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 YOU'RE NOT ON 
 NICKTOONS 
 ANYMORE! 

Some TMNT stuff really isn't for little kids.

Solicit[]

As the TMNT continue to train under the tutelage of the Shredder in Northampton, the techniques they are learning take a bizarrely arcane turn. Will Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael, Leonardo, and Jennika learn how to master and control the dark ninja arts... or will they be consumed by them? One thing's for certain: if they are to have any chance at success, they will need to seek out a light from the past to help guide their way.

Appearing in #132[]

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Synopsis[]

Deep in the thin place forest, Leonardo confronts his dark half. The entity attacks Leo, taunting him for siding with Oroku Saki. Although Leo protests that this is what his father wanted, Dark Leo still calls him out for allegedly being naïve and failing to protect his family, then knocks him out.

The next morning, Saki commends the Turtles on their progress, and prepares them for creating their own gofu, a set of mystic talismans that would bridge them between the physical and spirit worlds. The Turtles construct their gofu with various implements they find within the thin place forest, and meld them into crystalline objects.

That night, Saki begins teaching each of the Turtles, individually, one of the cuts of kuji-kiri, starting with Leonardo. sha - healing, and also "against one's foe". Saki says that as with many of the cuts, it feels contradictory, but in order to master it, Leo must learn to reconcile both concepts. Leo understands that means that he must shield his spirit from his dark self while he inhabits it - or it inhabits him. Leo reengages with Dark Leo, with Saki telling him that it's not about defeating his "foe", it's about controlling him, and that the katana is an instrument of control. Heeding Saki's words, Leo ends up luring Dark Leo close enough to grab and flip him onto his carapace. He sends Dark Leo into a shallow pit until he is needed.

Michelangelo is taught of - harmony, and battle, as he will reach victory through his connection with others. Mike points out the contradiction, but Saki says that there can be harmony in conflict, and that he must create it in peace and in battle.

Next, Saki appeals to Jennika's nature as a musician by telling her that the eighth cut, zai - "to appear", "to create" - strings together individual moments, like notes in a composition, in order to create falsehoods - or expose truths.

Donatello already has great understanding of the mystic world now thanks to his time with Venus, and impresses Saki with his knowledge of retsu - control of time and space, and to move in a row - and astral projects himself upward. He states that he still has much to learn, however, of this.

Saki introduces Raphael the cut of jin, - "in formation to prepare", and "reading thoughts" - appealing to his nature of struggling to make up for his own wrongdoing. He tells Raph that in the coming battle, no longer must he be brazen enough to fight without knowing his enemy, but he must walk with them, be one with them. Raph senses Saki's feelings and understands that he really does mean to help the Turtles.

Their introductions complete, the Turtles meditate around a campfire. The spirit of Splinter appears in the fire, telling them how proud he is of his family, especially that they've learned a lesson he wasn't really able to fully impart - they are powerful together, and even when apart they can draw on each other's strengths. Splinter departs to the objections of Leo and Mike, leaving his family with these words:

"...never forget... that I love you all."

In the morning, Leo notices Jenny appearing out-of-sorts. She stares at the still-damaged barn, remembering that her first mission as a Foot Assassin was during Koya's assault on the Turtles at the O'Neil Farm, and that she is partially responsible for the destruction that took place that day. Leo says that they did a lot of work on the barn over that summer, but since then it's been only bit by bit whenever they could. Jenny offers to help next time, and Leo says that even if something is damaged that severely, all it takes is time to fix it.

Saki then opens a portal and they all return to the Church in Mutant Town, ready to gather their other allies for the war.

Notes and trivia[]

  • Spirit Splinter's appearance in the campfire - including the blue flame, and much of his speech - is a reference to the same scene from the 1990 feature film.
  • Jennika's first appearance is retroactively established as TMNT #31, as she says Koya's assault on the Turtles at the O'Neil Farm was her first mission.

See also[]

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