Sukuna's Daughter (Suki)

Hidden Paths in the Desert

The scorching sun bathed the Hidden Sand Village in waves of heat, its relentless rays bearing down on the cracked earth. Suki stood silently on the outskirts of the village, scanning the horizon. The mission had already begun, but her part wasn't over yet. Gaara, the Kazekage, had been taken by the Akatsuki, and it was their job to bring him back.

Most of the team—Kakashi, Naruto, Sakura, and the Sand Village shinobi—had plunged deeper into the desert to gather information. But Suki's role was different. She wasn't in the spotlight, nor was she expected to engage in direct combat unless necessary. Her mission was to trace the Akatsuki's movements, to find the locations where they had hidden Gaara, and mark out their escape routes.

"Remember, Suki," Kakashi had told her before they split up, "you're not just a fighter. Use your strengths. The Akatsuki are clever, but so are you."

His words echoed in her mind as she closed her eyes and extended her senses. Thanks to the cursed energy she inherited from her father, Sukuna, she had an edge most ninjas didn't. She could feel faint traces of energy that even the Byakugan or Sharingan would miss. In this vast, barren desert, where Akatsuki's presence was faint and masked, Suki's abilities were invaluable.

"I have to find them," she whispered. "Before it's too late."

Within the Village

The air was thick with tension. The Sand Village was in disarray, its streets filled with panic as news of Gaara's capture spread. As Suki moved through the village, she could feel the weight of everyone's fear pressing down on her.

Naruto, always the loudest, was already interrogating anyone he could find for information. "Where's Gaara?!" he yelled, his voice desperate, but filled with determination.

Suki kept her distance, her focus solely on the flickers of cursed energy in the wind. Her steps led her out of the village, toward an abandoned part of the desert, near the ruins of an old temple. That's where she felt it—a faint but unmistakable trail of cursed energy. It was distorted, dark, and raw, nothing like chakra. But it was enough to make her believe that the Akatsuki had been there recently.

She narrowed her eyes. "I've found their traces," she muttered, feeling the residual energy left behind. Her task now was to follow it.

At the Temple Ruins

The wind picked up, swirling sand around the ruins of the temple. The ancient structure, long forgotten by the villagers, stood as a silent witness to the movement of the Akatsuki. Suki moved cautiously, her eyes sharp and senses heightened. As she approached, she felt it again—the cursed energy. This time, stronger.

"This place...," she whispered to herself, bending down to touch the ground, her fingers tracing the lines of power. "They were here. Not long ago."

The energy didn't feel like ordinary chakra. It was something more ominous, something deeper. Could the Akatsuki have begun using cursed energy as well? The possibility unsettled her. She knew what Sukuna's power was capable of, and if the Akatsuki had figured out how to harness it, the situation was more dangerous than they realized.

With a final sweep of the area, Suki noted the lingering presence of several Akatsuki members. It wasn't just Deidara and Sasori. There were others, their signatures faint but detectable. She made a quick mental note of the locations where the energy was most concentrated, then headed back to inform the others.

Kakashi's Battle and Exhaustion

By the time Suki returned to the main village, the sun was already setting, casting long shadows across the sand. She found Kakashi and the others gathered around a map, planning their next move.

"Did you find anything?" Kakashi asked, his voice as calm as ever, but Suki could see the strain in his posture.

"I did," she replied, pointing to the map. "There's an old temple not far from here. I felt a strong presence of cursed energy there. It's recent—probably where they've been moving Gaara, or at least using it as a temporary base."

Naruto clenched his fists. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go get him!"

Kakashi placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder, his voice serious. "We need to be careful. This isn't a simple mission."

Suki glanced at Kakashi, noticing the slight tremor in his hand. His face was pale, and sweat beaded on his forehead. She knew what was happening. During their pursuit of Deidara, Kakashi had been forced to use his Mangekyō Sharingan, the ultimate technique, but one that drained an enormous amount of his chakra. His body wasn't built to sustain such power for long.

"Kakashi-sensei, are you alright?" Sakura asked, her worry evident.

Kakashi shook his head. "I'll be fine, but... I won't be able to lead the next part of the mission. Someone else will have to take over."

A figure stepped forward. Yamato, with his calm and collected demeanor, nodded. "I'll take over from here. We need to keep moving. Gaara's time is running out."

Suki watched as the leadership shifted. Yamato wasn't as experienced as Kakashi, but he had a sharp mind and was highly skilled in Wood Release techniques. They couldn't afford to lose time, and Yamato's leadership would ensure the mission continued smoothly.

Yamato Takes Charge

"Alright," Yamato said, addressing the group. "Suki has located an important area. We'll head toward the temple and investigate further. Our priority is to find Gaara, but we must stay alert. The Akatsuki won't make it easy."

Naruto gritted his teeth, determination burning in his eyes. "I'll save Gaara, no matter what!"

Suki kept her focus on the mission, even though the team's shift in command added a new level of pressure. She had no doubts about Yamato's abilities, but Kakashi's absence felt heavy. However, there was no room for hesitation. They had a mission to complete.

As they ventured out into the desert, Suki's mind raced. The Akatsuki had moved fast, but she could still feel their lingering presence in the cursed energy surrounding the temple. The closer they got, the more she realized—this wasn't just about Gaara. The Akatsuki had something bigger planned, and whatever it was, Suki's cursed energy sensitivity was going to play a key role.

"We'll find him," she whispered, her eyes narrowing as the temple ruins came into view again. The sun dipped below the horizon, and the shadows grew longer, darker. "And when we do, we'll stop them."