uncontrollable Reiryoku upon generation of it. This slash takes the form of a crescent moon or the shape of a wave.

When Hollow Ichigo uses this technique, it is red in color, while in the physical world, it is black in color with a red outline. The crossguard has four prongs bent out to form the shape of the manji which is the kanji for " ban " meaning " full ", as in "full release". The blade itself is durable enough to withstand even the strongest of attacks, making it quite effective in blocking and deflecting incoming attacks.

It can withstand getting crushed by force. Instead of the cloth Hollow Ichigo's Shikai had, a short length of chain with a broken link at the end dangles from the base of the hilt. The chain can be used to spin the sword with one finger. Tensa Zangetsu, much like its Shikai form, is used heavily for melee combat, but possesses a certain special ability.

Tensa Zangetsu retains the use of Getsuga Tensho, which can be used in the same manner, but in an enhanced form. When used in Bankai, these potent blasts, white with a red outline, can have their path controlled, and possess explosively augmented power and speed.

When Hollow Ichigo uses this technique in the physical world, it is black in color. Hollow Ichigo takes all the power of his Bankai and compresses it into a small, condensed form, which allows him to perform high-speed combat. His new speed allows him to move behind a Shunpo master like Byakuya and attack him. He can appear in front of a Shunpo expert like Ichigo, leaving no time to react. His physical strength increases greatly, shattering Byakuya's Senkei sword with his bare hand, and throwing Ichigo into a building, giving him a serious wound to his forehead as a result.

Unlike Ichigo, Hollow Ichigo took a short time to recover and did not get wounded after being thrown into a building. He can deflect Ichigo's Bankai-enhanced Getsuga Tensho with a single unarmed hand. His Reiatsu is so intense and rough, as well as thick and heavy, it can suffocate Humans just by being in the general vicinity of his released Bankai, and easily surpass Byakuya's Reiatsu.

His Reiatsu is solid in his Bankai, despite him only recently acquiring it. While in Bankai, Zangetsu's Reiatsu turns white, with a red outline. Since all of his energy is compressed, usage of his Bankai does not expel as much Reiatsu as other Bankai from the point of activation, allowing him to use Tensa Zangetsu for a much longer duration than any other Bankai users of his level.

After the manifestation of Ichigo's Quincy powers pulls Zangetsu out of Ichigo during the latter's Dangai training, the two spirits merged into one form, which combined aspects from both spirit's appearances; Zangetsu's white Bankai coat, black horn mask remnant, white-colored hair, and left Hollowfied eye alongside the manifestation's appearance, right blue eye, and black Bankai sword, though the sword's tsuba is white like Zangetsu's.

In this form, the manifestation explains he and Zangetsu were technically two parts of the same being, with both of them together representing all of Ichigo's spiritual powers. Ichigo claims if this merged spirit really wanted to, he could have defeated him from the start of their battle, further stating they were this far apart in power.

While Ichigo Kurosaki underwent training to gain his own Shinigami powers, Kisuke Urahara puts Ichigo's soul through a process called Encroachment, where if Ichigo does not gain Shinigami powers on his own, he will become a Hollow. Tessai Tsukabishi severs Ichigo's Chain of Fate. And Tessai uses Bakudo 99, Part 1 Kin to prevent Ichigo from using his arms to scale the sides of the shaft. After three days in the shaft, Ichigo begins to transform into a Hollow.

When the Bakudo restraining Ichigo begins to break, Tessai uses a more advanced version of it. When Jinta Hanakari says it will kill Ichigo, Tessai states he must restrain him before he completes the transformation into a Hollow.

Before the final part of the spell strikes him, Ichigo escapes in the large explosion created by the awakening of his Shinigami and Hollow powers. Although he succeeds in gaining his power, he emerges from the pit with Shinigami robes and a Hollow mask, the latter of which he later discards. During Ichigo's more difficult battles, the mask he thought he discarded kept reappearing on his body in places where there would normally have been fatal wounds.

As Ichigo fights Renji Abarai , Renji uses Zabimaru to hit Ichigo near his heart, but the sword is stopped for some reason. After the fight, as Hanataro Yamada heals Ichigo, he discovers the Hollow mask Ichigo thought he threw away was what blocked Zabimaru.

Thinking of the mask as a good luck charm, Ichigo wants to keep the mask, but Hanataro, fearing it, takes it and throws it into the sewers. Seemingly dying, Ichigo is pulled into his inner world by the manifestation of his Quincy powers, where he meets Zangetsu for the first time. Explaining it is time to see if Ichigo is worthy of using him, the manifestation tells Ichigo if he wants to wield him again, he must take him back with his hands, for his opponent will be himself.

