Well, the first chapter of Forward Progressions! This story involves a bit of a time jump into the future, about 15 years after the events of Further Complications. I've added a couple more 'surprises' to this story that you'll just have to read to find out. Well, without further of do… Enjoy!

(15 years later/ Shredder's dojo/ Tokyo, Japan)

({No POV})

The atmosphere was dark and dure if not for the dim lighting in a certain portion of the dojo, the archery range.

The whole dojo was empty, except for one dark figure at one of the archery stations. A young ninja dressed in a black jumpsuit, tabi boots, and a black leather utility belt with two sheaths, one on either side of his body, each containing a juji-ken.

His torso was covered in hard black leather armor that had a dark red emblem of the Foot Clan etched into the posterior portion of it on his back. His arms were bare if not for two steel forearm plates on his arms and an archery glove on his right hand.

His hair was about as concise as he looked. The sides of his head were in a buzz cut but the top of his head contained short, straight, and thick jet black hair that was styled up in uniform neat spikes.

His face adorned with a metallic black happuri and a matching detachable piece of facial armour that covered the lower half of his face. He looked lean but powerful, strong, and even dangerous.

Over his shoulder were a short yumi and a yebira packed with arrows.

His eyes were focused on the target in front of him as he removed the yumi and took the grip of it in his left hand as his right took an arrow from the yebira and armed the yumi with it as he took his stance with the weapon at the clean target in front of him. He lined up his shot as he pulled back on the string of the yumi. His eyes trained on the target as he released the arrow.

The arrow pierced through the air swiftly and silently as it stuck the target… dead center.

Then in almost rapid succession, as if he were firing a gun rather than a bow, three more arrows flew from the yumi one after the other.

The second arrow split the first arrow in the target, as the third did to the second and the fourth and final arrow did to the third arrow… earning an unprecedented and almost impossible 4 consecutive bullseyes and 3 splits of an arrow.

His eyes surveyed his work as he returned the yumi to its place over his shoulder. Then, the young ninja was not alone as four Foot soldiers appeared behind him. Approaching him tentatively and slowly drawing their weapons. The group thought they went undetected as one was about to go for a strike at the young ninja with a naginata.

Then in a split second he drew his two juji-ken from the sheaths at his sides, crossing them in an 'X' as he turned around to block and stop the strike dead in its tracks before swiftly delivering a spinning back kick to his attacker's head, knocking his opponent unconscious with that one blow.

Two of the remaining three also rushed simultaneously to take him down only to suffer the same fate.

The young ninja returned his swords to their sheaths as he stood in the center of the dojo. The final Foot soldier of the previous four was right behind him looking ready to throw a shuriken at him.

Right as he was about to wind back and release, the young ninja quickly drew his yumi and an arrow from his shoulder before turning and firing the arrow in one swift motion. The arrow's strike was punctuated by an agonized cry when the arrow pierced through the throwing hand of the Foot soldier, pinning it to the wall behind him, and the shuriken, in turn, fell with a small pang to the dojo's floor.

"Enough!" Came a voice of a dark, menacing figure in the doorway; the Shredder. The young ninja looked in his direction and quickly bowed his head in respect. The Shredder gestured with his hand down the hall he just came from and said, "Come with me. The rest of you leave."

As the young ninja exited the dojo to follow the Shredder, he walked by and tore the arrow from the hand of the Foot soldier, who cried out again in pain, as the young ninja continued to walk past him and wiped the blood off the arrow on the material of the lower part of his jump suit before returning it to the yebira on his back.

He eventually got to the main room of the dojo containing a large throne-like chair, Shredder's chair, and a large open space. The Shredder was sitting in his chair as he looked down to the young ninja who was in an attentive stance, his head bowed.

"At ease." The Shredder says and the young ninja relaxed his stance as he looked up at the Shredder.

"So what I have heard is correct about your skills… I'm impressed. You fly out to New York tomorrow. I hope you feel you are prepared to take this on?" The Shredder muses as he gets up and starts walking in a circle around the young ninja.

"I am." The young ninja states, entirely sure.

"Do you understand what you are supposed to do?" The Shredder inquires. "To restore the honor and strength of the Foot Clan." The young ninja replies to the point. "Very well. You are to accomplish that goal, that you know what it is, at any cost… Understand?" The Shredder says entirely serious.

"I understand… grandfather." The young ninja replies, his face still covered by his facial armor and his expression unreadable.

9 days later

(Leo's POV)

I handed Molly the strip of fabric and grinned at her.

