What came first? Chicken(Shinigami) or Egg(Hollow) powers?

[Dybia]

Franco that would seem more plausible if Yuzu and Karin weren't twins. Pretty sure Karin's just had a lot more exposure to spiritual powers is why she has more than Yuzu.

 

[Ra]

He had a mask before he had robes

Ichigo's Hollow powers were partially awakened before his shinigami powers were fully awakened. His Hollow powers later completely awakened.

He was actually Hollowfying at that point again, he was in his inner world while this was happening talking to Zangetsu and then pulling out the Zanpakuto - in effect this was still an ongoing process for both.

 

[Isshin Namikaze]

It looks like shinigami powers are not passed on like flesh and blood. I have a theory that divides in two scenarios. Quincy powers have been confirmed to be passed from the parents, and it has been confirmed, twice in a month, that Ichigo is not a Shinigami. He is a quincy and a Fullbringer. What if Isshin didn't lose his shinigami powers because of Urahara's gigai but as a result of having them absorbed by being near Ichigo and his sisters? Then Ichigo suddenly manifested those Shinigami powers he had been absorbing with his uncontrolled quincy powers for so long and combined them with the hollow reishi passed on from his mother (and in essence with his fullbring) and he either fullbrought those powers into a fake shinigami state or with something we still don't know. When Ichigo finally left his home to train with Urahara, went to SS and then to Hueco Mundo, Isshin had time to replentish his powers and became a Shinigami again. Maybe that's how he got a Zanpakuto with similar abilities and a similar name.

Now you might think it is because they are family but if you remember Shiba Kaien's zanpakuto was NOTHING like Zangetsu/Engetsu, at all!
It was a chinese halberd that created and controlled water!

Or Isshin might as well have passed on his powers to Kugo Ginjou; Kubo just said in Germany that Kugo was necessary because Rukia needed to know of the process to create a substitute shinigami and who would tell her other than the nephew of the guy who did it?!

Lets just wait and see what Kubo came up with :3

Wow this is a great theory. To be honest your explanation makes the most sense and would be really cool to watch unfold.

 

[Ra]

People need to remember though, all though people can somehow connect Ichigo receiving his power from Isshin in multiple ways.

Ichigo's power is Zangetsu, not Engetsu - despite the fact they both use Getsugatensho.

Two different Zanpakuto's, using the one ability - we are yet to have an elaboration of why this is though, no where does it say relatives of Soul Reapers cannot inherit their father or mother's abilities.

 

[Chimera Cord]

I think it's fine that two Zanpakuto are incredibly similar or have the same ability. The zanpakuto represents the heart turned into a weapon and a power.

The zanpakuto is who, the form is how, and the power is what. Isshin and Ichigo both desire to do the same thing so both of their zanpakuto have the power Getsuga Tensho. However, the name of the zanpakuto and (probably) the forms are different. This shows that Isshin and Ichigo are two different people and that how they go about achieving their goal is different, but the goal is the same.

This relationship is shown in other places in the manga like with Rukia and Hitsugaya's shared demeanor, and the shared belief of the members of the 11th Division. These similarities in personality are manifested by them having similar zanpakuto releases.

 

[B. Haddrell]

I am sure, if Rukia would not have transferred her powers into Ichigo, Ichigo`s own Shinigami powers would still be dormant today. Or they would only manifest themselves in a latent way.

I wish I could remember this more clearly. I faintly remember that there was an omake in one of the episodes showing this. I know, it is not “canon” but it was interesting.

It seems Ichigo`s Shinigami powers would only have awakened properly after his death but the violent act triggered them prematurely.

My guess is, what is awakening in Karin is her Quincy side.

 

[Dybia]

I am sure, if Rukia would not have transferred her powers into Ichigo, Ichigo`s own Shinigami powers would still be dormant today. Or they would only manifest themselves in a latent way.

I wish I could remember this more clearly. I faintly remember that there was an omake in one of the episodes showing this. I know, it is not “canon” but it was interesting.

It seems Ichigo`s Shinigami powers would only have awakened properly after his death but the violent act triggered them prematurely.

My guess is, what is awakening in Karin is her Quincy side.

Even non canon stuff in the anime or omakes can hint at canon things later, like Karin's reishi powered soccer ball.

 

[Ra]

Even non canon stuff in the anime or omakes can hint at canon things later, like Karin's reishi powered soccer ball.

Where exactly did she do this in the manga?

But maybe, I mean the Zanpakuto filler arc and Sasukibe's sword spirit being a lightning type - and then his Bankai was a lightning type too. :]

 

[Dybia]

No, that's what I'm saying. That didn't happen in the manga. It was an anime only thing from that episode where she hung out with Hitsugaya. The way she used reishi and the soccer ball to kill weak hollows may have been a hint at the quincy blood is what i meant.

 

[Deathking]

If i look at it from evolving and natural perspective i would say hollow came first. Predators have always been there, it´s the prey who evolved to avoid them and have better protection techniques. Of course predators evolved to be specialized but my point still stands.