Taka


 * Name:, (Formerly )
 * Leader: Sasuke Uchiha
 * Members: Suigetsu Hozuki, Karin, Jugo
 * Affiliation: Uchiha clan, Akatsuki

Taka, formerly Hebi, was formed by Sasuke Uchiha for originally one purpose: to find and kill Itachi Uchiha. After Sasuke's encounter with Madara Uchiha, the group's objective becomes destroying Konohagakure.

The Gathering
After Sasuke defeated Orochimaru, he began to free captives held by Orochimaru. Among them were Mist Seven Ninja Swordsmen trainee Suigetsu, a kunoichi guard named Karin who can heal and sense chakra, and the original source of Orochimaru's cursed seal power, Jugo. After gathering the group together, Sasuke revealed he planned to kill his brother Itachi. He then dubbed the group "Hebi." Each member of the group has his own reasons to go with Sasuke:
 * Suigetsu knows Kisame Hoshigaki travels with Itachi and possesses the legendary sword, Samehada, and plans to get it for himself.
 * Karin is infatuated with Sasuke.
 * Jugo was a friend of Kimimaro's and wants to get to know the man who Kimimaro gave his life to protect.

The Hunt for Itachi
Sasuke led Hebi to an empty city to get some weapons from some ninja cats that were allied with the Uchiha clan; here Suigetsu displays himself as an animal lover. Soon they split up and Sasuke runs into Deidara and Tobi. After a long fight, in which he loses his Sealed form's left wing, Sasuke saves himself from Deidara's self-destruction by using Manda as a shield. After recovering, they set off to find Itachi and one of his shadow clones tells Sasuke to go to the Uchiha Mausoleum for the final duel.

On the way to the Mausoleum, Kisame Hoshigaki appears to halt the group, but lets Sasuke continue. The rest are left to deal with Kisame. Suigetsu and Kisame recognize each other as former inhabitants of Kirigakure and have an unseen sparring session. With Itachi's death, Hebi's purpose was fulfilled.

Descent into Darkness
However, after Sasuke's battle with Itachi and his subsequent talk with Madara Uchiha about the "truth" of his village, Sasuke renamed the team from Hebi to Taka with a new purpose, to destroy Konohagakure. They then started working together with Akatsuki for that reason. Working with Akatsuki, Taka was ordered to capture the Eight-Tailed Beast, while Akatsuki deals with the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, and its Jinchūriki; Naruto Uzumaki.

Sasuke claims to Taka that he only wanted to kill the three elders who were responsible for Itachi's death: Homura Mitokado, Koharu Utatane, and Danzo. However, Sasuke reveals his true intention that he denied from the group to Madara: to destroy the entire Konohagakure village down to the last citizen, for he felt that they deserve punishment for ever shunning the Uchiha clan altogether.

Hunt for the Eight-Tails
The group soon made their way to the Lightning Country coming close to Kumo and sporting new Akatsuki uniforms. Here Suigetsu and Sasuke interrogated a Yotsuki clan ninja for the whereabouts of the Eight Tail's Jinchūriki. They learned his location is the Unraikyo mountains and there they confront Kirābī, a dark-skinned ninja who demanded respect. He quickly got on everyone's nerves by constantly rapping (badly).

Suigetsu immediately engaged him in combat and, much to everyone's surprise, Kirābī easily held Suigetsu's sword back and then easily defeated Jugo. Sasuke then confidently went one on one with Kirābī and as he wielded Suigetsu's sword, Sasuke kicked him in the chest. Instead of reacting normally, Kirābī quickly took notes for a new rap. Sasuke then battled and Kirābī used his seven swords to mortally wounded Sasuke, which was done by slashing him with his swords in the chest.

The rest of the team moved in to save Sasuke, and Karin revealed an ability that can heal people called Heal Bite. Sasuke then admitted she saved his life. As they battled Kirābī three on one, Kirābī announced he would reveal his final blade. Kirābī then went into a tailed state and charged Sasuke, only to miss him. The rest of the team realized he was heading for them and Jugo rocketed them away. Suigetsu fell and diluted into a liquid state with a head as Kirābī nearly killed them. Sasuke then placed Kirābī in a genjutsu with his Mangekyo Sharingan and lowered his guard; he was then met with an attack from Kirābī who ripped Sasuke's chest and neck open. Karin and Jugo moved to save Sasuke, as Karin attempted another Heal Bite, Jugo instead claimed she had not enough chakra and merged his flesh and chakra with Sasuke. This was made possible because Sasuke had Jugo's DNA in his system from the curse seal given to him from Orochimaru.

Kirābī then transformed into the Eight-Tailed Beast before the team's eyes, showing he had complete control over the Biju. Eight Tails, free from its prison, ordered Taka to fear it. Suigetsu tried to hold the beast off, but he was defeated and Sasuke unleashed Amaterasu flames on the beast, leading it to its defeat.

Having barely completed their mission, Sasuke and Jugo scooped Kirābī and their comrades up and left. Though originally showing animosity towards each other, Taka had clearly bonded during the desperation of the battle against the Eight-Tailed Beast. Sasuke even saw Taka at one point as paralleling Team Kakashi.

The Wait for Pain
Taka deliveried Kirabi to Madara and decided to take a break. Unbeknown to Taka, the Kirabi they captured was merely a tentacle of the Eight-Tailed Ox. As they rested Sasuke soon realized that his eye sight was depleting rather quickly but soon he and Jugo realized they were followed. The two then went to confront Jei. After Nagato revived all the people he had killed in Konoha and died, in the Akatsuki hideout, Sasuke is seen telling Suigetsu, Jugo and Karin that it was time for them to head for Konoha.

Name
The name "Hawk" likely derives from the Japanese proverb. It normally means that an extraordinarily gifted child can be born from ordinary parents. However, here it gains an extra meaning, since Tobi (whose name means kite) was responsible for the reformation of Hebi into Taka.

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