She took it from me and gave me a weird look. I nodded at her and motioned for her to put it on. She still looked entirely confused as she put it on over her eyes and tied it behind her head before sighing, slightly annoyed.

"Uncle, I don't understand. What is blindfolding me supposed to teach me? What? Am I going to get a stick and hit a pinata next?" Molly replies sarcastically. Even though I wanted her to take this seriously, I had to smile a little to myself and shake my head.

It was times like this that confirmed that she was definitely my brother's and Mona's daughter.

"It's supposed to train you to use your other senses. You may not always have the ability to see you know? You may only have the ability to rely on hearing, touch, or even smell in a fight." I point out.

"When wouldn't I be able to see? Realistically?" Molly retorts.

"Blinding powder to the eyes, getting your eyes gouged… anything can happen Molly. I wasn't taught this lesson until I was 15 and I wished I would've been taught this earlier by your grandfather. It would have helped me so much more if I would have been introduced to this earlier. Now… do you want to learn?" I reply.

Molly's expression changed, seeing my point, as she bowed her head and replied, "Yes… sorry sensei."

I couldn't help but still smile to myself when I heard her call me that.

Even though I have been teaching her for the past 7 years after Splinter turned Molly's training entirely over to me, I still couldn't believe that I actually had my own student; I was a sensei now.

Training was over and Molly was still here hanging out with me like she usually did when she waited for Raph to pick her up from work.

Molly always comes over after school to train with me. As weird as people might find it, Molly prefers to hang out with me, her own uncle, rather than kids her own age. But, it was something I always really looked forward to everyday during the week.

Also, it wasn't surprising to me with Molly that she didn't mesh with people her own age.

Molly, for being only 13, was pretty advanced beyond her years. She was mentally more mature than most in her age group and even gave me a run for my money too sometimes.

I glanced at her sitting next to me as we watched TV and I still can't get over what she is.

From birth, Molly has shared a heavy resemblance to Raph. The hair, the face, the eyes… the only physical characteristic she gained from Mona was the fairer skin tone, but her younger brother was also the same way.

However, even though Mona and Raph share a similar mindset, mentally Molly was definitely her mother's daughter.

Molly may not be child prodigy smart like Mona, though Molly is definitely smart for sure, but her mannerisms and attitude matched Mona's on the dot. That was probably why I liked having her around.

Mona was still my best friend and I have found that same relationship with her daughter. Though I will admit that Molly can get her father's temper at times if you push her buttons enough.

Molly and I just bonded on a certain and deep level. Since it's just me and I have no family of my own, I saw her as my surrogate daughter as well as my niece. But, our bond also runs along the same lines.

We both loved our family, but we knew that in a way we were both… outsiders. Ever since the invasion, things just started to change. Well, it especially did when Mona found out she was pregnant.

It was a shock and totally unexpected for sure, but once I got her calmed down enough she told me what happened.

When I saw Raph and Mona fall down the elevator shaft at TCRI during the invasion, they got to the bottom unharmed by some miracle, but apparently that wasn't all that happened… Long story short Raph and Mona got into something that seemed like a life or death situation and…

Let's just say this; if you put two 17 year olds who were completely into each other in a life or death situation together what do you think would end up happening? Well, it did and then 9 months later Molly happened.

When Molly was born, it was really something that didn't just affect Raph and Mona, it was something that really affected all of us. I even saw Molly being born because Mona wanted me there with her.

Then once Molly was born, I was surprised that she gave her that name. I remembered that Molly was Mona's mom's name.

Even though her parents disappeared all that time ago, Mona never fully got over it. Which is something that is entirely understandable. Losing both of your parents the way Mona did was horrible.

That was when I asked her why she would use her mother's name if it was painful for her and she told me something that still sticks in my memory to this day, "It'll be extremely painful at first, but I think it's right."

But, it wasn't like Raph and Mona were alone with Molly.

Molly was literally the definition that it took a village to raise a child, or in her case it was a sewer full of ninja vigilante uncles, April, Irma, sensei, and Hazel to help Mona and Raph.

Molly lived down here for the first three years of her life and that was why I felt a deeper bond with her over my other nieces and nephews.

I love all of them, don't get me wrong, but I just have a stronger connection with Molly.

We were both watching TV still when we heard heavy footsteps behind us and the same sarcastic greeting, "What? No hi?"

Molly whipped her head around and immediately got up and hugged Raph. "There's my girl. Ready to get going before your mom blows a gasket?" He asks her smiling. "Yeah… ugh, I forgot my stuff in the dojo. Be right back!" Molly yells as she runs back to the dojo.

