Highlights
- Sasuke’s personal squad, Team Taka, consists of Suigetsu, Jugo, and Karin, all of whom have unique abilities.
- Suigetsu’s hydrification technique grants him both invulnerability and enhanced water-based powers.
- Jugo’s uncontrollable rage gives him immense strength and the ability to transform his body, turning him into a powerful killing machine.
Sasuke Uchiha has always been viewed as a lone character, solely relying on his own power to exact vengeance. This image of Sasuke is coherent with his position as Indra’s reincarnation, as it alludes to his predecessor’s transmigrant status. However, Sasuke hasn’t always been a solitary shinobi, as he devised his own personal squad known as Taka, or formerly Hebi.
Comprising three of Orochimaru’s most successful experiments – Suigetsu, Jugo, and Karin – Team Taka was formed by Sasuke to serve as his support unit. Despite their individual feats, all three members tend to be overshadowed by Sasuke’s overwhelming presence, leading to viewers overlooking this extremely versatile squad. However, each member of Taka is a powerhouse in their own right, and being handpicked by Sasuke himself is a testament to this fact.
Suigetsu Hozuki – The Second Coming of the Demon
A User of The Hozuki Clan’s Secret Hydrification Technique
Suigetsu Hozuki was recruited by Sasuke for his initial Team Hebi, sought out from one of Orochimaru’s bases within the Hidden Sound Village. Suigetsu was chosen to be a part of Taka primarily because of the Hozuki Clan’s secret technique, one that essentially grants Suigetsu the power to liquefy himself at will. This technique not only allows higher potency for Water Style techniques but also deems him invulnerable to all physical attacks.
Suigetsu has been dubbed as the ‘Second Coming of the Demon,’ a moniker that alludes to his reverence as Zabuza Momochi’s reincarnation. With strength comparable to Zabuza’s and the ability to wield the Seven Mist Blades, Suigetsu has proven himself to be a major offensive asset for Team Taka. While Suigetsu lacks the strength that Zabuza possesses to wield the Mist Blade, he makes up for it through his hydrification technique.
Suigetsu’s fight against Killer B in the Hidden Cloud Village showcased his mastery over Water Release techniques, allowing him to take on the Jinchuriki head-on. He was able to survive the Raikage’s lightning-fast attacks, even going as far as standing his ground against Darui. Despite wielding a half-severed Mist Blade, Suigetsu was able to rival Darui in terms of Kenjutsu, showcasing his true prowess in battle.
Jugo of the Scales
A Bloodthirsty Powerhouse
Jugo has held a significant place among Taka’s ranks ever since he joined hands with the group. His strength and limitless power are supplemented by his clan’s novel Kekkei Genkai, an involuntary ability that allows Jugo to accumulate Senjutsu chakra without ever training in the Sage Arts. While this power grants the wielder unparalleled power without relative training, it can also induce bouts of rage and bloodlust – the very same instinct that led to Jugo slaughtering his entire clan.
The very same psychotic rages are the source of Jugo’s monstrous power, as this uncontrollable rage translates to raw, brutal strength. Jugo’s body can form demonic appendages from the surplus Senjutsu chakra entering his body, and these extra body parts offer both defense and offense. He has been witnessed transforming his arms into pistons, greatly increasing his punching power.
Taka’s fight against Killer B is arguably the team’s highlight, and Jugo displayed the most prowess in terms of sheer strength. He was able to dodge Killer B’s Lightning Lariat using arm-boosters, an appendage formed through his Senjutsu powers. In his complete transformation, Jugo’s body gains a darker hue and he grows scales throughout his body. This state causes Jugo to lose his mind entirely, yet it’s also accompanied by extremely high physical resistance, turning him into a one-man killing machine.
Taka’s Support: Karin
What She Lacked in Strength She Made Up For in Healing Ability
Karin has no offensive abilities of her own, yet she still serves as an integral part of Team Taka. Karin’s abilities deem her an excellent support, with expertise in sensory, sealing, and healing techniques. Karin was taken in by Orochimaru for this very purpose, as her Uzumaki lifeforce turned her body into an almost limitless source of instantaneous healing. By biting into her body, shinobi can replenish all of their chakra, though this very power muddled her childhood with abuse and trauma.
Her sensory techniques are also extremely unique, differentiating her from regular sensory ninja. Instead of molding her own chakra to detect enemies, Karin’s body involuntarily detects any chakra presence, turning her into a walking radar of sorts. This was one of the main reasons why Sasuke sought out Karin for Team Taka, as her power was crucial for detecting Itachi and other Akatsuki members.
Karin has proven to be useful on multiple occasions, both as a member of Team Taka and as an ally to the Allied Shinobi Forces. Her immediate healing has saved the lives of several shinobi, including Sasuke and Lady Tsunade during the Fourth Great Ninja War. Her Adamantine Sealing Chains were also able to deflect Tobi’s Wood Statue, playing a crucial role in the war effort. It’s safe to say that without Karin’s support abilities, Team Taka would have remained crippled since its inception.
Naruto is available to stream on Prime Video.
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