The streets were alive with the usual noise of New York City as the turtles raced after Snakeweed, who had just made off with a pizza guy. Mikey and Donnie landed in front of the massive plant mutant first, quickly springing into action as Leo, Raph, Mari, and Cat joined in the chase.

"No! Not the pizza guy!" Mikey shouted, his eyes wide with alarm. "Take Mari! She's mean!"

Mari scoffed. "Excuse me?!"

Cat, keeping pace beside them, gasped dramatically. "Nooo, my future husband! We never even got to share our first slice!"

Mikey turned to her, horror-stricken. "Wait, you had a crush on the pizza guy?!"

The pizza guy, meanwhile, was struggling against Snakeweed's vine-like tendrils. "Somebody help me!" he yelled desperately.

With a terrifying hiss, Snakeweed disappeared into a nearby alley, vanishing into the shadows with his captive.

Leo's voice rang out, firm and commanding. "We've got him trapped."

Raph, eager for a fight, grinned. "Good. Then let's go weed-whacking!"

Donnie, still processing Cat's absurd revelation, muttered, "Tree-trimming..."

Mikey, as always, couldn't resist: "Gardening! Boom! Ha ha! Oh, yeah, Mikey put the sprinkles on that sundae."

Mari, deadpan, elbowed him. "Mikey, stop talking."

Raph groaned. "Let's go!"

Leo, however, hesitated, holding a hand up. "Hang on, Raph. We're not charging a twelve-foot regenerating mutant."

Raph shot him an incredulous look. "Then what are we doing?"

Leo's eyes narrowed. "We'll take Snakeweed from above. Tie him up in the clotheslines. Come on."

He started scaling a nearby building, swiftly pulling himself up the side.

Raph groaned, clearly unimpressed. "That'll take forever, and we have to stop Snakeweed now! He's kidnapping people!"

Mikey chimed in, his concern somehow managing to be both genuine and ridiculous at the same time. "Not just people—people who bring pizza!"

Mari rolled her eyes, muttering, "Priorities, Mikey."

Leo shot them all a look, keeping his composure. "We take him from above. Let's move!"

The group begrudgingly followed his lead, scaling up to the rooftops. Mari moved easily with them, while Cat, despite her usual clumsy nature, managed to keep up—though she did let out a squeak when she nearly lost her footing. Mari grabbed her arm instinctively, pulling her up with an exasperated sigh.

"Cat, focus."

"Not my fault!" Cat huffed. "Buildings weren't designed for people with tessen fans and a fear of heights!"

Mari just rolled her eyes, dragging her along.

Once on the rooftop, Leo signaled for them to stay close as he peered over the edge, his eyes scanning the street below. "On my count. One, two..." His voice trailed off as his eyes widened in confusion. "Where'd he—"

Snakeweed had vanished.

Raph threw his hands up in exasperation. "And the award for worst leader goes to—"

Leo spun on him, frowning. "How am I the worst leader?"

"If we did this my way," Raph retorted, pointing to the empty street, "Snakeweed would be toast by now."

Mikey, ever the wildcard, gasped. "Ugh. That'd be some nasty toast."

Donnie, standing behind them, sighed loudly. "Not the time, Mikey."

Mari crossed her arms, glancing at Leo. "You sure your brilliant plan didn't include the part where Snakeweed just—disappears?"

Leo bristled. "It would've worked if everyone actually listened."

"Wow, blame us," Mari deadpanned.

Leo threw his arms out in frustration. "This way would've worked if Raph hadn't wasted time second-guessing my orders."

Raph, his temper already boiling over, stepped closer. "Don't give bad orders, and I won't second-guess 'em!"

Cat, standing between them, quickly held up her hands. "Uh, maybe we should just—"

Leo, cutting her off, turned fully to Raph. "You know what? If you think you could do better, why don't you lead?"

Raph didn't hesitate. "First good idea you've had all day."

The two brothers stood there, glaring, neither backing down.

Mikey, as usual, attempted damage control. "We'll compromise. I'll lead!"

Every single one of them turned to glare at him.

Mari let out a loud, exhausted groan. "Mikey, read the room."

Leo's frustration reached its peak. "Fine. Raph, the team's yours. I'm out of here."

And with that, Leo stormed off, leaving his siblings behind in tense silence.

Mikey blinked, his jaw dropping. "I can't believe he's gone," he whispered dramatically.

Donnie, ever the voice of reason, sighed. "Relax, Mikey. Leo just needs some space." He patted his shoulder comfortingly before pausing. Then his eyes narrowed slightly. "...You meant the pizza guy, didn't you?"