Ichigo is forced into a fight with Zangetsu with a nameless katana while the latter has Zangetsu. Gaining an advantage, Zangetsu exerts his Reiatsu and begins to spin Zangetsu by its cloth. Zangetsu further explains there is more to the power of Zangetsu, and if he can open up and lend it his power, it will become even stronger. Deciding to show Ichigo the right way to use Zangetsu, he moves to attack.

As they cross swords, Zangetsu is surprised to find the nameless katana in his hands and Ichigo holding Zangetsu. Seeing the manifestation has decided Ichigo is worthy of using him, Ichigo awakens back in the real world. However, Ywhach , the spiritual embodiment of Ichigo's inherited Quincy powers, has been impersonating Zangetsu and holding back Ichigo's true abilities. It wasn't until the final arc of the series that it was revealed that Hollow Ichigo is in fact the true spiritual embodiment of Zangetsu.

Through many of Ichigo's battles in the Soul Society, his life was saved by the intervention of Hollow Ichigo. He had asserted himself through the Hollow mask to block what would have been lethal strikes, and Ichigo was completely unaware of this.

What was until his fight with Zaraki Kenpachi. Before Ichigo died from his wounds, the spirit of Ywhach pulled Ichigo's spirit into the inner world and unleashed Hollow Ichigo on him. Ichigo was forced to battle Hollow Ichigo to prove he was worthy of wielding Zangetsu.

In their fight, Hollow Ichigo showed the real Ichigo how Zangetsu was designed to be used, but Ichigo managed to turn the tables and regain control of Zangetsu.

Hollow Ichigo was then resealed by Ywhach. During Ichigo's later battle against Byakuya Kuchiki , Hollow ichigo managed to overtake Ichigo's personality and form the Hollow mask. He was nearly ready to over power and defeat Byakuya until Ichigo fought back to regain control of his own body. Out of fear of Hollow Ichigo's growing control and influence after the appearance of the Arrancar , Ichigo joined the Visored to try and tame Hollow Ichigo to obtain the ability of Hollowfication.

Hollow Ichigo has declared that Ichigo is the "king" of the inner world and he is the "horse. After his loss, he states he's willing to allow Ichigo to keep the crown for now, but once Ichigo "screws up again," he declared he'd make his move again.

He even states that he wishes to protect Ichigo, contrary to his frequent earlier statements of wanting Ichigo's body and power for himself. While Ichigo underwent training to gain his own Shinigami powers, Kisuke Urahara put Ichigo's soul through a process called Encroachment in which if Ichigo did not gain the power on his own, he would become a Hollow. Tessai Tsukabishi then severs Ichigo's Chain of Fate.

After three days in the shaft, Ichigo begins to transform into a Hollow. Tessai responds that he must restrain him before he completes the transformation into a Hollow.

Before the final part of the spell strikes him, Ichigo escapes in a large explosion resulting from the awakening of his Shinigami and Hollow powers. He succeeded in gaining his power, yet emerged from the Shattered Shaft with Shinigami robes and a Hollow mask. He later discarded the mask, or at least that was what he thought. During Ichigo's more difficult battles, the mask he thought he discarded kept reappearing on his body in places where there would normally have been fatal wounds. Ichigo's Hollow mask, after being used as a shield.

As Ichigo fought Renji Abarai , Renji used Zabimaru to hit Ichigo near his heart, but the sword was stopped for some reason. The mask was gone again for a time. Later when Ichigo runs into captain of 11th Division , Kenpachi Zaraki , he is stabbed in his chest by the far superior combatant. Seemingly dying Ichigo is pulled into his inner world by Zangetsu , while there he meets Hollow Ichigo for the first time. Zangetsu explains that now is the time for the test to see if Ichigo is worthy of using him.

He then tells Ichigo if he wants to wield him again then he must take him back with his hands, as his opponent will be himself. Hollow Ichigo gains an advantage as he releases his spiritual power and begins to spin Zangetsu by its cloth, similar to a flail.

He then makes note that Ichigo only thinks about himself and never considered drawing out Zangetsu's power. Hollow Ichigo further explains that there's more to Zangetsu's power and if he can open up and lend it his power, it will become even stronger. Tired of playing around, Hollow Ichigo decides to show Ichigo the right way to use Zangetsu and moves to attack. As they cross swords Hollow Ichigo is surprised to find the nameless katana in his hands and Ichigo holding Zangetsu.