I looked back at Raph who was covered in dirt.

"Rough day?" I ask. "Oh yeah, Larz has been a real ball buster lately with laying down pipes, but hey, at least I'm getting paid, right?" Raph says with a laugh as he crossed his arms.

As much as I tried to resist, I couldn't stop myself as I looked down to the silver band on the ring finger of his left hand; a wedding band.

Once Mona and Raph saw Molly was coming into the picture, they got married as soon as they were able to a little before Molly was born, which at first kind of surprised the rest of us, but then it wasn't so surprising and it wasn't an entirely big thing.

It's not like it was forced. It wasn't at all and Molly really wasn't the real reason behind it happening either.

Mona and Raph went through too much, just like the rest of us had together, to not end up together. It was obvious to everyone that they were meant for each other and would end up married eventually. Molly just kind of... sped up the process.

I got the same thought in my head as I kept looking at Raph. I was envious of him; of all my brothers.

All of them married, happily married at that, with families of their own and lives above the surface. I was happy for them, I really am, but I'm also jealous.

Unlike all my brothers or even Splinter though, I never had a reason to leave the lair. I still lived down here on my own. I saw no reason to leave. There was nothing for me on the surface to have the compulsion to live up there.

Sure Donnie gave me all the identification documents so I could live topside if I wanted to… but I saw no point.

Also, unlike Mikey and Donnie who had other talents to get jobs on the surface… I really wasn't good at anything other than ninjutsu and Raph wasn't really either.

But even Raph got a job in construction that he's had for over 12 years. Raph was good at it. He was big, strong, tough and even though he has a smart mouth with authority, his employer and foremen Larz really didn't care.

Construction was also a good fit for Raph because it worked with the patrol schedules at night. Raph and I were the only ones that still went on nightly patrols.

Mikey joined us on weekends if he could and Donnie comes only a couple times a year when he visits from the small town-suburbs where he lives around the holidays when he is able to get time off from his job.

Raph tried to get me into construction with him a couple years back... but it didn't work. On site, I realized all the guys had nicknames that stuck that everyone called you.

Raph's was at least somewhat dignified and fitting for him, Brick House. Mine was one that makes me cringe to this day like nails on a chalkboard. From the moment I stepped on site, I was Pretty Boy.

All the guys kept making snide comments about me from the first day I was there. Saying things like how I was too pretty for construction or almost teasingly saying that I should be more suited to being an underwear model on a billboard in times square.

I couldn't take it. It wasn't worth it.

"So what's on your agenda tonight besides nothing?" Raph comments. I didn't have time to respond before Raph said, "C'mon man, stop sitting around here by yourself every night. Seriously, just looking at you in this place depresses me... Come over for dinner, Mona'd like to see you. She's always worried you're not eating good enough down here."

I let out a short laugh before replying, "You make her sound like my mother." "Hey, she's just worried about you man... Just come over tonight. We can watch Jimmy's last football game that I recorded. Also, if you say no then Mona will drag you out of here, tie you down and force you to sit and eat with us if she has to." Raph says and we both laugh a little.

Jimmy was Mona and Raph's son, Molly's younger brother and only sibling. To describe him in short, Jimmy was definitely Raph's son; mentally and physically. He looked exactly like him, save for the slightly lighter skin tone he got from Mona, and even acts a lot like Raph when he was younger.

Jimmy wasn't a bad kid. He was just a very brash, snide, and smart mouthed 8 year old boy with a short fuse at times.

He, like Molly, was named in Mona's parents' memory. His real name was James after Mona's father, but it was his middle name was what really shocked me. When he was born I looked at his ID in the hospital and saw James Leonardo on the line. I felt really honored and still do.

I thought Mona was the one who came up with it, until she admitted that it was actually Raph's idea which made me even more shocked at the time, but that was when I realized how much my brother and I were getting closer.

Raph and I almost never fight anymore. We finally found that respect for each other that sensei was always telling us about when we were younger and were finally able to work together efficiently.

I put my hands up in surrender before saying, "Alright, you got me. I'll be there." Raph smirked at me as he slapped me on the shoulder as Molly walked back in. Raph looked back at me one more time as he held his fist out to me. I did the same as we did our handshake we've done since we were 10 and he said, "See you later man."

Molly gave me a hug before I watched her and Raph walk out of the lair.

I smirked a little at the thought crossing my mind. Raph and I may have not gotten along as well when we were younger, but I was closer to Raph now than any of my other brothers.

Later that night

We were out on another patrol tonight. It was me, Raph, and Molly.

