Shuhei Hisagi's Shikai and Bankai Explanation in Manga Bleach
Shuhei Hisagi is the vice-captain of the 9th Division, He served under Captain Kaname Tosen, until his captain betrayed Soul Society, and is now under the orders of Captain Kensei Muguruma. During the Bleach series, Shuhei's Zanpakuto was only shown to be able to reach the Shikai level. But at the end of the chapter, Shuhei claims that he has achieved Bankai, but his colleagues don't believe it because they haven't seen it in person.
Luckily for Shuhei, because in Ryohgo Nartia's canon Novel series – Can't Fear Your Own World (prequel to the last two chapters of Bleach), he now gets the chance to show us the true abilities of his Zanpakuto. When Shuhei gives Shikai Kazeshini's orders, his basic Zanpakuto will change shape into two sickles with blades on each side and one blade upside down, and these two weapons are connected by chains.
The chain gives Shuhei a wider range when attacking, by throwing the weapon at the enemy directly, or wrapping around the enemy's body to block its movement. This weapon can also perform attacks like a rotating fan. That's roughly how the power of Shikai Kazeshini is displayed throughout the Bleach series, and it turns out that it is only half of Shikai Kazeshini's original ability.
The following explains Shuhei Hisagi's Shikai and Bankai in Manga Bleach.
Shikai's Original Power – Kazeshini
In the novel Can't Fear Your Own World, Shuhei tries to save Hikone Ubuginu, a young Arrancar with extraordinary powers. When the Gotei 13 faced Hikone, Shuhei asked his comrades to back off and wanted to fight Hikone alone, as he was trying to stop the boy from killing him. However, Hikone would not listen to his words. The desperate Hikone finally attacked Shuhei with such great force that Shuhei was split in two.
In his dying state, Shuhei then engages in a conversation with Kazeshini, who is his Zanpakuto spirit (as in the case of Ichigo and Zangetsu). Here Kazeshini states that since he is Shuhei's shadow, Shuhei himself is in charge of his form. Shuhei wants to become a Shinigami, despite being afraid and rejecting the concept of death. This causes Kazeshini, as a weapon, to develop a one-sided nature, only capable of taking lives.
Kazeshini happily states to Shuhei, that after he accepted death in an attempt to save Hikone, it had let go of him, and thus Kazeshini, was also released. Sacrificing his own life gave him an understanding of concepts that were no longer one-sided, allowing him to completely submit to Kazeshini and Kazeshini to submit to him as well.
After this conversation, Hikone is held back by Kazeshini's chains and meets a completely revived Shuhei. Hikone let go of the chains and cut Shuhei's body in half once more, but he was surprised to see Shuhei back to normal again and again. Shuhei kept getting cut over and over again until Hikone realized that the wound he had inflicted was sewn back together with the same chain used to connect his two scythes.
This is the true ability of Shikai Kazeshini, the chain of Kazeshini serves to revive Shuhei indefinitely, and completely reconnects severed body parts and sews up all wounds. This ability seems limitless as Shuhei can even survive complete destruction.
Following a series of repeated divisions and awakenings, Shuhei chants Kazeshini Fushi no Kojyo to release his Bankai. The Bankai that took the form of a giant ball was floating right above Shuhei and the target, and many chains of strands of balls fell down. The chains connected to the giant ball also tied the necks of Shuhei and the target.
Then the giant ball drained the Reiatsu of both of them through the chain that was tied earlier. This process could not be stopped unless Shuhei allowed it. His Bankai symbolizes the cycle of death and rebirth that will continue indefinitely until their Reiatsu is exhausted. Kazeshini Fushi no Kojyo is unavoidable, and if he tries to escape, he will be dragged back into the chain.
In the process of this Bankai Shuhei still has his twin scythes, and shows that he can deal damage to opponents at will. Because the chain drains Reiatsu and affects him, this Bankai is very suitable to be used when together with his teammates. Once the enemy's Reiatsu dries up, it gives his partner a chance to capture the enemy or complete the job without killing.
Shuhei initially misunderstood Kazeshini, as his true form is a combination of the blade that brings death with the chain of life that binds this blade. Kazeshini Fushi no Kojyo represents the cycle of life and death, such as going through continuous awakening as well as resisting the death of the user and his opponent.
Kazeshini's Shikai and Bankai abilities really symbolize Shuhei who is a Shinigami with the obligation to take life and respect it. Shuhei himself also stated that this ability was perfect for him. That's roughly how Shikai and Shuhei Hisagi's Bankai explained in Manga Bleach.
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