Splinter (Mainly 2012 version)
Backstory:
The mutant rat, mentor, and adoptive father to four ninja turtles known as Splinter had his beginnings in Japan as one Hamato Yoshi, growing up with Oroku Saki, both training in the art of Ninjutsu. While they grew up as friends and brothers, things changed when they both fell in love with a woman named Tang Shen, which transformed their friendship into a bitter rivalry. Shen chose Yoshi out of the two, and gave birth to a daughter, Miwa.
Their time together would not last, as Saki, after learning of his true heritage and rebuilding the Foot clan, and overwhelmed with anger and jealousy, burned down their house, and a blow that was originally meant for Yoshi struck Tang Shen instead, ending her life, and in those flames, he took the still infantile Miwa away from her father.
After this ordeal, Yoshi left Japan, and came to reside in New York City. On one fateful day, he bought four turtles, and as he walked, he stumbled into a mysterious man, trailing after him into an alley way. Eavesdropping on an exchange over a canister of ooze, he then provoked a rat, which ended up dropping his cover and instigating a fight. While Yoshi was able to defeat the men, the ooze canister broke, covering Splinter and his four turtles in it and causing all five of them to mutate, Splinter in particular becoming a giant rat.
For the next 15 years, he raised his four turtles as his sons in the sewers under New York, naming them after four artists of the Renaissance, and trained each of them in Ninjutsu, so that when the day comes that they want to leave the lair and explore the surface, they would be prepared for the dangers that lurk above.
Powers and Abilities:
Superhuman Physical Characteristics,
Martial Arts,
Pressure Point Strikes,
Paralysis Inducement,
Healing,
Sharp claws and teeth, and prehensile tail (Can snap Shredder's blades in half in his with teeth, as well as gash his skin with his claws. Can use his tail to trip or whip his opponents in close combat),
Stealth Mastery,
Enhanced Senses (Hearing, smell, and sight. Can fight perfectly while blindfolded. Also possesses sensitivity to Universal Vibrations),
Instinctive Reaction,
Precognition,
Psychometry,
Resistance to Mind Manipulation (Overcame the Rat King's control) and Poison Manipulation (Capable of surviving a poison that would've killed regular men)
Weaknesses: None applicable
Master Shifu
Backstory:
Master Shifu is the current master of the Jade Palace and a highly skilled master of kung fu taught by Oogway. Shifu would raise his first student, Tai Lung, believing he could become the legendary Dragon Warrior. Following Tai Lung's betrayal after Oogway deemed him unworthy of owning the Dragon Scroll, Shifu would become the instructor of the Furious Five, and later, reluctantly, Po.
Powers and Abilities:
Superhuman Physical Characteristics,
Skilled in various styles of kung fu, at least five,
Weapon Mastery,
Enhanced Senses,
Chi Manipulation,
Life Manipulation and Energy Projection,
Pressure Point Strikes,
Paralysis Inducement (Was able to reverse the effects of Tai Lung's pressure point strikes on the Furious Five. Tai Lung implied Shifu taught him the Nerve Attack technique),
Acrobatics,
Explosion Manipulation (Via the Five Finger Blast Punch),
Limited Accelerated Development (Quickly learned the Five Fingered Blast Punch simply from seeing it performed a couple times),
Status Effect Inducement (Can blind an opponent via Golden Lotus Clap)
Weaknesses: Can be caught off guard by unusual techniques.
Song: Zhǎngwòle Jutsu
In the tranquil surroundings of the Valley of Peace, an event of great significance unfolded. Master Shifu had organized a remarkable tournament within the town below the Jade Palace, offering a rare opportunity for those who dared to participate. The winner of this intriguing competition would be granted an extraordinary reward - the privilege to embark on a guided tour of the prestigious Jade Palace itself.