For her thirteenth birthday I gave her her own uniform but it took a couple months for Mona to be okay with the idea of her coming out with me and Raph. I think it was because if the fact Mona wasn't here with her but with Mona having a job as a Physics professor, she didn't have the time to come out with us a lot.

But, I wasn't worried about Molly and neither was Raph. For some reason when it came to Molly, Raph wasn't worried about her when it came to combat; he's seen her take down men twice her age and size in the past month.

The only thing Raph was protective over Molly for was boys. But, luckily he doesn't really have to worry about that when it came to Molly either because she despises boys her age.

From the disdain I've seen from her expression when boys at her school look at her when I pick her up sometimes, she finds them immature, annoying, and repulsive. Which of course couldn't make Raph happier.

But she really does do well on her own with patrols for her age. I even set up a small solo perimeter for her. It isn't too big and it wasn't too far away from me and Raph. Besides, she has a weapon, her kama, and knows how to use them and she seems to be doing well so far.

We all decided to split up and regroup in an hour before moving on.

(Molly's POV)

I got to the end of my perimeter.

I looked at the streets below and I still couldn't believe that I was finally able to come out here with Uncle Leo and dad. I love being out here. Going on runs over the roof tops is something that just makes me feel free. I can think, especially on my own.

I have a very select group of people that I can deal with. My uncle tells me it is something I get from both my parents. I'm just not a bigtime people person. Other than my family members I really don't like socializing, well mainly with people my own age.

I don't care if I have no friends at school or that my best friend is my 32 year old uncle and sensei.

People my age in general just annoy me to no end. They're so immature, superficial, and complain about stuff that doesn't even matter.

Boys my age especially repulse me. They're even more immature, disgusting, and the way I see some of them look at me makes me want to throw a smoke bomb at their face to make them think twice about wanting to come anywhere near me.

But, my mom always jokingly says that I'm just 13 going on 33.

I know I'm more mature for my age and that's what bothers me when I'm at school. When I see my classmates messing around and acting like idiots during class, it grates on me. Can't anyone just act mature or take something seriously for 5 freaking seconds?!

But, there's not really anything I can do. I'm just screwed right now. Plain and simple.

I got the corner of this rooftop and crouched down, scanning below for any activity.

As I was looking, I just got this feeling… a feeling like I wasn't alone. I almost felt something, a stare burning through the back of my head. I whipped myself around and drew out my kama.

At first I saw nothing… until I glanced up slightly at the rooftop next to me from behind my initial position. My eyes went wide initially at what, or who, I saw before returning them to their fixed concentration.

It was him. It was this guy. He wore almost all black and this red emblem on his back that made his allegiance obvious, Foot Clan.

But he wasn't like any other Foot soldier I've ever seen before. He looked about my age maybe a little older but he was also highly lethal. I've fought with him before. He was fast, concise, and high skilled… but so was I and I wasn't about to let some Foot soldier ninja wannabe take me down.

But, he was anything but a wannabe. He was beyond the rank of a soldier by his skill alone.

There was even something about his appearance that made him look dangerous. He had his entire face covered except for his eyes. I was looking at them now. The only thing I could see in the shadows he was trying to hide in, or not hide in.

His eyes had some quality that drew you in and warned you off at the same time. They were this piecing Amber color that I equated to a snake that wanted to take in its prey with a deadly hypnosis before striking for the kill, but I wasn't going to let that happen to me over my dead body.

We both just stood there in a standoff.

I was waiting for his move. But then… he dashed off in a blur. He was gone.

This has happened several times before since I first had that fight with him a little over a week ago. I had no idea who he was. Even our fight that one time was as peculiar as the previous times I caught him practically stalking me like prey just now.

We were fighting and it went on a pretty long time over a couple rooftops, until he leaped away from me with his swords still in his hands, tilted his head at me almost like he was studying me, and then leaped over the side of the building.

But when I looked to see where he went, he vanished.

I've never heard him speak or had any idea who he was, but I have come up with a pure and simple nickname that sums him up to me… The boy in black.

But after me seeing him do this with me almost 8 straight days, I want to know what he's doing. I haven't told my uncle or my parents about this. This is something I need to figure out on my own.

I want to know what the heck is this guy's deal and why he persists with this cat and mouse game.

I have to find out why.

What did you think? This chapter is pretty much going to be a two parter just to set up the plot mainly. Again, I do not own TMNT or its characters, I just own the characters that I created expressly for the purposes of this story. Who is exactly 'the boy in black'? You'll just have to wait and see. Thanks so much for reading and please review and I hope you have a happy new year.