Black Zetsu (RW109)

Black Zetsu
Alias(es)	Wicked Tongue (毒舌, Dakuzetsu)
Kanji	黒ゼツ
Rōmaji	Kuro Zetsu
Debut
Novel	Naruto: A Shinobi Story
Appears in	Novel
Character Status
Species	Artificial Human
Status	Incapacitated
Family	Madara Uchiha (Creator)
Occupation(s)	Akatsuki spy
Classification	S-rank Sensor Type
Team	White Zetsu Army
Partner(s)	White Zetsu Obito Uchiha Madara Uchiha
Kekkei Genkai	Wood Release Rinnegan Sharingan Mangekyō Sharingan
Nature Type
Wood Release Earth Release Water Release Fire Wind Release Lightning Release Yin Release Yang Release
Unique Traits
Can absorb and give chakra.
Jutsu
All-Killing Ash Bones, Black Receiver, Body Coating, Event Recording, Hiding in Surface Technique, Great Tree Spear, Kamui, Mayfly, Projection Technique, Root Manipulation Technique, Sea of Trees Erosion, Sensing Technique, Spore Technique, Temporary Paralysis Technique, Wood Release: Underground Roots Technique

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Black Zetsu (黒ゼツ, Kuro Zetsu) is the physical manifestation of Madara Uchiha’s will once he awakened the Rinnegan by infusing Hashirama’s DNA with his own. After Obito was entrusted with Madara’s knowledge and plans, Black Zetsu was created to secure its creator’s revival by helping Obito secretly instigate many events that shaped the shinobi world, leading to it being partnered with White Zetsu to become half of the Akatsuki member known simply as Zetsu (ゼツ).

Background

Black Zetsu being created.

Personality

Appearance

Black Zetsu’s true form.

Black Zetsu’s true form is a completely black, humanoid figure lacking any hair or visible orifices, made up of a black mass which it can shape and resize at will. The black mass contains two yellow eyes, which lack any visible sclerae or pupils, and it occasionally shapes itself to form a mouth with jagged teeth. Black Zetsu appears to have only retained one eye after being placed within White Zetsu by Madara, though it regained the second eye upon Madara’s revival. Black Zetsu’s eyes and consciousness can move to any point of the black mass, even if it is split into multiple parts. It is able to cover the body of another living being and control it, and its eyes can vanish entirely if it is possessing a body with a dōjutsu it wishes to make use of.

Black Zetsu merged with White Zetsu in their Akatsuki attire.

After it merged with the deformed right half of White Zetsu, the two Zetsu were easily distinguished by the Venus flytrap-like extensions that emerged from their sides, enveloping their head and upper body as a shell, which they were able to open and close. Beneath these extensions, Black Zetsu had short green hair, originally coming from White Zetsu. Under their Akatsuki cloak, they wore blue pants and sandals, and had both legs wrapped in bandages, which hid the area where the black mass on their right leg merged with White Zetsu’s white foot. White, screwlike dots protruded out along the edges and collar of Black Zetsu. Black Zetsu wore the duo’s green Akatsuki ring, which bore the kanji for “sign of the boar” (亥, gai), on its right little finger and Zetsu’s fingernails were painted pink and their toenails were blue.

Black Zetsu attached to White Zetsu’s body mass.

When the two halves separate, their plant-like extensions would separate and hang from the waists of both. Any clothing they were wearing, including their Akatsuki mantle, would split along with them, usually causing them to discard their torn clothing altogether. When either of the halves emerged from the ground while split, their plantlike extensions would surround them in a circular formation. The two also demonstrated the ability to grow an additional leg from their white body mass to substitute for their missing half when separated.

Abilities

Fitting its parasitic nature, Black Zetsu has shown many abilities that aided it in deceiving and manipulating others for years. With the powers at its disposal and tactical capabilities in combination with Madara’s, the two were able to easily fend off both Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha for a time, despite the two being aided by their respective enhancements and help from their allies. It could also use all five basic nature transformations and Yin and Yang Release.

Unique Body

Black Zetsu attached to Obito Uchiha.

Unlike a normal body, it could survive being bisected, and not age for over a thousand years. Fitting its malleable physiology, Black Zetsu has shown the ability to alter its form and shape, being able to form itself into a humanoid shape or stretch to great lengths. By attaching itself to others, he can either subtly manipulate their consciousness or, if weakened enough, forcefully manipulate their bodies to use their abilities, as its own. Black Zetsu melding with someone also has the effect of sustaining their life, allowing them to temporarily survive such things as using a sacrificial technique or having a tailed beast extracted from them; however, should the target regain control of their body, they can prevent Black Zetsu from detaching itself, thus using this trait against it.

Ninjutsu

Being a sensor, it could sense individuals, many kilometers away, and distinguish between distinct chakra signatures. In its original form, it has shown the ability to phase and travel through its surroundings. Black Zetsu is also able to absorb and distribute chakra through physical contact. Black Zetsu could conceal itself by blending in with the environment.

Wood Release

Black Zetsu using Wood Release.

While possessing White Zetsu’s body mass, Black Zetsu had access to Hashirama’s cellular material, allowing it to utilize Hashirama’s Wood Release, albeit on a much weaker scale. Black Zetsu accomplished this by transforming its white body mass and plantlike extensions into roots during battle. It has been seen to have a high amount of proficiency with Wood Release, holding its own against Mei Terumī, a clone of Naruto, and Chōjūrōwith it.