Mikey nodded solemnly. "Yeah."

"I hope Leo's okay," Cat muttered.

Leo paced back and forth atop another rooftop, his mind still buzzing with anger after his argument with Raph. He muttered to himself, hands running through his damp hair as frustration built within him. He couldn't shake the feeling that the group was falling apart, and now—after their latest blowup—it seemed like there was no way to fix it.

"Foot Clan? You guys just made my night," Leo grumbled, catching sight of a shadowy movement around him. The Foot Clan soldiers surrounded him, their dark forms closing in like a trap being set around prey.

With a swift motion, Leo unsheathed his katanas, ready to fight. His anger flowed into his actions as he cut through the soldiers one by one, his blade dancing with practiced precision.

"Ahh. I feel so much better," Leo muttered to himself as he dispatched another soldier.

Suddenly, a thud echoed behind him. Leo's senses sharpened, and he turned, immediately on guard. Standing there in front of him was a new figure—a female Foot Clan warrior. She had amber eyes, her black hair with blonde streaks in the back styled into an angled bob, and long ear-tails. Her black armor and jumpsuit made her stand out among the usual Foot soldiers.

"Not bad," she said, her voice calm and assured.

"Uh, thanks?" Leo replied, taking a defensive stance, still unsure of the situation.

The warrior's eyes glinted with a challenge. "You might actually be a challenge." Before Leo could react, she threw a handful of blinding powder into the air, causing Leo to cough and stagger back, his vision blurring as his eyes became red.

"Guess not," she smirked, before quickly lunging forward and knocking Leo to the ground.

"Who—what—?" Leo gasped, trying to shake off the disorienting effects of the powder.

She gracefully stood over him, looking down. "My name's Karai," she said, her tone cold but not unfriendly. "See you around."

With that, she turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Leo sprawled on the rooftop in confusion.

Leo blinked, rubbing his eyes. "What was that?"

At Donnie's lab, the air was thick with tension. Donnie sat hunched over his workbench, scribbling notes furiously as he pieced together Snakeweed's movements. The dim glow from his computer monitors cast shadows across the room, emphasizing the weight of the situation.

Raph paced behind him like a caged animal, his impatience bubbling over.

"Donnie, we have to find Snakeweed's lair," Raph demanded, his fists clenched.

Donnie didn't even glance up, still engrossed in his calculations. "Working on it."

Raph's eye twitched. "Then work faster!"

Donnie let out an exasperated sigh, adjusting his goggles as he kept scribbling. "Do you think yelling is gonna help?"

Raph's glare turned into a smirk. "No, I think hitting is gonna help."

Before Donnie could react, Mari, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, deadpanned, "Yeah, 'cause that's gonna make his brain work better."

Raph shot her a look. "Stay outta this, Mari."

"Yeah, no," she replied, raising a brow. "I live here too. Also, maybe don't punch the guy trying to help us?"

Donnie, sensing the rising tension, muttered under his breath, "Fine. I'll work faster."

Raph crossed his arms, satisfied. "That's the spirit."

At that moment, Leo walked in, his movements stiff with irritation. His eyes were still red from the blinding powder earlier, but the sour look on his face made it clear that wasn't his biggest problem.

Mikey, perched on the counter, immediately perked up. "Leo's back! And he's been crying! Aw, you missed us."

Leo shoved him off with a scowl. "I got hit with blinding powder."

Mikey clutched his chest dramatically. "Sure, big softy."

Across the room, Cat, who had been sitting on a stack of storage boxes with her legs swinging, tilted her head curiously. "Wait, why were you alone fighting the Foot?"

Leo shot her a sharp glance, not wanting to answer. "It's none of your business."

Mari narrowed her eyes at him. "Oh, but you felt the need to storm off, ditch the team, and now you're acting like we're the problem? Yeah, okay."

Leo huffed. "I don't need this right now, Mari."

Cat, sensing the tension, quickly tried to diffuse it. "Okay, okay, maybe let's all just breathe and not get into another this is why we need therapy moment?"

Mikey, ever the peacemaker—in his own weird way—threw his arms wide. "Dudes, can't we just be cool with each other? Let's hug this out."

Without warning, Raph slugged him in the stomach, making him double over with a wheeze.

Mikey groaned. "Ugh! Okay. Now the healing can begin."

Cat winced. "Why do you guys show affection like that?"

Raph smirked. "Builds character."