Seeing Zangetsu has decided Ichigo is worthy of using Ichigo then awakens back in the real world. As Hollow Ichigo stands there with a broken katana still somewhat confused he asks Zangetsu if Ichigo is gone before asking him if that was all. Zangetsu tells him that it is and that he is sorry to have bothered him. Hollow Ichigo tells him it was no problem as Ichigo is the owner of the inner world and it would be problematic if he didn't win.

Even though he was unwilling he had to help, he then asks for Zangetsu to send him back. As Hollow Ichigo begins to fade away he then tells Zangetsu to train Ichigo well as one day that power will be his. In the real world as Kenpachi and Ichigo prepare for their last strike, Kenpachi's Reiatsu took the form of a skull, while Ichigo's takes the form of his Hollow mask, showing how Hollow Ichigo is supporting him.

She then got rid of the mask, much to Ichigo's dismay. During the battle with 6th Division captain Byakuya Kuchiki at the execution grounds, Ichigo was pushed into a corner and as Byakuya went to deliver the final blow Ichigo is possessed by his inner Hollow.

As he swings the sword down Ichigo catches it with his barehand and starts speaking to himself, when Ichigo looks up a mask is forming over the upper left half of his face much to Byakuya's surprise. Byakuya asks how this is possible and who he is but Hollow Ichigo simply states he is nobody. He then states he doesn't have a name and slashes Byakuya down his torso.

As Byakuya puts some distance between them, Hollow Ichigo states how weak Ichigo is, commenting that his inexperience with his own Bankai's spiritual pressure and speed made his bones shake like crazy.

He then crushes the sword he grabbed from Byakuya and states he will show Ichigo how to use a Bankai correctly. Byakuya calls another sword to his hand and prepares for another attack. He uses Shunpo to move behind Byakuya and fires another one then appears directly behind the Shinigami captain before the two attacks meet.

They both survive the explosion with Byakuya making note that the spiritual pressure and the mask are akin to a Hollows and asks what he is. Hollow Ichigo tells him not to worry about it as he will soon disappear but before he can finish his sentence Ichigo regains control and rips the mask off.

Before Hollow Ichigo leaves he tells Ichigo that he cannot win without him, but is pulled into Ichigo's inner consciousness as the fight nears it's conclusion. Note: Events occurring in this arc are only in the anime and do not constitute canon material. Ichigo did feel Hollow Ichigo's influence growing over him.

Ever since the fight against Byakuya, the mask didn't keep coming back and eventually disappeared. However, from that point on, Ichigo could hear his inner Hollow calling out to him, and about time of Arrancar invasion , he felt its influence dangerously growing over him. This interruption cost Ichigo the fight and most of his friends got seriously injured. As that attack was one of Hollow Ichigo's moves, Ichigo made him easier to take over, causing one of his eyes to turn black.

However, he was overcome by Ichigo. Ichigo then found the Visored and as he fought Hiyori Sarugaki , Hollow Ichigo started to take control again and would have killed her if not for her fellow Visored subduing him. As they placed Ichigo in a spell, Ichigo's body went completely out of control and began to turn into a Hollow. If his inner Hollow could not be defeated in time, they would be forced to kill him.

During this time, Ichigo journeyed to his inner world to confront Hollow Ichigo. As Ichigo's opponents grew stronger, and Quincy Zangetsu became more attached to the boy, he would eventually relinquish control over Ichigo's powers. In doing so, Quincy Zangetsu introduces Ichigo to Hollow Zangetsu, who is again, a manifestation of Ichigo's true Shinigami powers, and thus the real Zangetsu. As Ichigo grows stronger and accesses more of the power of the real Zangetsu, he unknowingly accesses and releases more of his Hollow powers as well, evidenced by his Vizard and Vasto Lorde transformations.

Ichigo at first thinks of these events as his inner-Hollow attempting to take over his soul, but it is actually just the effect of Ichigo drawing on the power of the real Zangetsu. It is impossible for Ichigo to draw on the full potential of his Shinigami powers without also drawing out the potential of his Hollow powers, as they are one and the same. Hollow Zangetsu never wanted to take over Ichigo's soul, but simply wanted to help him grow stronger.

This is evidenced by Hollow Zangetsu's frequent use of the term "partner" when referring to Ichigo, as well as his frequent pleading with Ichigo to allow him to continue fighting rather than sealing him away.