Akatsuki: Black Zetsu The Wicked Tongue

Black Zetsu, also known as Kuro Zetsu, represents Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's will and was brought into existence to ensure her revival. It played a covert role in orchestrating significant events that influenced the shinobi world. To maintain its cover, it pretended to be the manifested will of Madara Uchiha, and as a result, it became partnered with White Zetsu to form the Akatsuki member known as Zetsu.

Background

Black Zetsu was created by Kaguya before she was sealed by her sons. It played a manipulative role in the shinobi world, influencing events and deceiving individuals. It targeted Indra and incited conflict between him and his brother, Asura. Black Zetsu ensured that the Uchiha clan would play a central role in history and manipulated the reincarnations of Indra and Asura. It recorded significant events and eventually hid inside Madara's body. While posing as Madara's will, it pulled transformed humans from Kaguya's Infinite Tsukuyomi and merged them with the essence of the Hashirama plant clone. In the end, it accompanied Obito to find Nagato and witnessed Obito presenting himself as Madara Uchiha.

Personality

Black Zetsu, known as "Wicked Tongue," is a serious and knowledgeable entity compared to White Zetsu. It appears trustworthy and loyal but keeps its true loyalties hidden. It manipulates and betrays both Madara and Obito, showing little regard for their well-being. Black Zetsu acts as a spy and carries out secretive tasks for Akatsuki, such as devouring the bodies of fallen members to protect their secrets. It operates independently and reports directly to Pain and Obito. It holds deep reverence for its creator, Kaguya, and works tirelessly to bring about her revival. Black Zetsu believes itself to be the progenitor of shinobi history and has a high opinion of itself. However, in the end, its true allegiance lies solely with Kaguya.

Abilities

Black Zetsu, being a manipulative parasite, possessed various abilities that helped it deceive and control others for a long time. Together with Kaguya, they were able to hold their own against Naruto and Sasuke, despite their enhanced powers and assistance from their friends. Black Zetsu was capable of utilizing all five basic nature transformations and Yin and Yang Release.

Unique Body

Unlike a normal body, Black Zetsu possessed exceptional durability, being able to survive being cut in half and remaining ageless for over a thousand years. Its flexible physiology allowed it to change its shape and stretch to great lengths. As a manifestation of Kaguya's will, Black Zetsu had the ability to influence others by attaching itself to them, subtly manipulating their minds or forcefully controlling their bodies and using their unique powers. It used this power to manipulate many of Asura and Indra's reincarnations throughout history. When merged with someone, Black Zetsu could sustain their life and help them survive dangerous situations. However, if the target regained control, they could prevent Black Zetsu from detaching. Over time, Black Zetsu recorded the events it witnessed and would share these recordings by merging with others.

Ninjutsu

As a sensor, Black Zetsu had the ability to sense individuals even from great distances and could differentiate between different chakra signatures, enabling it to locate the reincarnations of Asura and Indra. It inherited Kaguya's power to create All-Killing Ash Bones and open portals to launch them. In its original form, Black Zetsu could phase through objects and move within its surroundings. It possessed the capability to absorb and distribute chakra through physical contact. In the anime, it could camouflage itself by blending with the environment. Black Zetsu also demonstrated the ability to manipulate and enhance a giant boar, causing it to behave differently than usual.

Wood Release

When merged with White Zetsu, Black Zetsu gained access to Hashirama's Wood Release abilities, although at a lesser level. It could transform its white body mass and plant-like extensions into roots during battles, showcasing its proficiency with Wood Release. The signature technique of Black Zetsu and White Zetsu together was Mayfly, enabling them to merge with the ground for quick travel, although not as fast as Obito's space-time traveling. This technique was advantageous for their spying role as it concealed their presence and prevented detection. While they typically functioned as a single entity communicating through thoughts, Black Zetsu and White Zetsu could separate and act independently when needed. They could also communicate through underground roots over long distances.

Dōjutsu

Rinnegan

Black Zetsu wanted to revive Madara, so it took control of Obito and made him use a special technique called the Outer Path — Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique. Later, Black Zetsu tried to help Madara by taking Obito's left eye and separating itself from Obito's body.

Sharingan

After returning the stolen Rinnegan to Madara, Black Zetsu obtained Obito's original left eye in return. With both of Obito's Mangekyō Sharingan, Black Zetsu could use the left eye's Kamui ability to move between dimensions and bring someone along. However, once Black Zetsu separated from Obito, it no longer had access to his Mangekyō Sharingan.

Intelligence

Throughout history, Black Zetsu has been a master manipulator, deceiving and controlling influential individuals like Indra, Madara, Obito, and Nagato, among others, to further its plan of reviving Kaguya. It orchestrated conflicts between the Uchiha and Senju clans, rewrote Hagoromo's tablet, and tricked Madara into believing its loyalty. It also orchestrated Akatsuki's actions and claimed the Fourth Shinobi World War was all part of its design. With its extensive knowledge of the shinobi world, Black Zetsu has lived for centuries. In battle, it strategizes alongside Kaguya, utilizing her abilities such as the All-Killing Ash Bones and creating rifts in space to counter its opponents.

Other Skills

Even without possessing the Rinnegan or Sharingan, Black Zetsu displayed remarkable abilities. It could read and rewrite the text on the stone tablet, overpowering even Madara as the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki. It had the power to impale Madara and render him powerless against its influence. Additionally, Black Zetsu was capable of telepathically communicating with others and manipulating the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to release the trapped White Zetsu. The means by which it accomplished these feats remain unknown.