Donnie, still focused on his screen, finally looked up, excitement flashing across his face. "Hey, I think I figured out where Snakeweed's hideout is!"

Leo, arms crossed, stepped forward, trying to push past his frustration. "Where?"

Donnie adjusted his glasses. "Okay, the radial pattern of recent Snakeweed sightings indicates his lair is at the epicenter of 47th and—"

Raph cut him off, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Actually, you're on a need-to-know basis. And guess what? You don't need to know."

Leo clenched his jaw, done with the entire conversation. He turned toward the exit, his movements stiff.

Mikey, still rubbing his stomach and looking slightly betrayed, gave him a small wave. "Bye, Leo."

Mari sighed, running a hand down her face as Leo disappeared from view. "Y'know, we are so good at solving our problems in healthy ways."

Cat, still sitting on the storage boxes, whispered under her breath, "Yeah, this is totally fine."

"Boy, relationships are complicated," Leo muttered under his breath as hr watched his show.

Suddenly, the door slid open with a quiet hiss, and Splinter stepped into the room.

"Leonardo, where are your brothers and sisters?" Splinter asked, his voice calm yet firm.

Leo hesitated before responding, his voice tinged with frustration. "I have no idea."

Splinter's brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean you have no idea?"

Leo finally turned to face his master, his tone sharp. "Raph thinks he can lead the team better than me, so I let him."

Splinter's eyes narrowed, disappointment in his gaze. "That is not your decision to make."

Leo stood up, his posture rigid, his voice rising with emotion. "Why not, Sensei? I've had to make every other decision, and I'm tired of it. Those guys have no idea what kind of pressure I'm under, and all they do is complain. Is it too much to ask for a simple thank-you?"

Splinter raised his staff, slamming it onto the ground with an authoritative thud, his expression turning from confusion to anger.

"Of course it is!" Splinter snapped, his voice stern and unwavering. "Leadership is not about being appreciated. It is about responsibility. It doesn't matter that the burden is heavy. It matters that you carry it. Now go find your siblings."

Leo stood still for a moment, his chest rising and falling as he processed his sense of guilt and the pressure weighing on him. He didn't respond immediately, instead walking past Splinter toward the street outside.

Outside, Leo stood alone on the street, feeling the weight of Splinter's words settle heavily on his shoulders.

"What if I don't want the burden?" Leo murmured to himself, the frustration and exhaustion taking over. "Where are those guys? Donnie said something about 47th and... uh..." He sighed deeply, unsure of how to move forward.

"Do you always talk to yourself?" came a voice from behind him.

Leo whipped around to see Karai standing there, her amber eyes glinting in the dim streetlight.

"Sometimes I'm the only one who'll listen," Leo responded, trying to mask the uncertainty in his voice.

Karai smirked, her eyes narrowing. "I'll listen when you beg for your life."

Leo immediately dropped into a fighting stance, his hand gripping his katana. "Let's see how well you do against someone who can see."

"Let's see how well you do against someone who's better than you," Karai retorted, her tone laced with confidence.

The two squared off, the tension between them palpable as they prepared to clash.

Leo struck first, his sword flashing through the air. Karai easily dodged, her movements fluid and precise as she countered with a quick jab. Leo twisted, parrying the blow with ease.

"Juji-ken," Leo muttered, impressed by her skill. "Interesting."

"Kocho-giri," Karai shot back, her strike aimed at his chest. "Predictable."

The fight continued, a flurry of blades clashing as the two tested each other's abilities. Leo managed to catch her with a quick swipe to her side, but Karai effortlessly rolled away, grinning.

"You're good. No wonder we haven't wiped you out yet," she said, almost admiring his skill.

Leo smirked, tightening his grip on both katanas. "It's not like Shredder hasn't been trying."

Karai's grin faded slightly. "I know. It's all he ever talks about. 'Revenge, revenge, vendetta, vendetta.'"

"Really? I take it you don't approve?" Leo quipped, his voice light despite the tension.

Karai shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm fine with it. I'm just saying, he needs a hobby."

Leo grinned in response, but the fight raged on. Karai's quick strikes kept him on his toes, forcing him to think and move faster.

She lunged at him again, her movements fluid and precise, but Leo countered with a series of swift strikes of his own. The battle seemed to be at a standstill until Leo was knocked back, his chest scraping the ground, a few drops of blood trickling from his wounds.

Karai smirked. "Not bad, but I've seen better."

Leo laughed weakly, his smirk never leaving his face. "With one blade, maybe," he said, drawing his second katana. "Not with two."

