Substitute Technique

This technique allows White Zetsu to create an exact copy of anyone, simply by contact. The clone used for the technique becomes a perfect duplicate, even possessing chakra identical to that of the one they are impersonating along with anything they might be wearing. The clone, which is controlled remotely by the original, is not strong enough to fight an extended battle. As such, its primary purpose is to function as a diversion. The clone retains the appearance of the person even after its "death" and reverts to its true form only after the technique is released by White Zetsu himself. Once Orochimaru took over the body of a Zetsu clone, he used this technique to take on his original appearance.

A variation of this technique is also used by the soldiers of the White Zetsu Army. Rather than creating clones, the soldiers instead transform themselves after absorbing their target's chakra. Also unlike the original's version, the technique is seemingly dispersed once the transformed clone is dealt a significant amount of damage. While transformed, the faces of the White Zetsu Army clones can change to the appearance of something between their true face and that of the one they are impersonating. These clones can also copy their victim's abilities to some degree, once they are known to them.

Trivia

 * In the anime, this technique was performed by White Zetsu having his clone make physical contact with its target, rather than White Zetsu doing it himself.
 * In the manga, the clone used as a substitute for Kisame Hoshigaki resembles a regular parasite clone. In the anime however, the clone possesses the venus flytrap-like extensions that protrude from the side of the original and his black counterpart, which have never been seen on any other clone.
 * In the anime, one of the White Zetsu Army clones was seen absorbing its victim's chakra for use with this technique by sucking it in through its mouth while restraining him, rather than through physical contact alone.