Seireiken

Genins are able to release their Zanpaktou to a certain degree, using the basic abilities of their Sword. These powers are usually to a lower degree. A Genin have difficulty making Techniques using their Shikai, and thus, are weaker, with only the powers from the Release being at full power..(Example, Extention, Elemental Aura, Increased power, speed, etc...)

High Genins-Chunnin are able to communicate with their swords at will, using them at a level that baffles a normal genin. They are able to use the powers of their Shikai in new ways, capable of making Jutsus to release their potential.(Toushiro's Water Dragon Attack, Ichigo's Getsuga Tesho, etc...)

Special Jounin-Jounin are able to join with their Zanpaktou and use Bankai, allowing them to release their Spirit and combine with it. Such a tremendous amount of power makes using such a transformation risky and dangerous, most having trouble using their Bankai to the full potential. (Tensa Zangetsu, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, etc...)

ANBU-Sannin are able to use their Bankai without the normal downsides, and can create jutsus for theirselves to use while in Bankai form without any restrictions or overuse of Jutsus. These are a more advance form of their normal Bankai, something that may require years of training.(Kuro Getsuga, Senkai Senbonzakura Kageyosh, Baboon Cannon, etc...)

S-Rank Criminal/Kages are able to completely master their Zanpaktou in every aspect, with their Shikai's able to combat even other Bankais to a certain degree. The mere Initial Release of this level of mastery can cause weaker Ninjas to fall to it's tremendous power. Their Bankais, thus, can destroy entire areas merely with the release.(Yamamoto and Aisen, Byakuya, and Zeraki have all shown this level of skill, varying of course.)

Sealed Form-The normal, unactivated blade you use. These can be of different styles, shorter blades, longer, curved, but all are the basic sword shape, though this can be hidden with other forms.(Staffs, Canes, etc...) These blades, while consider masterwork, have no real power other then the ability to cut an opponent. This is automatically obtained by a Seireiken, and is usually worn upon their back or side.(Takes Item Space)

Name: Shikai(xxxx)
Rank: C
Type: Ninjutsu
Sub Type: Zanpaktou
Effect- Shikai(Initial Release) is the basic technique that nearly all Seireiken know. This technique allows the user to contact their Spirit by announcing their name and forming a link with the blade. Calling it's name is not required if the user can use Bankai. This power radically alters the sword, sometimes even in bizarre ways so that it no longer resembles a sword. These changes differ, but usually fall under Elemental(Fire, Ice), Physical(Extending, Two blades, weapons), and Special.(Poison, Sound, Speed, power, etc...) The Shikai, if the user is skilled, can also allow the user to perform new Jutsus. Certain requirements are also necessary, such as the requirement to be able to use the fire Element to release a fire Zanpaktou, capable of Genjutsu for an Illusion based, and Taijutsu for a Physically altering one. Certain Zanpaktous, rarely, are capable of being released forever after the first activation, those these often are special cases. Release cost is always 5 Chakra.

Bankai(XXXX xxxx)
Rank: A
Type: Ninjutsu
Sub Type: Zanpaktou
Effect: The Bankai(Final Release) is the ultimate activation of a Zanpaktou's power, drastically changing the Sword, and usually the user as well. Unlike a Shikai, a Bankai's powers are impossible to categorize easily, because of the many differences in then. Few common traits are recognized, other then most Bankais are large, though a few are smaller. To use Bankai, the user must do a special training in which they have their Spirit physically exist in the real world, thus allowing the Spirit to test the user. A Bankai, even after achieved, can take years to fully master. However, there is said to be other ways to use Bankai, though this is unproven. For those new to Bankai, it can be a trump card as much as a weakness. New Bankai users have a high risk of losing control or utilizing their Bankai's in a such a way that can be dangerous for the user. This makes Bankai risky, even for a Master, and reserved if possible. It also takes an extreme amount of chakra for the release alone, and thus, can be very taxing. Bankais are usually a more powerful version of the Shikai, having similar, but stronger abilities, though this is not always true. Bankai is believed to have the potential to hold an unlimited amount of powers, that can generated through training and linking to their Spirit. Release Cost is always 15. (Must be requested.)