Behind the charade of the grand event, Master Shifu harbored a secret intention. Strategically, he selected a moment when the Furious Five, the revered Dragon Warrior, and his chosen successor, Zhen, were immersed in important quests. Despite his gratitude for the gifts of life, Master Shifu yearned for control, weary of serving as a mere plaything in the cosmic theater, destined to be repeatedly toyed with by fate.
The red panda had joined the tournament and impressively navigated his way through the competition, effortlessly progressing to the final round. Despite the impressive dedication and effort displayed by all the participants, none managed to surpass the red panda's unparalleled kung fu mastery. There was, however, one individual who had not hailed from the Valley of Peace but bore the promise of a potential rival.
Master Shifu, the wise red panda, observed the final participant in the tournament. Unexpectedly, he encountered a peculiar rat unlike any he had seen before; creature of considerable stature who exuded honor and a concealed prowess. The rat, renowned as Master Splinter, stood apart due to his extraordinary height and bipedal nature, but his presence was undeniably formidable.
"You're certainly bigger than any rat I have seen."
"Size is irrelavent, compared to one's skill and determination."
The red panda smiled.
"Wise words. Let's get started."
As the two masters faced off, Shifu assumed a solid stance, poised to demonstrate the finesse of animal style kung fu. In contrast, Splinter stood upright and poised, revealing nothing of his martial art techniques. Despite his demeanor, he was prepared to employ the potent techniques of taijutsu within his ninjutsu arsenal. Then, the gong rung, and Master Shifu went first with a sprint.
With a swift movement, he threw a right punch, followed by a left punch as Master Splinter nimbly stepped away. Master Shifu then used the momentum from both strikes to try and kick his opponent, the rat doing a handstand to avoid the blow and spring back upright with a spin kick, forcing the red panda to back up and change his plan.
Master Shifu, acknowledging his opponent's agility, adjusted his strategy. He shifted his style to leopard kung fu, employing swift, precise maneuvers. Sensing the change, Splinter adapted with equal finesse, adopting a defensive stance to counteract the red panda's attacks, moving like water.
Despite the rat's adept evasion, Master Shifu persisted with his leopard style techniques. Attempting to capitalize on an opening, the red panda lunged with a powerful double arm strike, only to have Master Splinter use his foot to knock the blow away, setting up for a counterattack.
Master Shifu pressed on with the leopard style, adapting to the rat's defense with rapid-fire punches and kicks. However, Splinter was quick to respond, dodging and weaving around the attacks, always staying just out of reach. Taking advantage, the ninjutsu master struck with a low kick, forcing Master Shifu to retreat back, giving him space to catch his breath.
Recovering from Master Shifu's strikes, Master Splinter adopted a strong taijutsu stance, prepared to counterattack. The rat lunged with a swift one-arm strike, followed by a kick to the hip, transitioning to a spinning back fist to the head. Master Shifu blocked or dodged the attacks before striking with a tiger paw strike to the diaphragm.
Master Splinter slid back, regaining his composure. Master Shifu charged again with the crane style, performing spinning kicks, and then a jump kick to the rat's chin. While Master Splinter was knocked back, he flipped as well to kick the red panda back through the air. However, Master Shifu executed multiple rolling flips in the air, gracefully landing on his feet with grace and poise.
Master Shifu gracefully leaped and completed multiple somersaults in the air, landing on his feet, unruffled by the blow. Master Splinter lunged once more with the instincts of a rat, which involved a biting motion, but Master Shifu was prepared with a pivot on his heel like a crane. Master Splinter twisted his body and spun into a spin jumping roundhouse kick, hitting the red panda in the diaphragm, but Master Shifu was able to grab his leg in mid air, flip the rat, and throw him back to the ground.
Master Shifu switched to snake style, landing multiple blows to pressure points, causing Master Splinter to wince in pain. However, the rat retaliated by wrapping his tail around Shifu's throat, using it to toss the red panda away to catch his breath. Master Splinter then utilized his own understanding of pressure points to alleviate the paralysis-inducing pain in his muscles. Breathing easier, he steeled himself for the next round.