Karai's grin widened.

The familiar musty scent of the underground filled the air as the five turtles navigated through the tunnels. The dim glow of Donnie's tablet cast eerie shadows along the damp walls, illuminating the thick fog that clung to the ground.

Mikey scrunched his nose, waving his hand in front of his face dramatically. "Man, it really stinks around here."

Raph shot him a dry look. "It is a sewer, Mikey."

Mikey sniffed again, this time gagging slightly. "I mean more than usual." He took a deep breath, immediately regretting it. "Ugh. Where does all this stuff come from, anyway?"

Cat, trailing near the back, wrinkled her nose and clutched the sleeves of her hoodie. "Ew, ew, ew—I swear this is worse than last time." She shuffled closer to Mari, who simply rolled her eyes.

Donnie, his focus still locked on his tablet, muttered quietly, "Uh, Mikey, it's, um..."

Mikey tilted his head. "What? Don't they know we're living down here?"

Raph sighed. "Keep it down, guys."

Donnie smirked slightly. "Wow. You sound just like Leo."

Raph stopped dead in his tracks. His eye twitched as he turned to Donnie, his voice low with warning. "Say that one more time, and I'll shove your head in this sewage."

Donnie raised his hands in mock surrender. "And now you sound like you again."

Mari snorted, shaking her head. "Yeah, 'cause nothing screams 'not Leo' like blind rage."

Raph glared at her. "You wanna lead the way?"

Mari shrugged. "Nah. I like watching you have a meltdown."

Cat stifled a laugh, but before Raph could snap back, Donnie came to a halt. His brows furrowed at the green mist thickening in the air. "Come on," he murmured, scanning the surroundings. "Snakeweed's lair should be around here somewhere."

Raph scoffed, rolling his eyes. "You don't say."

The group ventured deeper, their movements slowing as the ground became sticky beneath their feet. Massive, pulsating pods lined the cavern walls, their eerie glow casting an unnatural light across the space.

Mikey, as always, was the first to get too close. He squinted at one of the pods before his eyes widened in horror.

He gasped, stumbling back. "And he's growing humans."

Donnie shot him a look of pure exhaustion. "He's not growing them, shell-brain. He's holding them captive."

Raph grunted, eyeing the pods. "For what? He's a plant. He can't eat 'em."

Donnie's brain worked fast as he pieced it together. "He's probably... turning them into fertilizer."

Mikey's face twisted in disgust. "Ugh. Is that really where fertilizer comes from?"

Donnie sighed. "Actually, most fertilizer comes from—" He whispers into Mikey's ear.

Mikey visibly gagged. "WHAT? Is there anything that doesn't come from that?!"

Cat tilted her head. "What did you say, Donnie?"

Mari shot Donnie a look, and Donnie stayed quiet.

Raph had had enough. He pulled out his sai with an annoyed grunt. "Enough. Let's cut 'em loose."

Moving swiftly, the group sprang into action. Raph's blades sliced cleanly through the vines, while Mari helped pry open the pods, yanking the unconscious captives free. Donnie scanned each pod before unlocking them, ensuring the victims were still breathing. Cat, hesitant at first, jumped in to help, dragging one of the captives to safety.

As the freed humans stirred, groaning in confusion, the turtles ducked behind a large pod, watching as the captives stumbled toward the exit.

Raph smirked. "Not only was that a job well done," he said smugly, "it was a job well done without Leo."

Before anyone could respond, a deep, guttural growl rumbled from behind them. The air grew thick, the temperature seeming to drop as an ominous shadow loomed over them.

Mari exhaled sharply. "Oh... great."

Cat, now very much regretting coming along, clutched onto Mikey's arm. "Uh. Nope. Nope. Nope."

Snakeweed emerged from the darkness, his towering figure casting an eerie silhouette against the glowing green mist. His vines whipped violently as his glowing emerald eyes locked onto them.

"My fertilizer!" he roared, his voice vibrating through the lair. "You've ruined my plans!"

Mikey took a cautious step back. "Sooooo... what now, boss?"

Raph cracked his knuckles, grinning. "Now?" He twirled his sai, shifting into a battle stance.

"We show this overgrown weed who's the real root around here."

Leo was still locked in combat with Karai, her swift movements matching his with every step. She swung her katana at him, and Leo dodged, narrowly missing her blade.

"You know what?" Leo said, trying to keep his balance as they climbed toward the fire escape. "I don't think you're as bad as you pretend to be."

