Black Zetsu

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Black Zetsu (黑绝)
Gender	Male
Age	Described as a thousand-year-old schemer 14.
Affiliation	Uchiha Madara; Akatsuki. His underlying objective is to rescue Kaguya 75 116 121.
Occupation/Role	Covert operative, intelligence gatherer, and manipulator behind the Eye of the Moon Plan 14 57 82.
Status	Presumed killed by Chentian’s Sage Art—Super Massive Tailed Beast Ball; his death is not directly confirmed 121.
First Appearance	Mentioned during Chentian’s surveillance of Rin’s abduction 13; directly appears after Minato disrupts the plan 14.

Background / History

Manipulating Obito

Black Zetsu works alongside Madara to manipulate Obito through Rin Nohara. When Minato rescues Rin and prevents her planned death, Black Zetsu returns to Madara’s hideout to report the failure. Madara orders him to inform the Mizukage that Konoha has stolen the Three-Tails and to brainwash Obito so the disruption does not derail their larger plan 14.

With Rin safely in Konoha and Madara nearing death, they resort to impersonation. Madara instructs Black Zetsu to arrange for White Zetsu to disguise itself as Rin and Kakashi. The staged tragedy, supported by Madara’s genjutsu and Black Zetsu’s assistance, successfully induces Obito’s Mangekyo Sharingan awakening. Black Zetsu and Madara also conceal news of the real Rin’s survival 15 18 23 48.

Obito’s Death and Shin’s Recruitment

After Chentian kills Obito during the attack on Kushina’s childbirth, Black Zetsu emerges undetected at the battlefield. He recognizes that Chentian knew too much about Obito and Kamui, concludes that the child should be killed, and heads toward the Land of Rain to preserve Nagato as his remaining hope 48.

An Uchiha orphan named Shin subsequently appears before him under unexplained circumstances. Black Zetsu manipulates Shin into awakening a Mangekyo Sharingan identical to Obito’s, but with both eyes intact. Shin takes up the Eye of the Moon Plan and continues controlling Yagura. Although Black Zetsu uses him as Obito’s replacement, the coincidence makes him suspicious, and he never fully trusts Shin 57.

When Shin discovers evidence that someone has entered Madara’s old hideout, he seeks intelligence from Black Zetsu to identify and eliminate the intruder. Shin burns the cave before leaving 90.

Tailed-Beast Intelligence and the Rinnegan Theft

Black Zetsu investigates the locations of the tailed beasts. Konoha’s growing strength makes its Three-Tails and Nine-Tails especially difficult targets: even a united Akatsuki assault offers no assured victory. His later report on the villages’ temporarily weakened defenses enables Nagato to dispatch members to capture the One-Tail, Five-Tails, Six-Tails, and Seven-Tails 72 82.

After Nagato abandons his previous approach to peace, Black Zetsu and a masked man ambush him and Konan. Having already infiltrated Nagato’s body, Black Zetsu gouges out the Rinnegan at the critical moment, then withdraws with the eyes while the masked man continues the attack 114.

Chentian later deduces that Black Zetsu controlled Shin and forced him to use Rinne Rebirth to resurrect Madara. The resurrection is confirmed, but Black Zetsu’s precise method is presented as Chentian’s reconstruction of events 114 115.

Fourth Shinobi World War

More than a decade before the war, Black Zetsu secretly infiltrates Konoha and obtains Impure World Reincarnation, anticipating the danger posed by the village’s increasing power. During the war preparations, he reports that everyone whose remains could be recovered has been reincarnated 116.

At Madara’s command, he instructs Sasori to release the reincarnated army and coordinates Akatsuki’s resistance to delay the Allied Shinobi Forces for one day. He also deploys one hundred thousand White Zetsu throughout the Land of Rain. Both he and Sasori remain wary of awakening Hashirama and Tobirama because they may be impossible to control 116 117.

Betrayal of Madara and Presumed Death

Immediately after Madara becomes the Ten-Tails’ jinchuriki, Black Zetsu emerges from his body and snaps his neck, allowing Kaguya’s consciousness to begin taking over. Madara briefly resists the takeover when he sees Chentian’s incoming attack, preventing Kaguya from evading it despite Black Zetsu’s warning 121.

The Sage Art—Super Massive Tailed Beast Ball kills Madara and Kaguya. Chentian concludes that Black Zetsu must also have died, but receives no card from him and therefore lacks direct confirmation 121.

Appearance

• Appears as a mass of ink-black substance when emerging after Obito’s death 48.
• His pitch-black body is nearly indistinguishable in the dark cave containing the reincarnated army 116.

Personality

Black Zetsu maintains a respectful subordinate’s demeanor toward Madara while concealing his reservations and pursuing Kaguya’s release. When Madara proposes using impersonators to manipulate Obito, Black Zetsu’s wariness increases, but he outwardly agrees without protest 18 75 121.

He adapts quickly to setbacks but becomes deeply frustrated when his available resources collapse. Obito’s death leaves him feeling helpless; Shin’s unexpected arrival brings relief without overcoming his distrust. His decision to steal Impure World Reincarnation years in advance demonstrates his habit of preparing contingencies 14 48 57 116.

Abilities & Skills

Concealment and Underground Movement

• Sinks into and emerges from the ground to travel covertly 14 18 116.
• Evades Chentian’s searches during the operation involving Rin 13 14.
• Remains undetected despite several Kage-level fighters being present after Obito’s death 48.

Bodily Infiltration and Ambush

• Infiltrates Nagato’s body before extracting his Rinnegan 114.
• Emerges from Madara’s body and attacks during the brief window immediately after his Six Paths transformation 121.
• Chentian judges that he would lose the opportunity to ambush Madara once Madara became accustomed to his new power 120.

Psychological Manipulation

• Assists in deceiving Obito through White Zetsu impersonations and Madara’s genjutsu 18 23 48.
• Manipulates Shin into hating the world and committing to the Eye of the Moon Plan 57.

Intelligence and War Preparation

• Locates tailed beasts and reports openings in the villages’ defenses 72 82.
• Obtains Impure World Reincarnation covertly; Sasori handles battlefield control of the reincarnated shinobi 116.
• Coordinates Akatsuki, reincarnated forces, and the White Zetsu army against the shinobi alliance 116 117.

Relationships

• Kaguya — Calls her “Mother” and seeks her release; his betrayal of Madara initiates her takeover 75 121.
• Uchiha Madara — Ostensible master and planning partner, ultimately betrayed as a vessel for Kaguya 14 116 121.
• Uchiha Obito — Manipulated operative whose hatred is cultivated through a fabricated tragedy 18 23 48.
• Uchiha Shin — Personally raised replacement for Obito, useful to the plan but never fully trusted 57 90.
• Nagato — Initially his fallback after Obito’s death; later ambushed and robbed of the Rinnegan 48 114.
• Sasori — Oversees the reincarnated army under Black Zetsu’s direction 116.
• Chentian — Repeatedly disrupts his plans and becomes a priority target after exposing Obito’s abilities 14 48.
• Sage of Six Paths — Unbeknownst to Black Zetsu, remains active as a soul. Chentian deduces that the Sage has tolerated or secretly guided Black Zetsu’s efforts for his own purposes 74 75 109.

Notable Quotes

“Mother, I’m so helpless!” 48

“Mother, dodge!” 121