A/N - Just a random thought that popped into my head today. I don't own them.
What's in a name
Watching from his seat above Hamato Yoshi couldn't help but smile. Splinter had just won the battle nexus. Despite his opponent breaking his leg, the rat had carried on and defeated Draco with great skill and honour. In truth Yoshi often watched over his former pet and his new family, he had seen Splinter struggle to raise and provide for his four sons as well as passing on the art of Ninjutsu to them.
Yoshi watched with a fond smile as the Daimyo's voice rang out declaring Splinter Hamato to be the winner. The rat in question was leaning heavily on his staff and looking slightly embarrassed as the stadium erupted in applause for him.
He had seen the confusion on Splinter's face when he had entered the competition giving just his first name of Splinter to the officials, to find it had been amended to Splinter Hamato by the Daimyo himself. The Daimyo had remembered Splinter as Yoshi's pet and assumed his family name was omitted by mistake.
Some might think it was perhaps to distance himself from Yoshi that Splinter didn't use the family name. But he knew better. From here Yoshi could see that Splinter didn't feel worthy of using the name. He was after all just a pet rat when he had been with Yoshi.
Just a pet rat who had learnt Ninjutsu by struggling to copy Yoshi. Who had attacked Hun to try to save him. Who mutated alongside four young turtles and raised them as his own sons. Who passed the art of Ninjutsu on to his children. Who strives to maintain the strict code of Bushido and honour in everything he does. Who had followed Yoshi's lead and won the battle nexus tournament.
As the look of embarrassment on Splinter's face continued to grow as he was praised by the Daimyo, Yoshi smiled. If Splinter wondered if Yoshi minded him using the name Hamato, the truth was he didn't mind at all.
He had always wanted a son.
And Splinter was his family long before he mutated.
A/N Reviews are very welcome!