The People's Hope [Kaito's Zanpakuto]

» Character Name: Kaito Tomoyuki
» Character Application: App Link

» Upgrade Details: Unlocking Shikai/Zanpakuto



» Zanpakutō Name: Reishiki [霊史記, Historical Account of Spirits]

» Zanpakutō Spirit: Reishiki, fitting to its powers and name, is a figure with pale, porcelain skin and long, black hair. A Noh mask hides its face, keeping a mystery of whether it is man or woman. It has wisp-like tendrils at the hem of its clothes, deftly hiding its bare feet.

It wears a kimono of mixed white and black, along with a set of prayer beads around its wrists and neck, further blurring the line of identity. It is also often accompanied by various spirits, ghosts, and familiars, from both Rukon and the Living World.

A mystery, a trickster, and oddly playful, Reishiki is an enigma, even to its wielder. It teases him, often speaks cryptically, and helps only when it feels necessary. However, it still cares for Kaito, aware of his motivations, and how dangerous the road ahead is for him. It is wise in the ways of the dead, knowing and understanding funeral rites, ghost stories, and urban legends of any culture, including the Konsō Reisai of the Shinigami.

» Inner World: Kaito's Inner World takes the form of an abandoned version of his home in the Rukongai. Unique to it, though, is that the world looks as if it were from a traditional Japanese painting. A dense fog surrounds the large, empty village.

Stepping through causes someone to either move to another area of the district, or be sent back to the entrance at random. If one were to explore the district, they would find no living beings there, only ghosts and shades, spirits yet to be unlocked by the wielder.

» Sealed Zanpakutō Appearance: Kaito's Zanpakuto takes the form of a simple katana with white wrappings around the hilt, a circular tsuba, and a gold pommel with a rather ornate design. The sheath has a black color with a charcoal-like design, and an illustration of clouds along the end of the scabbard.


Sealed Zanpakuto Power:

Yonakamon [夜中門, Midnight Gate]
A derivative of the Oumagatoki, the hour where the worlds of living and dead overlap, Yonakamon is a twofold ability. The first is comparatively simple, allowing Kaito to store and retrieve things from his shadow, such as his Zanpakuto, or other inanimate objects, with a total storage space equal to his own size.




» Shikai Release Phrase: "Recount the tales, Reishiki."

» Shikai Release Action: Kaito lifts his sword next to his head, as if whispering to the spirit.

» Shikai Appearance: Upon release, the blade of Kaito’s sword peels away, a scattering mist flowing from the steel as the shards of the blade turn into a flurry of talismans and book pages, revealing a glass-like, ethereal weapon. The tsuba turns into a distinctly rectangular shape akin to an omamori, a type of protective amulet or charm, and a small ring manifests at the end of the pommel with an ofuda attached to it.

» Shikai Abilities: The power of Reishiki is to bring into reality the ghosts and ghost stories of the Rukongai via techniques of the base power Shinchōkage, many of which originally being variations and derivatives from those in the Living World. His Shikai contains several base traits, the first of which being the potential for an increase in power.

Should Kaito release his Zanpakuto at night or within the Rukongai, he will receive a 25% boost in power in addition to his Shikai’s natural boost, with an additional 25% if he’s in his home district. Furthermore, should someone be in a state of fear, his powers gain another 25% boost. All of these buffs can be stacked, should the respective requirements be met.

○ Shinchōkage [伸張影, The Stretching Shadow]
A derivative of the Living World’s “Nobiagari” according to Reishiki and the primary representation of his Zanpakuto's power, The Stretching Shadow is an old story in the Rukongai, taking the form of a sentient, featureless worm-shaped creature the same height as Kaito, and the representation of manifesting ghost stories.

It can exist within any non-living shadow within a fifty meter radius around him, with Kaito's own being the one exception, though it commonly stays in Kaito’s sheath or his own aforementioned shadow. It is able to shape itself into simple things such as protrusions or spikes to attack within that fifty meter radius, though it makes rather obvious noise when it does this.

Some other examples are the ability to store things inside it, as well as solidifying to wrap around Kaito’s sword as an extension of the blade, doubling its length. This application of itself only can last two posts, though. In any other circumstance, it is rather easily "destroyed," able to be cut by any spiritually enhanced weapon and would subsequently dissipate. However, it can quickly reform moments after, allowing it to provide as a form of distraction, as well as a restraint tool.

The overall purpose of Shinchōkage is versatility, though it is limited, unable to do much with the scope Kaito is able to wield. It is not particularly strong, nor particularly weak, it is both mischievous and malicious, a duality obtained through a long game of telephone of conflicting stories.


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» Supporting Material: Kaito has had Adept Zanjutsu for a good bit, yet with tireless training and constant effort being put into his practice, the spirit would never answer. While originally going for a typical training session under Byakuya, he was able to learn the name of his spirit by being pushed against the wall, made to remember fear, and affirm his resolve.

With the spirit able to confirm that Kaito was willing to cement the legacy he wishes to emblazon unto the Rukongai with his own hands, he whispered the name in his ear, "Reshiki." While a monumental achievement for someone like him, an ordinary man from the gutters of the Rukon, it is merely the first step. There is still room to grow, to live up to the legend that he wishes to cement.

https://www.platinumhearts.net/t24113p10-a-lesson-in-persistence-kaito-byakuya


Following site discussions since this was first submitted, I would also like to make the following downgrade requests to better represent and showcase Kaito's limits as an Shinigami.

Hoho: Adept -> Beginner
Kido: Adept -> Beginner
Hakuda: Adept -> Beginner

EDIT: 8/17/24

Furthermore, with the introduction of the changes to General Skills, I'll be slotting his redistribution here.

Spirit Class 9 [Points: 4]
Durability: D
Speed: D
Strength: D
Soul: D