Ep 22. Tale of Master Yoshi

In the episode "Tale of Master Yoshi," the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles delve into the tragic backstory of their beloved mentor and father figure, Splinter. The episode begins with Splinter unexpectedly receiving a letter from an old friend, Ms. Campbell, inviting him to her tea shop. Upon arriving, Splinter is greeted by Ms. Campbell's granddaughter, Kala, who is curious about his strange appearance and accent. Splinter begins to tell Kala the story of his youth, which ultimately leads to the tale of his beloved sensei, Master Yoshi.

As a young rat in Japan, Splinter lived in a cage in a laboratory alongside four turtles who were being experimented on. When a canister of mutagen spilled onto the creatures, they were transformed into humanoid beings, with Splinter developing human-like intelligence. Splinter was able to communicate with Master Yoshi, a kind and gentle martial arts teacher who discovered the mutated creatures, and the two developed a deep bond. Splinter and the turtles carefully watched Master Yoshi train his students in the art of ninjitsu, and Splinter quickly learned the techniques himself.

However, Master Yoshi's happiness was cut short when his jealous student, Oroku Saki, massacred his entire family in a bid for ultimate control of the clan. Master Yoshi escaped and fled to New York City with Splinter and the turtles in tow, where they lived in the sewers and trained in secret. It was there that Splinter became their mentor and father figure, teaching them the art of ninjitsu and imbuing in them the values of teamwork, loyalty, and compassion.

Back in the present day, Splinter's tale touches Kala's heart, and she offers to make him a special tea in honor of Master Yoshi. As Splinter sips his tea, the Turtles realize that they have never properly honored their sensei's memory, and set out to do so by creating a special shrine in his honor. They gather flowers, candles, and mementos from their past adventures to create a beautiful display, and kneel in prayer together in honor of the man who taught them everything.

At the end of the episode, the Turtles are shown lovingly tending to the shrine, thanking Master Yoshi for all that he has done for them. They reaffirm the idea that they are not just a team, but a family, who will always be bound together by the teachings of their wise and compassionate sensei. The episode ends on a bittersweet note, reminding us that Master Yoshi may be gone, but his spirit lives on in the hearts of those he taught and loved.