Ninja Tribunal (2003 TV series)

A group of four Ninjitsu masters who in Season 4 of the recruit the Ninja Turtles and four other humans as acolytes to combat an unspecified threat.

During the fifth, "lost" Season of the series, it is revealed that the Tribunal's self-imposed mission is to prevent the resurrection of Oroku Saki, a man/demon who once terrorized Japan as the second Shredder. To that purpose, they have recruited acolytes over the centuries, to whom they teach the hidden secrets of ninjitsu.

During the early fourth century, the people who would become the Ninja Tribunal, as well as a human Oroku Saki, were Japan's five greatest warriors, who rose to fame after they, under the order of the Emperor of Japan, slayed a feared tengu called The Shredder Tengu. They became known as "The Five Dragons".

Unbeknownst to all, their victory was not total. Oroku Saki, who had seemingly landed the killing blow to the Tengu, had secretly struck a deal with the demon. In exchange for power, Saki allowed the Tengu's spirit to depart its body and to enter the human's, allowing the Shredder to live on; the demon Saki had slain was but an empty husk. Now imbued with the Tengu's power, Saki began a reign of terror throughout Japan, aided by a demon army.

The four remaining Dragons, although powerful, realized that they would never defeat their former comrade in their current state. In order to increase their strength, they travelled through the globe in order to acquire the knowledge and power necessary to defeat Saki. Successful, they trascended humanity, becoming as gods themselves.

With their physical and mystical power increased, the four heroes engaged Oroku Saki in battle in order to bring an end to his tyranny. After finally defeating Saki (in the forms of dragons), the four warriors knew that the Shredder could not be destroyed - his evil magic was too great. So, they imprisoned Saki in a tomb, and hid his three artifacts, his helmet, gauntlet and body. If the three artifacts were to be united, the Shredder would rise again. They have since kept constant vigil over the artifacts, recruiting acolytes (the Ancient One among them) and imparting their secrets to them, secrets that eventually came to be known as Ninjitsu.

The members of the Ninja Tribunal are among the most powerful beings in the TMNT Universe. Their knowledge of the mystic arts allow them to perform tasks normally beyond the means of the series' other ninjitsu practitioners, such as manipulation of forces like the weather and energy; greatly enhanced speed and strength; and the manifestation of their astral selves into dragon avatars. Each member of the Tribunal is the master of the four distinct aspect of ninjitsu: Spirit, Weapons, Strength, and Stealth.

The Ninja Tribunal resides in the Lap of the Gods, a monastery mystically hidden in Japan. In addition to their powers, they command the Mokusai No Bushi, a group of mystical warriors made out of wood.The only person that has a chance of beating every single one of them in combat is Agent Bishop.