Episode 9 — Zetsu’s killer move

The fake weakness pattern

Before we get to the move, let’s quickly look at a couple of Zetsu scenes before the critical moment.

Zetsu follows a pattern we’re now familiar with: his main asset is that he is underestimated. He is seen as a weak fighter, and both Obito and Madara believe he was created by Madara. His first priority is to maintain this advantage. Let us look at a few examples:

Chapters 392-393: Zetsu acts as if he had never seen a Susanoo - an obvious discrepancy, since he has been spying on the Uchiha clan since long before Madara’s era. Since he is recording the fight for Obito, he is commenting in his “Madara’s will” persona.

During the war, he fakes his defeat against Chōjūrō. This both helps maintain his weakness masquerade, and shifts attention away from him, as he seems defeated. Later on, we find out he never was immobilised, and moves again as soon as he needs to re-enter the game.

In chapter 659, just after the Rinne Tensei, he claims Kakashi and Minato would easily be able to kill him. Acting weak is more important than ever, as Madara is now nearby.

Acting as if he had never seen a Susanoo, chapters 392 and 393.

Chapters 562 (right) and 657 (left).

Chapter 659, against Minato and Kakashi.

The critical juncture

Let’s take a step back and have a look at Zetsu’s win condition. First, he needs Madara to successfully absorb the Jūbi and start the Infinite Tsukuyomi. Then, he will need to physically backstab Madara in order to overload him with the Infinite Tsukuyomi victims’ chakra, triggering Kaguya’s revival. This final part is the most perilous moment for Zetsu.

Zetsu’s main problem is, at this final step, Madara, empowered by the Jūbi and his Rinnegan pair, will be supremely powerful. So in order to backstab him, Zetsu will need:

A strong body, capable of physically piercing a Jūbi Jinchūriki. Obito’s body would do: it still has leftovers of the Jūbi’s power.

A distraction, to get a clean opportunity to catch Madara off-guard from behind.

This leads us to the critical position. At the beginning of chapter 665, after absorbing the Jūbi, Madara orders Zetsu to leave Obito’s body, and to bring him his second Rinnegan. At first glance, this is a disaster for Zetsu:

If he obeys, then Madara will cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi too early, without anyone powerful enough to distract him afterwards. And without Obito’s body, Zetsu would be unable to backstab him anyway.

If he disobeys, then Madara will immediately realise Zetsu is not truly his will.

So it looks like Zetsu is checkmated, and whatever he does, we are headed for a Madara victory. And yet, then is one move than can turn the tables, and checkmate Madara instead.

Can you find the killer move that Zetsu played?

What is the only winning move for Zetsu from here? (Chapter 665.)

The killer move

The move is, pretending Obito is regaining control. What a fantastic move by Zetsu! With this one move:

Zetsu gets to disobey Madara and keep Obito’s body and Rinnegan, while still pretending to be loyal.

He keeps selling his weak persona: even a nearly dead Obito can overpower him. Madara has even less reasons to see him as a threat.

From there, Zetsu can do whatever he wants without anyone suspecting anything:

If he needs to delay Madara, he can pretend Obito is regaining control and, acting as Obito, help Naruto’s group.

If he needs to help Madara, he can pretend he is regaining control over Obito, and act as himself again.

After this move, Madara’s position is lost. This is our hidden plot for today: Obito never overpowered Zetsu. Zetsu faked the whole thing in order to trick Madara.

The game-winning move. (Chapter 665.)

Switching between Zetsu and Obito.

The discrepancy proving our hidden plot

The reader may request an evidence that Zetsu truly faked Obito’s resistance. We do have a discrepancy proving our claim. Can you find that discrepancy?

The discrepancy happens In chapter 666. Obito seems in full control of his body, to the point he is able to block Madara’s attacks. But if Obito had truly regained control and wanted to stop Madara, then the obvious move would be to immediately destroy the Rinnegan.

But the Rinnegan is preserved.

This confirms that the controlling intelligence is not Obito fighting back, but Zetsu himself.

Obito would want to stop Madara. Zetsu, on the other hand, needs to delay Madara, while preserving Madara’s eventual win condition. The Rinnegan must make its way back to Madara eventually.

Chapter 666: it seems Obito is in control, but the Rinnegan is preserved.

The continuation: entering Kamui

While acting as Obito, Zetsu quickly tells Kakashi to send Naruto to Kamui, then goes to Kamui himself. This move accomplishes three things:

It delays Madara from recovering the second Rinnegan.

It allows Zetsu to heal Naruto - who will distract Madara later, for the backstab.

It gives Zetsu a good reason to keep Obito’s body.

That third point is the best part of the move. Madara will eventually come to Kamui, after stealing Kakashi’s eye, in order to get the Rinnegan. But then, after equipping the Rinnegan pair, Madara will not be able to use Kamui anymore, yet he will still need a route back to the real world.

That route will be provided by Zetsu. So from Madara’s perspective, Zetsu keeping Obito’s body is now necessary.

Chapter 666: escaping to Kamui and healing Naruto.

Chapter 676: returning Madara from Kamui, using Obito’s body.

Preparing the final move

After returning from the Kamui dimension, Zetsu acts as himself again. Madara musn’t suspect “Obito” might try to attack him again, so Zetsu claims Obito has been fully suppressed.

When the Infinite Tsukuyomi is cast, Sasuke protects Naruto’s group with his Susanoo. Zetsu knew that would happen — and was counting on it, since he still needs Sasuke and Naruto to distract Madara. But he acts surprised, because he mustn’t let anyone suspect that he knows more about the Infinite Tsukuyomi than Madara himself.

Now, Zetsu only has one move left to play: the backstab. As Zetsu, how can you get behind Madara’s back, without Madara suspecting anything? Can you find the finishing move Zetsu played?

Chapter 676: acting as Zetsu again.

Chapter 678: acting ignorant of Sasuke’s Susanoo blocking the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

The finishing move

Zetsu needs to get behind Madara. But even if Madara trusts him, he still is a warrior with decades of experience. If you try to move behind him, he is likely to instinctively react.

So the trick is, you don’t move behind Madara. You get Madara to move in front of you.

Zetsu claims he will finish off Naruto and Sasuke, and steps in front of Madara. But Madara believes he is the saviour: it is he, and he alone, who shall deal with the remaining opposition. So Madara steps in front of Zetsu, ready for the final battle against Naruto’s group.

As a result, without moving a muscle, Zetsu finds himself behind Madara’s back, with Madara focused on Naruto. Madara doesn’t suspect anything: he is the one who stepped in front of Zetsu.

With this last move, the backstab now is inevitable…

Chapter 678: the finishing move.

Quest complete

With that, the Zetsu quest is complete, and we are getting one step closer to the true ending.

As we can see, Zetsu is a brilliant strategist and quick-thinker, second only to Samehada herself. Mr Kishimoto did a fantastic work with this character. Let us appreciate appreciate Zetsu’s brilliant moves, and move on to our last side quest.