<p>A lot of people on various forums like to nit pick at the details, but in essence they are very similar. Both Shikai transform the blade of the sword into smaller substances that are used for offense and defense. While Byakuya is able to control Senbonzakura telepathically, Matsumoto controls Haineko with the hilt of her sword.  However, in Matsumoto's fight against Apache, SunSun, and Mila Rose, she changes Haineko's form from a dispersed cloud of ash to an ash tornado with her empty hand. The fact that Byakuya controls senbonzakura with his mind might just be due to the fact that he is a stronger and more experienced shinigami and partner to his zanpakuto. Just for the sake of the viewer/reader I wish would release a list or booklet or something along those lines of the zanpakuto and their abilities. I'd love it if he would say what their Bankai would be if they ever reached that level. I really wanna know what Urahara's Bankai is and especially Yoruichi's.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-07T06:16:21.377Z
2015-06-07T06:16:21.377Z
Chris
<p>Senbonzakura can be used as a shield as proven in Byakuya's first fight with Ichigo in season 3. Though at the time Byakuya was using bankai, he made a shield by gathering all the fragments in front of him so he probably can do the same thing in shikai.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-11T22:06:01.493Z
2013-06-11T22:06:01.493Z
something
<p>It is likely that rangiku 's bankai may be the same as sebonsakura's bankai and she might be able to control the ashes  with her mind , although we haven't seen her bankai yet.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-24T19:54:56.970Z
The question is asking about the shikai, not the bankai.
Makoto
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-24T19:13:11.800Z
2016-08-24T19:13:11.800Z
Justnormal
<p>For Matsumoto Rangiku's shikai:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>When released with the command "growl" (唸れ unare?), the blade dissolves into ash. In combat, Matsumoto can control the movement of the ash, and cut anything it lands on by moving the hilt. The ash is also solid enough to be used as a shield to block enemy attacks</p>
</blockquote>

<p>For Kuchiki Byakuya's shikai:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>...Senbonzakura's blade separates into thousands of slender, petal-like blades.... While the blades are too small to be seen by the naked eye, they reflect light in such a way as to appear as cherry blossom petals. Byakuya can control the blades at will thereby allowing him to shred opponents at a distance and break through almost any defense. While Byakuya can control the blades with his mind alone, using his hands allows him to do so more effectively, making the blades move twice as fast.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>There seem to be a few main differences, though they are very similar. </p>

<ul>
<li>Byakuya can control the blades of his with his mind, while Matsumoto needs to move the hilt.</li>
<li>The ash can be used as a shield while Senbonzakura cannot.</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-30T14:13:02.957Z
"The ash can be used as a shield while Senbonzakura cannot". I would like to have a link attesting to this fact. Because it is well explained in the manga that the power of Byakuya was also very good defensively. (This is normally found in characters books)
Alix Eisenhardt
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-14T01:12:07.107Z
2013-03-14T01:12:07.107Z
kuwaly
<p>What's the difference between these two <em>shikai</em>; Rangiku's <strong>Haineko</strong> and Byakuya's <strong>Senbonzakura</strong>? They both seem to have the same abilities. </p>

<bleach>
What's the difference between Haineko and Senbonzakura?
# What's the difference between Haineko and Senbonzakura?
Posted by: username_0 on 2013-03-14
What's the difference between these two *shikai*; Rangiku's **Haineko** and Byakuya's **Senbonzakura**? They both seem to have the same abilities.
**Tags:** bleach
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## 4 answers
### Answer by username_5 on 2013-03-14. Score: 11 | Accepted answer
For Matsumoto Rangiku's shikai:

> When released with the command "growl" (唸れ unare?), the blade dissolves into ash. In combat, Matsumoto can control the movement of the ash, and cut anything it lands on by moving the hilt. The ash is also solid enough to be used as a shield to block enemy attacks

For Kuchiki Byakuya's shikai:

> ...Senbonzakura's blade separates into thousands of slender, petal-like blades.... While the blades are too small to be seen by the naked eye, they reflect light in such a way as to appear as cherry blossom petals. Byakuya can control the blades at will thereby allowing him to shred opponents at a distance and break through almost any defense. While Byakuya can control the blades with his mind alone, using his hands allows him to do so more effectively, making the blades move twice as fast.

There seem to be a few main differences, though they are very similar.

* Byakuya can control the blades of his with his mind, while Matsumoto needs to move the hilt.
* The ash can be used as a shield while Senbonzakura cannot.
> **Comments:**
> **username_6** (2017-11-30): "The ash can be used as a shield while Senbonzakura cannot". I would like to have a link attesting to this fact. Because it is well explained in the manga that the power of Byakuya was also very good defensively. (This is normally found in characters books)  
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### Answer by username_1 on 2015-06-07. Score: 1
A lot of people on various forums like to nit pick at the details, but in essence they are very similar. Both Shikai transform the blade of the sword into smaller substances that are used for offense and defense. While Byakuya is able to control Senbonzakura telepathically, Matsumoto controls Haineko with the hilt of her sword. However, in Matsumoto's fight against Apache, SunSun, and Mila Rose, she changes Haineko's form from a dispersed cloud of ash to an ash tornado with her empty hand. The fact that Byakuya controls senbonzakura with his mind might just be due to the fact that he is a stronger and more experienced shinigami and partner to his zanpakuto. Just for the sake of the viewer/reader I wish would release a list or booklet or something along those lines of the zanpakuto and their abilities. I'd love it if he would say what their Bankai would be if they ever reached that level. I really wanna know what Urahara's Bankai is and especially Yoruichi's.
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### Answer by username_2 on 2013-06-11. Score: 1
Senbonzakura can be used as a shield as proven in Byakuya's first fight with Ichigo in season 3. Though at the time Byakuya was using bankai, he made a shield by gathering all the fragments in front of him so he probably can do the same thing in shikai.
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### Answer by username_3 on 2016-08-24. Score: -1
It is likely that rangiku 's bankai may be the same as sebonsakura's bankai and she might be able to control the ashes with her mind , although we haven't seen her bankai yet.
> **Comments:**
> **username_4** (2016-08-24): The question is asking about the shikai, not the bankai.  
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