Karai flashed a wry smile, clearly enjoying the challenge. "Oh? What part of swinging a sword at your head do you not understand?"

Leo chuckled, swiping his katana in a wide arc to block her next strike. "On the rooftop, you could have finished me, but you didn't."

Karai tilted her head slightly, her gaze cold but thoughtful. "Because you're the first thing in this city that doesn't bore me." She threw a set of ninja stars toward Leo, which he deflected effortlessly with a flick of his sword. "Besides, I don't think you're as good as you pretend to be. Don't tell me the goody-three-toes thing doesn't wear thin after a while."

Leo grinned, sidestepping another strike. "Better than the alternative."

Karai smirked, clearly intrigued. "Which is what? To have fun? To cut loose? To live your own life?"

Leo blocked her next blow, knocking her back slightly. "Guess I struck a nerve."

Leo chuckled. "Because I beat you?"

Karai's eyes glinted with something more than just aggression. "You see that high-rise?" She gestured toward a tall building in the distance, just barely visible above the skyline. "Meet me there at midnight."

Leo raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

Karai's expression softened for just a moment, her tone tinged with something unexpected. "I want to show you something."

With that, she vanished into the shadows, leaving Leo standing on the rooftop, a mix of confusion and curiosity in his expression. He stood there for a moment, processing her words before shaking his head and heading back to find his brothers.

The battle raged on, the lair filled with the sound of Snakeweed's vines whipping through the air and crashing against the walls. Raph, Mikey, Donnie, Mari, and Cat were all struggling to land a solid hit. The mutant plant was relentless, countering every strike with terrifying force.

Donnie lunged forward, aiming for Snakeweed's head, but a thick vine slammed into his chest, sending him flying across the cavern. He hit the ground hard, skidding to a stop.

Mari was right behind him, flipping over a lashing vine as she landed a sharp strike with her tanto against Snakeweed's side. "Are we even hurting this thing?!" she snapped.

"Doesn't look like it!" Donnie coughed as he forced himself back up.

Mikey dodged a swinging vine, barely avoiding a hit. "We're totally losing!" he shouted, voice filled with frustration.

Raph, still slashing wildly, scoffed. "Really? I hadn't noticed."

Cat yelped as a vine whipped toward her, forcing her to duck behind Donnie. "I don't wanna say we should run, but—"

Mari spun and sliced through a smaller vine before it could reach Cat. "Then don't say it!" she shot back, gritting her teeth.

Mikey groaned. "Then get your head in the game, bro! You're supposed to be the leader!"

Raph growled, slicing through another vine. "Keep it together, Mikey!"

Donnie, trying again for Snakeweed's head, swung his bo staff—but the mutant countered fast, knocking him back with a vicious swipe of its claw.

"Get back in there!" Raph barked.

Donnie rolled to his feet, panting. "And do what?!"

"Go for the head!"

"I just did!"

"Do it better!"

Donnie dodged another vine, frustration bubbling over. "Oh, great. Four times in a row—he'll never see that coming!"

The next hit caught Donnie off guard, slamming him into the ground.

And then—

CRACK.

A vine snapped across Mikey's chest, sending him flying into the wall. He hit the ground with a sickening thud and didn't move.

Raph's heart dropped. His whole body locked up.

"Mikey!" he shouted, running toward him.

Cat's breath caught. "Mikey?" she whispered, frozen in place.

Raph skidded to his knees, shaking his brother's shoulder. "Come on, Mike, wake up. Don't do this to me," he murmured. His voice was strained—too raw, too panicked.

Mari, keeping her guard up, gritted her teeth. "Cat—go! Get to Mikey!"

Cat snapped out of her daze and rushed to kneel beside Raph, hands shaking as she hovered over Mikey. "He's—he's breathing, but he's out cold."

Snakeweed's laughter echoed through the lair.

"Pathetic." His vines lashed out again, wrapping around the pillars. "I'll smash you rotten turtles into the ground!"

Donnie, struggling to stand, gritted his teeth. He was running on fumes, but he forced himself to move.

Raph wasn't paying attention. His focus was entirely on Mikey.

Donnie flipped away from a vine, grabbing onto a pipe and swinging over Snakeweed's attack. In one swift motion, he used his bo staff to tie Snakeweed's own vines around a support beam.

"Raph!" Donnie yelled. "We don't have much time before he grows back! Let's grab Mikey and get out of here!"

Raph, still kneeling beside his unconscious brother, clenched his jaw. He didn't want to leave—not like this. But there was no other choice.

