Light Yagami, the protagonist of the anime "Death Note," manipulates his adversaries by using his intelligence, strategic planning, and the power of the Death Note, a supernatural notebook that allows him to kill anyone whose name he writes in it. He often outwits his opponents by carefully planning his moves, predicting their actions, and exploiting their weaknesses to gain the upper hand in various situations. Additionally, he uses psychological manipulation and deception to control his adversaries and achieve his goals.