Shen/Yoshi/saki-what if no murder?

[Panda_Kahn_fan]

You know, when thinking about all the diffrent TMNT universes, something occurred to me... in all of the universes with the whole Tang Shen/Oroku Saki (or Nagi)/Hamato Yoshi love triangle/vengeance/death thing,does anyone think there might be one turtleverse out there where the whole thing is built on a lie/misunderstanding/self deception?

Say just for example, you have one where two friends, Yoshi and Saki, who were raised by the same martial arts master. They were in love with the same woman also raised and trained by the master, Tang Shen, but she dies under Mysterious circumstances, and both blame the other for killing her because 'she loved me, you found out, and you couldn't take it!' Saki goes on to start the criminal Foot Clan and become the shredder, Yoshi comes to America and gets mutated into a rat with four baby turtles he raises as his sons. The two sides rediscover each other, and fight for years, believing the other killed the love of his life.

But instead, it actually turns out Shen didn't love either one of them, except as brothers, and she had another man she truly loved. To make it even worse, NEITHER ONE of them actually killed Shen... she died of natural causes. In a situation like that, all that hatred, all those battles, all the betrayal and deaths and blood...all for nothing.

It doesn't even have to be this exact scenario, just one where no murder actually happened at all, just have the cycle of vengeance was kicked off by a misunderstanding or a deception. What happens to their whole mission? What if the TMNT have been avenging, and there's nothing to avenge?

Just an idea I'd like to see explored someday. :)

[Candy Kappa]

In the Lego retelling of vol. 1 #1. Both Nagi and Shen survives, and only Yoshi is killed by Saki.

[cookie jar]

Very interesting idea. I like it. :)

[Panda_Kahn_fan]

Huh, I thought this would get more responses...


In the Lego retelling of vol. 1 #1. Both Nagi and Shen survives, and only Yoshi is killed by Saki.

What I mean is what if the cycle of vengeance is based on a lie?

[Candy Kappa]

What I mean is what if the cycle of vengeance is based on a lie?

I don't think it'd change much, unless the Turtles discovers the truth while Shredder is still alive. And, where to go beyond there? No other incarnations outside of Mirage have ever dared to portray Saki as anything as evil, IDW maaaaybe, but he's still giving in to his evil side and is a villain that needed to be killed to make him stop.

The original cycle of vengeance was proven to be a lie in it's own right, as killing Saki didn't accomplish anything honorable or good. A man was killed who thought he avenged his beloved brother who was wrongfully murdered by Yoshi and Shen, and this man was a principal beam for the criminal underworld that spiraled into a full on gang war with his absence. Which makes the Turtles responsible for more death and chaos.

In the end, the Turtles are aware that Splinter used them for his agenda and thirst for vengeance.

I don't think including that Shen did not die by the hands of Saki/Nagi, when the damage most likely is already done. Or, the Turtles would find out the truth (something Splinter/Yoshi couldn't do?), realize that Splinter thinking Shredder killed Shen is incorrect, and that they both believe each other to be the killer.

Which leaves us with the Turtles telling the truth to the unknowing Splinter, but still have to stop Shredder by either telling him the truth and present evidence strong enough for him to believe them, or defeat him anyway cause he's evil and is up to evil stuff.

It could be a interesting thing to explore, but the execution would be difficult to accomplish something new.

[Tetsu Deinonychus]

I guess this would bring up the possibility of the TMNT and co. actually making peace with Shredder when they both realize the truth. However, they've been bitter enemies for so long, and especially if Yoshi and Nagi have already been killed over this, that kind of adjustment would be a challenge in it's own right.

[Duke Nukem]

I'd highly recommend Soul's Winter for a completely different take. In that, it was Shredder who broke the cycle of vengeance.

[Utrommaniac]

I've considered this for myself while working on my own retelling, and the big thing I wanted to do was remove the love triangle element because...just no.

Then I thought about the timeline. Both Saki and Yoshi should have been born at the tail end of World War II and grew up watching Japan gradually immerse with the West. Most of the time, they are wild traditionalists. Outdated traditionalists. Which means they were probably raised that way.

Now, let's say that Saki and Yoshi grow up with their families trying to avoid western culture and are among the very last to remain loyal to the soon-non-existent-Emperor. Yoshi, though still feeling an emotional connection to his roots, starts to stray, which upsets his best friend. And then he meets a modern woman named Shen, and soon marries her, then eventually abandons militaristic loyalty. He retains most other aspects of his upbringing, including ninjutsu, but no longer holds loyalty that at this point in time, is for naught. Saki lashes out and calls him a traitor to everything they were taught, even though he only abandoned a single aspect of it. Eventually, this leads to him attacking Yoshi and Shen (and possibly their daughter) wherever they may be, and he leaves assuming they are all dead. Until fifteen years later, when he gets a nasty surprise.

One thing is very clear in this take: This Saki has issues.

[Powder]

That's pretty much the Nick origin, minus the love triangle.

[Utrommaniac]

That's a good point, now that I think about it. I didn't totally have it in mind while working on the concept. Especially when the light went on in my head.