Mari ran up beside him and grabbed his arm. "We have to move. Now."

Raph hesitated, then nodded sharply. He hoisted Mikey up while Mari helped steady his weight.

Snakeweed snarled. "I'm coming for you, turtles! You hear me?! I'm coming for you!"

Leo stood beneath the window, hands on his hips, looking up at the darkened room. He had been pacing outside for a few minutes, unsure if he should even try talking to her, but he needed to get this off his chest.

"April," Leo called softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "April?"

A rustling sound came from above, and the window creaked open. April's face appeared, her eyes narrowing as she glanced down at Leo.

"Leo?" she scoffed, folding her arms. "This better be good."

Leo hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath. "Hey, I need to talk."

April raised an eyebrow, her tone already exasperated. "Can it wait until morning?"

He shook his head, the words tumbling out before he could stop them. "I met this girl."

April's expression shifted instantly, surprise flashing across her face. "What? Tell me everything."

Leo smiled nervously but quickly tried to tone it down. "Well, she's really cool. She's also a martial artist. And, uh... she's in the Foot Clan."

There was a heavy silence from the other side of the window. Then, without warning, April's hand shot out, and she smacked him with the rolled-up newspaper she was holding.

"Are you crazy?!" she snapped, her voice rising in disbelief.

Leo rubbed his head where the newspaper had hit him. "April, she's different. She's—"

"In the Foot Clan!" April interjected, her anger rising. She pointed at him accusingly. "Did you forget that part?"

Leo sighed. "Yeah, I know. I know I shouldn't be hanging out with her."

"Yeah, you got that right," April shot back, shaking her head in disbelief. "You know why? 'Cause she's in the Foot Clan!"

Leo bit his lip, running a hand through his hair. "Look, I know it sounds bad. But she's fun, and I'm tired of always being the responsible one. When do I get to have fun?"

April folded her arms, looking at him like he had just lost his mind. "So what does she want from you?"

Leo hesitated, then shrugged. "I don't know. I'm meeting her later at the Byerly building. She's got something planned."

April's eyes widened, and she stared at him in disbelief. "Yeah, like pushing you off the Byerly building. It's a trap, Leo."

"I don't think so," Leo said softly, a surprising sense of calm settling over him. "There's good in her. I know there is. I can feel it."

April let out a heavy sigh, her expression softening slightly. "I hope you're right." She looked at him, concern in her eyes, but the anger was still there. "But if you're wrong, Leo... don't say I didn't warn you."

Leo nodded, his heart heavy with the weight of his decision. "I know, April. I'll be careful."

She shook her head, closing the window with a soft click, leaving Leo standing outside, his mind racing with thoughts of Karai and what might await him at the Byerly building.

The lair was eerily silent, broken only by the hurried, unsteady footsteps of Raph and Donnie as they carried a limp Mikey through the tunnels. His unconscious form weighed heavier in their arms than either of them wanted to admit.

Mari was right behind them, her breath uneven, her tanto still clutched tightly in her grip. Cat trailed after her, arms wrapped around herself, her usual spark dimmed.

"Help!" Raph called as they stumbled into the main room.

Splinter turned sharply, his ears twitching as his sharp eyes landed on Mikey. In an instant, his calm exterior shifted, concern etched deep into his face. "Set him down," he ordered.

Carefully, they laid Mikey onto the couch, his chest rising and falling in slow, unsteady breaths. Splinter knelt beside him, his touch firm but gentle as he checked for injuries. His children had learned to ignore their own wounds, but he had not.

Cat hovered near the couch, hands clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palms. "He's gonna be okay, right?" she murmured. No one answered right away.

Splinter barely lifted his gaze as he asked, "Where is Leonardo?"

Raph hesitated. "I don't know." The words tasted bitter on his tongue. His fists clenched at his sides. "Sensei, this is a disaster, and it's all my fault. I don't know what happened. I just... froze up. I mean, I have no problem risking my own life, but risking my brothers'?" He swallowed hard, shaking his head. "That's different."

Splinter's expression softened, but his voice remained firm. "Now you see the price of leadership—responsibility."

Mari, still standing near the doorway, shifted uncomfortably. Responsibility. The word felt heavier than it should have.

Raph exhaled sharply, dropping onto the floor beside the couch. "Yeah," he muttered, rubbing a hand over his face. "I hate it."

Splinter nodded solemnly. "So you understand Leonardo's burden."

Raph didn't answer immediately. His gut twisted. He had always challenged Leo, always questioned him. But now? Now he needed him.

