Date: 1970s-1990s

In Japan, Oroku Saki and Hamato Yoshi were rivals, both in love with the same woman, Tang Shen. Shen loved Yoshi alone and, to avoid bloodshed, convinced him to flee with her to America. They settled in New York City, believing they had escaped Saki’s wrath. They were wrong. Saki followed them across the ocean. Consumed by jealousy, he murdered Tang Shen in her home and waited for Yoshi to return. In the ensuing fight, Yoshi’s pet rat escaped its cage and viciously clawed Saki’s face, leaving permanent scars. In retaliation, Saki slashed the rat’s ear with his blade. Yoshi was slain soon after, and Oroku Saki vanished from the world. Years later, Saki reemerged in New York as The Shredder, leader of the Foot Clan. Meanwhile, the rat became Splinter, and four turtles exposed to mutagen were transformed into his sons. When the Foot Clan was challenged, Shredder confronted the turtles atop a rooftop, overpowering Leonardo and threatening his life. Splinter intervened and revealed himself as the same rat who had scarred Saki years earlier. Master and nemesis fought once more, ending when Shredder was knocked from the rooftop into a garbage truck. Casey Jones activated the compactor, seemingly crushing Shredder to death and closing the circle of vengeance begun decades before.