Zetsu

Zetsu is a missing-nin from the Hidden Grass Village and currently serves as a spy and cleanup crew for the Akatsuki organization. He disposes of bodies not meant to be found (he eats them, he's a cannibal) and acts as a lookout a lot. His position in Akatsuki is unclear, since other members sometimes talk to him as if he's a higher ranked Akatsuki member. He has a giant Venus Flytrap around his head and shoulders, but what this exactly is and does is unknown. It could be a summon, or some kind of parasite. We also hear Zetsu talking to himself a lot, he seems to have a split personality. And since his face is half black, and half white on the other side, this is probably the case. He has his Akatasuki ring (boar) on his right little finger and first appears in Naruto watching the fight between Naruto and Sasuke. Much else isn't known about Zetsu, he remains a mysterious Akatsuki member.Zetsu is easily distinguished by two large venus fly trap-like extensions enveloping his head.

These extensions can envelope the rest of his body as well, giving him a plant-like appearance. When his extensions are open and his head is visible, it is revealed Zetsu has two different colored halves of his body, the left side completely white and the right side black. To go with this, Zetsu seems to have a split personality, as in the Japanese version of the manga the black half of his face speaks only in Katakana while the white side uses Kanji and Kana, and in the English episodes the black side has a different voice actor than the white side. The two halves also seem to converse with each other, and occasionally differ in opinion. They also seem to communicate with their thoughts. To further his venus fly trap theme, Zetsu is also a cannibal. Zetsu's main role within the Akatsuki is to function as a spy, often acting as a hunter-nin for Akatsuki. He has been shown able to move his body and take part in the tailed beasts sealing ritual simultaneously which, in addition to being unique to him, allows him to act as a lookout while the sealing takes place. This might refer to the split personality theme;since he acts as two different people, one side might focus on the sealing jutsu while the the other side might patrol the surrounding area. When an agent to Akatsuki, or possibly even a member, dies, Zetsu is sent to devour said bodies as to not have their secrets revealed. Due to the role he plays, Zetsu is the only member of Akatsuki to act without a partner on a regular basis. Despite this, Zetsu serves as a sort of superior to other members, as they often report directly to him instead of the actual leader, Pain. Zetsu is also the one sent to retrieve the rings of dead Akatsuki members.

Zetsu has been shown having his complete loyalty to Akatsuki, to the extent that the leader, Pain, trusts Zetsu with the knowledge of his identity. As a possible reward for his loyalty, Zetsu was once given a subordinate, Tobi, who would later become a member of Akatsuki himself. Zetsu is also shown knowing that Madara Uchiha is the founder of Akatsuki. He knows Tobi is Madara, since in chapter 395 he reports to Madara who at the time is wearing the mask that is identified with Tobi.