Naruto can detect the zetsu's, no doubt about it. However, i would think he ought to be more preoccupied fighting Nagato, Itachi , Madara and eventually Sasuke so its a little too much if he also has to fight the zetsu's.
OMG<, tooooo much to read^ lol. Sry, can't answer everything you said. As for the manga proof, its clearly said the zetsus use transformation,:
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I already linked the page which showed kiba detecting a transformed naruto via scent. The zetsu transformation is different from any other
only because he can mimic the chakra of the person he transforms into, but that's about it.
Zetsu can drain chakra, so he uses that in collabaration with the transformation technique to pose as someone who's chakra he has absorbed, and his clone is able to mimic that chakra.....so when said clone transforms into a person whose chakra was absorbed,:
1. The zetsu clone looks the same because of the transformation technique.
2. It has the same chakra as the original person, as said person had their chakra absorbed.
The method of fusion with Katsuyu fusing with Naruto in Kyuubi mode is faster than this and could possibly be completed before the dawn. Thus, Naruto wouldn't be wasting his time. Besides this is a huge problem, and was likely part of Madara's original plan. No sensor ninja before Naruto in perfect Kyuubi mode could sense two identical chakras apart, so there was no way Madara could have accounted for him over the past 100 years.
Regarding scent, as I said, we don't know everything about the Zetsu transformation technique. The page you gave, cited everything the alliance knew about the technique, and it didn't exclude or include scent. It said nothing of scent because they never tested it.
There still is no direct proof that you have provided; however, because this is a story, I'll grant you some leeway because Kishi isn't necessarily going to have covered every single thing the transformation jutsu does and doesn't do, partly because the alliance doesn't know, and it makes it easier on the readers. Further, some of these readers are children. I guess, I might call this a clue as opposed to evidence. Though the Katsuyu and/or Katsuyu+RKS Naruto also have clues.
Nonetheless, until it's shown, it remains an assumption. That point cannot be argued. I'm sorry, but it's simply unavoidable. Because it's never said in the manga makes it equally possible to be true as it is to be untrue. You seem to be assuming that the it's absence is making it true, which is false.
I don't disagree that the idea that Kiba may sniff them out is a clever theory, I disagree that it's not treated as a theory. In other words, you don't seem to acknowledge that you're basing your conclusion on an assumption,
like all of us do when we make theories. You say you have proof the white Zetsu can be detected by scent. You cite Kiba smelling out Naruto vs. a ninja dog in the Chuunin exams. We know though, that the white Zetsu technique uses
at least a higher level transformation by copying the targets chakra perfect, and we're not sure what else. When I asked for proof of scent working on white Zetsu, you gave me what we already knew which is he can at t
he very least mimic appearance and chakra perfectly, but that's the limit of our knowledge given the few encounters, and the manga page you cited. Thus, you haven't provided any direct proof about the scent. I'm not playing a game of semantics.
I apologize if you feel I am deriding your theory because it's based on an assumption. I apologize if you feel this way, please let me know, and I'll reread my posts to look at terse replies or possible wording to take offense at. However, I'm not deriding your theory; all of my theories and others I like are based on assumptions too. Personally, I have no problems with your theory, once this is acknowledged. It's a valid assumption in my opinion, and I wouldn't be surprised if Kiba's clan was sufficiently dispersed to work in 3-man teams to wipe them out in a night.
I have an alternate theory, that's likely too complex to happen (Essentially it's a RKS Naruto-Katsuyo super-computer, lol

), and I acknowledge the assumptions. It's important to do so, so I think you know where I stand, hopefully you agree. By that I don't mean on a theory (Stick to the scent theory as I know you will), but on presenting evidence vs. assumptions. If you don't, then that's your right of course, and I'll respect it.
It's Sunday now, so I may start gearing down, too many of the same arguments and threads before a new chapter comes out.
Peace Cyborg. :hug: