Chapter 1:
Four figures meet with their sensei.
"I have foreseen this night for many years. Now it is time... Time for you to be told of the mission for which I have trained you these past thirteen years. You will learn of my life, and how you came to be. My tale begins some twenty years ago. I was a young rat, a pet bought and cared for by my beloved master, Hamato Yoshi. My cage was kept in his dojo, and I watched his daily practice. It amused him to see me mimic his movements... But it was more than mere mimicry. Slowly I learned his art, the mysterious martial art of ninjitsu. I could not have had a better teacher, for it was said that Hamato Yoshi was the greatest shadow warrior of his clan. He was one of the famous "Foot" Clan, the most feared warriors and assassins in all Japan. Another member of the "Foot" Clan was Oroku Nagi. He and my Master Yoshi competed fiercely in all things, especially for the love of a young woman, Tang Shen. Both tried to win her, but from the start she loved only one: My master, Yoshi. Nagi was insanely jealous. One fateful night, he went to Tang Shen's home and demanded that he love him. Shen refused, saying that she wanted only Yoshi. In a jealous rage, Nagi began to beat her. At that moment Yoshi, coming to visit his lover, entered the room and saw Nagi poised to strike! Yoshi's world vanished in a red haze... And when it cleared, Nagi was no more. Yoshi's shame was great. By killing another member of his clan, he had dishonored himself. His choices were simple, but not easy: To take his own life and hope for honor in the next life; Or flee with Shen to another country and try to start life again. He chose the latter, taking with him a few belongings, including me, and came with Shen to New York. Here my master formed a small martial arts school. Meanwhile, in Japan... Nagi's family, especially his younger brother Sawaki, were mourning his death. The seven-year-old Sawaki vowed vengeance on Yoshi. The Foot took hold of Sawaki's anger and used it to bend him to their own purposes. Sawaki began intensive training in the ninja's art and soon surpassed his teachers. As he grew older his hatred of Yoshi grew deep and bitter. Sawaki moved quickly. Within a year he had built the New York 'Foot' into a force to be reckoned with. Under Sawaki's leadership, the Foot was soon involved in many criminal activities: Drug smuggling, arms running... And their specialty, assassination. Sawaki, now called 'the Shredder', was successful, but not satisfied. In his heart burned hatred for Hamato Yoshi and his wife, Tang Shen. On a night nearly fifteen years ago, Sawaki finally made his move... My Master Yoshi came home that evening, never expecting that his most dangerous enemy was lying in wait! Entering the apartment his gaze fell on the still, silent form of his beloved Shen. Then he saw her killer. In the struggle my cage was smashed. I was free... But my master was dead. In my grief, I wandered the streets, living off scraps of garbage. Then one day while I was searching a trash can for my next meal, I witnessed an accident. An old blind man crossing the street was almost run down by a large truck. At the last moment a young man leaped at the blind man and knocked him out of the truck's way. As the truck screeched to a jarring stop, a metal canister bounced out of the back of the truck and struck the young man near his eyes. Unnoticed by the crowd, the strange canister bounced several more times, striking and smashing a glass jar which held four small turtles... You four, as infants! You fell into the manhole, followed by the canister. Fortunately, a pile of dead leaves and papers broke your fall. But the canister smashed open, releasing a glowing ooze which covered your bodies as you crawled around in it. I followed you down into the storm drain, and not knowing exactly why, gathered you up in a coffee can. I took you to my burrow and washed off as much of the goo as I could. The next morning, I awoke to find the can tipped over and the four of you doubled in size! Somehow, that strange ooze had affected your growth. As I learned later it had changed me also...making me more intelligent, and larger. But I didn't grow as far as you did. Within a year, you had reached your current size. You followed me everywhere I went, except above ground. I could not risk your being discovered. I was amazed at how intelligent you seemed, but even so I was not ready for what happened one day... One of you actually said a word...my name! More words followed, and soon you all were speaking. Around this time, you started to stand upright, and copy my movements... I began training you then, teaching you all that I had learned from watching Master Yoshi. I taught you the use of weapons, the art of stealth, and all that I knew of this world. In time you surpassed my lessons and became true ninja. Using a battered copy of a book on Rennaissance art that I had fished out of the storm drain, I chose names for each of you: Leonardo, Michealangelo, Donatello, and Raphael. Now, I am old. And there is a task that I would have you perform before I leave this life. Now, I must ask you to do that which no being should ask of another. I ask you to avenge the cruel death of my master, Hamato Yoshi, and his wife Tang Shen. I ask you to challenge and kill the murderer Oroku Sawaki... The Shredder!"
To Be Continued
This is Non-cannon to the Ultimate Advanceverse. This is a sequel to Princesses of Power × Ben 10.