Realizing his usual tactics were ineffective, Master Shifu resorted to one of his signature techniques. Closing his eyes, he shouted,
"Golden Lotus Clap!"
A radiant burst of golden light illuminated the arena, blinding all onlookers, including the unsuspecting Master Splinter, leaving him momentarily disoriented. Master Shifu attempted to gain the upper hand with swift and erratic monkey style maneuvers, but Master Splinter adeptly dodged or evaded each attack, displaying remarkable agility and precision. With a quick flick of his tail, the rat lashed out, striking Master Shifu's eyes, causing the red panda to cry out in pain, now also blinded.
"Oh, did I spoil your attempts at underhanded victory with an unfair advantage? I simply leveled the playing field."
Hamato Yoshi stood upright, remaining eerily calm despite starting to regain his vision. With self-assurance, he kept his eyes shut, believing his skills would prevail without relying on sight. Master Shifu responded with a frustrated grumble, initiating a ritualistic dance, preparing to unleash another powerful technique.
Master Shifu commenced a powerful technique known as the "Five Finger Blast Punch." His punches struck the ground, creating a web of energy-charged fractures across the stone tiles. Anticipating the explosion, Master Splinter bounded into the air, narrowly avoiding the destructive impact. Shifu followed suit, soaring into the air as the arena stage shattered from the discharge of energy.
Master Splinter capitalized on his extended reach, utilizing it to fend off Master Shifu, maintaining a temporary advantage. However, the red panda persisted and strategically closed the distance, transitioning to Mantis Style to secure an uncomfortable hold as they both descended towards the earth.
Despite his compromised position, Master Splinter utilized his prehensile tail to entangle Master Shifu's neck, disengaging from the hold. In a swift motion, he executed a powerful kick to Shifu's chest, creating distance between them. Master Splinter adeptly landed on his feet, while Master Shifu landed hard on the ground, his side impacting painfully.
Master Splinter swiftly targeted pressure points on Master Shifu's body, causing him to collapse into unconsciousness. The spectators in the Valley of Peace were left in awe, unable to believe that Master Shifu had been bested. Master Splinter stood triumphantly and, with a hint of satisfaction, issued a subtle demand to the vanquished red panda.
"When you wake up, I'd appreciate that tour you promised."
With that, he calmly departed from the arena, celebrated as the victorious master.
Strength: Master Shifu is certainly a master in his own right, but Splinter is the one with the more impressive feats. The red panda scales to his old Furious Five member, Master Elephant, who can split a large rock with around 5.5 tons of force. However, Master Splinter is most often portrayed as stronger than the turtles, and equal to The Shredder, with strength feats around 240 tons, making Splinter 43.6X stronger.
Speed: Master Shifu scales to Tai Lung, who is slightly faster than Tigress, who can catch an arrow that almost nearly pierced her face without even looking. This puts them around reaction speeds at the speed of sound. But Master Splinter is about equal to Shredder as well, having reaction speeds of Mach 286.
Skill: Master Shifu is the more skilled in offensive combat, being able to teach kung fu of tiger, monkey, mantis, viper, crane and leopard style, while Splinter only knows Taijutsu for unarmed combat.
Experience: Assuming that animals of Kung Fu Panda age at the rate of humans, since praying mantises only live up to 6 months at most, Master Shifu seems at least ten or twenty years older compared to Master Splinter, who's normally middle aged in most adapaptations.
Powers: They're about even. They both have means of pressure point attacks and healing themselves. While Master Shifu may have a couple of tricks that would surprise Master Splinter, nothing he does would guarantee a win.
The winner is Master Splinter.
Next time:
"Do you know what happiness is? It's bright May sunshine. It's the warmth of family. It's fried eggs for breakfast."
"There's no way you're getting away from me!! I'll chase you all the way to hell!!"
A/N: Check out my new poll in my bio.