"We need him back," Raph admitted, quieter this time. "I need him back."

Splinter's gaze was steady. "Then go get him."

Raph blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "But, sensei, I don't know where he is."

Donnie, who had been pacing near the computer, suddenly perked up. "He's going to the Byerly building," he announced. "April texted me." Then, as if just realizing, his face lit up. "April texted me." His voice cracked slightly in excitement. "Oh, this is the best day!"

A weak groan from Mikey snapped him back to reality.

Donnie cleared his throat, tone shifting immediately. "Well, I mean... it's had its ups and downs."

Mari let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. Leo wasn't here. Mikey was hurt. Raph was spiraling.

Cat still hadn't moved from her spot. She looked at Mikey, at Raph, then at Mari.

Across the city, high atop the Byerly building, Karai stood waiting. Her arms were crossed, but the amused glint in her golden eyes betrayed her boredom.

Leo finally arrived, landing silently on the rooftop across from her.

"I was beginning to think you were a no-show," she said, smirking. "But you don't disappoint."

Leo folded his arms. "So what's this about?"

Karai stepped aside, gesturing down toward the museum below. Through the skylight, a single glass case sat in the center of the grand exhibit, containing a magnificent katana.

Leo's eyes narrowed. "That's the sword of Miyamoto Musashi."

"The greatest swordsman in the history of Japan," Karai agreed. Her smirk deepened. "It's ancient, priceless... and yours, if you help me."

Leo's shoulders tensed. "Do what?"

"You know what," she said smoothly. "We're going to steal it."

Leo stiffened. "No, we're not."

Karai let out a short laugh. "Come on, that sword is just sitting there, collecting dust. You know you deserve that katana more than some lazy rich guy." She tilted her head, golden eyes studying him. "Stop being responsible, Leo. Stop waiting for people to give you the life you want. Go out and take it."

Leo's jaw tightened. "No."

Karai sighed, clearly unimpressed. "I'm getting that sword, Leo—with or without you. Choose."

His grip on his katanas tightened, but he didn't move. "I can't," he said at last. "It's wrong."

Karai rolled her eyes. "You're starting to bore me."

In a blur of motion, she unsheathed her blade.

Leo blocked it instantly, their swords clashing in the moonlight. "Karai, you don't have to do this," he tried.

"I know," she said with a grin, twisting her sword free. "That's what makes it fun."

Before Leo could counter, she swept his legs out from under him. He hit the rooftop hard, skidding backward. Just as he scrambled to his feet, a familiar voice cut through the night.

"Leo!"

Both of them turned as Raph sprinted onto the rooftop, looking from Leo to Karai with wide, incredulous eyes.

"What are you doing? Who's she?" Raph demanded.

Leo hesitated. "Uh... Raph, Karai. Karai, Raph."

Raph's expression darkened, his hands balling into fists. "What are you, friends with her?! We're out there risking our necks, and you're up here holding hands with the Foot?!"

Leo's stomach dropped. "I can explain."

Karai smirked. "This should be entertaining."

Leo shot her a glare before turning back to Raph. "You see, Karai and I share an appreciation for the fine craftsmanship of—"

A terrible screech interrupted him.

The air grew thick with the scent of smoke and decay.

Raph stiffened. "Tell me that wasn't—"

Leo didn't need to tell him.

Snakeweed emerged from the shadows, his massive vines slamming into the rooftop. His glowing yellow eyes locked onto the brothers as he let out a growl that sent chills down Leo's spine.

"I found you, turtles," the mutant hissed.

Leo let out a breath. "Oh, thank goodness."

Snakeweed lunged. Leo and Raph dodged, barely avoiding his thrashing vines. The rooftop shook beneath them as Snakeweed advanced.

"All is forgiven!" Raph yelled, sprinting alongside Leo. "You're the leader again! Welcome back!"

Leo didn't have time to argue. Snakeweed's massive claws swiped at them, forcing them onto separate paths. Leo dodged left, but his foot slipped on loose gravel. Before he could regain balance, a vine wrapped tightly around his torso.

"Leo!" Raph tried to get to him, but another vine snagged his ankle, yanking him into the air. He dangled upside down, thrashing against the restraint.

Leo struggled against the tightening grip, his swords just out of reach. His vision blurred as the pressure increased.

"Karai!" he gasped, spotting her still watching from the ledge. "Karai, please! Help!"

Karai tilted her head, considering him for a moment. Then, with a smirk, she flicked a kunai toward him.