Black Zetsu using Mayfly.

While Black Zetsu was attached to White Zetsu, their signature technique was Mayfly, which allowed them to merge with the ground to quickly travel to a new location, though not as quickly as Obito’s space–time traveling. This technique was ideal for Zetsu’s function as a spy, as it erased their presence and prevented them from being sensed. In addition to functioning as a single entity by communicating through their thoughts, Zetsu’s two halves were able to split apart, allowing them to act independently. While separated, the two halves could extend roots underground to communicate with each other over long distances.

Dōjutsu

Rinnegan

Main article: Rinnegan

Black Zetsu’s Rinnegan.

To ensure Madara’s revival via the Outer Path — Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique, Black Zetsu took possession of Obito, forcing him to use the technique specifically for the purpose. In a later attempt to aid Madara in retrieving his left eye from Obito, Black Zetsu was able to steal possession of the latter’s Rinnegan while completely removing itself from Obito's body.

Sharingan/Mangekyō Sharingan

Main articles: Sharingan and Mangekyō Sharingan

Black Zetsu’s Sharingan.

When Black Zetsu was finally able to return the Rinnegan back to Madara, he received Obito’s original left eye in exchange. Wielding both of Obito’s Mangekyō Sharingan, Black Zetsu was able to utilize the left eye’s Kamui to travel to and from an alternate dimension while bringing another person with it. Upon detaching itself from Obito, Black Zetsu no longer has access to the former’s Mangekyō Sharingan.

Intelligence

Influencing and manipulating many prominent and deceptive individuals throughout history including Obito, Nagato, Orochimaru, and a countless amount of others, Black Zetsu proved itself to be a highly deceptive and cunning individual, having amassed more information about the shinobi world than almost any other individual. In battle and alongside its creator, Black Zetsu has shown to be an adept tactician who can analyze its opponents and suggest appropriate countermeasures to their tactics, which Madara complies with and carries out.

Other Skills

Should the need arise, Black Zetsu is capable of telepathically communicating with other individuals. Through unknown means, Black Zetsu was able to manipulate the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and release the White Zetsu trapped within it.

Part I

Sasuke Recovery Mission

Main article: Naruto: A Shinobi Story/Sasuke Recovery Mission

Zetsu arrives after Naruto and Sasuke’s battle.

After Sasuke and Naruto’s at the Valley of the End, Kakashi and Pakkun appear to bring Naruto back home. As the three begin the journey back home to Konoha, Zetsu appears from the ground, having witnessed the whole battle. Later, his silhouette appeared with the rest of the Akatsuki members where they discussed Orochimaru taking Sasuke Uchiha, the capturing of the Nine-Tails and the furthering of their plans.

Part II

Kazekage Rescue Mission

Main article: Naruto: A Shinobi Story/Kazekage Rescue Mission

Akatsuki Suppression Mission

Main article: Naruto: A Shinobi Story/Akatsuki Suppression Mission

Itachi Uchiha Pursuit Mission

Main article: Naruto: A Shinobi Story/Itachi Uchiha Pursuit Mission

Tale of Jiraiya the Gallant

Main article: Naruto: A Shinobi Story/Tale of Jiraiya the Gallant

Pain’s Assault

Main article: Naruto: A Shinobi Story/Pain’s Assault (Arc)

Five Kage Summit (Arc)

Main article: Naruto: A Shinobi Story/Five Kage Summit (Arc)

Fourth Shinobi World War (Arc)

Main article: Naruto: A Shinobi Story/Fourth Shinobi World War (Arc)

Birth of the Ten-Tails’ Jinchūriki

Main article: Naruto: A Shinobi Story/Birth of the Ten-Tails’ Jinchūriki

Legacy

Trivia

• The name “Zetsu” (舌) means “tongue”. A fitting name, as Black Zetsu was referred to as “Wicked Tongue” (毒舌, Dokuzetsu) based on his personality.
• According to the databook:
  • Zetsu’s hobby is observing unique shinobi
  • He wishes to fight people who are likely to leave behind a corpse that will make a good meal.
  • His favorite food is “chewy” people, while his least favorites konnyaku and jelly.
  • Zetsu’s favorite phrase is “Independence unbending” (独立不撓, Dokuritsu Futō), which means “The only one you can count on is yourself”.
  • Wherever Tobi is, Zetsu is never far behind.
• In the fourth databook, neither kekkei genkai nor kekkei mōra is listed amongst Zetsu’s special characteristics, despite it possessing both through its host bodies at different times, and through Hashirama’s cells. Similarly, none of the techniques that Zetsu used listed it as a user.
• After escaping from Chōjūrō in its real shapeless form, Black Zetsu is then seen possessing another White Zetsu-like body mass when attacking Obito. This white mass completely disappears when Black Zetsu merges with Obito’s body but then is immediately restored when Black Zetsu leaves said body. The white mass finally disappears when Black Zetsu merges with Obito for the second time, even when the Uchiha talks to Madara and forces Black Zetsu off his body and it instead merged with Madara’s through the latter’s left sleeve.

Quotes

References