Leo tensed—but the blade landed just above his head, cutting through the vine.

Leo hit the ground hard, gasping as air rushed back into his lungs.

"Sayonara," Karai called, disappearing into the night.

Leo gritted his teeth, grabbing the kunai and slashing through the remaining vines. Raph did the same, landing in a crouch beside him.

"You good?" Raph asked.

Leo nodded, already planning their next move. "Follow me. I got an idea."

Raph didn't hesitate. "You're the boss."

The brothers jumped off the rooftop, landing in the alley below. Snakeweed followed, vines slamming into the pavement as he gave chase.

Raph shot Leo a skeptical glance. "Now what?"

Leo turned to him, eyes sharp with determination. "We charge him."

Raph blinked. "Really?"

Leo grinned. "Trust me. Let's move."

With a battle cry, they sprinted toward the mutant.

Here's the scene rewritten in book format:

Leo and Raph charged forward in perfect sync, weaving through Snakeweed's thrashing vines.

Leo ducked low, dodging a clawed swipe before springing upward. He planted a firm kick against the glowing heart-like core on Snakeweed's neck, forcing the mutant to stumble back. Raph followed suit, slipping past a tangle of vines and slicing through them with his sai.

Snakeweed roared, enraged.

Leo grabbed a nearby container and tried to shove it into the mutant's chest, but Snakeweed swung a massive vine, knocking him off balance. Leo crashed hard against the pavement.

Raph saw an opening and leaped onto Snakeweed's back, gripping his sai tightly. "You're goin' down, weeds-for-brains!"

Snakeweed snarled and bucked wildly, sending Raph flying across the alley.

Leo scrambled back to his feet, spotting the ice containers scattered nearby. Without hesitation, he grabbed one, keeping it hidden behind his shell as Snakeweed turned back toward him.

"Hey, ugly!" Leo taunted.

Snakeweed lunged.

At the last second, Leo thrust the container forward, shoving it straight into Snakeweed's open mouth. The mutant recoiled, vines flailing in shock.

"Raph, now!" Leo shouted.

Raph didn't hesitate. He hurled his sai with pinpoint accuracy, striking the container dead center.

BOOM!

The ice container exploded inside Snakeweed's maw, instantly freezing him from the inside out. Ice spread rapidly, engulfing his entire body until he was nothing more than a massive, frozen statue.

Raph landed on his feet, dusting off his hands. He grinned. "Booyakasha!" With one swift motion, he slammed his fist into the frozen mutant, shattering Snakeweed into a thousand pieces.

Leo exhaled, catching his breath. "Nice work."

"Thanks," Raph said before shifting awkwardly. He hesitated, glancing at Leo before muttering under his breath, "And, uh... sorry."

Leo blinked. "What was that? I couldn't hear you."

Raph groaned, louder this time. "I said I'm SORRY!"

Leo smirked. "Ugh. Apology accepted."

Together, they turned and left the alley, but behind them, a faint sound echoed in the night.

A slow, steady thump-thump.

Snakeweed's shattered remains pulsed, the glowing heart still beating within the ice.

The rich, warm scent of pizza filled the lair, cutting through the lingering tension. The siblings huddled around Mikey's unconscious form, eyes flicking between him and the slice Leo held near his nose.

Mikey stirred, his eyelids fluttering open. The moment the aroma hit him, he let out a sleepy, satisfied murmur.

"Mmm... pepperoni."

Leo smirked. "Works every time."

Raph didn't wait. "Mikey!" He grabbed his brother by the shoulders, shaking him slightly. "Don't scare me like that, buddy! I thought we lost you."

Mikey yawned, rubbing his eyes as he sat up. "Dudes, I had the weirdest dream... I dreamt the stuff in the sewer was made out of—"

Donnie cut him off immediately. "Eh, forget about it, Mikey. It was just a dream."

Mikey frowned but shrugged, too exhausted to argue.

Cat pushed Raph out of the way and tackled Mikey.

Mari let out a weak chuckle. "Only you would wake up talking about sewer water."

Raph turned, arms crossed, eyes locked on Leo.

"So, what's the deal with that girl who tried to kill you?"

Leo rolled his eyes. "She didn't try to kill me. She saved me."

Raph raised a skeptical brow. "She threw a knife at your head."

Leo shrugged. "She threw a knife near my head."

Raph threw up his hands. "She's in the Foot Clan!"

Leo, completely unbothered, smirked. "Nobody's perfect."

Raph groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Unbelievable."